I can make your cot rock

Greetings since the last post, here's what we've been up to:

Work on the final classroom is coming to an end. We decided to let our "architect" go because he was of very little use and kept making pretty significant mistakes. We started putting the roof on the structure today...if anyone has ever done tin roofing you will understand this is a brutal activity in 100 degree weather. I'm sure the project will be done tomorrow and the kinder-gardeners will finally have a classroom to run around in (Maya you are lucky!).

I was watching CNN yesterday and it seems that the Cholera outbreak has garnered international attention. This is in fact very serious, especially if it reaches Port au Prince. This is an EXTREMELY rare and old school disease, which has only had a few dozen cases reported in the past 5 years; 259 have already died here. If untreated, the risk of death is from 50-70% and can kill within 3 hours of the first signs of illness. We have sent our 3 nurses to go relieve some of the doctors working the outbreak around the clock. We can only hope for the best, even if the UN has predicted deaths in the tens of thousands. Why Haiti again?

Now that i have gotten to know the group for about 2 weeks, i can honestly say how amazing these people are. This sort of work seems to attract like-minded people, and this feat has proved true again for the 3rd time in my life. About the long-term group: we have a recent Chapel Hill graduate, an italian self proclaimed actor from NYC, Mikey Mike who has lived and taught high school in South Central LA for some years and has lectured the History of Hip Hop at UC Berkeley, Sierra from Hawaii and Oregon, Steine still kickin it in Haiti at 72, and i'm sure i am forgetting some.

After returning from dinner last night, we heard four consecutive shots that must have been within 100 yards from our compound. We all waited on the balcony for our guard to go investigate and tell us what was going on. He business-casually informed us that "someone just fired a .38 semiautomatic 4 times down the street because he was pissed". Sierra went down to the corner store for beers after this assessment of the situation.

"Nous sommes en difficultes, mais nous sommes toujours solidaires"
Thank you for your strong and truthful words Kettia, i think that pretty much sums it up.

Back in the TRAP

I forgot to post this on here, but a short documentary was shot of our work here in Jacmel back in May. Head on over to wwww.explore22.com to see our living arrangements, work, and me walking around with a breu. This is being pitched to the Discovery channel at some point.

Today we began work on a new classroom for one of the schools on the outskirts of town. We made the measurements, dug all the holes for the foundation and got the lumber ready for tomorrow. I thought it would be cooler this time a year, but the heat really got to all of us around noon.

I leave you with a quote,
"white diamonds, yellow diamonds, gucci not racist"
-Gucci Mane LaFlare

Haiti Remix

Finally back in Haiti! Great to be here again.

Arrived into Port au Prince from Miami yesterday morning very early. I was impressed with the amount of work done around the airport area. It was much cleaner, somewhat organized, and easier to find GVN than last time. I also didnt have my bag snipeshowed this time around.

We met up with GVN and then I went to a different NGO in Port au Prince which i will most likely be staying with when I leave Jacmel. This group is called GrassRoots United. They have a great compound full of like minded people. Although advised not to be in the capital for elections, I hope the be there to witness them in late November.

The drive to Jacmel took roughly 5 hours because of rockslides in the mountains on the way up. Driving through Port au Prince made it clear that a lot of work has been done since i was last here in May. The streets are cleaner, the rubble has been moved for the most part. Sad to say but it just presents the poverty better. All the tents are still here.

Also, If you havent picked up Waka Flocka Flame's "Flockavelli", you really need to get on that shit.