Imperial Cap-Haitien

... me a serious bout of writer's block. What should I say next? How should I describe what I saw? I usually try to write irreverently. Today, I don't know if that's the way to go. What I saw in Haiti was both wonderful and appalling, and although I'm not the first to be blown away by poverty, that doesn't make my experience any less enlightening. Everybody likes the funny, though, and I guess that's my digs, so I'll try to snap to. Trying now.) 'Space Oddity' by David ...

... The Petite Anse toilet at the market (see an older post for photos) has been successful. Apparently people stop by and are interested in building dry toilets. Our schedule for the day was extremely full. By the end of the day it was fairly empty. Plans can self destruct in Haiti for all sorts of reasons. Our days have been complicated by drama throughout the last week or so, but it's not worth mentioning on here.

... has been out during the last few days, but usually returns at night. Sasha should have been back already, but the Jolissant's brand new car was totaled today as their chauffeur crashed it into a brick wall. Hopefully he's not family. The word "totaled" was used, but apparently they're trying to fix the vehicle. I'm not really sure the extent of the damage. Today was extremely quiet. Erika is extremely sick with ...

Monday the 7th we were rained in. SOIL and SOL presented on a few things and we relaxed. Yesterday began with a meeting with one of the three mayors, (St. Croix) who recognized Erika and I from last year. During the 2004 coup he was shot three times and he mentioned opponents fearing he would use his position in office to punish them. Some have approached him to work together. We discussed ...

... though. So I agreed to pay $7 for the horse and I gave the guy $3 extra. Another man (Yves) decided to be my guide as well. It didn't bother me to pay two people, but I knew they'd try to gouge me. We arrived at the Citadel and I explored a bit on my own as I was first. I paid both men $2 American and 250 gourdes. This time we weren't as rushed and I saw a lot of parts I didn't last time. Unfortunately the amazing views did not exist. A thick layer of clouds ...

... since the goat was the following night's dinner. Since we were wet we decided to head to Petit Anse and view the toilets behind the market. This set was constructed and requested by a womens organization. Women in Haiti are largely responsible for the survival of families. Some men (including some politicians) have multiple families started with multiple women. The circumstances facing Haitian families (poverty, sexism, violence, etc.) are numerous ...

... to vote and is also the grandfather of Patrick Bellegarde-Smith, a professor of mine at UW-Milwaukee. The sign was an exciting random siting for me. It's raining a bit, but we're going to reconvene later tonight for a presentation by SOIL/SOL and then watch a film on apartheid in South Africa. Enjoy the pictures and check out this UWM News article that came out today: http://www4.uwm.edu/about_uwm/news_pres s/today_at_uwm_detail .cfm

... mandated in April or May of 2004 just after the second coup of Aristide). I dislike them, especially when they have their assault rifles pointed at my head. Thanks MINUSTAH! Our encounter with MINUSTAH wasn't enough so we sought out the rallying point for the old Army guys who we saw oddly walking down the street in fatigues with a procession of drummers. We discovered later that this was a protest of the UN occupation. That was followed by a ...

... absent because of the political situation. This has led to a drop in tourist dollars and a heightened desperation which cannot be alleviated by a couple of dollars. Our whiteness in Haiti places us in the minority. Our pale complexion and relatively large incomes starkly contrast with dark skin and a high unemployment rate. As we drove up the mountain many children yelled "blanc" or even "Sasha!" since ...

... on Dr. Paul Farmer's work. I have just finished reading "The Uses of Haiti" - this one by Dr. Paul Farmer. I have already written and delivered my first two homilies in French - one of which was translated into Creole. Though I did read them both, it's a start! P.S. I have posted some pictures of Cap Haitien and Port-au-Prince. Since I am nothing of an expert in this, you will have to find them for yourselves!