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Orevwa
On Monday we said farewell to most of the youngest children,
as they departed for their summer vacation, with family members of relatives. Goodbyes
are often difficult especially for children who have experienced so much
loss. Some seemed happy to go and visit
their relatives; others seemed as though they might prefer to stay. There are still several older children on
campus who will be gradually leaving during the coming days.
That same day, we also said good-bye to the young woman from
Canada who had been volunteering with us since December.
A Haitian Holy Cross postulant who has been living and
working here since before my arrival left on Friday to begin her journey first
to Canada and then to Peru where she
will participate in the Sisters of Holy Cross international novitiate. She has been a wonderful presence here, a
very thoughtful and responsible young woman.
I will certainly miss her as will the children, sisters and
employees. On Thursday we (the sisters,
a lay volunteer and our driver) went to a restaurant in the city for her
farewell. It was an enjoyable community
outing.
Our lakou (yard), and convent have such a different feel to
them with so many people having left. I
miss them already.
De ti vwayaj
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| The Citadel in the distance |
On Tuesday, a volunteer from Canada and I went to the Citadel. When we visited in December, http://kmnhaiti.blogspot.com/2014/12/updates-citadel-and-merry-christmas.html with a large group
of high school students, we were directed to wait at the top of the mountain
for everyone to arrive before entering the actual Citadel, and then as we were
entering we were told we had 15 minutes before we would need to begin our descent
down the mountain. The volunteer who
accompanied me had spent time at a Holy Cross Convent very near the foot of the
mountain, before coming to work here at the orphanage a couple of months ago. As we were starting our journey a couple of local
people she had met while living there, including the teenage daughter of one of
the women who works at that convent, decided to join us. As we passed people she knew along the route
they asked her if she was our (tour) guide, and each time she smiled. I was glad that they came along. I enjoyed the long walk as well as learning more
about the history of the Citadel and history of Haiti. It was truly a great day.
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| from a window in the Citadel |
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| Inside a tower of the Citadel |
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| In the Citadel |
On Wednesday we had a day at the beach for all who work at
the orphanage. In two crowded (by
American standards) mini-buses, we made the trip over a mountain to the
beautiful coast. Soon after arriving we
enjoyed a spaghetti feast for our breakfast.
People swam and splashed in the water, played cards and dominoes at the
tables in the shade of a gazebo. We
snacked on fresh coconuts, first drinking the refreshing juice through a straw
then banging them open to enjoy the fruit.
We had a wonderful lunch of rice and beans, chicken and vegetables. The food had been prepared the day before; we
brought it with us. It was wonderful for
me to see the employees really enjoying themselves, to watch them play and joke
and laugh, and of course to play and joke and laugh with them too. They work so hard at caring for children,
tending gardens, washing clothes (by hand,) assisting with homework, cooking large
meals and many other extremely important and often mundane tasks; I am grateful
that they were able to spend a day at the beach; it was a gift to be with them.
Premis de Sejour and Exit Visa
Last week, I called the Sister of Holy Cross in Port-au-Prince
who helps all of the Holy Cross sisters and volunteers with their Premis de
Sejours, to check the status of mine, since I had not yet received it and had applied quite a while ago: http://kmnhaiti.blogspot.com/2014_11_01_archive.html This is required of foreigners who stay in
Haiti for more than 90 days at a time.
Apparently she had been
holding mine for a while; she holds everyone’s and I was assured that only a
photo copy of the permit is actually needed at the airport. She agreed to send me a photo copy of mine,
which I found in an envelope under my door when returning from one of my adventures
this week. There was a yellow sticky
note on it from the sister, written in French; (it seems that some sisters have
a tendency to either forget that I don’t speak French.) I could make out a few words, and thought she
was likely telling me to keep the copy with my passport and reminding me that I
would still need the green departure card everyone is given upon entering
Haiti. I decided though that I should
double check with someone who can read
French well. Now I know that in addition
to the Premis de Sejour, which permits someone to stay in the country for more
than 90 days, I will also need an “exit visa” to leave. A year ago I was looking up the requirements
and getting together the documents needed to apply for the Premis de Sejour,
but I have no recollection of seeing anything about an additional document
called an exit visa. I think it is new
and the purpose of it is unclear to me especially when one has gone through the
process of obtaining a Premis de Sejour.
With assistance from the same sister I am going to get the exit visa, which
may require a trip to Portauprince since at least my passport needs to find its
way there and back before I leave for vacation.
I am happy to see from the photocopy of my Premis de Sejour, that most
things on it are written in both Haitian Creole and French; what a great
idea!
Are you coming to RI?
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