Tarantulas at work and hanging out in the mango drop zone
The building continues not only on the homes, but also our relationship with the people.
Today the building in the community continues near Petit Paradise, moments out of Grand Goave. Our first home is almost finished, the roof went up today, and the only thing left is to finish the brick in the gables. We finished the foundation on the second home yesterday and the walls started going up today. We (mostly Kim and Cam, our rock hauling machines) have been hauling pails of rock up hill in sandals, no coat and no snow!! Thank goodness!! Jack, Daniel, and Benjamin have been kept busy doing duty as brick movers, rock haulers, sand sifters, and friend makers. They have been playing with the local kids that have gathered to watch the crazy white people work. It is so great to watch how we can communicate and have fun even though we don't speak the same language. I was even brave enough to hold the resident tarantula, until it ran at lightning speed up my arm, at which point the Haitians learned that this white guy doesn't like spiders. Even baby tarantulas. It is exciting to see how fast these houses are coming together, and we are hoping to start a third one next week. As we start to understand the process, and a few Creole words, we get more efficient in having materials ready for the Haitian work crew. We have adopted Kathleen, who has joined our team from California. She was here with us last year when we were here, and we have enjoyed having her along. She is very good at putting Haitian toddlers to sleep. Today she helped stack bricks to make the wall, placing them in position as she was directed by the crew.
Diana had the opportunity to work in the medical clinic today, which was quite different from the typical Canadian health care system. The clinic here at HaitiArise has a small lab as well as the clinic, so are able to do things like ultrasound right on site. No waiting for the requisition to make the appointment, the doctor sees you and sends you across the haul to have a ultrasound done. The highlight of her day was playing with a young girl with Down's syndrome, giving her mom a break as she was seeing the doctor.
This evening, and many of the evenings, we hang out with Wade, Marilyn, and any others brave enough, in the mango drop zone. We share humorous stories while awaiting the crack crack thud of the mangos, and readjust our chairs so that we are at less risk for a hit. So far, I think only two have had a direct hit, and Benjamin has had several near misses. We had a good laugh over a story of buying donkey dung in the market, and other things that us crazy white people (blancs) will do.
We are looking forward to a trip to the market in Petit Goave in the morning.