Kreyòl

It has been more than five and a half years since I began to learn Creole.  Of course for nearly three of those years, while living in New Orleans, my simple and realistic goal was not to loose the Creole I had already learned. The truth is my Creole has improved a great deal over the years, and the truth is I still make frequent mistakes and sometimes need to ask people to repeat themselves and at times people need me to repeat myself.  There are times when I feel confident regarding my ability to communicate, even if imperfectly.  Some days I can easily switch from thinking in English to having conversation in Creole and at other times my ability to code-switch is anything but smooth.  My vocabulary seems inconsistent in that sometimes I realize that I don't know the word for a very ordinary everyday object, and yet on occasion Creole speakers who know me have been surprised that I know certain other words. For example, one sister was surprised that I know the word for homosexual (masisi); and yet until yesterday I did not know the verb to "melt" (fonn.)  There are words that I mix up; words a native speaker would not likely confuse, for example I recently caught myself using the word for "lazy" (parese)  when I actually wanted to use the word "hurry" (prese.)  I used to have that problem with "sun, and "shoes," (solèy and soulye.)  Sometimes I feel a sense of awe that I have actually learned a second language and at other times I feel embarrassed that after all of the this time and all my effort my skills are not at least a bit better.

The strongest emotion I have regarding learning Creole is gratitude.  I am grateful for the stories I hear, for the relationships that I form with children, workers, sisters and friends.  My life has been enriched by the people I communicate with both those I have come to know well, and  through many brief interactions with individuals I may only encounter once.  As I walk down the street, I am grateful that I can greet and briefly chat with a neighbor whose smile radiates contagious joy.  Being able to communicate, in another language, even if imperfectly, has brought a whole new dimension to my life.  It is like growing an extra ear, another mouth and an additional eye. It has given me a new way to think, to hear, to see, and to express myself.  I suppose my mistakes keep me humble and increase my compassion for others who struggle with language learning; I can learn to be grateful for the mistakes and the struggles for in a sense they too are my teachers.


While I see my blog as more of an update for family, friends and community who are curious about what I am doing, and not a fundraising page, people sometimes ask how they can help, so here is an opportunity.  The sheets on many of the children's beds are quite worn.  If you visit the Mary Gate of Heaven facebook page, you will see that we have posted a request for sheets.   The orphanage fundraising committee in New Hampshire could use some assistance with funds to purchase new sheets for the children. If people would prefer to send new twin bed (Jersy knit) colored or printed sheets they will include them in the next shipment.  Both checks and sheets can be mailed to:
 Sisters of Holy Cross 
Claire Daneau Legacy Fund 
377 Island Pond Road 
Manchester, NH 03109.

Thank you!  Mesi Anpil!

Have a good week.  Take care.  Many blessings!


    

They have arrived: Children, Running water and Visas

Much has happened since I last wrote.  The children returned and seven new children joined the Mary Gate of Heaven Orphanage family.  I was happy to see the children, and many of them seemed happy to see the staff, the sisters and one another.   Some have grown taller and matured a bit during the summer months.  I can't even imagine what it must be like for the new children, especially the youngest among them, who suddenly find themselves separated from the people they have always known, surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar place.

Last week, I had a chance to meet with each of the children briefly individually. On Sunday I started doing groups with the older children and began groups with the younger children yesterday.     During groups, I simply do a brief lesson or activity with them usually about feelings, or conflict resolution, or a relaxation exercise, skills to help with emotional regulation, or read/tell a story that might have therapeutic value for them.  Then they are invited to play or do an artistic/creative activity of their choice. When working with groups, I don't feel I am giving them the same quality of services they would get individually,sometimes I feel I am simply providing a space for them to be creative, and hope that the experience I provide is healing or at least helpful.  Sometimes I am amazed at how the play or art project does seem to reflect or express something about their life that they might not otherwise be able to say.  I feel privileged to be able to journey with children in this way.

Saturday will be my day to see children who are identified for individual therapy.  Tuesday is my day off.  Most likely that will be the day I update this blog.  

It seems to be healthy and helpful for me to leave the orphanage lakou at the end of the day and come home to another convent.  The short walk or bike ride from one place to the other provides me with a much appreciated transition.  When I arrived home on Sunday, dripping with sweat, I automatically started bailing water from the large blue drum into my kivèt (wash basin) to bathe, when I decided to check if the water had been repaired during the day. When I turned on the faucet I smiled to see water coming out, and I thought, "Wow! Nou gen dlo!."  Once again we have running water much of the time, as we had before the pump broke; we don't have it all of the time because we don't have electricity all of the time and the pump is dependent upon electricity.  Now, when it is running we can easily fill buckets and barrels to use when it is not running.  Going without something even just briefly seems to increase my appreciation for it!  Next time you turn a nob and water comes out, smile!    

There are four postulants who are living here, who were scheduled to have left in June for Canada and then for Peru to start their novitiate, but have remained in Haiti waiting for visas.  Last week their visas were denied.  Then yesterday, we learned that a couple of Canadian sisters had gone to the embassy to advocate for the sisters, and that the visas were finally approved!  We celebrated at dinner last night.  They may leave as soon as next week; I have enjoyed living with them for this short time and will miss them.

              

Dlo (water)

Last Sunday evening, after updating this blog, I attended the first vow ceremony of two young Holy Cross men.  The liturgy was wonderful (it was in Creole) and the fèt that followed was quite enjoyable.  It is truly a gift to be able to connect with the larger Family of Holy Cross.

 

For nearly a week we have not had running water in the convent where I am living.  There is a working faucet outside.  Water is carried in buckets into the house filling large drums; convent employees do a great deal of the transporting of water for us.  We are fortunate that we have water in our yard and don’t have to travel significant distances in search of it and very fortunate that we have helpful employees.  Often I see people, frequently children, walking in the streets carrying containers of water; many have to do this daily; they don’t have water in their yard, never mind pumps carrying running water in their homes.  Our pump will soon be repaired or replaced.  I have learned to bathe with water from a bucket.  Knowing that someone will have to carry water in order to replenish the supply, I am increasingly aware of how much water I use.  While I would prefer to have running water, and the temporary situation is inconvenient, it reminds me not to take water for granted and that having running water inside a house is actually a luxury, one I have very often taken for granted.    

Tomorrow the children will return.  I am really looking forward to seeing them.  

I hope you are all well.  Take care!  Many blessings!    

return

While turning my American cell phone off after boarding the plane in Miami and turning my Haitian cell phone on when the landing in Cap-Haitian I am mindful of whom I contact more easily, and who it is harder to reach, it is a letting go and a welcoming, a good-bye and a hello. The same is true when I leave Haiti for the US.  This simple act is a ritual signifying my passage between countries and cultures. 

The children were scheduled to return to the orphanage today, however on Friday I learned that school is not going to start for another week, and that the children’s relatives had already been contacted and told to bring them next Sunday instead.  It has been good to see the sisters and the workers and catch up a bit.  I have used these days to organize the playroom, integrating the additional toys I brought and rearranging the furniture, hopefully making it more conducive for imaginative play.  For various reasons, a few of the children have been by to visit the orphanage during the days there.  My heart was happy to see them, and those I saw looked well, thanks be to God!    

So far it has overall been a positive experience living at Leocaide Convent.  During my first full day here, the male novices of Holy Cross arrived and began a few days of silent retreat.  While they were here we ate our meals with them in silence.  Two of them will profess first vows later today.  This house is in the midst of transitions as the Canadian sister who lives here has not yet returned, and there are women who I thought had gone to Canada and Peru to start there novitiate but due to delayed visas they remain in Haiti.  (We had a farewell in June for one of them who worked at the orphanage last year; I had been wondering how she was making out with her travels and was quite surprised to find her here when I arrived.)  There are some young women who will move in in October and begin their postulancy; two of them are living/working at the orphanage until that time.  

This is a big house. I love that it seems to have been designed with many skylights and windows maximizing use of natural light, very helpful during the day, since there are time when the electricity is not on.    It is difficult to get a decent picture of the house; I will share my attempts here. Pictures of some of the plants and animals on the property are probably more interesting.  Enjoy! 

      

Notice the butterfly. 

See the bananas.   

 This helps me to feel at home here because an identical bust of Fr. Moreau (founder of  Holy Cross congregations)  can be found at a convent I lived in in New Orleans, and there was copy of the very same painting in the convent I lived in Philadelphia as a Sister of the Holy Redeemer.  

       Happy Labor Day to everyone in the United States!