View from St. Joseph's, Port-au-Prince
Presidential Palace, Port-au-Prince
Getting off the plane in Haiti is like a punch in the face of your senses. The heat, the noise, the smell, the seeming chaos, the rubble, tent cities everywhere. The Haitian five piece band banging out a welcome tune and the French Creole all combine to leave you feeling overwhelmed, nervous, out of place and excited.
I'm ecstatic to see both my suitcases arrive and after fighting my way to the van with Jackson, our one armed porter, seeing Andrea's wave and welcoming smile was a huge comfort.
We arrive at St. Josephs School off 91 Delmas and meet our eclectic crew. After we settle in for the night we have a delicious dinner of vegetable soup and fried plantains. Then we hear the amazing story of St. Joseph's from the founder Michael Geilenfeld and Director and former Restavek child, Bill, who entertained us with some of the best Djembe drumming I've ever heard.
Tomorrow, our crew heads south to Jacmel's Trinity House and the rest stay to help rebuild St. Joseph's.
Tomorrow, our crew heads south to Jacmel's Trinity House and the rest stay to help rebuild St. Joseph's.
Week one is complete and we are now well into week two. Access to the internet (and electricity) remains intermittent but I have come to see both as a blessing when available. We have taken to sleeping on the roof of the school where it is much cooler and waking up every morning we are greeted by the most incredible panoramic view of mountains and the sea.
Sunday, we hiked to Bassin Bleu waterfalls in the mountains and cooled off in the aquamarine pools. It was the perfect reward for an intense week.
The computer room construction project is well underway and the crew we are working with is incredible. Several are working barefoot and everything is done by hand with few tools and meager supplies, but the progress is amazing. Knowing our work is going to produce a computer room is a rewarding feeling at the end of each day even if we won't be here to see the finished product. Boss Niki, who heads up the construction crew, invited us to his 80th birthday at his house and we were treated to the most delicious meal and opportunity to meet his family.
When we're not working we are getting to know the twenty-eight boys here at Trinity House. Many are Restavek kids or orphans and their stories are incredible. Each has seen more in their young lifetime than I could ever imagine. St. Joseph's is an amazing place where they have been adopted until age twenty-one. They are now one big family and it is an amazing family to be welcome into. Last night, the boys put on a riveting dance performance for us. All their passion and pain and joy explodes when they are performing and doing what they love.
Yesterday, Melshi, the Director of Trinity House showed us how to cook a delicious traditional Haitian meal of poisson (fish) Diri Djon Djon (creole rice) and fried plantains. We began with a trip to the local market to pick up the ingredients which was an adventure. The market was a maze of tightly packed vendors hawking their goods and bartering back and forth. Some of the women in the market started singing and pretty soon everyone had joined in. It was a true feast for the senses. The food was amazing and I have a new appreciation for what goes into every meal here.
Outside Trinity House, about 40 families are living in tents on the soccer field. We ventured out and ended up being great entertainment for the kids serving as part amusement and part jungle gym. They brought out their carnival masks and gave us a quite a parade.
It's hard to believe we have only a few more days here. Time has passed so quickly. Haiti truly is a place of incredible contrasts. There is so much beauty here and so much hope.
Sunday, we hiked to Bassin Bleu waterfalls in the mountains and cooled off in the aquamarine pools. It was the perfect reward for an intense week.
The computer room construction project is well underway and the crew we are working with is incredible. Several are working barefoot and everything is done by hand with few tools and meager supplies, but the progress is amazing. Knowing our work is going to produce a computer room is a rewarding feeling at the end of each day even if we won't be here to see the finished product. Boss Niki, who heads up the construction crew, invited us to his 80th birthday at his house and we were treated to the most delicious meal and opportunity to meet his family.
When we're not working we are getting to know the twenty-eight boys here at Trinity House. Many are Restavek kids or orphans and their stories are incredible. Each has seen more in their young lifetime than I could ever imagine. St. Joseph's is an amazing place where they have been adopted until age twenty-one. They are now one big family and it is an amazing family to be welcome into. Last night, the boys put on a riveting dance performance for us. All their passion and pain and joy explodes when they are performing and doing what they love.
Yesterday, Melshi, the Director of Trinity House showed us how to cook a delicious traditional Haitian meal of poisson (fish) Diri Djon Djon (creole rice) and fried plantains. We began with a trip to the local market to pick up the ingredients which was an adventure. The market was a maze of tightly packed vendors hawking their goods and bartering back and forth. Some of the women in the market started singing and pretty soon everyone had joined in. It was a true feast for the senses. The food was amazing and I have a new appreciation for what goes into every meal here.
Outside Trinity House, about 40 families are living in tents on the soccer field. We ventured out and ended up being great entertainment for the kids serving as part amusement and part jungle gym. They brought out their carnival masks and gave us a quite a parade.
It's hard to believe we have only a few more days here. Time has passed so quickly. Haiti truly is a place of incredible contrasts. There is so much beauty here and so much hope.
If I can convey anything from my short time in Haiti it is that there is an unbelievable amount of hope and tenacity, right there along with the bad, that will overcome. Haiti has been knocked down, but it's no where near being out. Now more than ever the international community needs to support Haiti and deliver the pledged aid. Haitians need jobs. There is a large, skilled labor force that is unemployed while aid organizations pay to bring in foreign contractors, planners, etc. Projects like St. Joseph's and Trinity House are saving the lives of kids and preparing them for the future. There just aren't enough places like this...yet.
Andrew at Bassin-Bleu
Mountain road to Jacmel
Tap-tap
Tent City
View from Trinty House Roof
Lulu and me
Trinity House Last Day
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