I arrived November 1st, greeted at the airport by friendly Red Caps and security police alike as if I’d been gone years instead of months. Each and everyone of them asking about my family and if they are well. Its hard not to feel all warm and fuzzy with a welcome back like that. Or is that just the heat and humidity that making me feel hot and sticky? Actually, I think I adjust easier to heat than cold so I’m feeling quite comfortable so far.
A much different feeling though as I return to stay in a hotel instead of the familiar guesthouse we’ve come to know and love over the years. I have a nice suite- 2 rooms with a bathroom, a TV, air conditioning, small fridge and stove. There is a pool. Within a short period of time, I realized that it isn’t much different than the guesthouse after all, everytime the power goes out, I am not the one running to start the generator (thankfully, since the power is going off and on a half a dozen times a day. I’ve run out of water a few times but that happened often enough. the air conditioner only works on city power so teases me throughout the day with slightly less warm room, the TV receives no signal but I’m not used to watching tv here anyway so don’t think about it much.
Internet is in and out along with city power but only within certain distance of router and no cement to block the signal. One has to be tricky and alert not to miss the opportunity.
The pool was empty when I arrived but they soon filled it as they have swimming lessons for about 30 kids several mornings weekly. The hotel is adding a section to the end of the hotel so construction signals the start of my day. ATV’s racing down the road have replaced the roosters at similarly odd times of night and day. Well, actually, they just drowned out the roosters crowing...they are still crowing.
Since I’ve been back I’ve picked up a team from Canda, went to Indigo Beach, visited the new PIH University Hospital in Mirabalais, toured the construction site of new guesthouse- it will be nice when finished....hopefully by the 22nd, and a happy reunion
with my colleagues in the clinic. A team from Utah arrived on the 7th for 9 days, and I took them on a tour of downtown followed by a trip to Boutllier for lunch and up to Baptiste Mission. I walked down to the ‘zoo’, a desperate name for what it is- to see how it faired the earthquake. My first and only other visit was in March 2009. The angry monkey, alligator and iguana were gone. A friendly goat, a beautiful but ragged peacock and many, many happy rabbits were all that remained. I’m hoping that monkey found a happy place and that the alligator is not roaming the streets somewhere.
Mrs. Turnbull- aka Madam Wally saw our group and asked me to join her for coffee. She and her husband started the Baptist Mission and have lived here for years since 1946. She is a bit dotty and forgetful but pleasant and full of questions- barely pausing for me to answer.
Utah left on the 16th and a team from Canada arrived the same day. As Monday the 18th was a holiday we traveled to les Cayes, and spend the afternoon at a beach in Port Salut, about an hour north of Les Cayes. A bit cloudy, lunch took 2 and 1/2 hours to prepare but it was nice to have some relaxing time. The team provided an educational workshop to 16 persons from Les Cayes and Port au Piment over the next 2 days. We headed back to Port au Prince to repeat the workshop in our clinic. A couple of late nights of dancing later and the team left this morning.
Its been a busy, very productive 24 days back.
Progress is being made at the guesthouse and I can’t wait to get back there. I’m missing my familiar staff (and my dog).
