Back from break. Things are the same here in
HODR-ville, but my brain is refreshed. Didn't realize how much I needed to get away until I WAS away. I was very bummed that there was no mask/snorkel/fins that I could lay my hands on. I may have to try and find a way to get some down here...I'd never forgive myself if I went to the Caribbean and failed to see a single reef or fish!
I was able to talk with a few of you via IM last night. Thanks to each of you for taking the time to yak with me a while - it was a wonderful treat!
Today I was in the backyard here helping to install a cyclone fence so we can safeguard our supplies. We have received a HUGE shipment of lumber and various other tidbits and supplies. Not all of it is something we immediately know what to do with like many sheets of 1/4"x4'x8' plexiglass. But I'm sure something will come up for which we will find such a material makes good sense.
But HODR inventory is not why I bring up today's work. While out there a child of about 12 came by calling 'hey you' (that seems to be the way us blan's are hailed by the younger Hatians). "Give me a dollar", he says. How do I respond to that? I told him if he want's a dollar he should come over there and work for it...but I was speaking English so who knows what he understood. It does illustrate one faction of the younger ones that I encounter with some regularity: the ones that want a dollar or flip you off or slap you. Or the one that hollered in perfect english "fuck you, bitch". Kids will be kids I suppose and that will hold true even here in Haiti. They will push the boundaries and see what they can get away with - especially when it's with non native speaking blan's. Still, I want to give them a response, but I suppose the only proper one is to turn the other cheek if they play at that game.
Brief pause while I run outside and throw up the rain fly. A wind just came up and that usually means rain in 10 minutes. Aaaaaaand there's the rain. Lightening and rolling thunder as well, though that's not atop the compound but off to the west over the hills.
Anyway, back to our story. It's just frustrating is all. I'm toiling away and they are 'being mean' or asking for a handout. It sounds petty, I know, but here's why it comes up today: the local volunteers are not far behind sometimes and today they proved it. Dinner came out and as it was chicken and watermelon I and a handful of others kinda followed it out to the serving area. Generally I come a little late to the feasting and let others get their fill but this time it looked too good and I was in the right spot at the right time by chance. We get out there and the Local Volunteers are lined up which is normal but after I've fallen into the queue another LV saunters over and lines up in front of me. I take a step back and let it slide not wanting to be petty about it...but the more I stand there the more it really gets under my skin. I've seen this activity many many times. Are they that hungry? Self absorbed? Selfish? Stupid? Capitalizing on the language barrier? Is it cultural? We all adhere to a set of rules about food: don't take more than you can eat, one piece of meat, bus your dishes into the kitchen and scrape them clean. Instead I come out and see dishes piled up on the serving area with half eaten portions every day.
I know this is sorta 1st grade stuff and so I keep thinking I'm being a big baby - but it also means it's 1st grade stuff and the local volunteers should be reminded of that or taught these items of courtesy and fair play.
Okay, I've vented. Thanks for reading. On to better and more blog-worthy items.
My air mattress is now loosing air fast enough that I'm touching down come morning. grr.
I was able to move to a raised platform for my tent. It was Christina's (our lovely local RN that kept us patched up and even did field stitches...and now she's gone...booooo! Well, I got to give her a couple big ole hugs g'bye so it wasn't ALL bad...teehee) spot but she has moved and willed it to me. I've managed to rig up some extra mosquito netting as a sun shade. The cinder blocks and the sun shade should help keep it a tad cooler in the tent and I don't have to worry about the puddles of water that collect on the rooftops.
