keeping me in mind

A few people responded to the email update I sent out yesterday by reminding me to rest and take care of myself. I just wanted to assure everyone that I am in fact doing just that, which is why I haven't made/found the time to post updates as regularly as I'd desire or always include the detail which I may have otherwise. Thank you all for caring for me enough to tell me to take care of myself when you think I may not be doing so.


I would tell you about today because it was filled with great experiences, but I would prefer to attempt a slightly chronological order to these entries. Therefore I will wait until tomorrow or Sunday when I can go back and include some of the details about the previous highlights first.



Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Nicole led the first bibliotec since our return. She and I had decided upon a plan for the hour-long event with the beach kids the day before, recognizing that she desired to make some changes. Most of the youth are between ages 10 and 14, although I sometimes have to be reminded of that fact because many are small in stature (due to malnourishment at younger ages, I think). Ultimately she opted to discuss the earthquake. In preparation, Nicole shared a cultural piece that influences this time... that many Haitians are accustomed to oral teaching, which often looks like a teacher speaking and the children repeating as a group whatever is being instructed. How this detail impacts our time is that the youth struggle at times with giving individaul responses and also with focusing when peers are asked to share.

To begin the day's activities, Nicole introduced me and explained that I now live on the compound with the Carlin family along with the fact that I will be here for a year and that I will be helping with bibliotec. After this addressing this housekeeping detail, she asked the youth to describe some of their experiences surrounding the earthquake. Nicole tried for individual descriptions, but by the third child, the answers were similar and most of the group was distracted by side conversations. At that point, she chose to ask questions that the entire group could answer with yes or no. Then we gave each child a piece of paper and crayons to draw a picture related to the earthquake and/or its aftermath. It took a few minutes, where they looked around at each other's papers, but as soon as the first girl (named Keshare - pronounced Kiersha) took initiative in her drawing, the rest began their own pictures as well.

I went around at this point and had the children tell me their names. I was trying to write them down on paper, but I didn't know how to ask them to spell their names for me and didn't want to misspell them in my own efforts. Thankfully the children would correct me if I gave them the pen, but I realized that not all of them were capable of spelling their names. Each one was willing to try, which shocked me considering the fact that they obviously struggled with the task and some knew they weren't able to complete the task. Some of the youth laughed (at me I believe), but I don't mind and find it amusing on some level as they do. Actually I felt the moment was productive because Sophie was going around with me while I tried to get the Haitian children's names. When the boys started laughing, I commented that I loved their responses. She was surprised by my comment and asked for an explanation. We were able to discuss how it is entertaining that a grown adult can't figure out how to spell their names. It's also funny in some ways that I don't know the language. Plus Haitians think MY name is entertaining, and generally they find some of our behaviors to be entertaining. Their laughter indicated a certain comfort level that I appreciated and was glad to see. Their laughter gave me hope that a bridge can be built as we learn from and teach each other.



Thursday, February 25, 2010

I finally moved into my new space this afternoon. I have my own little apartment, instead of the more dorm-like style of the guest house. It's a decent sized room with windows on all four sides. Currently there are two twin beds and a desk in here, but we have discussed possibilities of altering the furniture situation (whether or not that will happen I do not know). There's a small "kitchenette" which is really just a space intended to be a kitchen, but only has a sink and some counter tops. I have designed myself a clost, thanks to Nicole and her persistence, with a pressure rod and length of fabric. I have a small bathroom with a miniature sink and no hot water, but it is all mine. [On Friday, I even managed to get my drawings and collages on the walls to decorate and make it homey.] I love having space that is just for me where I can get away from the noise and people to recollect myself. It's almost like my own personal oasis or sanctuary.