tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89735166597123684822024-03-05T08:27:48.180-08:00Haiti: Reflections of my journeyThoughts, stories & pictures during my time in HaitiGailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-6570262894570528442016-01-25T21:32:00.000-08:002016-01-25T21:32:23.385-08:00The Final Journey- Leaving Haiti<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
Its been a month since I left Port au Prince- ahead of the storm that is Haiti elections.</div>
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A bit of winter weather delayed my return to Portland by a week due to traveling with my dog but it allowed for an adjustment to temperature and a bit of rest and relaxation and Christmas with my son. </div>
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Now in Portland, it is a different reality. It’s winter, gray and rainy, cold. At least in comparison. Hot chocolate, a fire, layers of clothing and family keep me warm. </div>
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I wake early, usually about 5:30, lay listening to nothing really- no roosters are crowing, no dogs are barking, no horns are honking. I don’t hear the village begin the day in the silence and darkness of my house, but only in my heart do I know that music. </div>
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I take Jak for walks and to the dog park (when its not raining- she also doesn’t really like the rain) and find myself talking to her in Kreyol. She doesn’t listen well in either language but she likes going to the park. </div>
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I continue to get news from my friends and colleagues in Haiti, their messages of ‘you miss us’ tugs at the heart strings- I do miss many of them. They have taught me much these past years, least of which is humility and grace, kindness and to count your blessings. I promised I would come back to visit and they promised to visit me. </div>
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It remains to be seen what is next up on this adventure but for sure it will have to be big to equal life in Haiti. However, right now I’m not looking for big, just time to get re-acquainted with my family and friends, my neighborhood and city. While I am doing that I still need to find a job, and find my place. Life is different here. Unimportant things are made more important, time is expensive and one has to stop at all red lights. </div>
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Noel and me</div>
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Lade and me</div>
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Jak in her travel home</div>
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The remainder of 6 years possessions. </div>
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Jak relaxing<br />
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Alise and Tamara<br />
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Leaving can be difficult<br />
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Jak adjusting to a new life...<br />
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new weather.....<br />
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and potential new friends at the dog park.<br />
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Sunrise this morning as I was going to attempt a fitness class... and I can hardly move tonight. </div>
Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-89476260355364730202015-11-03T12:44:00.002-08:002015-11-03T12:44:39.338-08:00Haiti: A Final Reflection
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Haiti: Reflections of my journey has been about me, about my
thoughts and my observations of my trips since 2007 and since I began living
here in 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve not written anything
since June- mainly because my ‘reflections’ went to a much deeper place to come
to a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be leaving in
December and returning to Portland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
hasn’t been an easy decision by any means but it is time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may be the hardest one yet to write. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My blog was started because I was writing emails to my
friends and family and more people wanted to be part of my journey by reading
about my experiences while I was here and it turned into a mass email, then 2
mass emails as the number grew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone
kindly suggested a kinder method of sharing by writing the blog. Thank you to
that someone! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sharing, in many ways,
has become my journal and for that reason at times I wish that I had made more
entries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for sharing my
journey!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Twice since 2010, my computers have crashed and I’ve lost
photos, my camera was stolen and many of the photos had not yet been
downloaded- precious photographic memories lost as quickly and as permanently as
if they had been lost in a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Except</i> those that I shared on Facebook
or on my blog! Photos such as my visit to the National Palace in 2009 and photos
of my dad’s memorial. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both equally irreplaceable
but yet here they are. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t really
need the photos however to remember the memories etched in my heart like a
tattoo- the memories are brought to me through faces that I can scroll like a
flipbook and recall whenever I want. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for the memories! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve met many good people while living in Haiti. Wonderful
people that will be forever friends. People that I have great respect for because
of the work they did or continue to do and that have inspired me for that
reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there is my Haitian
family- those that have cared, comforted, laughed and shared and cried with me.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful for the opportunity to
know these people that have become friends and I shall miss them dearly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for your friendship and love! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can say it was Healing Hands for Haiti that brought me to
Haiti but it was the people that I met over the years, along the way that will
keep my heart when I leave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-3992718260850023972015-06-18T11:48:00.004-07:002015-06-18T11:48:49.501-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcTCDLxuIxMIXJKgmQJijmoTp5OErGVfoSwK3LEEfOKzj1LDmQyevYuEbqAmrrTQeESscybkuyqzFuTXaMQGIG276Wf09y0iOHYi4P3wUSX7bD1hDAjxlnYG9XUnLI21HQ16S-mLw/s1600/My+family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcTCDLxuIxMIXJKgmQJijmoTp5OErGVfoSwK3LEEfOKzj1LDmQyevYuEbqAmrrTQeESscybkuyqzFuTXaMQGIG276Wf09y0iOHYi4P3wUSX7bD1hDAjxlnYG9XUnLI21HQ16S-mLw/s320/My+family.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Ewald, future Senator in Haiti, with his blan family after graduation from Portland State U. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. You've made a lot of people proud today. Lots of love son, mom.Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-20936786275980750262015-06-18T11:38:00.002-07:002015-06-18T11:38:42.580-07:00L'Union Fait la Force : Flag Day<div class="MsoNormal">
______________________________________________________________________-<o:p></o:p></div>
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Flag Day- May 18th<o:p></o:p></div>
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My posts have been long overdue. It is Flag Day here in Haiti. Part of the reason for this is the election
process. I’m a bit fascinated by it. And
it seems there is news about it every day. These
elections are long overdue. It is not
even a sure thing that they will happen on schedule – the first round is set
for August 28<sup>th</sup>. There are
about 140 positions for senators and deputies and mayors in many cities
throughout the 10 departments add more. There are about 2000 plus candidates
for these few positions. This is also
the final year of President Michelle Martelly’s
reign. Since January, and with a
‘temporary government’ in place, he has ruled by decree- like a king. The number of candidates for president has
been trimmed from 50-something to about 24 now. The number of political parties
reduced to 125. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the US, although we do have more than 2 parties, the
Republicans and the Democrats have held the power for the last century. We may not always agree with our party of
choice, and we have the right to change our choice, the strength of one party
over the other often causes change to go into effect. In the US, the president can also run for
second term back to back- often when the incumbent wins, the second term is
much more productive. The President has
nothing to lose by fighting for what he has wanted since his first
election. In Haiti, the president cannot
run for a second consecutive term, so he is going to fight for his choice for
his party- with the hope of back to back to back of victories. Aristide-Preval-Aristide-Preval had their
opportunity although Aristide couldn’t hold up his end of the bargain, Preval
was the only president to complete 2 full terms in office- in over 200 years. Until
Martelly, the King of Kompas turned King, err President of Haiti. The first round of Presidential elections is
set for October 25, with the run-off election of top 2 vote getters scheduled
for late December. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The motto on the Haitian flag is <u>L’Union Fait La Force </u>or
Unity Makes Strength. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Not to be disrespectful but I find great irony in this in so
many ways. With 2000 candidates, it is
obvious that the 125 parties, have more than a few candidates for each
position. So even as those 2000 are
spread out over the 10 departments, there are still a lot of candidates to
learn about. What if you can’t read? And
if you are not aligned to any particular party, say you are able to vote for
the first time- how do you choose which party meets your personal views. And
how are your views formed? In my home,
growing up, I always thought my dad was a democrat and was never sure about my
mom as she never really seemed to care about politics- maybe she was too busy
as a farmer’s wife but it was always a little confusing as my dad kept saying
he voted for Harry S. It wasn’t until
many years later, when Obama was running for president that I saw each of them
differently and probably more honestly.
I had always viewed my dad as the more progressive, more enlightened,
more open if you will UNTIL Sarah came into the scene…but I digress here and
since my dad is no longer here to debate or in fact to defend himself, I shall
have to move on. My mom likes Obama and
after my dad died, she received a letter from him, thanking my father for his
service to his country. She hung it
above the chair he always sat in and thought it quite funny. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Back to Haiti…family history most
likely is first influence in a young person’s political views as is probably
true of everyone. In Haiti, the influence, and reactions, may be a little
stronger in some cases, depending on the family history in politics or because
of politics. Dictatorships, coups, violence, poverty tends to affect people’s
thinking. There seems to be a tendency
here that if people are promised change and then when change is too slow the politician
falls out of favor. The President for change,
the King of Kompas, had a huge task placed in front of him in taking on this crown
after the 2010 earthquake. The election
of 2010 was drawn out nearly 6 months before he took office, the country still
reeling from earthquake, then hurricanes, and cholera, foreign ‘experts’ all over the country with
their own ideas of what this country needs most, and
not to mention the government and the people, themselves. His popularity goes up and down like Obama’s.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I read about and reflect on the
politics of Haiti on this Flag Day holiday, they are really no different than
politics in the US or probably anywhere. Just as interesting or not, just as corrupt,
dull, confusing, frustrating, and controversial, as anywhere. Difficult to trust who may be honest or who
can get the job done after all the political rhetoric is put to rest and the
wheels need greased. Living here, I feel
a great distance from the politics of the US and have little to do with politics
here in my adopted country. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Unity Makes Strength. I think whoever has the number #10 next to
his name will have an excellent chance of winning. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-8092080560294767252015-01-11T10:56:00.002-08:002015-01-11T10:56:38.797-08:00Haiti- Rising Above the Rubble- 5 Years LaterToday, like most other Sundays I have off is spent like many Sundays people spend here in Haiti or anywhere really. Watching the whatever big game is on TV, relaxing, washing the car, going to the barber, relaxing....But as if I could forget, google news is reminding me that 5 years ago, life changed for many people. Five years ago today, Haiti had a relatively peaceful, stable and relatively functioning government. But on January 12, 2010 everything changed. The earth rumbled, the earth trembled and the walls fell. The houses fell. The businesses fell and the government fell.<br />
Amongst the rubble, good intentions rose and 'Build Back Better' became the chant that would solve all the problems over the next 5 years. Promotion of jobs for everyone. Promotion of tourism. Improved security with the Politour - a new security police trained to provide security for those tourists that would come pouring in to visit the new and improved version of Haiti. Unfortunately, the good intentions have seemingly faded under the sun.<br />
Anti-Martelly protests have filled the streets regularly these past months. The Prime Minister was asked to resign as part of a deal to soothe someones ruffled feathers in December. International Governments are calling for accountability.<br />
Tomorrow marks 5 years since the earthquake but because elections haven't been held at anytime during the past 4 years, it will also mark the end of a Democratic government- amidst cries of corruption, Martelly will become the president turned dictator until elections are actually held.<br />
The presidential elections are due to be held in November, but elections for Senators, Deputies, Mayors whose terms have expired over the years are supposed to be held in April. or May. or who knows.<br />
As reporters descend upon the country to cover the anniversary, they also have fodder to make negative headlines because its what sells. <u>'</u>Where's the transparency?", Tens of Thousands Still Living in Tents, Cholera Epidemic Haunts Haiti, 'Effects of Quake still felt by Canadians'. <br />
In short, the world wanted a slight miracle to happen apparently- That Haiti- the same one without much of an infrastructure and not much history for transparency, the same one with poor medical facilities and even worse police department was to turn itself upside down and inside out to be whatever foreign governments wanted it to be.<br />
And yet despite it all, progress has been made. Progress is happening. Despite the governments lack of functionality and transparency<br />
Yes, it is very disturbing to know that there are about 70 thousand families still living in make-shift tent and scraps of found metal and wood. It's sad the a US judge recently dismissed the lawsuit against the UN for its responsibility for bringing cholera to a country that hadn't seen this epidemic and deadly disease in generations.<br />
This Haiti where over 150 new schools have been built; roads have been paved; hospitals and clinics are providing better than ever healthcare and rehabilitation. Tourists are coming. Bike races, marathons, and even polo are competing with the national sport of soccer for attention. Over a million people that lost homes, do have homes. Government buildings are being built.<br />
On this eve, its been reported that a new political accord is about to be signed before the midnight deadline. Perhaps the political impasse will be avoided by this; perhaps not, but the people of Haiti should recognize that the possibilities with Build Back Better are indeed happening. It is up to the people of Haiti to rise above the daily hardships, to let their voices be heard in the solidarity and strength they showed when the earth rumbled and trembled and the walls came down.<br />
I hope the walls stay down and rising in their place is hope that in the coming 5 years we will see a stable government that represents the people will be put into place and those 10's of thousand people will find permanent and safe homes, education and healthcare will reach new standards of excellence, and cholera will once again be history.Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-86086330981830950802014-11-02T09:48:00.000-08:002014-11-02T09:48:18.738-08:00Turning Back Time- In HaitiDaylight Savings Time started this morning- as I was reminded in a 6 am text message. My opportunity to take advantage of the extra hour of lost to the chime on my phone. The darkness that was there yesterday morning suddenly replaced by light making further slumber impossible. <br />
I laid in bed thinking about the passage of time, turning back time. <br />
Passage of time- Jean Claude Duvalier, mostly better known as Baby Doc died recently and as a private funeral was held, the passage of an era known only to those of age before 1986 and by those since in the stories of their families. <br />
Turning back time this morning, would I change anything other than to get that extra hour of sleep? Its a tough question that indicates regrets. Having regrets is non-productive. Certainly, I have traded some precious time with my family and friends, but in knowing they were developing and living their own lives, its not necessarily quantity of time spent but he quality- the time you do have with those you love and miss you give your full attention.<br />
We choose the road we take (or its chosen for us) in life based on many factors. Our experiences in life, our growth through those experiences, our sense of adventure, the people we meet and those that have influenced us in some way through their lifes' experiences.<br />
I remember my dad's aunt once telling me that I should seek to travel and that working for the United Nations was a way to do that. As a 12 year old farm girl, I had no idea what that meant. but I never forgot it. She herself was passionate about travel and did so often, even well into her 80's.<br />
Did that have any influence in the direction I've taken years later? May there is some parallel universe that nudges us to veer off the 'normal' path or take that right turn at the crossroads.<br />
However I got here, it has taken me on another path. I have a new job and am 6 weeks into managing the HHH Klinik. My title is Coordinator of Programs for Education. A change and a challenge and a way to use the 20 plus years of working in rehab and along side of some pretty awesome people in Portland and now 5 years in Port au Prince. I don't have time to turn back more than an hour on this road from 'Port au Port'.<br />
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<br />Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-2492619743821734662014-08-14T10:13:00.000-07:002014-08-14T10:13:13.440-07:00Politics and PlayEgads! Its been ages since I've updated my blog...A lot has happened since that last post. What inspires me to write is pretty random at best. It is usually something unexpected or a situation I am grappling with that leads a million different thoughts floating in my head in those hours of dark that I should be sleeping. Concrete solutions don't necessarily follow however- at least not last night.<br />
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The big news this week has been the prison break with 329 prisoners escaping, the most notorious, an alleged and confessed kidnapper was caught along with about 19 others over the past few days. The Haiti National Police force are said to be working hard searching for the rest while questions swirl about how this could happen in the newest and most secure prison in Haiti. I think it is all about politics. This is supposed to be the year of elections- which were scheduled for October 26 but have been postponed...<br />
Politics in US, especially in a major election year is mostly annoying to me. Campaign sound bites, constant ads, negative speechifying and the amounts of money spent are ridiculous. For some reason, here in Haiti, I find it fascinating. Of course, what I understand is that I will never understand it. There are so many levels - not the least of them is the history. I read a list of the parties that have registered- well over a hundred and those don't include some of the major parties. Campaign speeches are limited to a few months before the actual election is to take place. I've been told that a candidate must have $300,000 to register and campaign. That means a candidate must be rich to fund his own or more likely someone funding his campaign. If however, if you are not in a majority, where do you get the funds? So I will follow, listen and try to understand all of the complexities knowing as I do so, I never will. Everyone has an opinion, everyone has a story- or memory, of past elections or the dictatorship of Papa Doc and his son that pretty much dictates how they feel about voting. I think only one President (Preval) has full-filled his full term of election, twice. Although many did not vote in the last election, most all were quite happy that Martelly was elected as he promised people that change would come, that the country was open for business (his campaign slogan). However, as this year progresses, there are usual signs of discontent- manifestations being just one indicator. If you ask people if they are satisfied with the progress made- and there has been progress over the last 4 years, unless it directly impact their life, they aren't really satisfied. Itswa or tripotai- stories and gossip- are more readily spread and believed. On a personal level they don't believe their vote matters. But this is no different anywhere else, is it?<br />
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On a more fun note, last Sunday a group of us went to Jacmel for the day- a walk along the board walk, a little shopping and lunch on the beach, mostly just a relaxing getaway from the big city. Returning to Port au Prince- and home, was not as relaxing as once we reached the outskirts of the city, we got into traffic. Literally, 2 and 1/2 hours of sitting or inching was spent people watching, speculating about the traffic problem- and solving the countries problems. Once we got moving, it took no time at all to get to the guesthouse with the driver finding streets and short cuts to avoid anymore traffic. As patient as he was, he was definitely tired of it.<br />
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Tomorrow is a holiday, so we have a 3 day weekend to fill with activities or not. Maybe some time at the pool, maybe a day trip to the beach. It will be a topic of discussion at the dinner table tonight.<br />
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Variety of photos from Jacmel<br />
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<br />Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-48510524789431700012014-06-01T12:02:00.000-07:002014-06-01T12:02:35.218-07:00Stained Glass Windows<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sitting on the hard bench, watching the sun shine through the blue, red, yellow, green and white plastic roofing that resembles stained glass for the congregation I reflected on all that I am thankful for...it was my first visit to attend a church service in a number of years. My staff have all but given up asking me. To be honest the first church service I’ve attended in Haiti many years ago left me feeling less than reverent. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I did not grow up in a family that was religious. Maybe my folks fulfilled their spiritual needs living in the country through hard work on the family farm. This I don’t know as it was never discussed. Through friends and neighbors, I did attend Bible studies, Sunday school, summer bible school and even summer Bible camp. Whether this was my mom’s attempt at offering me the choice or to get me out of her hair so she could do her work (more likely) really makes no difference at this point. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The service this morning was mainly in Kreyol, and while I could catch a few words, I didn’t have enough comprehension to follow the sermon. The peacefulness - spiritualness I felt was no different than when I sit gazing at the trees and birds, listening to the little river rippling below. Its simply a different setting. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Whatever setting, it is good to have that time to reflect on the wonders of our lives...who knew that little country girl would end up at the other end of life in a far and away different life as lived by my mother. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I guess I should thank Jill, Kate and Nancy for asking me if I ever thought of taking a mission trip and Matt too for that matter. They took this country bumpkin into a bigger world. It’s been my life adventure. I know many people that have traveled to many parts of the world and have seen and experienced much more than I - even my kids have seen far more places. I’m grateful for their bravery and sense of adventure and hope they will continue to explore outside their boundaries. For me, it seems Haiti suits me. Maybe I am just looking through stained glass windows this morning, but am content and happy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m sure its given me much more, taught me much more than I have given in return. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Its all about learning and living each day isn’t it? Good to have a weekend such as this one to remind me. </span></div>
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Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-32250440135915581852014-05-17T14:43:00.001-07:002014-05-17T14:43:24.244-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The array of photos are not exactly in order of story that follows but I hope you will enjoy seeing them.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitskafnJTnBCpA0IaEWeD38ma4LWt0jWSl9Q7KNoj2epSSKzKtrW1Gnon058vCdf6M1LHwEbQmd2-GBsXZ7Mh-JHc8n35Csjz_j0dA7KGVkEOn4K05YO9cqRQVd4c2wIqSjtr03kry/s1600/IMG_4492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitskafnJTnBCpA0IaEWeD38ma4LWt0jWSl9Q7KNoj2epSSKzKtrW1Gnon058vCdf6M1LHwEbQmd2-GBsXZ7Mh-JHc8n35Csjz_j0dA7KGVkEOn4K05YO9cqRQVd4c2wIqSjtr03kry/s1600/IMG_4492.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>New Jerry art</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7O_-tWB6WLxobfpfWO3BwvmErrpo0bO2qJRU6w2nBNgokSoJeNxgYTQapOKqHljwTaOEnCJCwD49gggfVlBWmQhRFCIfTjaOFN-Nlkl_FLf-K2uh9V_vj2Aa1jYthxOhos5XOv4z/s1600/IMG_2756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7O_-tWB6WLxobfpfWO3BwvmErrpo0bO2qJRU6w2nBNgokSoJeNxgYTQapOKqHljwTaOEnCJCwD49gggfVlBWmQhRFCIfTjaOFN-Nlkl_FLf-K2uh9V_vj2Aa1jYthxOhos5XOv4z/s1600/IMG_2756.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>Happy Flag Day, celebration 211 years of Haitian Flag, May 18th </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdAbMrZMG6dzxn1L7VmnbIN4XDqIHAlrwEokoyFItyR3-K4zj5oltrTEgYUv_M3TWKhvTnd6DWUiPIOUnBbG8RLJIYoMgWLotkK7_SpRW9Tt1Zm8LvLlySxY5vB2M5zMQpDmnHFWz/s1600/IMG_2814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdAbMrZMG6dzxn1L7VmnbIN4XDqIHAlrwEokoyFItyR3-K4zj5oltrTEgYUv_M3TWKhvTnd6DWUiPIOUnBbG8RLJIYoMgWLotkK7_SpRW9Tt1Zm8LvLlySxY5vB2M5zMQpDmnHFWz/s1600/IMG_2814.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>I passed on this veve, and kind of regret it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-ILlLU0SMXJWSxF6nrdxFDuzGOI4NM9qHsGPNF0SKbRYUIKCqp9PyOxOMGAoyQi4EH_cffoW8pAs4GTs83fCy0uxEQ6q0iIhCZdt2m26H9XIZSBVOj_uPszYE2Uvc8blBbk0zN_r/s1600/IMG_2820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-ILlLU0SMXJWSxF6nrdxFDuzGOI4NM9qHsGPNF0SKbRYUIKCqp9PyOxOMGAoyQi4EH_cffoW8pAs4GTs83fCy0uxEQ6q0iIhCZdt2m26H9XIZSBVOj_uPszYE2Uvc8blBbk0zN_r/s1600/IMG_2820.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eAwmDTiGrt_tw63qZm4E2C98r7kiA0RFty1IUWUdhNVCH6hdb42ZFuOrvfOvR65Hfa2Er0nai3YpL1JiAG4aScO3AnbcrbrIrz2yv0255iMyVL2WieNEpfqG7B9g0mpVBMevWLoM/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eAwmDTiGrt_tw63qZm4E2C98r7kiA0RFty1IUWUdhNVCH6hdb42ZFuOrvfOvR65Hfa2Er0nai3YpL1JiAG4aScO3AnbcrbrIrz2yv0255iMyVL2WieNEpfqG7B9g0mpVBMevWLoM/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>Montana pool </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNgAuR0faWVnfBFYpox_VvMgSra3VqyxeOGj4Z95oQIeZQYrN4z-4TZpp1b5Erp_4XY8WzTVPZQaaXAYAeRBoBEHUVV5lL9XiJuojeWw01Nm6sGrqQlb-0dt5OQnuT_Z_y3G017BB/s1600/IMG_2895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNgAuR0faWVnfBFYpox_VvMgSra3VqyxeOGj4Z95oQIeZQYrN4z-4TZpp1b5Erp_4XY8WzTVPZQaaXAYAeRBoBEHUVV5lL9XiJuojeWw01Nm6sGrqQlb-0dt5OQnuT_Z_y3G017BB/s1600/IMG_2895.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a>Playing Casino at the Iron Market</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUQDEMqGEPHLBMrDmQXTveWMJleO-jl_r7SA6ZRCP-XLrEMSzLqR4OcqrdrbQGZwk9Nk_gxCp0Fv7GLkc54H_UO5xp_qbluSshYfVZIYmhkz987_Jf3eVjBEnxNbIzsOfyBP0Iy5W/s1600/IMG_2937.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUQDEMqGEPHLBMrDmQXTveWMJleO-jl_r7SA6ZRCP-XLrEMSzLqR4OcqrdrbQGZwk9Nk_gxCp0Fv7GLkc54H_UO5xp_qbluSshYfVZIYmhkz987_Jf3eVjBEnxNbIzsOfyBP0Iy5W/s1600/IMG_2937.MOV" /></a>at the beach</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8F8teM7z0uPZyeonpv4sHoc7W3l1EpBBXerxgqp-WZdN52dJq2Yk_UxiDnf7g7ne0lbdxHkC2p4tLRKEijetKxXzwzoyWW8UCXr6wxvTt27FAnf5ZcQgx4K96pmGFuaMy2H4IAlpH/s1600/IMG_2954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8F8teM7z0uPZyeonpv4sHoc7W3l1EpBBXerxgqp-WZdN52dJq2Yk_UxiDnf7g7ne0lbdxHkC2p4tLRKEijetKxXzwzoyWW8UCXr6wxvTt27FAnf5ZcQgx4K96pmGFuaMy2H4IAlpH/s1600/IMG_2954.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>Mini manifestation</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoEKVleYlapRCXJf1u8cYEhupUMEFc7x7-E7MeeaEa5-52MAwnBIO6FWj9NOrnjodXDiCzhQ_hoVZsbWghzkDtPg3Z89jlS2dbeb1DWiux8GzkKxNPLwAEsp3eiH1SLxPTbu3WVWW/s1600/IMG_3019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoEKVleYlapRCXJf1u8cYEhupUMEFc7x7-E7MeeaEa5-52MAwnBIO6FWj9NOrnjodXDiCzhQ_hoVZsbWghzkDtPg3Z89jlS2dbeb1DWiux8GzkKxNPLwAEsp3eiH1SLxPTbu3WVWW/s1600/IMG_3019.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>Driving to Jacmel</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ4cpPGan3g_hVMLIPIaNCBiBhnqvM0WvYxgVzeLx2rF27QVq_0yhwRTBtscgyqVakIYaHEVdRzARQcq7bCLua9ZudevKgaG4kAkxA_-saQsdBF96sYXeCX62__J8K2CKPj2_RNRH/s1600/IMG_3026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ4cpPGan3g_hVMLIPIaNCBiBhnqvM0WvYxgVzeLx2rF27QVq_0yhwRTBtscgyqVakIYaHEVdRzARQcq7bCLua9ZudevKgaG4kAkxA_-saQsdBF96sYXeCX62__J8K2CKPj2_RNRH/s1600/IMG_3026.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Welcome to Jacmel</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sh0c_F-bSf3wUQPf9ZALe8haEVc1_pr5NoiVFfPmk73nCWNw1fTGR8yROVJX8n36ObEfhTZ3ly4gkKQSHxukhHPAhVuC2vPtgI-pXXoRhTuVvdiShiEZm8KwcTPmAnTTr8I_WQsN/s1600/IMG_3034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sh0c_F-bSf3wUQPf9ZALe8haEVc1_pr5NoiVFfPmk73nCWNw1fTGR8yROVJX8n36ObEfhTZ3ly4gkKQSHxukhHPAhVuC2vPtgI-pXXoRhTuVvdiShiEZm8KwcTPmAnTTr8I_WQsN/s1600/IMG_3034.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Refreshment</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAfHjOIavZ7hCuwDx_HZRbB1sQzyNtaYI1Wd1VqV920hWTKYCrnbfbqHcRjg7Ar5JJ25cMqYP9-xxv_Rx7w4Pujo8vnHgmaDZMdfYSCQFEOAxgX-lS1ZlgweTa_V9edydAgs-JnTN/s1600/IMG_3052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAfHjOIavZ7hCuwDx_HZRbB1sQzyNtaYI1Wd1VqV920hWTKYCrnbfbqHcRjg7Ar5JJ25cMqYP9-xxv_Rx7w4Pujo8vnHgmaDZMdfYSCQFEOAxgX-lS1ZlgweTa_V9edydAgs-JnTN/s1600/IMG_3052.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Boardwalk</div>
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Frandy, Jean Jean, Ti Wes</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWt7GM33b7HPRWjuQlGlz1ZxbZNWSOSvaVk8QuFH8-ZA99SBoFvQaIHbNtCfzkp_8P6Y2m-UC85GgwWriwSnqss8qTK15CJUG_76Rews-sX36u2DY-hfsXWLaw27yHrXqWhD3iVXu/s1600/IMG_3175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWt7GM33b7HPRWjuQlGlz1ZxbZNWSOSvaVk8QuFH8-ZA99SBoFvQaIHbNtCfzkp_8P6Y2m-UC85GgwWriwSnqss8qTK15CJUG_76Rews-sX36u2DY-hfsXWLaw27yHrXqWhD3iVXu/s1600/IMG_3175.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>a little birthday celebration..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ9T9d_gZ4NShGWGJyAQeJrLu3u_6jbWAEtBmg4_Y8jQPWITX1zI2sGOF7hvkKGtcfihSyvIrjeF18OidUlCnl4ZgSpKbtaY4tx9ZQbVTNrelTimC_qz3ZyZ045d3cjaXAfPm71dA/s1600/IMG_3307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ9T9d_gZ4NShGWGJyAQeJrLu3u_6jbWAEtBmg4_Y8jQPWITX1zI2sGOF7hvkKGtcfihSyvIrjeF18OidUlCnl4ZgSpKbtaY4tx9ZQbVTNrelTimC_qz3ZyZ045d3cjaXAfPm71dA/s1600/IMG_3307.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>The top of the National Museum- no photos allowed inside.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pzBUQua2iV26iOw9PHowCm2Uh3eo2HwZn8Kba5c7rK52dQjvGo73tA87klCWWqMDieZkvXtNtUqBoJYuE9xy-0deCRvDOVzvvjn64ACstbXOsJMJOQvXCc9kqmikrM7MZlVi3Ok9/s1600/IMG_4398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pzBUQua2iV26iOw9PHowCm2Uh3eo2HwZn8Kba5c7rK52dQjvGo73tA87klCWWqMDieZkvXtNtUqBoJYuE9xy-0deCRvDOVzvvjn64ACstbXOsJMJOQvXCc9kqmikrM7MZlVi3Ok9/s1600/IMG_4398.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>arriving at Basin Bleu</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZnzjqJvdC2GZ1PHt2g9H5nD7PIb1LdlDxQeTJw7TIkaw3Iua72zy9gscaAbaOkQVfSW7zMh3rYJju9uSj1jqe0snwW7zkdjmuBUKjrprqXL5O6FSyf2VqySn7foHoJj3RWYuZ9lO/s1600/IMG_4473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZnzjqJvdC2GZ1PHt2g9H5nD7PIb1LdlDxQeTJw7TIkaw3Iua72zy9gscaAbaOkQVfSW7zMh3rYJju9uSj1jqe0snwW7zkdjmuBUKjrprqXL5O6FSyf2VqySn7foHoJj3RWYuZ9lO/s1600/IMG_4473.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Car wash and spa</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4M4FCqnakwadWDX4RqIEjVZRe9JkJlepug1ok8mH2lgSRRA6d0-2HbCUfmxh5pZFazTrQ2Y5vOOKVcbzF-u4oQi8v00mWUl-PGSXi4GDmw2o1ZcC9Df2Mzrjnv2R48inbvdUg5C0/s1600/IMG_4488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4M4FCqnakwadWDX4RqIEjVZRe9JkJlepug1ok8mH2lgSRRA6d0-2HbCUfmxh5pZFazTrQ2Y5vOOKVcbzF-u4oQi8v00mWUl-PGSXi4GDmw2o1ZcC9Df2Mzrjnv2R48inbvdUg5C0/s1600/IMG_4488.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5u-S3YDnhca0bONfuFNUeRoRDZl2ffU2NxfBXz-eyKNIRNWcuJIVjmJpX_xWApBsTux-G_yDsMSd6K4VQjgsUa_qosIZKeSpvRhcv6AzORKXqcdRY7sebuNiuwA0PredzzK9WYzi/s1600/IMG_3405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5u-S3YDnhca0bONfuFNUeRoRDZl2ffU2NxfBXz-eyKNIRNWcuJIVjmJpX_xWApBsTux-G_yDsMSd6K4VQjgsUa_qosIZKeSpvRhcv6AzORKXqcdRY7sebuNiuwA0PredzzK9WYzi/s1600/IMG_3405.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>My friend Beth whom I will miss very much and Karol</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99A3tcHL5_BqCxsJ5OHjj_9mlZ_Hx05qrvtBPdgOT76Ejx5ghkgccBcMC5SeI7Tk7YLL0jBUtX-xhWqabbnt9P_VROgVTcd1P8zLPDEenFvWeDMR8nH2TkYI9SAsbbP98Qv0nExUj/s1600/IMG_3489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99A3tcHL5_BqCxsJ5OHjj_9mlZ_Hx05qrvtBPdgOT76Ejx5ghkgccBcMC5SeI7Tk7YLL0jBUtX-xhWqabbnt9P_VROgVTcd1P8zLPDEenFvWeDMR8nH2TkYI9SAsbbP98Qv0nExUj/s1600/IMG_3489.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>my mom</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtzrIez_ZgI6H0j1BDm3vEUkMayzmA_05f-vrNCvjzSQ2huxF10QmfSdCKR4DuycnNcvx5c920ELchiWzxRHvvnxWrlTO10GyMPGNyfHcSPM3ZQEBlm6DyEjJ8Up082bCsyj7PvsN/s1600/IMG_3501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtzrIez_ZgI6H0j1BDm3vEUkMayzmA_05f-vrNCvjzSQ2huxF10QmfSdCKR4DuycnNcvx5c920ELchiWzxRHvvnxWrlTO10GyMPGNyfHcSPM3ZQEBlm6DyEjJ8Up082bCsyj7PvsN/s1600/IMG_3501.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>my brother</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHZfyIU5HrkGrzbCAKupdDDR-EmN1_Ni5EVVuocFOzJjnvMStnAYPrpwXWHwsVgr77AuesW4Xdzkz9IDdpFQIteg5wo7LCubkY6Aqw7HvHI-wGyepVzCQcESlqgWtYkULlxGG6Y0v/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHZfyIU5HrkGrzbCAKupdDDR-EmN1_Ni5EVVuocFOzJjnvMStnAYPrpwXWHwsVgr77AuesW4Xdzkz9IDdpFQIteg5wo7LCubkY6Aqw7HvHI-wGyepVzCQcESlqgWtYkULlxGG6Y0v/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>my baby boy</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHQInhVxNbiZhHDks3DBz34Q6fy9RVQ8dp0WUfk-9N430GT3QDt_IaYtWJTreO9jpctYd6B7vyGOISndq8T3A1gBSg4tQFRpAftz9FU9HyIy-IqB5yDQ4kB33o1nieGkY7OGjruYq/s1600/IMG_3623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHQInhVxNbiZhHDks3DBz34Q6fy9RVQ8dp0WUfk-9N430GT3QDt_IaYtWJTreO9jpctYd6B7vyGOISndq8T3A1gBSg4tQFRpAftz9FU9HyIy-IqB5yDQ4kB33o1nieGkY7OGjruYq/s1600/IMG_3623.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Be safe, I love you! </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Five months into 2014- time to write an update to my blog site. I just returned from vacation in Portland where I celebrated the birthdays of 2 of my now grown up kids, celebrated the life of my mother in law, visited my mom, caught up with friends (though not enough of them- sorry Jody and Linda) and said see you in a year to my son being deployed to the middle east as security for cargo ships ala Captain Phillips-style. A bitter sweet time to say the least. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Back now for a few days, I’ve nearly caught up with work missed while away which sort of takes away from the fun of vacation doesn’t it? Upon arrival I found that Chikungunya fever has turned into an epidemic - many of our staff have had or are coming down with this nasty viral mosquito borne disease causing headache and joint pain lasting 2-3 days generally. I’ll try to protect myself and hope that I don’t get bit but I’m guessing they aren’t very discriminate as to who those stealth buggers bite. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the past 5 months since writing an update to my blog, I’ve had the good fortune to have many old friends / teams visit and made some new friends from far away places. I’ve said good bye to others as they have left, knowing their presence will be missed. One of my favorite things to do is show people the ‘other’ side of Haiti, to experience the cultural side of Haiti. The National Museum is interesting and beautiful, the Iron Market is a crazy fun place to find ‘bargain’ artisan crafts if you are a strong barterer and Champ Mas is full of statues that represent the country’s history. And of course there are the beaches!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We had a four day Easter holiday weekend and decided to head out of the city. We first visited one of my favorite places, Jacmel, a southern coastal city about a 2 hours drive on wind-y roads through a couple of mountain ranges. Jacmel is the sleepy, but charming little sister to Port au Prince. But she is waking up- the new ‘boardwalk’ along the sea is beautiful with its wide mosaic path beautiful in the glow of street lamps. The town square is being renovated to provide a hang out for friends. My friends and I stayed with the family of my driver and also visited their home in the mountains of Jacmel. Our gracious host, Lucienne fed us spaghetti for breakfast and kreyol chicken for dinner; we received fruit fresh off the trees to more than satisfy our thirst- the sweet tang of grapefruit called chadduk, juicy little mandarins, the creamy white flesh of corosol and coconut milk- after the hike up the mountain trail.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">To wash off the heat of the hike, we bathed in the cooling waters of Basin Bleu. Basin Bleu is actually a series of 3 fresh water ponds reflecting a true aqua from the sky. A guide takes you along the 15 minute trail to the final pond filled by the rushing waterfall cascading over the rock walls surrounding the grotto. My first visit to Bassin Bleu years ago, I was too afraid to jump from the rocks; apparently, I’ve become more adventurous because I jumped (not from the top of course) but it seemed high enough. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The next day we went to the river to wash the van and bathe in the river- a totally Haitian experience. The river thought relatively small was just warm enough and fast enough to lay in and feel as if you were receiving a relaxing massage. We did block out the fact that there were probably more cars being cleaned, laundry and bodies being washed up river from us and just reveled in the moment. The afternoon was spent at a beach with the local crowd, sellers of jewelry, and wooden carvings wanting us to bargain for a good price as we dined on the fresh fish, piklis and banane washed down with Prestige and Barbincourt. Later we shopped downtown for some of the paper mache masks that Jacmel is famous for. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The third day of our road trip took us to Aquin for the annual Jazz Music Festival. We rented a couple of tents, relaxed on the beach before exploring the city square in search of dinner and then spent the evening enjoying some great music including Boukman Eksperyans. Although the tents were not on the beach as they were the first time I came to Aquin, the sleeping mats were much better, a slightly more comfortable but less romantic than sleeping on the beach 20 feet from the sea. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The next day we returned to Port au Prince, early enough to avoid the Rara bands in Leogane and to spend the late afternoon relaxing and reminiscing about our fun experience. </span></div>
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<br />Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-34191385803964576532014-03-16T13:22:00.001-07:002014-03-16T13:22:49.135-07:00Christmas timeDecember 2013<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I moved back into the guesthouse November 30- No electricity - except the very long extension cord that connects a lamp from the clinic. No appliances connected in the kitchen, I have a small refrigerator in the clinic. I woke up early to prepare breakfast of cereal and tea before the clinic came alive at 7 am. Once everyone left for the day, I made dinner- salad or sandwich. Kind of like camping really. The guesthouse wasn’t quite finished but as we were expecting board members and guests to arrive December 4th, the pressure was on. The staff came back to help clean- unfortunately for them, each time they cleaned something, the workers came back to create another ‘mess’. It had to be very frustrating for them but they were in good spirits and excited to prepare the new house for guests! We did it with no time to spare- electricity connected on the 4th along with the gas line for the appliances. A trip to the store to buy food, unpacking furniture, beds made. I don’t believe our guests really comprehended the amount of energy and work that took place in those 9 days prior to their arrival. Our staff rocked it. Our guests were surprised and pleased despite no art work on the walls. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From the 9th, when everyone left, I was alone again. I discovered I don’t need a big kitchen to prepare meals. Also, I’m a bit spoiled having someone to cook for me most of the time and I need to learn how to use a gas stove which I’ve always wanted. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I met the owner of a little restaurant that was planning a Christmas party for children. He invited some of our ‘patients’ to participate if I would purchase the appropriate gifts. Since I had been given a donation for this purpose, I went Christmas shopping. The first place we went to was ‘out of my league’ price wise but at the second place, we went to I was able to purchase 10 gifts for the 10 children chosen by our staff. Our hope was that our children with some disability would participate with the other children in the games however I heard afterwards that only 3 of the children came with their parents but they did not integrate well. I don’t know the age of the children that came or their disability but perhaps that was the reason. Integration is a key issue here for children and adults of all ages. Since the earthquake, everyone is related to, friends with or knows someone that survived an amputation of some degree. This type of handicap has certainly become less stigmatizing and with the number of persons with spinal cord injuries surviving, even as difficult as it can possibly be, most are finding they can be somewhat independent and continue to return to their communities with less fear. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Its clear that we must continue to bring awareness and integration as well as accessibility so that all may participate in community activities and feel comfortable in doing so. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When that happens, it will be a Merry Christmas to all. </span></div>
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Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-63900060107392004982013-11-24T17:37:00.000-08:002013-11-24T17:37:24.343-08:00My Return to Haiti...24 Days of Busy<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> 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. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Its been a busy, very productive 24 days back. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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). </span></div>
Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-59658695224971910762013-08-21T14:17:00.000-07:002013-08-21T14:17:13.316-07:00Magical Place<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Tomorrow morning I will not wake up to the honk of Canadian geese, a rooster crowing or the cows mooing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I won't wake up to the sun rising over the fields of alfalfa. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Tonight I won't fall asleep to the howl and bark of the coyotes as the run through the meadow above the house. This morning we woke up to no electricity, no water ad 3 cows in the field. At first I thought I was in Haiti, definitely not in the city. But all order restored after about an hour and we had our coffee and buttermilk pancakes. As always it's a little sad to leave my childhood home and say goodbye to my mother and elderly relatives (my aunts are about 87 and my uncle 91). I never get enough time with my brother and my cousins. Quality time is important when on limited time and long distance.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I did get a few days of river time which is a favorite way for me to relax. We attended two weddings and a baby shower. Dan saw a bear, Andy caught a fish, Erin cleared a trail up on jumbo mountain. We had fresh peaches.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I met Nicki in 2009. She is a therapist and came to Haiti on a medical mission. She was the grooms cousin and part of the wedding party. She lives in Minnesota. Now of course we meet here in Kettle Falls. In this small corner of the world we talked about Haiti so far away. People were surprised to learn of our connection and wanted to hear about it of course. The point here though is that she made a toast saying she heard about this 'magical place' on the river for a number of years but being from Minnesota and land of lakes didn't put too much stock in it. But she and other family members had to admit in August, in the heat of summertime there is no more magical place to be.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Until next time, as always I have the sweet memories.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And on the way out of town, we picked up a box of fresh peaches. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-70801645417654128992013-08-05T15:26:00.001-07:002013-08-05T15:26:18.108-07:00Haiti vs Portland
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Writing about my journey in Haiti is more difficult when I
am not there to be inspired to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since my journey brought me back home to Portland in May, it’s very much
a different life style. As I wrote before, purging and organizing is still
going on- I guess 30 years of collecting (and living a normal life) will take a little longer to sort than
I expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, living on a reduced
salary limits some activities so no excuses for not doing the sorting and organizing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can’t
exactly do a kitchen remodel however much I’d like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ideally, I would be watching the guest house building
progressing, not feeling concern for the well-being of our staff and hosting
volunteers however I’ve been given a summer, a teachers summer if you will to
enjoy family, participate in life events of 3 weddings,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>catch up with friends’ lives,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>renew my enjoyment of cooking. As I write
this the mouth-watering aroma of dinner is filling the house. Chicken with
pesto is roasting to be accompanied by fresh garden veggies- tomatoes and
cucumbers and corn on the cob from the farmers market will be roasted on the
BBQ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds yummy, doesn’t it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite has been spinach salad with
blueberries, goat cheese, pecans and strawberry <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>vinaigrette- the perfect accompaniment to honey
thyme pork chops, creamy garlic pasta or parmesan tilapia. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guesthouse cooks make good meals, the food
–especially fruit and vegetables are fresh so the difference is that I’m doing
the cooking. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBqrRNItJfb0Oua0hwFMGKdM49cM5hbx7NnlppxqLbbgVqByWKvREN_blP-0meBxYQGvvUDH9PPvy6EtyDzkRHhvzaia66xLiZAnNpLLkL1ZTPGb5FtGpy2SF-YB0BVxmwyJJG9cA/s1600/Farmers+market+color.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBqrRNItJfb0Oua0hwFMGKdM49cM5hbx7NnlppxqLbbgVqByWKvREN_blP-0meBxYQGvvUDH9PPvy6EtyDzkRHhvzaia66xLiZAnNpLLkL1ZTPGb5FtGpy2SF-YB0BVxmwyJJG9cA/s1600/Farmers+market+color.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s been a perfect time to be in Portland. After the
initial week of cold weather with my feet in socks and a space heater 6 inches
away from me, I’ve adjusted to the weather. Ha, of course it helps to acclimate
when it is 80+ degrees and nothing but sunshine. The few mornings we’ve had
marine air haven’t been uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking
to the farmers market, to the store or other places, gives me a sense of
freedom I haven’t felt in a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
of the time in Haiti, I am with someone and rarely walk any distance to
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking in Haiti requires some
logistical planning. Rarely am I alone or at a place that I can safely walk
other than on the property. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point is change
is inevitable and to embrace the challenges that come from change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That has been my challenge. Given the opportunity
of living in two countries so very different yet not so different, accepting
the differences, and appreciating the value of the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-27261874765348112662013-06-22T11:54:00.000-07:002013-06-22T20:57:38.419-07:00Four Weeks Since HaitiI've been home for 4 weeks now. I can't say that it has been an emotional or easy transition. I'm still the crazy cleaning lady and its not finished- not by a long shot. I'm still dealing with the shock and sadness of my dog dying. I've visited my dentist and doctor. I've walked and I've shivered, I've sat in sunshine and next to the fire place. I went to my daughter's Portland State graduation. I've been cooking- and made some pretty tasty meals. I got my computer repaired but lost all of my photos, music and documents. I'm still working on attitude adjustment.<br />
Monday we will drive to Kettle Falls to visit with my mom for a few days. Weather forecast calls for rain. Hopefully, that will change too.Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-31108997622785180582013-06-02T15:45:00.000-07:002013-06-02T15:45:35.448-07:00Leaving HaitiIt was an emotional couple of weeks. Closing up the guest house- packing all of the household items to move to storage, telling the staff goodbye, leaving my dog with Andy all left me exhausted and tearful. I wonder where this emotional stuff comes from. I will be back in a few months when the new guesthouse is finished. I'm sure that it is an accumulation of emotions- probably years actually. I've decided that a break will be good for me and I should take time to reflect and reenergize. I will take time to re-connect with family and friends and enjoy the time together that coming for a week or 2 vacation does not allow. And I still have to do some work. <br />
<br />
Reintegrating and adjusting: After being away for the better part of 4 years, my Portland house is more like what you'd imagine a bachelor pad to be like. So while much of the first week at home was cold, gray and rainy, I turned into a crazy person wanting to get everything clean and organized. It wasn't enough that I could flip a switch without thought that a light would shine, that I could step into the shower and it would be hot and soothing. It wasn't in me to sit back a watch a basketball playoff game and relax. I worked through the emotions by purging more tangible touchable stuff. I went through closets and dressers, filling paper bags with clothes and stuff to give away. There are all kinds of books about organizing and storing, heck there is a television show about hoarding...but I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to get 30 years of accumulated stuff sorted any faster or easier than 4 years of Haiti emotions or vise versa. Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-76735766125639056982013-05-12T19:29:00.001-07:002013-05-12T19:29:41.398-07:00What Haiti NeedsWith tongue in cheek, one night eating dinner we came up with a list of things Haiti needs. This came in response to hearing the Haiti on Ice had been postponed for the 4th time. Haiti on Ice is an ice skating show with International skaters scheduled to perform in the National Stadium. We wondered what kind of ice they would have that wouldn't melt almost immediately among other thoughts. We added a few other things- a goat cheese factory, a rain garden, more ice cream trucks that actually drove around, and few other absurb, silly things. <br />
<br />
Its easy to list such things as infrastructure, electricity, education, improved medical facilities, better roads, more police and fire protection and the big one, housing. For about 300,000 people, this is a big one. Of course all of this is needed but actually all of this is existing to some extent. We've seen most of the streets in Petionville as well as around the city repaved. We seen new solar panel lights installed along the 3 major roads from Petionville to downtown. Police are being trained in many areas and more have been hired. We see more people working though this isn't to say that wages are adequate for people to have even an average standard of living for the majority. We've also seen sidewalks being installed in different areas. or repaired- but still there is no ramped areas for w/chair users. Its more than difficult for people with disability to navigate in Port au Prince. <br />
<br />
My friend Fiona is back in Haiti to continue a follow- up research study with people suffering a spinal cord injury 3 years after the earthquake. Here are a few of the stories she has heard this week. <br />
A young woman in her 30's is living in a small cement room with her 2 children- one she was pregnant with when the earthquake struck and the other she shielded with her body for protection. Everyday she goes out to a different neighborhood to beg for money; once she has enough she will go to the street market to purchase food, then return home to prepare food for her children. She is fortunate that she can get people to help her into the taptaps when they stop. and help her out again. <br />
Another woman lives up the side of a mountain in an 8x10 room with her 2 children. Because of the narrow steep walkway, she never leaves her home. She has a brother that occasionally brings her food, she mostly relies on the goodness of neighbors that might give her something for her and her children. Both of these woman live in w/chairs and are independent with there self care. <br />
Another young man, a teacher, lives in a w/chair. He can not teach because he can not stand up to write on the black board. He did not go to a hospital after he was injured in the earthquake. He did not see or get treated by any of the international specialists that were here. Instead, he went to a 'traditional' medicine practitoner - a voudou doctor. At some point, an international therapist working with the community found him. He received a w/chair and had 2 therapy treatments before being "discharged". When Fiona and David found him and began talking to him, asking him his story they discovered that he had no problems that affected his bowel and bladder. He had feeling in his legs and could even move them a bit. Fiona and David looked at each and at this young man and asked him if he could stand. Because we think you can walk. They helped him to stand and in fact he did take several steps. His weakened and bent body would only allow this with much assistance but suddenly he had hope that one day he could teach again. Arrangements were made to get him therapy. <br />
Had he received treatment and therapy three years ago, he would be teaching today. <br />
<br />
According to Foundation for Spinal Cord Injury, Prevention, Care and Cure (fsip.org) there are 12,000 new spinal cord injuries each year in the US. In 2008, it was estimated that there were 259,000 survivors of spinal cord injury. Estimated life time costs range from $600,000 to 3 million dollars per person. <br />
<br />
In Haiti, before the earthquake, we knew of very few SCI survivors. Minimal to no medical care given, no referrals to rehab. The Haiti SCI Working Group now has over 300 patients listed in their data base to date. The number of survivors from the earthquake at 145. <br />
The medical care from International professionals, education given to caregivers at the centers where these patients ended up and the hope of walking again has led us to these stories and more 3 plus years later. <br />
What does Haiti need? <br />
Imagine what could be done with $600,000? <br />
Someone could have accessible housing. Someone could have a business. Someone would be teaching again. Wouldn't that be something? <br />
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Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-82786317939874179782013-04-28T09:36:00.001-07:002013-04-28T09:36:21.065-07:00Na we' pita...saying ' See You Later' is easier than GoodbyeSometime progress makes a left turn. Sometimes the journey takes a right. The twists and turns this week will affect a lot of people I work with, including myself. We are closing the old guesthouse as of the end of May. No longer will we have this old house with its old plumbing to provide us with memories. Certainly, in the fall we will have a brand new house to welcome our volunteers, a place to meet new friends and a respite after a day of work under the hot Haitian sun.<br />
The staff will have the summer off with their families and I too will return to Portland for the summer and work from there. I'll miss seeing the rise of the walls as the work progresses and I'll beg Andy and Beth and Riche to send me photos to share. <br />
<br />
Memories make up the chapters in the nearly 10 years we have been in this house. HHH started with a group of dedicated rehabilitation and support people that saw a vision of providing therapy to people with disability- stroke victims being one of the largest population of our services that stayed hidden in their homes. Little hope of recovery, let alone a semblance of normal life. Someone with a disability must be cursed, no longer seen in their community, no longer valued as a member of the community.<br />
Just as the walls came tumbling down during the earthquake, we saw progress being made in the world of handicap persons in Haiti. Eyes that were closed as if blind to those 'being different' were suddenly opened. Everyone if not related to someone, knows someone now missing a limb. In less than a minute, lives were changed forever and hopefully the chains that bound those with a crippling disease would be broken forever as well. Over the years of providing therapy, building a prosthetic leg or providing a brace, we had seen improvement on a very personal level. More like 'telejol'- communication like the old 'telephone' game whispered in someones ear, people learned they could be helped. It didn't come a government mandate of accessibility, it didn't come from medical referrals - few medical professionals knew about physical rehabilitation let alone recognized the value. <br />
There is the story of the voudou priest whose wife suffered a stroke during childbirth. The voudou priest loved his wife enough to bring her to our clinic for alternative medicine when traditional medicine had no effect. A few years later, a group of us were privileged to watch her dance with her daughters while her husband and sons drummed out a beat. Such joy on everyone's faces that day on the mountain in Furcy.<br />
We saw children take tentative steps with their new braces wrapped around weakened legs, suddenly take off across the room in the new found freedom of movement... like little George and Ti Jean. The smiles on their faces reflecting the happiness of their mom seeing for the first time, a future for their child. <br />
We saw the incredible increase of numbers of surviving spinal cord injury patients due to dedicated professionals sharing their knowledge.<br />
These sound like stories of our clinic but they are the stories of the volunteers that have come to Haiti, the ones that gave up vacation time, that left their secure world of hot water, consistent electricity, their "safe"world for a week or 10 days or 2 weeks, sometimes longer to live in a house without those amenities, to sweat in tropical humidity, to travel on streets with seemingly no rules, to suffer mosquito bites and worry about malaria, to reassure family members who only hear the negative news about Haiti. These are the stories of people dedicated to their profession, dedicated to make the world a better place for those most vulnerable. <br />
<br />
We had little option but to take this decision but it wasn't an easy one. It all come down to the financial viability. Fewer volunteers and guests throughout the hot summer months and struggling to get donations to operate the GH and clinic on a daily basis is constant and consistent organizational problem. We are obligated to people of Haiti and must make it work.<br />
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It will be a temporary good bye to staff and friends here, none the less difficult. Andy has said he would take care of Gracie if I choose to leave her here until I return. This <strike>may</strike> will be the most difficult goodbye of all.Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-68679319719442901722013-04-14T09:13:00.001-07:002013-04-14T09:13:32.596-07:00Finding Tranquility in HaitiSitting under the tree shaded patio watching the sun play peak-a-boo through the leaves, leaving dappled spots of light on uneven pavers, lizards chasing after sometime unseen. A gecko flirting broken brick wall. Gracie rolling and wiggling on her back to get at that one spot she can't reach to scratch. Birds singing a chorus of tunes that is my symphony this morning. An occasional laugh from something a guard said. The sounds of traffic interfere with tranquility is easily ignored. The occasional breeze brings leaves cascade over my head and computer and skitter and tumble across the patio. Its the season when mangos and breadfruit drop to the ground. This easy peaceful feeling is sometimes taken for granted in the day to day hectic world around me. I want to remember this feeling during the chaos. For the days when its unavailable.<br />
Everyday brings changes, expected or unexpected, that needs embracing. To allow frustration lead the way is to let the negative influences invade this peace. To maintain hope amidst the unknown is only a challenge when you don't look through that open door. Life is an adventure best lived. I think I read that somewhere. Adventure: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #212121; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: 300; line-height: 15px;">An unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. Todays adventurous activity will be to avoid those falling breadfruits and maintain tranquility in the pool. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"></span>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-86842242951232120392013-03-10T11:57:00.002-07:002013-03-10T11:57:50.999-07:00Progress for Healing Hands for Haiti Int and HaitiIts been almost 2 months since my last post...busy season with volunteers keeping me busy so yesterday was a time out. Beth and I went to the beach. The cloudy morning and a couple of nights of heavy rain, lots of work made the decision to go a necessity. A time out to refresh our spirits. And it worked. Sun, Sea, a massage, and more sun and then lots of sleep. Time leapt forward and we didn't really notice. WE both slept in!<br />
I'm looking forward to a later sunset this evening and think we should go to Montana and celebrate it.<br />
<br />
Driving to the beach I noticed much improvement in the road. Near Cabaret, new housing is being built- they appear to be duplex like- either attached or very close together. Never the less its new housing near a city or town, transportation, work, food, water, etc. Good to see the progress and building. Its crazy driving on the highway- even with posted speed limits, double yellow lines, etc and as darkness begins to creep in with a setting sun indicating headlights are a good thing to use, about half the time, they aren't turned on. I much prefer city traffic. Its at least more predictable, slow enough to anticipate what the other driver will do at any given circumstance. Most of the time. I am thankful for the drivers we have.<br />
Random photo selection:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcskeCaZd5AI96A4vwv7AnN_lBBkG__85UDn5Ty6ziVYiwbRLK_mo7WhPxg6tcUXUgc9k7WolY7x1kKf8URbYI9StwDLHtbeCvzsPdaoJckVDvbvszR-Ubshk82gK6Eu-kS3VGKTr/s1600/IMG_3363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcskeCaZd5AI96A4vwv7AnN_lBBkG__85UDn5Ty6ziVYiwbRLK_mo7WhPxg6tcUXUgc9k7WolY7x1kKf8URbYI9StwDLHtbeCvzsPdaoJckVDvbvszR-Ubshk82gK6Eu-kS3VGKTr/s320/IMG_3363.JPG" width="320" /></a>Justin working with child</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyMepSUyvtTrj9RePjWujVm8p2QFAoRkEDQ8KGz44oHb2r5TzAZfuqdVJJKhhKLlRGlevn8JqjVJG8SecH8vl4FhK0gvo5nDKiCBjYk1c25D8kfOfEr-kmkKZZE5-yFiMcqbjovDL/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyMepSUyvtTrj9RePjWujVm8p2QFAoRkEDQ8KGz44oHb2r5TzAZfuqdVJJKhhKLlRGlevn8JqjVJG8SecH8vl4FhK0gvo5nDKiCBjYk1c25D8kfOfEr-kmkKZZE5-yFiMcqbjovDL/s320/IMG_3200.JPG" width="320" /></a>Patient working out</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k1Iyt-m_fjLIaPchSy48RxRGL3u2L8CdpKcrTCITR5kc-tMgr7HGBmOPB2BQVljqFqRp18QY93XYRglLvlb-kS8c5Agpu-FE5H-qghnOxRxIjk3L2MQ5LahP6YHt_iX4yFN7Fg82/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k1Iyt-m_fjLIaPchSy48RxRGL3u2L8CdpKcrTCITR5kc-tMgr7HGBmOPB2BQVljqFqRp18QY93XYRglLvlb-kS8c5Agpu-FE5H-qghnOxRxIjk3L2MQ5LahP6YHt_iX4yFN7Fg82/s320/IMG_3369.JPG" width="320" /></a>Seminar</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIU8K5a2qg0XQrJOWKz8l_WEd8m97rcsERBiyWm0h5gCepmu31P398-XvUCkb65fWhSAmgmInv_fXMrkrCd9a0bzZ-WEHZli9_0jsASAwC1jZZ20CMG_DBdZCDG-IsF7DdjEy8cdt/s1600/IMG_3378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIU8K5a2qg0XQrJOWKz8l_WEd8m97rcsERBiyWm0h5gCepmu31P398-XvUCkb65fWhSAmgmInv_fXMrkrCd9a0bzZ-WEHZli9_0jsASAwC1jZZ20CMG_DBdZCDG-IsF7DdjEy8cdt/s320/IMG_3378.JPG" width="320" /></a>Beth at beach</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXQhjw-BAY9r0TBL6-zYC5w3piwXQHZI_tQaUh3dadhU-3EVXcosK7fdsQpahuzuElW-wcsdh0nWAAmW-ivtzvwmyYlvhrH9BXoyh9YgpTDRxQknc4hWpJQiQuR7o2AR3oOfrKaCe/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXQhjw-BAY9r0TBL6-zYC5w3piwXQHZI_tQaUh3dadhU-3EVXcosK7fdsQpahuzuElW-wcsdh0nWAAmW-ivtzvwmyYlvhrH9BXoyh9YgpTDRxQknc4hWpJQiQuR7o2AR3oOfrKaCe/s320/IMG_3374.JPG" width="320" /></a>Visit from ICRC</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOWk2MDHD3kyu8huxeuEUoOnQ660l1-ZH4ZkxsgvGd4sr6nJJzv2zIdYsLasX16hIV4DvrGNwhmj3XXXmpQ53NvXnaSWRZ9r7nrP14LCcB4BZSSvdmM_4RpTy6wJjodnF0PfZeLLb/s1600/IMG_3375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOWk2MDHD3kyu8huxeuEUoOnQ660l1-ZH4ZkxsgvGd4sr6nJJzv2zIdYsLasX16hIV4DvrGNwhmj3XXXmpQ53NvXnaSWRZ9r7nrP14LCcB4BZSSvdmM_4RpTy6wJjodnF0PfZeLLb/s320/IMG_3375.JPG" width="320" /></a>roof trusses</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAGjp2SNiOI1TX9nGUfzY2HbrxXAmXLzeA9Ckr01wrfVLCQ1kUQr92NX-NvaBwFL_NZk8P4pqaMJ3jxErS8OC9WfuLVuZYACEzdW9fVOmqGefn1a4JqpI0WVtfB9ZFb7LI5Yyu7i7/s1600/IMG_3386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAGjp2SNiOI1TX9nGUfzY2HbrxXAmXLzeA9Ckr01wrfVLCQ1kUQr92NX-NvaBwFL_NZk8P4pqaMJ3jxErS8OC9WfuLVuZYACEzdW9fVOmqGefn1a4JqpI0WVtfB9ZFb7LI5Yyu7i7/s320/IMG_3386.JPG" width="320" /></a>Dade at beach</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdyoFlr7HRLTyrNDHotKAXl4e02tyXUy3ayc4vSkmXQAKTz-OIe4kW1qrMbU6ov_sUO4j64WiAR0TUVqR59jJuX-YzTwD0v4T8O7eEYbgL-XIwV8_qaFzHX1eOlenqznzHTaf-3XS/s1600/IMG_3387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdyoFlr7HRLTyrNDHotKAXl4e02tyXUy3ayc4vSkmXQAKTz-OIe4kW1qrMbU6ov_sUO4j64WiAR0TUVqR59jJuX-YzTwD0v4T8O7eEYbgL-XIwV8_qaFzHX1eOlenqznzHTaf-3XS/s320/IMG_3387.JPG" width="320" /></a>we don't want to leave...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHiEDSDoDaJCXQJ3H2CgLoOJjLuDkGzujUIR_gIPCYh0_TEG5urnBp9Cwxp4r4AMkKnnWlXOW6gdPqmezHS77ibgjCLo5g7V94QZ-6GEj2X9E9Qbs1W4LuriAOjdrHMAre-N4bgxQ/s1600/Indigo+beach+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHiEDSDoDaJCXQJ3H2CgLoOJjLuDkGzujUIR_gIPCYh0_TEG5urnBp9Cwxp4r4AMkKnnWlXOW6gdPqmezHS77ibgjCLo5g7V94QZ-6GEj2X9E9Qbs1W4LuriAOjdrHMAre-N4bgxQ/s320/Indigo+beach+day.jpg" width="240" /></a>salut to a time out</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo-fniRzmkcX5wa0LbM9FurTC3YJ9-YwHtvrxX4Kn6ldUOhtJq9Q1rJbyyLKyzEuC1qCbFIbogyzfLk6wYoI_qh0HdB_tbWcQK-HKpxeXlkdwCjVrHmA2pxNLmON2uewbf8-tFWiQ/s1600/birthday+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo-fniRzmkcX5wa0LbM9FurTC3YJ9-YwHtvrxX4Kn6ldUOhtJq9Q1rJbyyLKyzEuC1qCbFIbogyzfLk6wYoI_qh0HdB_tbWcQK-HKpxeXlkdwCjVrHmA2pxNLmON2uewbf8-tFWiQ/s320/birthday+.jpg" width="240" /></a>Birthday love</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8yRV0elL4YUIjPsawdybwR8Vb7SVt90VaULexi0L4G7ibKn7GWSU8X8D_RhFqz-FnRDFe0SvK8PpQGxexNDuotMcfSBoVOzX4sOzJRv36kaDV9hfFPWcmHe3pCmHClGcBiojQ19K/s1600/container+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8yRV0elL4YUIjPsawdybwR8Vb7SVt90VaULexi0L4G7ibKn7GWSU8X8D_RhFqz-FnRDFe0SvK8PpQGxexNDuotMcfSBoVOzX4sOzJRv36kaDV9hfFPWcmHe3pCmHClGcBiojQ19K/s320/container+progress.jpg" width="240" /></a>roof trusses in place</div>
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This past couple of weeks we had volunteers from Utah that provided education, Justin from Seattle working in the clinic, a video crew filming footage for a new HHH video, visits from donors- ICRC and DRI. This week we will meet representatives for USAID...I'm very much looking forward to seeing my friend Al again. </div>
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Hopefully this week we will break ground or more accurately place stakes for the new guest house to be built next to the clinic. Work continues on the container P&O learning center, with completion date a couple of weeks away. </div>
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<br />Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-60471870320027961932013-01-12T09:25:00.001-08:002013-01-12T09:25:33.132-08:00Hope and Faith, Ayiti Cheri<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On this occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the January 2010 earthquake, I'm posting stories I've read. Its a way of memorializing those lost, those that suffered and continue to suffer through no fault of their own. So much has been written, blogged, tweeted.<br />
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I spent Christmas in Portland, spending time with family and friend, making appointments (dental, dr. hair, massage) and freezing although the temperature gauge said it wasn't that bed. People asked me "How's Haiti". Three years later I don't have a standard answer. Some people genuinely want to know. Others more or less, just ask. Some have opinions, whether they know or not, the truth. But this doesn't matter. What matters are that Haitians have opinions, voices and a say. To learn to say it. What matters is that people care about this. That people care about what is happening or isn't happening. And have the strength to change when it needs changing. <br />
Some things change, a the pace of a turtle maybe and other things don't. Time is a manner of perception. Certainly, in the wake of such a tremendous tragedy wreaked upon a country with so little infrastructure in the first place its not going to be easy. Name a place that has recovered completely in 3 years in any other part of the world- even one equipped and prepared for eventual disasters. <br />
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The saying it takes a village to raise a child can be applied to developing countries. But it means working together to do be successful. If I've learned anything about living here, nothing is straight forward, simple or always as it seems. I'm sure there is a proverb about this. I don't have answers but I continue to have hope. Hope and Faith is what carries Haitians through the good times and bad. Maybe a lesson for all of us.<br />
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Yesterday I spent the day trying to get a shipment of donated specialized pediatric wheelchairs released from airport customs. Donated by Team Canada, the team will arrive next week to rebuild, modify and repair chairs for special children in 8 orphanages. They have promised to release them on Monday. This wasn't just a one day attempt however. The shipment arrived on November 27, 2012. Since then we have made many visits to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Plannification, other offices that we are directed to to receive documents, get them officially 'stamped' collect signatures, etc. etc. I was instructed to pick them up yet when I arrived I was told I needed more papers and a duanne and pay money for them. Then I needed a signature, then I needed a reference number, and another signature, and after 11 office visits later was told I had to pay more money and come back on Monday. Back and forth, from one office to another, waiting, waiting, waiting. Its hard to wait. When you do everything they tell you to do but never in the same conversation or meeting, you begin to wonder how Haiti can move forward to complete a project in a timely manner. Maybe because when it is finely completed, finely successful, you can fully appreciate the accomplishment. When things come easy to you do you fully appreciate the effort...maybe for a minute or two. It becomes too accepted, too expected and too easy to forget. Certainly, if whatever you are working on is finished, you are able to move on to a new project. I tell myself, next time we will know what to do to avoid these moments of frustration, it will be easier, it will happen faster. But I know 2 things: the rules will change and its easier to watch grass grow. <br />
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We've seen a grand hotel grow and open with more to come. What we haven't seen is housing developments for people still living in tents and shanties. We had to go to La Saline near the port to obtain a signature and on the way through a not very nice area, we passed hundreds of 'homes' scrapped together of tin, sticks and gun-metal gray tarps and mud floors. To see sheets and shirts, hanging from roofs means people are actually living in these small rickety shacks defies all logic. This is what you see on tv show Survivor, not what families should be enduring every day of their lives. Until this changes, we should never forget.<br />
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For me it will be quiet day of reflection. Down time from the day to day activities that I do to continue the work of HHH. Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-44882007130198840812012-12-14T20:56:00.001-08:002012-12-14T20:56:38.125-08:00Some days are harder than others, not just in Haiti<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">She lay on the ground, in the dirt on the corner of a street
in the “wealthier” Petion-Ville. A straw hat partially shading her face from
the intense sun beating down, she appeared asleep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A soiled gauze bandage wrapped around her foot
and ankle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older woman sitting next
to her, legs holding a large half gourd, head bent, eyes staring at nothing and
a hand stretched in silent plea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mom’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pulling their
children past appear not to notice her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does she lie there everyday? Is she ill or ill from malnourishment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did not feel good to keep on driving and
I wondered if I would remember her as we continued down the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the block, we paused as an elderly
man with blue cataract eyes hobbled by with a pvc pipe for a cane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t seem to be having a problem
navigating the rubbly path that served as a sidewalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we drove on. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we passed the bank that I’ve sometimes used, the young
woman with her baby caught my eye and held out her hand begging for some coins.
Its her regular hangout as I’ve seen her many times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
drive suddenly seemed to be in slow motion. Not just traffic insanity that has
ruled the streets for weeks now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
looked around at other people walking past- businessman in a smart suit leaving
the bank along side young man with sagging jeans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could be seen on the streets in
Portland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The homeless crazy girl with the rags she wears blackened
like the charcoal being sold on the side of the road not much farther away. A
sad contrast to the Christmas trees made of stark white branches stuck in
cement <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as she walks slowly past. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The shoulder of her shirt is torn and hanging , the jagged
hem of her skirt barely reaches mid thigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite her appearance,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m happy
to see that she is surviving somehow with some dignity as her back is straight
and she holds her head high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen
her often over the past 3 years, more often talking to her self and looking a
little wild. My phone beeps a message received. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A message that children were killed in a school in
Connecticut- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>27 persons died; eighteen of
them children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, the sky doesn’t
seem so blue. The trees blurry as I gaze out the window of the car trying to
comprehend why there is so much harshness in life. As we slow to make the turn
to the road, I see the man who sits on the side of the road, his legs bent like
a pretzel, he moves across the side of the road using his arms like legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve offered him a wheelchair but I guess he
feels he will make more money begging this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve not forgotten the woman lying at the corner as we turn in the driveway
down to our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dog hops down the
stairs, her leg in a cast to greet me, happy that I’m home again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadness wins today. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-19234427571172438472012-11-17T10:54:00.001-08:002012-11-17T10:54:22.161-08:00THANKSGIVING IN HAITI<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What do I call this posting for November? A month of fun, foolishness, frustration and its not over...My pictures are not in order of all of this but maybe in order after all. </div>
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Despite traffic insanity - there is no other name for it and manifestations (demonstrations) daily for the past weeks we've managed to keep our perspective and have some fun at the end of the day. We sometime have to remind ourselves its important to keep a balance for our health. We have found ourselves going 'back' to work after dinner, to continue what we couldn't finish during the daylight hours. </div>
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All Saints Day into AlI Souls Day started with Gedes celebration at Oloffson- the place to be on this night. You have to be prepared because it is a long night. and long wait for RAM to come to the stage. However, sometimes the crowd can be part of the show and the fun. We stayed until 3:30 because some of us still had to work the next day. </div>
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But I will write around the photos...and start with the ring. Jake is an architect working for Msaada, a project manager of the cholera hospital being built north of Port au Prince. He has been here since July. His girlfriend has been waiting patiently in Minnesota and decided to come for a visit during Thanksgiving week. Jake decided to propose...and here is the ring.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSIH_Z8v4LSLpAGWBS0VzlhulnfqJW_lNzFosCOXc-kFx9DqUiTC9F_YE3Hk0RiVspJy2RTgOm4IUselKAqODyDykSRoPthyphenhyphen-2ZZOdiFB8jtFwI4WBlpJfhesKXAKwuYr5OaUJyuh/s1600/2012-11-16+15.57.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSIH_Z8v4LSLpAGWBS0VzlhulnfqJW_lNzFosCOXc-kFx9DqUiTC9F_YE3Hk0RiVspJy2RTgOm4IUselKAqODyDykSRoPthyphenhyphen-2ZZOdiFB8jtFwI4WBlpJfhesKXAKwuYr5OaUJyuh/s320/2012-11-16+15.57.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had all week to help Jake plan how to and when to propose. We wrote a list on the white board...Should it be a romantic sunset at Boutillier or the Montana Hotel? With the afternoon clouds coming in chances are it would be raining and Jake wasn't sure he wanted to wait. So we decided we would make it memorable in another way. And involve some 'friends' Waiting for Maria at the airport. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvp2VWMv_KVALVpyQyNHMRVFnftUEh7I_Cm_RyHnPdMHauJU4qBD0p32Oe9jHOHnAJri9vbRbyQjIbIG-Z6uofGsGJuYDZ_rAalqUeDfhyipQUoUVYQrMrnz4ZEF4jh-QXwjMO5sq/s1600/2012-11-16+16.22.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvp2VWMv_KVALVpyQyNHMRVFnftUEh7I_Cm_RyHnPdMHauJU4qBD0p32Oe9jHOHnAJri9vbRbyQjIbIG-Z6uofGsGJuYDZ_rAalqUeDfhyipQUoUVYQrMrnz4ZEF4jh-QXwjMO5sq/s320/2012-11-16+16.22.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We offered the Red Caps a Prestige if they would help us. Once they understood what was happening they were excited. We had 10 signs all with her name. They were quite cooperative and orderly- not quite the usual for them...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQpW80IzfViONT6kZxRgPd58cjO8IRTFQLMRaM1F18V9rtrddtn_kpgn8yA3ukNPC94G2NO87PgQIgV70MCx-a5Q9vOVrBuMBhCtdETIEX8e7bfd_k_w1bGKLjYNACCkFNKqXEhfq/s1600/2012-11-16+16.36.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQpW80IzfViONT6kZxRgPd58cjO8IRTFQLMRaM1F18V9rtrddtn_kpgn8yA3ukNPC94G2NO87PgQIgV70MCx-a5Q9vOVrBuMBhCtdETIEX8e7bfd_k_w1bGKLjYNACCkFNKqXEhfq/s320/2012-11-16+16.36.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpSkP9QFjet842S48A7yudHOTwbaWY3rfRJ3ccjBaldQ2x0Gno3csfdu0tEqRghvTBToRZcsZ1lJi5iFP53vjFcy6OjfxMjH3bzBXECzqBzqPYM7PAf3dTNAUjkK8agT2lLyUR16l/s1600/2012-11-16+16.36.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpSkP9QFjet842S48A7yudHOTwbaWY3rfRJ3ccjBaldQ2x0Gno3csfdu0tEqRghvTBToRZcsZ1lJi5iFP53vjFcy6OjfxMjH3bzBXECzqBzqPYM7PAf3dTNAUjkK8agT2lLyUR16l/s320/2012-11-16+16.36.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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With Jake standing back against the wall when Maria came through customs, the men started chanting Maria, Maria and soon surrounded her as Jake came from behind, gave her flowers, went to his knee and proposed. The men cheered! She laughed and said yes!! </div>
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Maybe a bit of shock and awe expressed in her face and obvious relief on Jakes' face but before we could begin to celebrate we had to go back inside to get her bag. Maybe the first proposal at the airport- At least for Hermann Demanche who is 77 years old and told me he had worked at the airport since 1934. He gave his sign to someone else but asked if I would still buy him a Prestige. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur2R6PtAVno_bzydI9kUCnh4ymm4eF0o-PvXisCg1Hdc1IEURC2qAspgTf9xD0F4nPg6vfeQN_leQpq97-Ff74rPuRZjZbwCRN-kpiuyiIibg6EwB8_me2DbJHLog1j2vTdp6KVBG/s1600/2012-11-16+18.29.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur2R6PtAVno_bzydI9kUCnh4ymm4eF0o-PvXisCg1Hdc1IEURC2qAspgTf9xD0F4nPg6vfeQN_leQpq97-Ff74rPuRZjZbwCRN-kpiuyiIibg6EwB8_me2DbJHLog1j2vTdp6KVBG/s320/2012-11-16+18.29.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The newly engaged couple- Jake and Maria</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRDP4XUV0GEiV5j4Zg5mof1_VzNByy4eEVQoR0M1QgjZ45lFwKMJwm6XMXSFIWvujn8N8ZkPD00Z-pLH6CQY8Ut3SRLxs_U1iwtsHfbefrZXARC63XFO2XH-FsTaQLnbXv4iuy65o/s1600/2012-11-16+18.30.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRDP4XUV0GEiV5j4Zg5mof1_VzNByy4eEVQoR0M1QgjZ45lFwKMJwm6XMXSFIWvujn8N8ZkPD00Z-pLH6CQY8Ut3SRLxs_U1iwtsHfbefrZXARC63XFO2XH-FsTaQLnbXv4iuy65o/s320/2012-11-16+18.30.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Driving to Jacmel for the funeral of Noel's mother. Driving in the country is a much different experience than driving in the city. Often for me much more nerve wracking. There is less traffic, true but with the 257 curves over the mountain to Jacmel, you never know who will be passing on that blind curve in front of you. For distraction, I took some photos along the route. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSWb_FQoWjHfAt4DJpeF-Jm0MF5QBm5zz9iNXwF61ER-MYGLAqjUeb6sW-cgQ6Ac4D-NPL1LOTMttR8Ln-njqKuSnSxpcU95ehEjaOtmG60qyY-3hjhyphenhyphen9lagyLdvZm6wvj679exuu/s1600/IMG_2899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSWb_FQoWjHfAt4DJpeF-Jm0MF5QBm5zz9iNXwF61ER-MYGLAqjUeb6sW-cgQ6Ac4D-NPL1LOTMttR8Ln-njqKuSnSxpcU95ehEjaOtmG60qyY-3hjhyphenhyphen9lagyLdvZm6wvj679exuu/s320/IMG_2899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We see everything on moto's here. A dog on a moto is only extraordinary because its a dog on a moto. There are a lot of dogs in Haiti, ignored or abandoned in the street, or behind the cement walls guarding someones property, a few as pets. We see all kinds of things being hauled on motos- including goats, chickens, pigs, cement, tv's, 3 passengers plus a driver- still seeing the boy with his dog made me smile. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9byM0T9lNyRiI5ZN7Uu3q-HwlfKAEm_itG3oVOmyskl1jjfSNqeECJg4fi_PQdWrpgm4FG3P-rxHzRXz9NcMOZ0QOhEUPpqqR2IYyTCros5rn2X-jf6TXBEEAGlE2r7gISJZRVZWs/s1600/IMG_2906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9byM0T9lNyRiI5ZN7Uu3q-HwlfKAEm_itG3oVOmyskl1jjfSNqeECJg4fi_PQdWrpgm4FG3P-rxHzRXz9NcMOZ0QOhEUPpqqR2IYyTCros5rn2X-jf6TXBEEAGlE2r7gISJZRVZWs/s320/IMG_2906.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are still so many tent communities- these actually look newer or in better shape than most especially after the rains and storms we've had. Hurricane Sandy and the after effects of flooding have added more devastation to the country this fall. Crops in so many areas were destroyed and will take at least a growing season to recover. Food shortages and spikes in the cost of food are being felt by everyone, but so far I have been able to purchase the fruit and vegetables I need for the guesthouse without too much change in costs. I've been able to get the Haitian price instead of the blan price. Now I am also getting a few gifts from some of the other merchants as they recognize me as a regular customer. The hope next time I will purchase from them. </div>
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Swimming suits for sale next to the entrance of a beach. </div>
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You can buy just about anything you might want on the street. </div>
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One reason I'm nervous driving in the country is these big trucks...they just know you will get out of their way. The drivers are fearless. Too often too reckless unfortunately and someone can not get out of the way. </div>
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Views are spectacular. </div>
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Difficult to see there are 'stick' plants on this hillside that will grow roots strong enough, fast enough to stop soil erosion in the next rainy season. Too bad they are basically stick plants- they probably are never going to be beautiful leafy bushes. Hopefully, they won't become next seasons charcoal. </div>
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Crest a hill, turn a corner and drive into rain. The wipers couldn't really keep up. </div>
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But at least we were dry inside the vehicle. </div>
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Gedes night...Oloffson. </div>
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A Latina band provided some entertainment- singing, dancing at the beginning of the evening. </div>
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Jackie, Lissette and I with Ladege, resident voudou princess.<br />
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So as we enter Thanksgiving week, we here at the guesthouse do have a lot to be thankful for- the camaraderie of friends far away from family. We can appreciate the sacrifices made at both ends and be thankful for the support and love received. We will have turkey and mashed potatoes, stuffing and green bean casserole and pies. </div>
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL! </div>
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<br />Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-43934463230522770542012-10-25T10:15:00.000-07:002012-10-25T10:15:04.200-07:00Thankful in Haiti<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Photos from my recent vacation: Portland, Bend, Spokane (lunch and visit with dear friend of years past), a trip to the farm to see mom in Kettle Falls. Nearly 2 weeks of absolutely perfect weather. I believe I picked the best 2 weeks of the year to devote to family and friends. Thankful for that. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChCBIQDMKm0YmO8zULn4TJ6aPYSwazwzQ3nU3v2RElzuhqLPrRMba6rkmrM5jVwMltT8TlR2RhO7D1lm6gxblcIpg2drUtRxIPw9upFWc5WMeJ_NpcWf8OZ_2cePc0yOKSNvzmioi/s1600/IMG_2698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChCBIQDMKm0YmO8zULn4TJ6aPYSwazwzQ3nU3v2RElzuhqLPrRMba6rkmrM5jVwMltT8TlR2RhO7D1lm6gxblcIpg2drUtRxIPw9upFWc5WMeJ_NpcWf8OZ_2cePc0yOKSNvzmioi/s320/IMG_2698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Spokane Falls<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQ0LWHWC1-MjJjBcn19BK9_QPRl_YnAnYZWOPY4wbrjeYcOriTJMXSaShGwjMyh87S_h0FtWoFIPGeU5ccTPyGhgWg-WUioPkuxmoEQHpqsESFSyzH738Q5iJgk4mVIwxIFtgv0fR/s1600/IMG_2711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQ0LWHWC1-MjJjBcn19BK9_QPRl_YnAnYZWOPY4wbrjeYcOriTJMXSaShGwjMyh87S_h0FtWoFIPGeU5ccTPyGhgWg-WUioPkuxmoEQHpqsESFSyzH738Q5iJgk4mVIwxIFtgv0fR/s320/IMG_2711.JPG" width="320" /></a>My friend, Anne</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0FB0fOxsuT9SyQ7tJMU-_XhZ5EpSKE5Lwb1mkfz8l1W1wTxEZnFpiWyXGlR_ho92XdRxgIz0EARbHUi8RRt33aggT0oc17m5KXrb1kZ5K0I8pBVARxZD4di3WYd5SVzHlbtLm-Q1/s1600/IMG_2729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0FB0fOxsuT9SyQ7tJMU-_XhZ5EpSKE5Lwb1mkfz8l1W1wTxEZnFpiWyXGlR_ho92XdRxgIz0EARbHUi8RRt33aggT0oc17m5KXrb1kZ5K0I8pBVARxZD4di3WYd5SVzHlbtLm-Q1/s320/IMG_2729.JPG" width="320" /></a>My brothers horse, Kidd stealing apples</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghISm9spGlQRbczgvUy0dbrSW_4cWmIecvGvT0nAwh0MS_S4AwOPeyK4UHs_Lzn-0pA2jIiYCRPJidg7huml0RQID7vY_fVSiwYtWuhUw4hIvNlpMT_EWkFnTYlJ9rx1zG8-7Bevfz/s1600/IMG_2739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghISm9spGlQRbczgvUy0dbrSW_4cWmIecvGvT0nAwh0MS_S4AwOPeyK4UHs_Lzn-0pA2jIiYCRPJidg7huml0RQID7vY_fVSiwYtWuhUw4hIvNlpMT_EWkFnTYlJ9rx1zG8-7Bevfz/s320/IMG_2739.JPG" width="320" /></a>autumn on the farm</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2Q3jNHE0w9jkS2Hug-3Rcppykh_ZoSDISav20FTi0Nppfb1y19vLy-wZtWtSULKKdxmpgYEjLLa4dJp2mjqKIG5AXRTBrFjBHpOzwcUhO2VC3dP_qv4LVF2axPdSgCXICo0qibQ8/s1600/IMG_2762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2Q3jNHE0w9jkS2Hug-3Rcppykh_ZoSDISav20FTi0Nppfb1y19vLy-wZtWtSULKKdxmpgYEjLLa4dJp2mjqKIG5AXRTBrFjBHpOzwcUhO2VC3dP_qv4LVF2axPdSgCXICo0qibQ8/s320/IMG_2762.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufQDWnYR4eout_4xdA6sIFn14CHRy7CZrpjkGgeAAP96j1yRme4h6jek1PlnTWnR55hbNDNZEinCVGE5UwAsx1GdAajuruxSmXew2yzrYBGEdZ0-eAlLOWd_IwzXb5FX5g6pRqUcP/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufQDWnYR4eout_4xdA6sIFn14CHRy7CZrpjkGgeAAP96j1yRme4h6jek1PlnTWnR55hbNDNZEinCVGE5UwAsx1GdAajuruxSmXew2yzrYBGEdZ0-eAlLOWd_IwzXb5FX5g6pRqUcP/s320/IMG_2764.JPG" width="320" /></a>Koi fish in our creek? </div>
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Its raining...of course its rainy season, nearing the official end of hurricane season. Hurricane Sandy passed by to the south and west of us before it developed into its current cat 2 status. It hit Jamaica and is over western Cuba from what I've read. Its been raining quite steady now for about 20 hours; occasionally slowing for a bit, like its taking a big breath and then letting it out again. The weather map shows a huge system over us and reports that this will continue through saturday. I won't be surprised if thunder and lightening are added to the mix. We are so fortunate to have a nice roof over our heads. We don't have to go out to get food and water; we have electricity (inverter, generator and occasionally E'DH) and while it is on the coolish side, we are dry and safe. We hear and read of terrible flooding and mud slides in other parts of Haiti, people have drowned trying to cross the swollen rivers. There are many Haitians- last report I read said 350,000 displaced persons from the 2010 earthquake continuing to live in tents and temporary shelter housing (meant to last 3-6 months). Most are camping tents that people have covered with scraps of wood, tarps, rusty tin. When it rains, they leak, they flood. Its hard to imagine what they look and feel like when the rain is relentless...people are wet. soggy. cold. tired. worried. exhausted. angry. helpless. wearied. hungary. What does it take in a person to tolerate this kind of existence? strength. stamina. hopeful. hopeless. helpless. tolerant. God-fearing. blessed. </div>
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Its one reality here in Haiti. </div>
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Recently, I read a comment to a FB status post of a friend that was sitting in a coffee shop using the internet, in Port au Prince that sounded like my friend should feel guilty that she is able to do that- as if no one else in Port au Prince has the same opportunity and is fortunate enough to drink a cup of Rebo coffee and use a computer. It actually made me angry. I don't know the person that made the comment; I don't know if he had ever been to Haiti; Yes, sometimes I do feel guilty about what I have when often I see so much of what others do not have. I don't judge a person based on a FB status. But when I see a Mercedes or a big yellow Humvee or a half dozen 4-wheel ATV's racing in the streets, I remember there are Haitian's with money. JUST like in the USA. When a person walks into Starbucks, does he feel guilty that he is buying a $6 cup of coffee knowing there is a homeless person a half a block away? Does he feel guilty that the vast majority of people that work in Haiti make much less than the purchase of a cup of coffee in Starbucks. Should he? Should I? Should my friend? Should you? Its not simple to answer, is it? I don't ask you to feel guilty about what you have. </div>
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I do ask that you be thoughtful. compassionate. caring. thankful.</div>
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This is another another reality. </div>
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I will ask you to vote November 6 with thoughtfulness. compassion. care. hope. tolerance. </div>
<br />Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-74272446579257078182012-09-16T08:42:00.001-07:002012-09-16T08:42:19.778-07:00Driving in Haiti As we drove to the airport this morning, traffic was being redirected into our lane...what? Sounds of sirens and ambulances' coming down the proper lane. Oh so there must be an accident. Nope, but police posted at intersections and traffic still coming into our lane still did nothing to indicate the reason. Suddenly, we saw them- runners, mostly in red jerseys with white numbers across their belly. A marathon or run of some kind and we couldn't help but cheer for them. Being sunday the traffic wasn't bad despite the re-direction, but we decided we would return on a different route. No surprises along the way until....we met the runners. The lead runner, at least we assumed was being escorted despite not having a number. Others followed at a little distance behind. <div>
There is always something to see when driving in Port au Prince, or the countryside for that matter. Something that captures your thoughts, makes you giggle -or swear. Its rarely boring except when stuck in a blockess that seemingly has no reason. With some of the schools opening, and with road work and demolition, that is enough in itself to create traffic jams. We did note that both routes to the airport had had road work done with potholes filled in- making a much smoother drive and quicker drive. The 10 mile round trip took about 40 minutes in spite of the marathon this morning. Despite dodging church-goers and their fancy clothes, the market people carrying baskets on their head, dogs and motos that cut in and out of traffic. </div>
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On one shortcut, we still see a small truck half buried in a collapsed house. We still see way too many temporary shelters- tents and tarps with the odd tin or plywood roof and doors. A few wooden t-shelters are interspersed among these. Political graffiti sprayed on to walls; ads pasted along side or over the words. Billboards old and new announcing which band is playing at which club- we get excited to see who is coming until we realize it was last weekend, or last year. We search the route looking for new Jerry art, wondering what his message will be. Beauty salons and lottos are on every block. Stacks of coke and big speakers blasting music sit along site tires, pepes (used clothing hanging on the walls), tv antenna's and mosquito nets, hardware and auto parts (Mapa), rice and little buildings selling clean bottled water, fruit and vegetables, paintings line the main streets; taking a shortcut has a few more potholes and bumps, fewer people and fewer markets but at about every corner someone has set up a stall to sell Barbincourt, Comme il Faut (cigerettes), maggi, canned milk and corn flakes. Perhaps a little charcoal grill will be burning with corn on the cob and chicken or hot dogs sitting on the grill. </div>
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Woman braiding a child's hair, a child braiding her sister's hair, men sitting at tables slapping dominos, the losers looking silly with clothes pins stuck to their face or arms. Children running along pushing metal hoops, flying little Seran wrap kites or kicking a doll head in lieu of a soccer ball. </div>
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Sunday mornings are quiet, the occasional beep of a horn interrupting the cricket and bird songs. As the day wears on the sounds of the football game or kompas from the bidonville will be our background music. Lately, every afternoon, we have thunder from the mountain. Last night, the lightning and thunder brought us a quick heavy rain. At least for us, just enough to cool the air before going to bed. </div>
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Last weekend we went up the mountain to Fort Jacques and Boutillier. Driving up the mountain is only different in that the higher you go, the more cooler the air. Refreshing...we had a guided tour of the old fort that sustained considerable damage from the earthquake but the rubble was cleared and there was still 'history' to see and our guide shared his knowledge in pretty decent english. He said he learned his english from listening to english speakers leading 'tourists' around the site. He had been giving tours for 6 years. Boutillier is a look out area from which you can see the city of Port au Prince. It is being fixed up with a bar and toilet; little shops have been built to replace the little rickety stalls that once housed the artists' work. The merchants want us to see everything and spend lots of money but weren't nearly as aggressive as they were the first time I visited this lovely vista. Its a very nice way to spend a few hours on saturday morning. </div>
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Yesterday we spent the day at the beach. We arrived to a parking lot full of cars, including President Martelly's entourage of black SUV's. With our somewhat late arrival, we fully expected the beach to be crowded but once inside (oh, the price for a day on the beach without buffet meal-$25 US.) Surprisingly, there weren't so many- it turns out that Martelly was in a meeting with the new CEP members, UN and other officials along with a corp of news people. Though there was security men posted throughout, they were unobtrusive and we wouldn't have even known anyone (official) was there. It takes just under two hours to get to this beach, going through a half dozen small towns along the way and seeing a lot of country side- open areas of land along with plots of banana trees. People again carrying baskets of products or leading donkeys loaded with food stuff going to the saturday markets. The road has been newly paved and except for one big bump makes for a fairly quick drive. Going to the beach (Indigo, anyway) is like going away on a mini vacation. Stress and work flow out with the tide. The warm salt water is like getting a massage, but considerably less expensive. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is more of an out building thats sits above a second fort - Alexandre- which we did not go to. A variety of canons from the French and British. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAbXtEyqXPq407y2tg2wH9Z_KDIutD0oxpAYAsZHdFU2Zi9mcXxbfyZlA6y6IGSYXW55Xl3idN670UHuJkkk0rTiolNqlhD6uAXEv-hp4__dDS5rHCOlq396hx3sbRbq2jNuc3rG3/s1600/IMG_2618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAbXtEyqXPq407y2tg2wH9Z_KDIutD0oxpAYAsZHdFU2Zi9mcXxbfyZlA6y6IGSYXW55Xl3idN670UHuJkkk0rTiolNqlhD6uAXEv-hp4__dDS5rHCOlq396hx3sbRbq2jNuc3rG3/s320/IMG_2618.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUHijXF2QDpvfS-5pj-Xgdk4NZlWaRam8eV_GbiMwWk9Wd10ilD1nljrFGt3JRZpDRBv1BSkwDhVZHQ3sol3zje4581GaYRfxkusFe2oLoXhvEot3WnVc9NRrhJwKWOCrLZQkSbBw/s1600/IMG_2625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUHijXF2QDpvfS-5pj-Xgdk4NZlWaRam8eV_GbiMwWk9Wd10ilD1nljrFGt3JRZpDRBv1BSkwDhVZHQ3sol3zje4581GaYRfxkusFe2oLoXhvEot3WnVc9NRrhJwKWOCrLZQkSbBw/s320/IMG_2625.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cistern is to catch rainwater and is 16 feet deep. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFxVmd5H7YkMdyqaudf4OiKjGmBNsesuveLNpYap3DFqYp2wYCZgAjrdDWeQT5176ppZhVdlIW3cSLZWG9A2NOgZtCnz7pOAtwuxisUdV0NG4oZ7QJMq1Qb2Ug6VD_veFnHXXEiLc/s1600/IMG_2627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFxVmd5H7YkMdyqaudf4OiKjGmBNsesuveLNpYap3DFqYp2wYCZgAjrdDWeQT5176ppZhVdlIW3cSLZWG9A2NOgZtCnz7pOAtwuxisUdV0NG4oZ7QJMq1Qb2Ug6VD_veFnHXXEiLc/s320/IMG_2627.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the port to the secret tunnel that used to go to Fort Alexandre. The tunnel has mostly collapsed. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bread (or pizza?) oven</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBRm-1DavcFM7TwrLJfQyVKW96oK793iabQRz9nCXb4cO6elF1cc1jLSf9KuT3N8nGfdo46DoxdaOANPb2XuhFh_UU15aDLdsUt-ouF4cXC2PcQulePmiJ-IwPssu1-zoPTmQANAf/s1600/IMG_2632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBRm-1DavcFM7TwrLJfQyVKW96oK793iabQRz9nCXb4cO6elF1cc1jLSf9KuT3N8nGfdo46DoxdaOANPb2XuhFh_UU15aDLdsUt-ouF4cXC2PcQulePmiJ-IwPssu1-zoPTmQANAf/s320/IMG_2632.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noel hid in here ahead of our arrival to try to scare us...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1ZChR13hBW8qJdcsocdL6bjAOxYKSjYp63htmQIdl_Fv5AJmbbC26jbXLa2Qg3dZyUY3Uw58aEhqLja-DiYpqLtScoajnARC17bsVwif1yHIm-orDA6R9zysPmlI1EDBwA-Obspb/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1ZChR13hBW8qJdcsocdL6bjAOxYKSjYp63htmQIdl_Fv5AJmbbC26jbXLa2Qg3dZyUY3Uw58aEhqLja-DiYpqLtScoajnARC17bsVwif1yHIm-orDA6R9zysPmlI1EDBwA-Obspb/s320/IMG_2633.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The soldiers sleeping room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake, Hadrien, Lissette, me and Noel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guide</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view across the city from Boutillier</td></tr>
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Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8973516659712368482.post-20414476764753070772012-08-31T07:41:00.001-07:002012-08-31T07:44:26.617-07:00Blue Moon over HaitiIts hard to believe August is finished. Last day. End of summer? Time to start new calendar. This is the first time I have spent the whole of August in Haiti. In general is was not any hotter than July- and actually somewhat cooler, but I do miss my summer trip to the river and hanging out with my cousins as we float around enjoying some Mike's Hard Lemonade. We started out the month with a house full of guests but ending with just 3 of us here. The tropical storm that threatened to become a hurricane caused cancelation of a couple of trips. Thankfully for us and for Haiti, the storm did not become a hurricane and cause the devastation it has caused in Louisiana, it did wreak havoc in Haiti. With still over 300,000 people without proper homes it caused enough damage to kill 24 persons, and disrupt lives and lively hood of many, many more. The government mobilized and found shelter for the most vulnerable yet homes and crops were destroyed. We at the guest house had safe shelter and sustained no damage with this storm. We are the lucky ones.<br />
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I went to Canada this month to attend a board meeting but also was able to enjoy some rest and relaxation and see some good friends. Colleen and Jeff have been inviting me to visit for years to come to Fredricton, New Brunswick. As it is about as far from Portland as Haiti is, it didn't seem like it would happen. Even though I have been going back to the states several times a year, it continues to strike me the diversity I encounter every time. The trees, the yards, the homes, the clean streets, the driving all still have an effect on me. It almost feels 'other worldly' and makes me sad for those that continue to struggle day to day. I recently viewed a you-tube video of Haiti in the 1940's, with its clean, wide streets, so few people and cars, beautiful art deco buildings and neon signs flashing- ahh, they had electricity to light up the nights. It looked more like what South Beach might look like in the 40's but with street vendors selling their mangos and coffee beans. Will Port au Prince ever be able to rise to that level again? Port au Prince, the cosmopolitan city of Haiti, of developing nations, needs to fill a few 'potholes' to get there.<br />
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Our prosthetics and orthotics workshop opened this month, filled with our staff and with students enrolled in the University of Don Bosco long distance training program. Its good to have our staff back and activity in the workshop. <br />
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The beginning of autumn. Here there isn't much of a change from season to season. No trees to change color. Hurricane season picks up its threats. School will be starting up again soon which means traffic increases and children in their colorful checked school uniforms, the little girls with matching hair ribbons and little boys with shiny shoes will be once again walking to and from their school. <br />
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Tonight is a full moon, actually a Blue Moon- which we won't see again for 3 years. I'm hoping for clear skies tonight. No storms on the horizon, no howling, just appreciation for the universe.<br />
<br />Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13243262381210805685noreply@blogger.com0