Haiti: Week One.

Week one is kind of a blur,

it consisted mostly of travel days, 

which all seem to run together. 

But I'll give you a timeline of how things went down: 

Day 1 - May 20 

We flew from Monroe to Dallas.

I received a nice surprise on that short flight,

I was seated next to my friend and former doubles partner,

Dacia Idom.

It was a rather sweet surprise!

From Dallas we flew to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 

We converted the baggage claim terminal into our temporary home,

and attempted to sleep for the night.

Day 2 - May 21

Up bright and early, we flew from Ft. Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. 

That flight came with beautiful views, 

it was early enough that we got to watch the sunrise over the ocean,

positively gorgeous.

Once in Haiti, we went through customs relatively easily, 

and then we got to wait,

Pastor Pierre (our Haitian father/contact/etc) 

was running late to pick us up, 

because that's just Haiti. 

So we got to chill in the "air conditioning" for a while.

Once he got there, we had a hectic time getting all of us, 

plus all of our luggage to the bus.

But we all made it in one piece. 

Next we had the hour or so long drive to the port city of Carriest.

Once we got to port we had to wait a bit,

 to make sure the boat was still there. 

Then we all loaded up onto the boat that would take us from the mainland to the island of La Gonave. 

And when I say boat...

...I really mean, mini-pirate ship. 

So we, along with about 75 Haitians set out to cross the 23 miles of bright blue ocean. 

Thankfully the Dramamine was in generous supply so the boat ride was actually quite enjoyable. 

Once we arrived on La Gonave, 

we loaded all of our luggage, and a few people, into the Tap Tap (a truck taxi),

and we loaded the rest of the people into Pastor Pierre's truck, 

and proceeded with the long drive,

up the mountain, 

on the non-road, 

to Pastor Pierre's home in Boucan-La-Marre. 

Once we got to his house we were greeted with a delicious meal and direct orders to REST. 

No argument here. 

Day 3 - May 22

Our major tasks of the day were to rest, and a Croc drop.

We passed out Crocs to the pre-k and kindergarden classes at the school in Boucan-La-Marre. 

That was an interesting experience. 

These kids were all under 6,

I don't know that any of them had seen a white person before.

So in walks a group of NINE white people.

Just seeing our faces was scary enough for them,

much less us saying we wanted to give them something, 

and trying to touch their feet and take off their shoes. 

But eventually they stopped crying and kinda sorta, enjoyed themselves.

Day 4 - May 23

We were scheduled to journey to our next location, Pointe Sable.

But due to the fact that Kevin decided to eat a Haitian hotdog,

and then proceeded to throw up for 8 hours,

our trip was delayed. 

So we were blessed with another day to rest and enjoy.

Day 5 - May 24

Another day of travel. 

We got up early, 

broke down camp,

loaded up the trucks, 

had some breakfast, 

and started the hourish long drive down the mountain, on the non-roads. 

We made it to the port city, L'Anse-a-Galets,

and met the boat drivers. 

Pointe Sable is still on La Gonave island, 

but you can't just drive on over for a visit,

you either go by boat (like Americans do)

or you walk (like Haitians do).

(We asked for them to let us walk and no one would let us, they all said it was too hard, 

only Haitians could do it)

So we started another mini-pirate ship boat ride. 

The water was gorgeous, 

in most places you could see straight to the bottom.

The ride was fun and enjoyable, for most. 

Although we all underestimated the intensity of the sun,

so we were all burnt to a crisp.

I do believe that was the most painful sunburn I have ever experienced,

it felt like my flesh was melting. 

But we made it to Point Sable, finally. 

We step up camp, in Madame Sigga's backyard,

she's a well-known and trusted member of the church in Point Sable. 

After that boat ride we all just tried to chill out for the rest of the day.

Day 6 - May 25

Point Sable is a very small, very remote, very primitive beach community.

There is no electricity, 

no running water, 

no cars, 

no shade,

and not much breeze. 

Our task in Point Sable was to help build the church there. 

The people in the village were already working hard on it,

but we were there just to help things along.

We never actually did any real construction,

we were mostly just the grunt work.

We had two jobs,

to either carry mini-boulders up the mountain, 

or carry buckets of sand up the mountain. 

This is the mountain. 

Thankfully, the Haitians knew we were weaklings, and would only let us work in the mornings. 

So our afternoons were spent swimming on beautiful beaches instead of carrying really heavy things up mountains. 

This was our afternoon spot. 

When Pastor Pierre first took us there, we were all shocked by the beauty of the beach.

Unfortunately that was not the only thing that shocked us.

As I swam out into the beautiful clear water, I was so positively happy,

until I turned around.

My poor little innocent eyes were more than startled at what was coming towards me.

Apparently, children in Haiti don't need swimsuits, 

it's au naturale for these kids. 

Needless to say, it took a moment for all those little uncircumcised Haitian wee-wees to come into focus. 

My plan of defense was to swim out to where the naked kids couldn't touch, 

so they wouldn't come and hang all over me,

and if a few would sneak out to the deep, I would just shove them off.

My plan worked,

the naked children did not cling to me. 

Day 7 - May 26

Pastor Pierre (Haitian), Pastor Alfonso (American), and Bill (American),

left us today.

We were on our own in Haiti. 

Oh good gracious. 

Aside from the goodbyes, it was a typical day in Point Sable. 

Carry heavy things up a mountain.

Eat strange foods.

Be really really hot.

Go swim.

Eat more strange foods.

Get my hair braided. 

Madame Enette gave me some cornrows,

and I'll tell you what, 

I liked those things!

Light, cool and easy!

We went to church for the first time,

it was cool,

Haitian church is very different from American church.

Haitian church is basically a huge dance party, 

with songs that last 30 minutes. 

They have a lot of stamina. 

That's about it for week one, 

week two shall be coming soon!