Good evening, i will be taking you through my past week or so in Haiti.
I recovered fully from Dengue and Strep in time to welcome my mom, who kindly came to visit me during my stay. During her time here, we visited some of the IDP camps, our compound, and several of the projects i worked on in May and during this past month. With her particular soft spot for orphans, we set out to find sleeping arrangements for the children of Ecole Rousse. Thanks to her, we have the funds and UN contacts to get these in the coming week, thanks mommy!
Sierra and I decided to come work with GrassRoots United (GRU) for a week here in Port au Prince. This is not the quiet southern town of Jacmel we are accustomed to. We have come realize how nice we have it at GVN in Jacmel, with running water, easy transit, etc... Although its a bit harder living, I am having a blast here meeting all the new people and getting my hands dirty. Along with GRU, I will be going into some of the many tent camps in the capital to teach Cholera education. This will involve basic lessons in Cholera transmission, hand washing and prevention. Im not sure how close the outside world is following the breakout, but it caused violent riots aimed at MINUSTAH (UN) today in Cap Haitian. It has been reported that a police station has been burnt, protestors shooting at the UN, and a possible UN hostage.
There are several ways to kill mosquitoes. I have gotten particularly good at these methods ever since contracting (free) Dengue from those little munts. One of my favorites is the "Payback Snipe". This is when you see a mosquito already biting you and you snipe if right then and there while asking it the question: was it worth it? This would all be a fun and harmless snipeshow if they didnt carry diseases.
In general announcements;
I got accepted to Wake Forest for my Spring transfer.
Here is the link to our segment on Fox News from the documentary shot about our work in Jacmel. Worthy of mention is that Fox did not have my consent. I might sue:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4307532/giving-a-helping-hand/?playlist_id=87889
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Dengue Fever, Hurricane Tomas, new rotation
I havent written in a while because i have been sick in bed or boarded up for Hurricane Tomas. Here's what has been happening:
Dengue Fever:
I acquired Dengue Fever for free from a nice mosquito. It is transmitted by the daytime, striped mosquitoes that are infected with it from when they breed in dirty stagnant water. A few other people have had it in the house in the past few months, but it is overall a rare occurrence. This was not fun. You pretty much get a constant fever for the duration of one week, painful body aches and shivering. My fever peaked at 103 or 104 degrees every night for a week, and i eventually developed strep throat toward the end of my Dengue bout. I've been on antibiotics and feeling much better now, so its back to work.
Hurricane Tomas:
This could have been a lot worse than it was. Haiti was expected to be hit as a category 1 hurricane, which means very strong winds and a lot of damage considering the million plus people living in tents still. The major problem with Tomas was that it was such a wide system that most of Haiti was hit with at least a tropical storm status as far as wind and rain. Here in Jacmel, the storm lasted for about 2 days, with its real strength coming 3:30 am on friday night.
David and I were sent to work with the IOM (International Office of Migration) to check the status of the camps in the Jacmel area. We went off with a team and filled forms that indicated urgent need, disappearances, severe flooding, etc... By and large, the camps sustained moderate damage. The last camp we went to was absolutely destroyed. There was nothing left of most of the huts, which were made of leafs and cut up plastic tarps. The major problem in other parts of Haiti, notably Leogane, was the amount of flooding. We had the house boarded up for 48 hours, so we as a group had no problems.
We took in a family with a malaria infected baby for the duration of the hurricane. If we had not, they would have been soaked in their tent for a few days, and the baby would have most likely died.
A new rotation arrived a week from yesterday. They're all very cool people and a few of them are going to stay on board until the camp closes down in December.
Sierra and I will be going to Port au Prince in a week and doing some work for GrassRoots United. This will be a good change of scenery and it will be awesome to be there in the few days prior to the election. My mommies is coming to see me on wednesday!
Moore soon. Flocka
Dengue Fever:
I acquired Dengue Fever for free from a nice mosquito. It is transmitted by the daytime, striped mosquitoes that are infected with it from when they breed in dirty stagnant water. A few other people have had it in the house in the past few months, but it is overall a rare occurrence. This was not fun. You pretty much get a constant fever for the duration of one week, painful body aches and shivering. My fever peaked at 103 or 104 degrees every night for a week, and i eventually developed strep throat toward the end of my Dengue bout. I've been on antibiotics and feeling much better now, so its back to work.
Hurricane Tomas:
This could have been a lot worse than it was. Haiti was expected to be hit as a category 1 hurricane, which means very strong winds and a lot of damage considering the million plus people living in tents still. The major problem with Tomas was that it was such a wide system that most of Haiti was hit with at least a tropical storm status as far as wind and rain. Here in Jacmel, the storm lasted for about 2 days, with its real strength coming 3:30 am on friday night.
David and I were sent to work with the IOM (International Office of Migration) to check the status of the camps in the Jacmel area. We went off with a team and filled forms that indicated urgent need, disappearances, severe flooding, etc... By and large, the camps sustained moderate damage. The last camp we went to was absolutely destroyed. There was nothing left of most of the huts, which were made of leafs and cut up plastic tarps. The major problem in other parts of Haiti, notably Leogane, was the amount of flooding. We had the house boarded up for 48 hours, so we as a group had no problems.
We took in a family with a malaria infected baby for the duration of the hurricane. If we had not, they would have been soaked in their tent for a few days, and the baby would have most likely died.
A new rotation arrived a week from yesterday. They're all very cool people and a few of them are going to stay on board until the camp closes down in December.
Sierra and I will be going to Port au Prince in a week and doing some work for GrassRoots United. This will be a good change of scenery and it will be awesome to be there in the few days prior to the election. My mommies is coming to see me on wednesday!
Moore soon. Flocka
Monday, October 25, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, October 18, 2010
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
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
Friday, October 15, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Stories / Closing Arguments
Phillip, John (?) and I are leaving Jacmel tomorrow morning at 4 am. We have early flights and would pretty much do anything not to stay overnight in Port au Prince. I'll be flying to Miami and then to Charlotte.
Since the last update, everything has gone quite well. English class has never been so full. We had over 40 people in our Friday class. Good luck taking over for me Dan! Friday morning was an awesome day of rubbling with Phil and some of the new rotation. We took down a roof and a wall, which seemed to have really please Eron. Yesterday, most of us went to Bassin Bleu- amazing waterfalls in the jungle. This place really is unreal and i highly recommend it to the rotations to come if you're into cliff diving and/or tired of the beach.
I've been thinking about what to write in my final entry, and decided to write the stories of two of the most standout people i have met in my time here:
The internet cafe i am currently at is owned by a Haitian who's name is McKenzie. This place recently opened. McKenzie, who must be in his mid 20's, runs it with his cousins, and it has become a popular place for members of GVN (thanks for the discount). During the earthquake, McKenzie was trapped in the basement of a several story high building with his closest friends and family. I am not sure of the exact number of people that were with him, but he was the only survivor. He was caught under the rubble for 4 days until someone finally heard him. In this time, his friends and family said their goodbyes to each other one by one when they could no longer endure their situation. McKenzie and his cousins are some of the happiest people i have met in Haiti. Even when the internet is down or a computer isnt working, we stay here and talk to him as a good friend. We'll make sure the next rotations look after you McKenzie and cousins.
A place Phil and i have frequently gone to is madame Benits house. She is a retired nurse that worked in NYC her whole life before coming back to her home country in Haiti. Through her savings and her pension, madame Benit feeds around 300 kids every day of the week. She pays the chefs, staff, food, clothing, and anything else the kids may need out of her own pocket and good will. When it is time to eat, the children have been taught manners. They wait until everyone is served, pray, do not speak when eating, and have been taught table manners. Madame Benit makes sure that all of the kids that enter her home are actually in need of food. When she sees a new face, she will allow the kid to eat, and then walk him or her home and talk to their parents to determine the situation. In addition to this, Benit is seemingly the only person that remembers the people in jail here. The only time the prisoners shower with soap or brush their teeth is when she makes her rounds. People that have been imprisoned for many years call her mother and have endless respect for her. Whenever anyone from GVN meets her, they make it a point to return to her home often to talk and offer help. I can't really express how amazing she is, but one of my ideas for when i return home is to raise money for her program.
Being away from university and the rest of the world has once again been amazing. Not only is the work rewarding, but being away from home/university makes this the perfect place to reflect on the past and think about the upcoming year. I want to thank my parents (most avid readers) for once again allowing me to do this and helping me find a little more direction in life.
Since the last update, everything has gone quite well. English class has never been so full. We had over 40 people in our Friday class. Good luck taking over for me Dan! Friday morning was an awesome day of rubbling with Phil and some of the new rotation. We took down a roof and a wall, which seemed to have really please Eron. Yesterday, most of us went to Bassin Bleu- amazing waterfalls in the jungle. This place really is unreal and i highly recommend it to the rotations to come if you're into cliff diving and/or tired of the beach.
I've been thinking about what to write in my final entry, and decided to write the stories of two of the most standout people i have met in my time here:
The internet cafe i am currently at is owned by a Haitian who's name is McKenzie. This place recently opened. McKenzie, who must be in his mid 20's, runs it with his cousins, and it has become a popular place for members of GVN (thanks for the discount). During the earthquake, McKenzie was trapped in the basement of a several story high building with his closest friends and family. I am not sure of the exact number of people that were with him, but he was the only survivor. He was caught under the rubble for 4 days until someone finally heard him. In this time, his friends and family said their goodbyes to each other one by one when they could no longer endure their situation. McKenzie and his cousins are some of the happiest people i have met in Haiti. Even when the internet is down or a computer isnt working, we stay here and talk to him as a good friend. We'll make sure the next rotations look after you McKenzie and cousins.
A place Phil and i have frequently gone to is madame Benits house. She is a retired nurse that worked in NYC her whole life before coming back to her home country in Haiti. Through her savings and her pension, madame Benit feeds around 300 kids every day of the week. She pays the chefs, staff, food, clothing, and anything else the kids may need out of her own pocket and good will. When it is time to eat, the children have been taught manners. They wait until everyone is served, pray, do not speak when eating, and have been taught table manners. Madame Benit makes sure that all of the kids that enter her home are actually in need of food. When she sees a new face, she will allow the kid to eat, and then walk him or her home and talk to their parents to determine the situation. In addition to this, Benit is seemingly the only person that remembers the people in jail here. The only time the prisoners shower with soap or brush their teeth is when she makes her rounds. People that have been imprisoned for many years call her mother and have endless respect for her. Whenever anyone from GVN meets her, they make it a point to return to her home often to talk and offer help. I can't really express how amazing she is, but one of my ideas for when i return home is to raise money for her program.
Being away from university and the rest of the world has once again been amazing. Not only is the work rewarding, but being away from home/university makes this the perfect place to reflect on the past and think about the upcoming year. I want to thank my parents (most avid readers) for once again allowing me to do this and helping me find a little more direction in life.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The new group of 27 is awesome. They arrived throughout the day on Monday with the look of "what kind of shit did I get myself into" that we all had. Canadians, once again, are showing their numbers in Haiti. We have a carpenter, an ex comedian, a chef, a politician, a calgarian oil banker, 3 or 4 shawtaays and some other people. Phil and I gave them a tour of jacmel on taxi bikes that everyone seemed to enjoy. A few of them started working today.
The building we are working on at the orphenage is really coming along. We bring two sets of people- workers and people that occupy the kids. We always seem to have a crowd gathered when we build. It must be because they've never seen anyone actually work for more than 15 minutes. The framing is up and sturdy as we've dug holes and cemented the bases. Its pretty brutal in 115 degree weather.
There was a demonstration of about 10000 yesterday in downtown jacmel. They were protesting the government and the UN. Interesting mix. While all the cops in the city were doing crowd control, apparently quite a few prisonners escaped the city jail.
I'd like to bitch a little bit about GVN, if I may. They seem to think it is acceptable to "tour" the tent cities (displacement camps) to show the new people. The directors must really get off on walking through other peoples misery. Don't go there unless you are doing work. These people have very little privacy as it is, show them respect and don't flash cameras in their faces while parading around an inhumane place.
I have to prepare my "conversational english" class for about 60 munts. Also, I am finally sick. I'm glad its happening now instead of earlier on the rotation. So long.
Ps; larry is leaving tomorrow which is fantastic!
The building we are working on at the orphenage is really coming along. We bring two sets of people- workers and people that occupy the kids. We always seem to have a crowd gathered when we build. It must be because they've never seen anyone actually work for more than 15 minutes. The framing is up and sturdy as we've dug holes and cemented the bases. Its pretty brutal in 115 degree weather.
There was a demonstration of about 10000 yesterday in downtown jacmel. They were protesting the government and the UN. Interesting mix. While all the cops in the city were doing crowd control, apparently quite a few prisonners escaped the city jail.
I'd like to bitch a little bit about GVN, if I may. They seem to think it is acceptable to "tour" the tent cities (displacement camps) to show the new people. The directors must really get off on walking through other peoples misery. Don't go there unless you are doing work. These people have very little privacy as it is, show them respect and don't flash cameras in their faces while parading around an inhumane place.
I have to prepare my "conversational english" class for about 60 munts. Also, I am finally sick. I'm glad its happening now instead of earlier on the rotation. So long.
Ps; larry is leaving tomorrow which is fantastic!
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