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Destination: Haiti

Date: 20 April 2012

Tuesday 17th

Red eye out to Gatwick – all easy and then onward flight to Miami – again easy UNTIL I got to immigration in Miami – then there was a different story! It was a long time waiting to be dealt with.

Finally I got out into the Miami 11pm air! 4 and a half hours late!  The bed in my hotel room was very inviting!

Wednesday 18^th

Up at a reasonable 6.30am and into the shuttle for the flight to Haiti.  Carla had sent a teeshirt for Christian that was waiting for me at the desk. I was in row 13 – the first time I have seen a row 13 in a plane – ever!  Still all was fine and we landed on time in Haiti – Christian was there at the gate waiting for me and as we had a while to wait for Cayne coming in from Guadaloupe we did some little jobs that needed doing!  First to the little airport to collect a piece for Onels’s water bowser next to Grass Roots which has been renamed Haiti Communitaire to see Harvey’s Ubuntblox house and meet Tim – who with his girlfriend Rox is in charge of the ongoing project.

Next we drove to meet Onel and go to the school to discuss the next move on the school.  He told us that he had been sick and the Dr told him he is under too much stress – I tried to tell him that I felt he was getting too big to quickly and it was better to do something smaller and properly than something big but not good quality – he seemed to agree buit we will see.  He showed us where the wall was due to push back too.  He had given the money I gave him to clear the back path to a group who did nothing but moan – they did the majority but left it short!  He took it upon himself to go to the UN and they have agreed to take ALL the rubbish away free of charge! Seems incredible really – we will wait and see!

Back to collect Cayne safe and sound – we came home had a couple of beers, dinner and then bed BUT there was no electric so it was HOT HOT HOT with no fan!  Ouch I think I can feel a cold starting – didn’t sleep at all well and was up at 6am very hot and sweaty!

Thursday 19^th

Cayne was up early too – sorted out my bags.  Some members of the family came for breakfast before they depart for Georgia – we ate half an hour later and then set of with Churchill for Leogane straight to see Mario’s house – all looking amazing – after some hesitation Cayne got stuck in doing some concrete barrowing, cutting metal for post ties, and then some blocking – the sun was relentless – the rain they have been having each night seems to have stopped for the moment! Touch wood.  Eventually Ketmal and Vivaldi arrived back from school and after a wee bit of shyness they both came out to play with the bubble wand I had bought.  Ketmal then showered Vivaldi with a bucket which he seemed to ‘take’ fine – there was just acceptance from him!

We left to go find something to eat and after a lunch with a great deal of laughing we decided to try and find Gibson and Vivaldi – they were in Gibson’s house and in fact he was showering him too.  He is now living with him full time – I am pleased as IO don’t think Betty was  very nice to him and Gibson is a nice man and does care for him!

Cayne had a shiny new yellow football – I produced it from behind my back and he made a squeak of delight closing his eyes in ectasy!  He is such a lovely little boy!

We then all played with him – piggy in the middle and generally messing about – he loved it and was hooting laughing -  but as Cayne pointed out he wasn’t sure if I got more fun out of it or Ivorsen – I will settle for 50% 50%!

My snotty nose had developed to a full on fuzzy headed thing leaving me feeling more than a little jaded – nothing a good night sleep wont cure I am hoping!

Boys off to the bar and me to my bed!

xxxxx

 

Friday 20^th April

So my head cold is not too bad and seems to have dried up in the night pretty much! Phew..

We went up to Einsteins to see how much stock he has that I can actually get my hands on!  There was a fair selection so I chose out as many as I thought we could get into bags to take with us on the plane.  I really would like to get it sorted with shipping.

Collected Churchill and went off to see Iversons school – he was not there so we had a chat with his teacher who told us that he was absent a lot – 19 days in the last term – but he is very intelligent – I knew that already tho to be fair!

We need to ask Gibson what is going on with things – he does  not have an easy time and he just maybe needs a little more support.

We found him so Cayne and I played with Iverson while Christian got to the bottom of the problem.  It turns out that Iverson has been sick because Gibson couldn’t afford the medicine and he doesn’t have school shoes too.  Both of those things are fixable! So no problem we will sort that out.  We went for lunch and then Christian took Churchill and Cayne to Mario’s to work – came back for me Gibson and Iverson and we went to see the specialiast Dr.  Dr Joe was running a clinic and briefly we spoke about meeting on Sunday.

The specialist gave medication and told us that Iverson does not need weekly visits – once a month will do.  He may still need an adanoid extraction as some point in the future.

Back to see the boys at work and much of the top lintel is now in place – work is coming on a pace.  Cayne was helping with more concrete and shuttering.

Home and I went off to bed early with no electric I had a really hot night!

Saturday 21^st

First off we went to see Einstein and talked about some ideas I had – he was all animated.

Next we went to see Churchill’s house and more importantly Fedjina his little 3 year old daughter.  We arrived at the house which almost backs onto Christian’s and I noticed that half of it had come away.  I asked what happened and he told the story of how the family were in the house during the earthquake and the side of the house fell down with the roof slab hanging and partly down.  They all escaped but a friend who was visiting was trapped under the slab.  Christian came to see if everyone was ok and immediately went under the slab to try and help – he looked up and saw how unsafe it was.  They did get the man out but he died!  These stories give the terrible reality of what Haitians have been through and mentally these sorts of things do not just disappear from your mind.  Luckily Fedjina was too young to register the horror.

 

Set off for Port au Prince but just out of Carrefour there were burning tyres and the roundabout was blocked – we turned inside and up the steep badly pitted tracks that wind through the back of Carrefour into downtown Port au Prince.

We had been told that a Police man from Carrefour had been shot dead by one of the bad guys and the Police would strike on the 24th  in protest – not too sure what that will achieve tho?

We arrived at Elsies and everyone except Soryee was there – she soon arrived from extra lessons.  I gave them the parcel from Jane Harlow – they fell on the bras and clothing with delight.  Elsie found a green top that matched the skirt - she was delighted.  I gave them the photos I had laminated from Marks selection – Elsie and Fedora carefully arranged them in Elsie’s bedroom.  Elsie is such a sweet lady – I love this family – they have spirit/compassion/wit and are all incredibly bright!

Elsie showed me 2 pictures – one of a man talking to ex President Preval and another brutal shot of a man lying on the floor bleeding – the man talking to Preval – apparently it was Bebe’s Godfather and he was the Policeman to whom I have referred above!  The world IS a very small place – what are the chances of us finding out THAT connection?

Fito arrived to a hero’s welcome – the family love him and Christian so much  - they are full of fun compassion and wit – I have a lot of time for them all.  Shadrak has worked so hard to teach himself English!

After beautiful Mango drinks and more laughing we left for lunch at Munchiees – little did I know there was a major match on – Barcelona v Real Madrid.  We went into the room where it was showing – the noise from the audience was deafening the score B 1 RM 2 much to the disgust of the men!

Quick nip to the supermarket and then home – I had to get batteries for my little table fan – another night without electric I will literally melt!

Fito came too and I went in his car – heaven after our little bouncy knackered jeep!

Back to Christian’s and after a couple of drinks I left the boys and went to bed.

Sunday 22nd

Christian had to do some stuff so we left for Leogane a little later went to see if we could see Mammie Severine – Christian went to look for them – we stayed in the car – I then saw her on the road so we all went to their house – if you can call it that.  They are in a tarp house all 10 of them and she has another baby due on the 3^rd July!  Apparently the shack is on the land the rented house they had before was.  The land-owner now wants the land back and wants them out.  They have nowhere to go!  There was an cousin there that none of us liked the look of – in Christian’s words a ‘bad vibe’ she was trying to undermine us by belittling why we were there.  

I gave her the stuff from Nicky and the cousin was muttering away!

Next to see Mario at the house – Sunday so no workers but we set too and pulled off the shuttering from some lintels – Churchill made up the wires for the last lintel and Mario started the shuttering and tying in the metal. We broke for lunch having also discussed the bathroom situation as well.

The heat in the car is something incredible as there is no back opening – Cayne and I toast in there.

On the way home we had to go around the back of Carrefour as the road was very blocked.  We did some serious off roading – some of the gullies we crossed in the car were really deep!  We bounced around in the back like paper dolls!

Home eventually and I had a reasonable early night.  We will see what tomorrow and the impending strike brings us! Charly tells us if the buses do not leave the compound neither should we!

Monday 23^rd

The buses did leave and then they came back by 8am!  We were told there is a block on the Mariani Carrefour road and the roads everywhere were impassable.  Not safe to go out – Christian even came to get him gun to arm another guard on our gate.  We stayed in all day it was incredibly frustrating but nothing we could do.  The rain started at about 5pm and soon all was over.  Christian called his friend with the restaurant up the road to ask her if we could go there inside.  She said we could use her dining room so we didn’t get wet on the terrace.  Had dinner and on the way back we passed the burnt out tyres and large boulders in the road that had made the road-blocks.  One wonders what the Police feel now? Maybe satisfied that they have successfully disrupted everyone’s day?

To bed and we all had a sticky/no electric night!  I didn’t sleep and then when sleep did come it was in the morning and I then didn’t wake till 8.10am!

Tuesday 24^th

Up to find the buses had not gone out again!  The road to Port au Prince was blocked but south was ok.  We went to Leogane and Mario – he and the men were doing the porch pillars – having done the rest of the lintels.  We had a long discussion about the toilets and shower.  It is all very complicated and everything costs more than first quoted! Everything!  Went to pay half of the roof timber costs and then for lunch.  Little Ivorsen was walking home from school with his Uncle and he spotted us – came running into the yard and threw himself at me!  He and Gibson shared our lunch.  Back home in the rain – we called up to Einstein to collect the bag – he hadn’t finished it!  He will bring it to us tonight.

Home and found Rudzi's brothers there visiting – much laughter amongst the men – they are like young bucks hooting and whooping with jokes.  The rain is now set in in earnest!  could be another early night!

We went out for dinner and the drive shaft of the jeep sheared off on the way – luckily it was very close to where we were eating

Wednesday 25^th

The rain has been hard in the night and is still falling now a little.

The roads were awash/afloat/rivers of mud and rubbish - it is hard to imagine the misery the
folk in the tarps have to endure when you see what ends up in places like Mariani and Carrefour
there is SO much mud and piles and piles of clothing/bottles and general crap - some piles 3 feet high lying on the main highway having been washed down from one of the grid of roads feeding down the hill
they act like rivers channeling everything in its path to the lowest point.

The mud is so sticky and thick - as we sat in a queue I watched as women struggled to stay upright
while carrying some unbelievable weight on their heads or a small child tucked onto their hips.
We have NO conception of living this already desperately tough life just to add rain into the misery mix! ouch.

Val came to meet us for lunch and explained that he had bought a piece of land – well paid 10,000 HD  about £1,250 and owed the same again – he paid for it with money he earned just after the earthquake.  He is renting at the moment but wants to build his own place.

He finishes his school this July – I am so pleased and feel we have done a good thing in funding this for him.  I need to think what we can do for him.  It was good to see him again and give him a good meal too!

Today we went to visit Genesis and I found myself feeling proud of his tenacity and then desperately sad
to visit Irene his wife who is sick in the 1st trimester of pregnancy.

Proud: because he has taken what we gave in the way of water purifyers and sold them to pay for the creation of a concrete tank (the men on the camp built it) which holds 6 truck loads of water - this can service the whole camp where ours couldnt! I thought what he had done was amazing!

Sad to see Irene lying on a smelly bed in a really smelly tarp - her mothers- so she can look after baby
Rob while Genesis looks for work.  Irene then returns to the Uber shelter at night.  The state of the camp
at Delmas 33 is appauling - really shocking - smelly, filthy and running with mud  - I came away feeling ashamed, complicit it its exsistence - crazy I know but its a fact.  So very very sad - and meantime downtown
monuments are being erected and flowerbeds made!

 

Oh boy  - this is such a mix of emotions!

Came home and went to tow the car back to the pound – Churchill came to help.

We did not go out for dinner but instead relaxed in Charly’s bar – it is Cayne’s last night here.  We had a lot of fun and it was good to spend some down time with both Charly and Churchill as well as Christian.

 

Thursday 26th

 

I have never known so much rain in all my time in Haiti! It rained again in the night and some people had been working hard to clear the rubbish.  We took a while to get to Onels  but when we did we were seriously mobbed!  Cayne didn’t know what hit him!  We spent 15 mins there so he could see the children and then we had to take him to the airport for his trip home!

 

Christian collected something for Rudzi and then we went to hire a digger for tomorrow – the guy said he didn’t have one and it might have to be Monday – he gave us his number and so we will call when we have made some decisions.

We decided to have a cool drink and some lunch before going back to Onels as it will be hard to get a meeting with ALL the kids there.  Made our plan and then headed off to the school.  There were about 6/8 of them still left so while Christian and Onel discussed the plan for the morning I played catching with the kids – they loved it and we had some fun!

Gave out one more camera to a lovely girl who I think will be a good addition.

Came home and Christian and I had a heart to heart about our work here in Haiti / how Haitians feel about what is happening to them etc!

 

Home and the rain started again with a vengeance!

 

Friday 27^th

Straight to Onels for the start of the digger – it is a massive task and made all the harder by the sludgy ground produced by the huge amount of rain we have had!  Christian was directing the digger so I spent sometime with the kids – they sang me songs and we chatted about hair and earrings – the important things in life!  They are very sweet and some very bright and sassy.  Others look very down - trodden but seem to bumble along and cope ok – sort of.  Christian and I took off to go and buy some bits and pieces like a measure, square, string for marking out etc.  Back to the site and the digger has made some headway – but still a long way to go.

I managed to find Charly’s little sister, and the three children sponsored by Nessie Basham, Caynes little Fadaline and one of the children sponsored by Mary Perkins.  There are around half the school attending as when it rains everything here is 100% more difficult.

Saturday 28^th

The sun is out and the day is going to be very hot.  We took the DJ and Churchill with us this am and went straight to the school to check on the digger – Churchill is going to be site foreman today while Christian and the DJ go in search of their speakers.

I had a 2 hour lesson given by Onel.  There were around 15 children and we had a mixture of biology/geography and history – it was fascinating – Onel is very animated and clearly very passionate – he is unique in his style.  He asked them questions and if they got the answer wrong they stood until it was their turn again and as soon as it was right they sat down.  One boy stood for rather a long time!  After class was over I got out my silver hair spray – thinking only the girls would want it – but the boys were very keen too!  Hilarious.

Boys all then played football with their coach.  By this time it was SO very hot – I was really feeling it!  Christian eventually came back with the speakers and we took off for Petionville and the Artisan exbo I wanted to go to – it was held in an American school’s yard.  Einstein was there and I was able to to snaffle 2 bowls in a style he did not have at the workshop.  We took a look around and I managed to find some colourful metal work ornaments  to bring home.  Fito came to meet us with 2 of his nephews and we sat and had a catch up and drink together.  There was a Haitian rock bnad playing there who were really good but we only listened to 2 numbers as we had to go and meet Vanessa and Tony.  I had promised Vanessa I would bring her some Sloe Gin – we met at Munchees and had a couple of beers with them.  It was fun and because the speak such good English we could have a great convo.  Vanessa was talking about the impending wedding – next month and how she was stressed getting it all ready.  Great to see them!  Fito was due to come too but the traffic was horrendous and he had to help organise a baby shower for their arrival in a few weeks time – they already know it is a boy and Natalie flies to Canada for 3 months to have the babe there.  Fito will go for 3 weeks hopefully over the time the baby is due.  The date is the 4^th July!

Home – boy it has been a hot one today!

Sunday 29^th

Went to Leogane to see the progress on Marios house and discuss with Gibson about the set up for his shop too.  The roof timbers are finished and one side of sheet roof is on too.  We had lunch with Gibson and Iverson and planned the contents of the shop and what he needs to do physically to the building before opening.  I told him what I would spend on the start up and the fact that we would also buy a freezer to keep the drinks cool – he can charge slightly more for cool drinks than warm ones!

Next we went to have a meeting with the committee – they told me that they were frustrated about what was/was not happening and were getting pressure from the community – I reminder them that at the last meeting they told me that they had changed their minds about wanting to do chickens etc – the fact is that we have had many meetings and they had not until then told me that they did not want free range but battery chickens – I had already told them – and also at the start that I would not be supporting battery chickens.  I am very frustrated as no one wanted to get this project going more than me!  Mario felt that as he is the one who has benefitted most he was not in a position to disagree.

Serge has got married and did not want to be part of the committee any more which is totally fine.  It is clear to me that chickens are going to be impossible as there is so much negativity – an example of this was John asking me if I could guarantee that the chickens would not get sick – well the answer to that is obvious.  Christian thinks that the folk just want me to provide a job for which they will get paid!  The goal posts have been moved so many times I am losing count.  Although it is clear that not all projects go according to plan I really feel this one has had so much stop start and none of it is coming from me.  What to do? So I asked them to go away and come back with a proposal – I did not make any guarantees that I would go for it – but I will look at it.  I also told them that they had managed once again to make me feel really bad – they do not appear to care about that aspect at all.  Really tough to keep focus and not feel very emotional!  I understand that life is so very tough for them but I also know that when you are trying to help folk and they do not appreciate that you are not making ANYTHING out of it personally that is tough too.  It is all about perception – Christian tells me that most Haitians think that us Blans are out to make money from them and that is ok as long as they make money too!

I could cry!  I have decided that when this is done I will concentrate on Onel’s school and the children!

The difference is I DON’T wan’t to make money from anyone!

We will discover what we can do to move it forward, I hope, when they come back with their own home-grown proposal.

Christian sorted out pay roll with Mario and we left for home.

Feeling very down tonight – it is a lonely place to be! Christian took ages talking to me reasoning all the different aspects.  Bless him for trying but still feel pretty miserable.

I will do my best to sort something out…….

Monday 1^st May

Another Policeman was shot overnight and the blockades were back – tomorrow is a national holiday and so I feel that I am tripped up at every turn at the moment.  Must try and get back on the positive rung…..

Fito came by to get me to sign his letter for a visa – it is always good to see him – he had taken the day off anyway – said he had to chop and change on the road as there were burning tyres at various places along the way but the roads seemed to be clearing faster than last week.

Christian went out to buy a small freezer for Gibson and also hired a truck to deliver it.  The rain started as soon as we got there but we managed to get the freezer into Gibsons place before it got wet.  He has employed a man to help him finish off the little shop floor.  We went off to buy large padlocks for the steel door to keep his stock safe.  He will buy from a truck that calls by 3 times a week.  I really want to see Gibson set up and running with the store.  Christian has explained to him at length that he will need to budget and make sure cash flow allows re stocking etc.  He does seem to get it and has the look of a man motivated!  I so want this to work.

Back home and I had an early night – hope tomorrow will be a little better!

Tuesday 1st May  National holiday

Waiting for a part to arrive for the car – Onel has done a deal with a man for the digger for today – so we will try and go and see it later today.  The plan is Elsie to sort out education – Einstein for the bowls and last Onels to see how the digger has fared.

The part arrived and against the odds Rackline mended the car – he is a superstar!  We set off for Einsteins – he wasn’t there – his number 2 wasn’t impressed and said she would pack the bag!  Off to Paup and we dropped Churchill so he could get a tap to Cite Soleil to start supervising the digger.  We went to Elsies where they were looking after a friends baby – very sweet – 10 months old and was not fazed by me at all! We had a lovely lunch with the whole family.  Pictures taken and money given for tution for Sorayee and Fedora and then we said our goodbyes.  I collected up their cameras too.

Down to Onels and there was one large digger there but not the one we expected.  I played with the few kids that were there and then when the light started to fade we left.  Came home and I realised that I was leaving tomorrow and not Thursday!  Oops - get ready quick.  We changed our plans a little and then went for a last drink and something to eat!

Wednesday 2^nd

Up early and Christian had to go off on the moto to see Onel as apparently the digger had arrived and Onel wanted confirmation of the size of the hole to be dug.  Rockline arrived to take Churchill and me in the jeep.  The traffic was totally horrendous and we were stuck for ages. Rockline managed to hit a tap tap but luckily it was not serious.  His driving is really not great and eyes shut is the best policy!  Eventually – after 2 hours we arrived at the school – while Christian was supervising the dig I just watched what was happening with the kids.  The admin lady suddenly came to get me saying that the Director wanted to see me.  I was unaware that there had been preparations going on in one of the classrooms behind the jeep.  I was met at the door by 2 of the children who each took my hands and led me over the step.  Inside the room was decorated with balloons and there was a huge banner on the far wall with the words…… underneath was a chair and either side of the room were 2 rows of chairs filled with children.  One of the girls was dressed in a white lace dress – I had wondered why in the playground.  Several of the children curtseyed in front of me and then kissed me on each cheek then one of the boys put a paper crown on my head the little girl in the white dress presented me with a present.

I opened it after encouragement from  Onel – it was a beautiful wooden plaque with Bridge2Haiti carved into the top and the words………on the front.

It was beautiful and Onel told me that many of the children had give a little towards it – that makes it even more special! After much clapping and pictures taken – Christian missed the whole thing – I had to say goodbye as it was time for home.

This trip has presented many problems with terrible amounts of rain – strikes by the Police in protest at several of their own being shot dead and frustrating slowness at getting simple jobs finished because of the other problems.  But as the locals say – THIS IS HAITI!

Cayne has been a welcome companion – he always embraces everything with a really positive attitude and great sense of humor and I never once felt I had to be worrying about him – that makes it so much easier for me.  Volunteers in this sometimes volatile environment can be a terrible liability as I feel SO responsible – he was not!  So thank you Cayne Gardner - you are a star and so is your wife for supporting you in this so much!