M pa mouri.

It has been a full week now since I returned to Haiti.  It has been a while since I wrote. I wanted to do a blog update yesterday but was not able to get on line.  My time in the states was great.  Wonderful to see so many people.  I also have many people to thank for my time there and for support and useful things given to me for the children here. 

When I returned I was happy to see the children.  They seemed happy to see me as well.  Although I had told them I was going away for one week, I suspect some may have been surprised that I came back.  One little girl at Kay St. Anne said, "Ou pa mouri;" which means "you are not dead."  She said it  matter of factly. This is logical for a five year old, whose mother died in an earth quake 13 months ago, and who ocassionally asks about Katiana (the four year old girl who died of Cholera in December.)  To this child death is a part of life, and certainly more common than things like vacations. 

I do have much more I would like to say, but will probably wait for a weekend when internet is working, and I am not (I work every other Saturday.)  I just thought it might be good to at least do a brief update, let you all know that yes, I am happily, still alive!   
Take care.   


 

Greetings from the USA

The work week went fine.  It seems to me I had a story I wanted to tell, but now I can't think of it.  I have shifted gears. 

On Friday afternoon, instead of going to the baby house after school, I went back to my house to pack and then to the airport.  Twelve hours after walking in the hot midday Haitian sun, I was at the airport breathing in Philadelphia's winter night air.  It has been great to see community members and friends this weekend, and  to meet this year's Redeemer Ministry Corps members.  Great to have my American cell phone on, making it easy to contact family and friends.   Today my community had a prechapter province gathering.  I could see and hear everything very clearly!  Skype is amazing, and I am grateful for it, but it is not the same as being physically present; so now I have attended one pre-chapter meeting in person. 

My plans for the week include dentist, doctor, spiritual direction appointments, visits with family, and hopefully catching up with a few friends. I am grateful for the break. Sometimes I find myself responding to English speakers in Creole, but usually only when I say "wi" or "mesi" (yes or thank you.)  I am struck by the abundance of things here in this country that I have always called home.  There are many things that have always been here, like hot water in the shower, that I probably never really thought to appreciate before.  I am also grateful for the warm welcome back, even if my visit is short. 

A year after the inital idea, six months since my arrival

If I remember correctly, it was just about a year ago, some time last February, when the initial possibility of going to Haiti was discussed. The very day it was mentioned as a possibility, I did some searches online for programs to learn Haitian Creole. A year later, after hours of listening to mp3 files and cds, using a program on the computer, a free on line class for eight weeks, and six weeks of intense university courses, and six months living in Haiti, I can speak very basic Haitian Creole, but continue to struggle with listening comprehension. If I better understood what people were saying, I would be able to do more clinical work, which there is a great need for. Yet, what I am doing now does have its advantages too, and I am enjoying it, probably able to reach more childre

Yesterday, we had another day for relatives to visit the children who reside at Kay St. Anne and St. Louie. This is always interesting. It seems so good for the children who have relatives who come. It seems so difficult for those who do not. Some of the children who have visitors seem to have such a hard time when they leave. I watched as a baby did not recognize the older woman who came to visit her (not sure if it was a grandmother or an aunt) in a typical developmentally appropriate display of stranger anxiety, the child cried for the workers she knew and the elderly woman ended up spending some of her time holding some of the other small children who had no visitors and less stranger anxiety



A few days ago they announced the results of the recount from the elections, and while there was word of some manifestations in some areas, it was not large scale, not in the immediate area where I am, and did not affect the school being opened or anything of that sort. Most people seem satisfied with the decision and the change in candidates as the initial "count" was likely not a reflection of the real results. There are some questions as to what will happen in coming days as the current president is scheduled to step down, and the actual election will not take place until March. Also, Arisitde is expected to return to Haiti soon.
Well, I am looking forward to spending some days in the United States soon. I am hoping that there won't be any snow storms that affect my travel plans when I arrive, and no political situations here that shut down the airport here in Haiti later this week.

So, hopefully I will see some of you soon, si Dye vle.