Playing Catch in Haiti

Waking up this morning, I already knew that there wouldn't be much happening today. The kids at the school/hospital we're staying at are on break, cholera is slowing down, and we had no planned excursions to the slums of Port-au-Prince. Yet, like every other day here, today turned into something new and unexpected.

In the morning, I helped another volunteer, Fiona, work with some special needs kids who have learning disabilities. She's an occupational therapist from Ireland and is exceptional with kids. Despite the fact that I have zero training with OT, I was able to help her with one kid named Jefferson. Jefferson has been coming here and receiving help since last year, when Molly worked at the clinic. He is incredibly smart but he has a few leg issues (along the lines of polio or something) which hinders his ability to move around a whole lot. However, one thing Jefferson LOVES doing is playing catch with velcro tennis balls and the velcro pads. I entertained him and worked on his core strength for over an hour today. He is a really cute kid who I hope if I come down here again in a few years, is walking and able to move better than he does right now.

After lunch, I walked over and met with a potential University of Portland student, who may be receiving a scholarship that honors Molly Hightower (I'm sure Rachel's blog has/will explain more). The Haitian prospective student seems smart and should fit right in at UP.

The afternoon was spent with some of my favorite people here in Haiti: the abandoned babies at the hospital. As I've mentioned earlier, these kids were left for dead outside St. Damien's, many because they have birth defects, mental issues, or the parents just can't afford to take care of the kids anymore. Yet many of these kids are adorable. Rachel has fallen for one 10ish month old girl in particular, Sabienka. Despite the fact that she used some questionable handling tactics (Sabienka's balancing skills are not quite as strong as Rachel might have thought they were...), Rachel and Sabienka have gained a strong liking for each other the last few days and I think both will be sad when we leave (early Christmas present for Rachel, Mrs. and Mr. Prusynski? I'm sure a new Haitian baby is just what she needs).

Fiona, Rachel, and I decided that we'd go check out the cholera camps tonight to see if they needed any assistance. Upon arrival, we couldn't find hardly anyone in any of the 15+ tents. We finally stumbled across all the workers and a few patients - surrounding a TV, watching Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao play soccer. Quite an amazing site. Yes, this is a bunch of employees not working, but the fact that they have this much time on their hands is a very good sign that cholera is slowing down and nearly under control in this area. Let's hope it stays this way.

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Due to the fact that most of the facilities that I was working in today didn't allow cameras, there are now pictures to be had. Sad, I know. However, tomorrow should be a little more exciting. I will either take pictures of the OT stuff if I help there or the abandoned babies. There is also a rumor of an evening of cheese and wine on the hospital roof with the Italian doctors that are here treating the cholera. Goal: Meet and take a picture with the legendary Italian "Cesaer," who is basically the most badass looking doctor I've ever seen. He got stitches a few days ago and smokes like a chimney. We'll see how it goes.

Pictures...

Haiti internet is epically tempermental! I'll work on them tonight. Sorry everyone!

Watering Cite Soleil

As promised, photos from today's excursion. I will say this: the struggle that Haitian people go through everyday is truly amazing. Just spending one day delivering water to families who don't have access to it any other way makes me appreciate the ability to walk from my couch to the kitchen, turn on the tap, and have essentially an endless supply of clean, drinkable water. Yet, despite their constant battle for this basic human right, Haitians manage to find joy in everyday. They are generally happy and friendly people. During my time, I have yet to feel unwelcome or unwanted. At the water truck today, we saw people in a situation that for any American would have been embarrassing to the point of anger or annoyance with a photographer's presence. But not here. Every Haitian today either approached me, wanting to be photographed or gladly allowed me to document their predicament. Today was an amazing, eye-opening experience that I only hope I am able to show through some of my photographs.

Here is Cite Soleil. This is litterally a river completely covered with garbage. There is water underneath that trash.

One of the many little kids that wanted to photographed. After this picture she walked off with a full 5 gallon bucket on top of her head. Intense strength.


The line formed quickly when they saw our truck pull up.

Slums.

Our rastafarian tour guide.

My token "feel the pain of this young boy" picture. You're welcome National Geographic.

Our bucket line down the street of Cite Soleil.

One of the many "Hey you!" kids.

Above what seems like a whole country of tent cities.

When there are no jobs, sometimes the best thing to do is nap under a tree.

Filling up the water trucks after delivering to the slums.

Kicking It In Cite Soleil

So tonight will be a multi-posting blog. Two presents for you all to enjoy! First, what happened in words.


The morning started with us heading over to mass at 7am. This is my 3rd mass so far on my trip and only the 6th mass of my life. I'm becoming more and more Catholic by the day (not really, no worries). The church is on the NPH campus, which is evident by the daily funerals for the cholera victims that take place during mass. Today is no exception.


After mass, Rachel hunts down a friend of a friend and we get set up for a day working on the water truck. NPH delivers water to the most needy areas around Port-au-Prince and, unlike other trucks, doesn't charge for the water. Our guide for the day is Dimanch, who is honestly one of the largest human beings I've ever seen in person. Muscles for days.


Dimanch and two of his friends stick us in the cab of the Mack semi and we head off to Cite Soleil. Cite Soleil was once considered the most dangerous slum in the entire world until 2007 when the United Nations moved in, forced the gangs out, and got the dangerous situation under control. After a crowded four person cab ride to the slums, we set up the truck in the middle of a shack area. Kids and women come running as if they knew we were coming, screaming and holding plastic buckets. A chorus of "hey you!" is shouted at Rachel and I, since we are the only white people in miles.

We take pictures and make many little friends as their mothers fill literally thousands of plastic buckets with water. We do this twice during the day which takes us over six hours and by 4pm Rachel has gotten tired and I'm sun burnt to a crisp.

The day has gone by quickly and all I want to do now is rest. However, we need to make a quick food run to the market (Quick trivia: What kind of store has armed guards with shotguns standing along the entrance gate? Haitian grocery stores). I am dying for some pizza and while that's not going to happen, Rachel and I grab some canned pasta sauce and noodles for dinner. The only reason I share this story is because we are joined for dinner by the most diverse group of people I've ever hung out with: an Argentinian, two Irish women, a Haitian, a Canadian nun, a French surgeon, a Dutch project manager, and us two Americans. If nothing else, this trip has shown me that the world comes together to do good things in times of need. We are drinking and talking and I'm about ready to sleep. During the last week, every night I feel like I never know what is store for the next day when I go to sleep. But I'm sure tomorrow will provide another plethora of entertaining events.

And Down the Mountain We Went...

This morning... oh this morning hurt. Last night started out wonderfully - a picnic with some of the other volunteers overlooking the valley, beer bought from what I think was a bar/ barber shop/ abandoned quake wreckage, and a good conversation about ghosts and voodoo. But this turned into Rachel and I drinking WAY too much gin and juice with our new friend Eddie. Hence the painful morning. We did manage to get up at 5:30am and hiked up to the top of the mountian (all uphill and about 2.5 miles) which gave us a pretty surreal view. After heading down to the orphanage, we took a nap and then caught a truck back to Port-au-Prince. I got a video of the bumpy truck ride but as I've come to find out, computers and internet in third world countries are a bit on the technological slow side. So no videos or pics tonight.

Upon arrival to Port-au-Prince, we strolled over to the abandoned babies room at the hospital to have some tea with the little girls. My favorite, Jonackson, was sleepy so it gave me time to hangout with the other kids that were left there. I definately improved my baby skills by rocking an upset infant to sleep (yes ladies. I cook too. And I'm single).

On the walk back to our main residence, we happened across Johnnie, Molly Hightower's Haitian man-friend. He is super nice and took us around part of the rest of NPH that we hadn't gotten to visit yet. He introduced us to some of his friends who are going to take us out to city in the morning. Should be an adventure.

Overall, I know I'm happy to be back to the city. A bit too much relaxation up on the mountain had started to lead to some boredom and too much gin.

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Sidenote: yes, I'm still taking my malaria pills. No, I'm not feeling too sick anymore. Yes, I'm still having crazy dreams. I attribute that to the voodoo down here. Yes, I miss pizza.

Bonus Remindatory Link

A reminder to check out Rachel's blog today. She uploaded a lot more pictures of our time up here on the mountain.

Doug's First Orphanage and Other Stories...

Greetings from the NPH orphanage in Kenscoff Haiti and Happy New Year! The interent (and electricity for that matter) has been sparce and hard to keep working. But the last 3 days have been amazingly relaxing and entertaining. After leaving Port-au-Prince, we traveled for nearly two hours up the mountain to the orphanage. The goat (see previous post) made the bumpy trip with us as well, in a less than living state. This did not please Rachel. I told her it was nothing more than sharing a truck ride with a meat market. We stopped halfway up the mountain at a market so we could stock up on New Years Eve snacks and drinks. While we forgot to take pictures of our purchase, a box of wine, 5 500ml bottles of rum, 2 beers, and some snacks cost us all of 15 american dollars. Woot cheapness! Above is the view from where we are staying. It overlooks the valley and is quite breathtaking. Its kind of like a mini resort on the campus of the orphange.

On the first day here, Rachel found her godson Kervenson (or as I like to call him 'Kermit' or 'Svenson'). He is really shy but every once in awhile he flashes a smile.

Rachel also hunted down Jeff, her parents godson. Kermit and Jeff (above left to right) really seemed to enjoy the gifts and warmed up to Rachel and I quickly. I wandered off and took in a soccer game. Soccer games are a regular happening and these kids are fantastic (you hear that Sounders FC? Come scout in Haiti...).

Above is the sloped dirt field that they use with the tarp goals that work really well. There are two other concrete fields that the kids use, for a total of three fields on the campus.

Joseph (above) is tiny but schooled me in a little keep away (video to come later). I called him 'Messi' but I think he thinks I'm calling him 'Thank You' everytime I see him.

Yesterday we went on a hike with Jeff and Kervenson up the mountain outside the gates. Both grew tired and weary with Rachel's enthusiasm (as did I) and we headed back down for some Cokes at the local ''bar.''

We have spent the majority of our time hiking, playing with the kids, and talking to the volunteers. I have grown attached to one kid who I hope to maybe sponser as a godparent if he doesn't already have one. We shall see. I know that the most difficult work is still ahead of us but so far I personally have found the last five days rewarding and eye-opening. I will leave you with a picture of the average Haitian - hardworking, resourceful, and friendly. Hope everyone is having an amazing New Year!