Thursday, April 30, 2009

Patricia and Cyril
Yellow Room




Red room

Protocol Room for visiting dignataries









a view of gardens from second floor






one of two grand staircase (opposite each other)





Most recent bust, Tousainnt Louveture (forgive me if I spelled the name wrong)





I was always under the impression that the National Palace didn't accept 'tourists' inside, but early in my stay here I was thinking about places I would like to visit or things I would like to do during this extended stay. I mentioned to Cyril (my friend from Tours Haiti) that I would visit the inside of the Place National. He told me he had gone to school in Montreal with the President's daughter. On Tuesday, he called to ask if I had plans for Wednesday....well, I had a team coming from Oakland about 11 am. He said be ready to go at 9 am. I had an 'appointment' to meet Patricia and tour the Palace! I was so excited I couldn't sleep. At 10 am, after going through several security checks, we were in the Protocol Salon being served coffee while being given a short history of the Palace. I was told about the different areas of the palace and told I could take photos. We didn't visit the actual offices where some of the administration was meeting delegations from Cuba and Venazuela this morning but told of the close ties Haiti held with these countries. After that we visited the Yellow Room where Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and Ban Moon recently held their press conference with the press with President Preval, the Rouge (red) room & the Protocol salon for visiting dignataries. The Bust room is encircled by the busts of the first 10 heads of state. We visited the private apartments, beautiful rooms, some of which were still decorated as Michelle Douvalier, wife of Jean Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier during the 80's. This apartment is used for special occasions mostly not as a resident for the President. Most recently it served as the setting for the Presidents birthday that coincided with a visit from the Prime Minister of Canada in January. We visited the private garden where the Mr. Preval has geese, ducks, peacocks, chickens and fish ponds. A quiet and lovely setting where occasionally the President will take his lunch.The rear of the palace is surrounded by army barracks, most of which is empty. We were shown rooms were political prisoners were held and interigated...small windowless rooms. I saw words etched into the inside of the doors such as you see in one of the pictures. I think the spirits of those men still linger as I felt such dispair in this area, a stench still filled the air. At this time, our tour guide was a man that worked there from the mid 60's to about 1987 when Baby Doc fled to France. He then lived in the US for 10 years. I thought but did not ask if he had moved there for his safety. During the Douvalier regime- of Papa Doc who declared himself President for Life, the country seemed more prosperous but were also years of much corruption and fear. Papa Doc did not have an official army but a large volunteer corp of men that earned the nickname of TonTon Macouts. People lived in fear of these men that killed anyone and thousands of people from different accounts that I have read for any reason. The Tonton Macouts are not active as such but I'm sure some of these men are still around, maybe as part of some of the 'gangs' or rebel groups or some compacity for the National Police. Our guide Kathy gave us some history, but often Cyril added much more information filling in with not only trivia but also more indepth history of Haiti as well as the Palace. Certainly the reason he is an excellant and perfect tour guide for Haiti. The original palace was in the same location but built facing a different direction. About 1904, one of the (gun)powder rooms exploded destroying the palace. At the time, there was rumor (that continues to this day) that the explosion was terrorist caused. In 1914, the US Marines began their occupation of the country and the Palace was temporarily moved to another site.The construction of the new palace was started and completed in 1921.Mr. Preval is in the 3rd year of his final term. It was my great pleasure to meet his daughter and have the opportunity to see this beautiful National Palace. I'm fortunate to have a very good friend named Cyril.
( a second group of pictures posted following this)
Current National Palace
Temporary palace in 1904




Patricia Preval and me
former army barracks (prisoners were kept beneith the barracks in cells.



etchings inside of door of interrogation holding cells shown below.










Me in the lounge salon of private apartment.






lounge salon, very beautifu











one of the connecting hallways








Peace doves, a recent art addition designed during Presidents birthday party




Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Does God give do overs?

My friend asked that question...I don't know why she asked it but it has been on my mind since.
Of course in relation to Haiti as that is all I know lately.
My first thought is no, he/ she apparently does not give do overs. Haiti somehow seems forgotten in the scheme of things. But then I visit a home for handicapped children called Mefibochet. This beautiful home was founded by Madam Lionette Pierre with the help of Open Door (a church) in Minnesota. These children came from around the country not just Port au Prince and this is Gods do over. They came from hopeless and in many cases loveless situations. Some have family members that care enough to try to give them a better life. This is a beautiful home filled with love from the Pierres. In all cases, a do over for the children to receive the loving care of a family. There are more than the 17 handicapped children living here but to see these children happy and thriving after hearing their stories is one of the most successful do over stories I've experienced here. Kensy asked to have his name changed from Pou ki sa which means 'why', he lived on a dirt floor with his grandmother and people coming and going walked over him. He said if he could come live with Mme Pierre, he would only eat every 3 days so if would not cost too much to care for him. He appears to be hydrocephalic, has never been to school but is very smart, sings and would like to be a music teacher. He does not walk and is about 15 years old.
Ywenson is 8 yrs old and his legs are disabled. Ywenson has learned to walk on his hands, in fact plays soccer and keeping the ball away from opponents. He would like to have his useless and bent legs cut off but is fearful that having prosthetics will slow him down.
So Elena we just have to recognize the do overs....These 2 boys and the others have a bit of a chance now.

Friday, April 17, 2009

April 16, 2009

Yesterday was hot, humid and emotional. I had a visitor, Mr. Hanson a pastor from Minnesota that has been coming to Haiti in 1986. He most recently heard about Healing Hands and through a number of people he learned about me being here, contacted me and made arrangements to come. I gave him a tour of the clinic and of the property. He brought his friends including children from the orphanage they run. This home is called Mefibochet House and has 17 disabled children. Antonio and I will be visiting next week and I have already made arrangements for 2 teams to visit as well next month. I'm very excited to be a part of this new partnership for HHH. One of the little boys that came walks on his hands due to mishapen legs. I was told he is so agile on his hands, he plays soccer and is so fast the other boys can not get the ball from him. Two of the little girls walked in using walkers - six months ago were unable to walk and scooted about on the ground.

I have to share some sad news...if you have been keeping up with the blog you know that we had a little turtle. Yesterday we discovered that he died.
Our guesthouse staff was very sad. We had a little burial for him in his garden. Of course, I have no idea why....turtles are supposed to live for a very long time!!!! Everyone wants me to buy another one and Noel says next week he will find out where he can buy one and what they eat that we weren't giving him.

The senatorial elections are to be held this Sunday...its holds promise of being very interesting in terms of disruption promised by the Lavalas party who has been locked out of participation. Most likely to be seen in the capital. From some things that I've read, in the departments- areas outside of the city- there is more voter apathy. This is due the people not knowing the candidates and the candidates not taking their message to the people.
Again, I wish that I could understand the radio talk shows to know more.
I've made promises that I will not take a ride on the water truck to Cite Solay! In fact, will spend time at the pool and listen to the the atmosphere around me.

Celine picked me up for dinner last night- we went to my favorite Italian place for dinner and I had ravioli filled with pesto, shrimp and mushrooms in a type of alfredo sauce. Oooh sooo gooood!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter Sunday morning thoughts

This morning as the sun shines through the leaves surrounding the yard, light playfully laughing on the leaves, dancing in the slightest of breeze from tree to tree, I sit here on the step outside my room, a cup of coffee in hand. Sounds surrounding me like a blanket on a cold morning though it is not cold at all, a multitude of bird songs, a child's squeal of delight, voices of the Indian UN workers, cars honking in the distant, the crunch of leaves under foot as the security guard passes by. I hear the normal rythem of the dogs barking, a occasional rooster's crow and music of my ipod softly playing in the background.The air was washed clean after last night brief rain shower, the ground covered in the litter of the trees from the wind, I can smell the sweet scent of the gardenia-flowering tree floating like a butterfly. I suddenly wonder if by writing these words, I will recall the memory of this morning. I have a memory from childhood of going to a movie with my dad and my brothers- it was the drive in theater and in my memory it was a Disney movie about a horse with the flying tail. In my memory, the next morning was Easter. But now as an adult and I recall this memory, I think it is distorted- It couldn't be Easter time as I don't believe the movie theater opened until sometime in May. No matter, it is a memory that recalls a feeling of a warm spring day and happiness and brings comfort. I hope the peaceful feeling of sitting here this morning can be recalled in the same way. While there is a little feeling of melancholy sitting beside me as host for other feelings that wash over me from time to time, this morning is lovely. Will it be intermingled with the memories of the other 160 or so other mornings I will have spent in this country? I write so I don't forget, so they can remain distinct memories and infuse the intense feelings of the moment back into my being. Haiti is not a place easily forgotten by those visiting and forges its way into ones heart. Its many layers constantly revealing itself the longer I am here yet it is still unknown like the secret ingredients of the hougans' magic spells. Will I be able to uncover them before I leave or am I only revealing my own layers that allow me to accept what is or isn't. The thought lingers in the air....will these memories last a lifetime or skitter across time like the lizards across the cement. A lifetime I should imagine.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Gonaieves, Project Medishare & Easter







Its been a quiet week here...well Sunday evening we had some surprise visitors. Two men arrived looking for a place to stay for a couple of night. They had been to St. Marks (where one of them had served his mission many years earlier) and also to Gonaieves. They discribed it as still full of mud after the hurricane season last year. I have some pictures of it after the hurricanes. The city remains in devastation to this day.
Ken and Ed and I paid a visit to Hospital de la Paix - I think that is the name...It is a very nice hospital and the Project Medishare team does their surgeries for the hydrocephalus children here. They are the only people to do surgery as they are able to bring a portable autoclave to sterilize their instruments. The hospital has a non- functioning autoclave so no longer does surgery. Dr. John Reghab is the pediatric neuro surgeon in charge. He told us how the program needs to expand and he now has surgeons from Boston and Kansas City on his team... Currently the team comes twice per year to do surgery but his goal is to have the program (including training Haitians which he does ) develop to having at least 4 team visits doing the surgeries. The sooner they can get to these kids the better outcome. He expressed much appreciation for the partnership of HHH and also made a point of thanking the docs (from Team Portland) that saw many of the children when the team was here in February. He said he wished he could have that collaboration before each visit. They did 25 surgeries and some children have already returned home- They felt is was a very successful trip- even the 'tricky' surgeries had positive outcomes to that point. Jony said same as of this time. Very happy news for everyone.
Ed and Ken left Tuesday morning. Hopefully, they will send me some of the pictures they took at the hospital.
Since this is Easter weekend, the holiday begins tomorrow but in actuallity today at noon. I was just informed.
My son is leaving today for training in California until May 1. At that time he will return home to finish up business before being deployed, first to Georgia for more training and then when the unit is ready, they will be shipped to Iraq. He is scheduled to be there for 1 year. As a mom, I'm feeling pretty emotional about this. I keep telling myself not to think about it but its not working. I should have another opportunity to talk with him before May 8....
Happy Easter to everyone...

Madame Gail's Toti











This is the 'pond' made for Madame Gails' toti. It now has rocks, water and he is able to go swimming then climb out and travel around for a shady spot to sleep or to search for critters to eat. I still don't know what he likes...Jean wants to get him a companion so he will search to find how much and where to get another turtle...

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Toti's new home

Toti the turtle aka Ti chat dizyem, had had several homes since he came to live with us...now he is outside the dining room. He has a bigger space to run around in and this afternoon some worker guys made him a little cement pond to swim in when it is dried. I think he should have a little ramp to crawl out but we will figure it out. I will take pictures tomorrow. He seems to be doing well although Mercia thinks he should have a friend. Maybe he should...

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Sunset in Haiti







We had a great sunset last night...my camera (or is it the photographer) doesn't do it justice really.

I also can't catch a photo of the bats catching bugs! Oh more news...My 2 little gecko friends are apparently more than friends after last nights 'entertainment'. I wonder if I'll have baby geckos running around my room soon. I forgot to tell you about our other pet.. Bought at the Iron Market downtown in an effort to save his life, we now have a toti - turtle- his name is Ti chat dezyem. (little cat, the second) Ti chat (Dave) bought him for $1.00. I had to make Jean promise to not eat him(he is only about the size of the palm of my hand) and to help take care of him. He said not for at least a year... Ti chat 2 is living in a planter in the house. Never a dull moment around here.