Life Goes On

There is an undeniable purification process that comes out of repetitive days
of hard physical labor, in conditions beyond the scope of Bikram.
Add bright sunshine (clouds usually come in the PM).


And then add the attitude of the Haitian co-workers,
turbocharged with Michael Jackson' s "Beat It" or "Billy Jean" on the boom box,
and irrepressible optimism flourishes.


Mind you this is a nation populated by African slaves in the 200 years after
the native Tainos/ Arawaks died out during the 1500s. (Disease/forced labor in Spanish times.)
In about 1800, they organized themselves to fight the British Army & Navy,
and WON, securing their independence under black rule ever since, with the exception of the occupation by US Marines 1915- 1930s. For better or worse.
That's the 'cliff notes' history, but quite pertinent.


My group of 7 is dazed with satisfaction & fascination.
We Pit Bulls have bonded.
We're staying up late tonite , as we are all going to the Olafson (sp?),
gingerbread hotel of Graham Greene fame. It survived intact cuz built of wood,
not unbending cement blocks
Band is Ram, combo reggae/voodoo.
And we will be back in the Pit at 6.30 tomorrow AM.

Ian McLaughlin,
Port-au-Prince Team Leader