We've now lived in Haiti one month. Weird. Here are a few observations you might be interested in at the one month mark:
- Haiti is hot, but you quickly get used to it. In fact, when I went in Epidor (a nearby restaurant and bread store) the other day, I was freezing cold in the AC. Which doesn't mean I don't get hot anymore. But it's really like the cliche-- it's not the heat, it's the humidity.
- Mosquitoes seem to love to bite ankles and feet. It's maddening. And I have a bad habit of scratching them with my feet-- I hope that makes sense. It nearly always makes the bites huge and inflamed and scab-ridden... it's absolutely disgusting.
- The rain has a distinct smell here. But it's different than the distinct smell it has in the US. I like it better here I think. Also, the rain seems to have one way to fall here-- HARD. The rain here doesn't mess around. There's no sprinkling it seems-- it's ON or OFF.
- Not knowing when you're going to have power can be inconvenient, but it's not TOO terrible. We're thankful to not have had to deal with more than a few hours at a time without a supply of power. More inconvenience is not having consistent internet. It's irritating to spend time writing a long email only to not be able to send it. Dude, for all you green people out there-- you really want to be green? Move to Haiti. You really have little other choice.
- Driving in Port Au Prince is not actually too bad. So far I haven't had any accidents. I don't know if Nick has or not because he usually doesn't tell me those things. If you ask me (not that you did, but it is MY blog and you're reading it, so you kind of did) you just need to stay alert and go with the flow. Driving the 50-some blocks back and forth to the hospital countless times over the past few weeks has made me a lot more confident.
- Figuring out Port Au Prince is not REALLY that confusing because there are only like 3 major roads. So sooner or later, you can find your way back to one of them, and then you know where to go.
- I still hand-wash my underpants everyday. Naomi said that's a very Haitian thing to do. So apparently I am Haitian.
- Speaking of washing-- it's not nearly as much fun to wash laundry by hand the second and third time, etc. laundry needs to be done. It's fun once. And then you learn to become really good "friends" with the people downstairs who have a washing machine. :) Even line-drying is not really that fun. It makes all of your clothes stand up by themselves after they are dry. (Plus, there's the rain scenario I mentioned previously... which does interfere.) Hand-washing/line drying makes you really wear your clothes strategically. And come up with a system for when to wear dirty clothing. For example, we're heading over to visit some friends tonight. So I am wearing a "first line" outfit. (Clean, never been worn.) Tomorrow I will probably wear the same outfit (except, of course) for clean underpants. And probably some modification of it the next day (so as to not appear as if I am wearing the same clothes everyday.) I will try to wear each outfit at least 4 times before washing. Sometimes I cannot get QUITE that much out of each shirt, but a pair of pants/a skirt are good for at least that. The kid's clothing is a whole other issue. They get really dirty. Now, the exception is the clothing I wear to the hospital. If I have had a full day there with Woody, I really feel like I need clean clothing before hanging with my kids-- even though the place is (relatively) clean, I am afraid of the germs.
- I still am not entirely sure how to process the whole "Haitian hospital" experience I've been having. I have been journaling some thoughts-- expect something profound sooner or later.
- A few people have asked me if I have been feeling scared. The truth is that I really have not felt real scared here. How do I say this? I am definitely more AWARE here than I am in the US, but I feel like a lot of that is normal for living in: 1) a city, 2) a new country. And if I ever feel a little frightened, it's more of what COULD happen than anything that HAS happened.
- We're SUPPOSED to have occupancy (with electricity/water, razorwire, etc) of our Jacmel house TOMORROW! Please say a little prayer that the landlord is true to his word...
- Naomi is teaching me to cook Haitian food, and I am teaching her how to make American food. (I mean "from scratch" American food-- not like Kraft dinner...) So far I like her spaghetti and chicken the best, and she likes my salad dressing and french toast the best.
