Le Plaza Port-au-Prince

... ca/ )

Travelling? Of course! Next week, on the very birthday of Richard (the 13th), we fly to Cuba for a well-due honeymoon! We’ll be visiting old town Santiago de Cuba, and then La Habana, where we’ll have 5 mornings of Spanish classes. And in the months to come, there will be some week-ends in the country side, Miami for a week in October, and family again for the Christmas holidays. And the program extends to next February: Carnival in Rio ...

... sommes nous bien logés, nourris, blanchis???

Notre situation d'arrivée est fort différente du Viet Nam. Richard est ici depuis 2 mois, moi depuis 1, et on est encore à l'hôtel. Bien oui! Cela peut sembler facile, mais après un temps, on n'est même plus capable de regarder le croissant du buffet du déjeuner: le gras te sort de la face la seconde ou la pince le sort d'un panier du buffet... Une chance qu'on ...

... I went out with someone I met and two of his family members. It was nice, but I could have done without all of the foreigners blatantly hanging out with their prostitutes. It's not any better if I don't see it of course, but it was pretty disgusting.

Nothing much to say. Just found out someone was murdered three blocks from my house in Milwaukee. Stay safe Riverwest folks!

"Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others so use your gift well." 1 Peter 4

Wake up call at 3:30! I enjoy a last shower and cup of coffee! We manage to be downstairs by 5:00. Well except Jane, she's usually the last one (of course you'll also notice in pictures she looks better than the rest of us). We arrive with plenty of time to spare although we do have to ...

... discussions. The survey focuses on water, sanitation, hygiene, and frequency of diarrhea. The survey will also include collection of data for children under the age of five to determine the level of malnutrition in this community. The goal of the assessment will be to assess current conditions that will inform the future of our project as well as establish a baseline by which we can measure our project efforts. The information will ...

... war against mosquitoes in our bedroom around 1h00. Armed with clogs, I slaughtered four and shooed the rest away. Apparently they tolerate my brother's cologne, but despise our ancient Chinese anti-mosquito spray. It's manufactured in France by an American pharmaceutical company. Yay globalization! The 7-UP here is much sweeter here. I love it!

... we kept moving. They also would attempt to jump into the vehicle if the door was opened or unlocked - even for a second. So we tried to be careful. However, some locals got offended when they saw us take a couple photos from inside the vehicle. It was important not to take any photos of particularily upsetting views so as not to offend them.

... Dinner is fine-rice, pork, plantains, and a vegetable platter (beets, spinach, carrots in an unusual sauce), After Kim and I haul water and wash by bucket, it is announced we can drive to the clinic and take real showers. Another missed opportunity! We go up to the clinic anyway. Dr. Leopold lets us use the phone to call home. I get to hear my families voice even though the connection is spotty-heavenly ...

... aunque fui secuestrado hacia las 2 a.m. por mi párroco, y tuve que abandonar el lugar. El segundo reveillon parece haber estado bueno... y me explico: fue en el Lycee Bookman (una escuela tristemente famosa por las peleas entre los alumnos). Era el turno para los JDC (Jóvenes Devotos de Cristo - y no lo escribo en francés porque no me acuerdo cómo es eso del devotos. Y digo parece haber estado bueno porque yo estuve ahí dos o tres horas, y la cosa ...

... será utilizado para mejorar el laboratorio. El dispensario es definitivamente una misión oblata. Pero solo tenemos tres oblatos en la parroquia: el párroco, que además es el Vicario Provincial, el vicario y el diácono mexicano. Desde mi punto de vista, el dispensario representa un granito de arena para ayudar a los pobres de nuestro alrededor. Se que el VIH / SIDA es un tema de gran preocupación para las autoridades regionales e internacionales. Según la ...