The Past Week

Premonitions
So the weekend that Michel and I decided to just relax, a bunch of the international volunteers decided to go to Bassin Bleu (see earlier post for the time we went).  At intermittent times on Saturday, my mind would wonder to the idea of them and I would get this feeling of dread. At which point, I would say to myself “Get a grip Mitzi!  You know you are a worrier.  They are fine.” 

Well, when they got back on Sunday, we found out that one of the volunteers had been treading water and gotten very tired.  He had tried to attract someone’s attention but failed.  Shanna, a staff member, just happened to see his fingertips as he went down for the last time.  She dove into the water as he was sinking deeper and deeper.  She pulled him out with the help of the guides.  Within minutes of that, another of the volunteers was jumping from the high rock area when he slipped in the process and although he missed hitting all the rocks, he hit the water on his stomach.  Shanna dove back in and grabbed him – he had the wind knocked out of him.

So, am I just a worrier or should you start calling me “Jojo, the Psychic”.

School 16 & 17

We spent Monday thru Thursday finishing up the paint job at 16/17.  Unfortunately, the opening ceremony is happening this week.  We are quite sad that we aren’t there for the ceremony but such is life. 

We did get to have some of the students come help us paint.  Paul, in a moment of clear thinking, decided not to let the kids paint with their hands!  Instead, they got to use the paint rollers and brushes while the volunteers supervised.

Baby Shower

Wednesday was Berlyne’s, one of the Haitian translators, last day as her contact had come to an end.  She is very pregnant so some of the girls decided to have a baby shower for her.  Now, baby showers are foreign to Haitians so it was a bit of a spectacle.  First, there were both men and women at the event which is not common – even in Canada.  Then, some of the games they played – not even I was familiar with. 

The first one involved 6 diapers and 6 different chocolate bars.  Each diaper has one chocolate bar smooshed up in it and then it is passed around and you have to figure out which chocolate bar it is.  Now, this requires smelling and tasting but the mere fact that it is in a diaper and looks like poo is a bit of a turnoff – even if I haven’t had chocolate for weeks!!!

The other game was a drinking game!  They had 6 baby bottles with drinks ranging from coke to beer in them and it was a race to see who could finish their bottle first.  One smart guy bit the end off the nipple of the bottle and won first place!

Accident

Friday saw Michel and I on School 18 doing rendering.  It was very sad to not be on 16/17 but they didn’t seem to want to finish it up (painting of names over the classroom doors and some landscaping).  We ended up only working a half day because there was a major traffic accident right by School 19 and the entire work group there witnessed it and some of them tried to assist the injured. 

The accident involved two dump trucks, a school bus (used like a city bus so not packed with kids) and several motorcycles (they are a major form of transport here).  The two dump trucks were racing and one had to pull in and in the process clipped the other one which sent it off course.  It hit the school bus which then hit a power line (it came down and snapped the electrical lines).  I am not sure where the motos got involved.  10 people died and we don’t know how many injured there were.  This is because in Haiti, when an accident occurs, ambulances are not the first on the scene.  So, many people put the injured into tap-taps and have them taken to a local hospital.

We heard from one of the volunteers that people threw dirt on the live electrical lines to insulate them and that they were so “hot” that the dirt started to liquefy and bubble like a baby volcano.  We did not get many details about the injuries and fatalities – of which I am glad – but many of the volunteers where very upset. All Hands was trying to arrange counselling for anyone that needed it and there were definitely several that did.

As well, Saturday was designated a “light” workday and anyone who didn’t want to work would not be made to work and no work would be done on School 19 to give the volunteers and community members some time to process the events.

Marie-Michelle in the BioSand Filter area lost her cousin in the accident.

It was a sad note on which to leave.

Saying Goodbye

Most nights, there was a meeting for all the staff and volunteers and one of the usual topics is the opportunity for those leaving before the next meeting to say goodbye.

On Friday before the meeting, I asked Michel if he had thought about what he wanted to say.  He said he would “wing it”.

When it was time, he caught me off guard.  He was overcome by emotion and was very sad to be leaving and thanked everyone for making his homecoming to Haiti a beautiful experience.  He got a large applause from everyone which made me happy for him – it was clear that he had made the difference he was hoping to make.

In our relationship, I am the organizer and have a few control issues (please, family and friends – do not guffaw too loudly!) but I had told Michel before we arrived that once we got to Haiti, I would relinquish control and would look to him to take care of any business that needed to be done.  I have to say that he rose to the occasion and took great care of us.  As part of this process, he seemed to become more outgoing and was very interactive with the Haitian staff, volunteers and community members at School 16/17.  It was fascinating to have our roles reversed and see him thrive.  

Name Calling

At School 16/17, one of the community members was named Papi.  He also worked at the schools as a disciplinarian.  He and Michel struck a bond after Papi made fun of Michel by calling him “President Martelly” (Michel Martelly is the current President of Haiti and is an ex-pop singer), in return, Michel would call Papi “Papi Doc” (a take on Papa Doc – one of Haiti’s past dictators).  This went on for weeks as they got to know each other.  Papi even gave us a tour of his family farm which is beside the schools.

Once the Haitian’s found out Michel and I were married, they stated to call me “Madame Michel” and I kinda liked it so got used to responding to them when they addressed me this way.  It got to the point where it was even a bit of a joke.  Everytime Papi walked past me, he would call me “Madame Michel” in a funny voice to which I would answer “Papi Doc” also in a funny voice.  In all the weeks we were at 16/17, we never said anything else to each other, other than these names.

Lighting Our Way

In PAP on Saturday, we went to a Xmas craft/art show that Tante Mary and Garry were in and ended up buying one of Garry’s lamps that we had admired at the last show!  Garry is going to arrange for it to be shipped to Zita.  (Regine & Mona – if you are reading this – don’t you dare touch the lamp!  I don’t want to come back to Montreal to find it in one of your livingrooms!)

Miami

The flight to Miami was uneventful and we got to Tante Marie-Terese and Oncle Gerard’s without any problem.

We had a great couple of days visiting with them and Patrick while we unpacked, packed and repacked all our stuff for the trip to Manchester.