{Day 2) July 23

Monday

     Wow, What a year. Oh I mean day. We arrived in Haiti around 8:30am. The airport was way sketch but we got all our bags and we eventually found our director who had the car and everything ready.

[A little more about the Haiti Airport: Once off the plane, they herded us on to a bus to the baggage claim area. The baggage claim was more like a pile of luggage in a warehouse area. The overwhelming smell and the culture shock hit us like a fish in the face. When we walked outside the warehouse so many "workers" grabbed to "help us" with our stuff. If we allow them to help us, then we would be obligated to pay them for their work. We were told right before we went out to the courtyard not to let anyone touch our bags, but still Bethany and Becky got tricked into it. They had to fight for their bags back. It was so funny and no damage was done. haha.]

    We ended up waiting by the car for another girl to arrive and then that girl (Chandis) ended up loosing her passport after going through customs. Apparently passports can be sold on the black market for like $10,000. Needles to say, the 3 hours more of waiting at the airport for chandis to find it and eventually file a police report were kinda useless on account that not many Haitians would turn that in.

Pictures while waiting at the airport:

A water bottle full of Pee. Gross, I know. 

A car wash outside the airport. We were in this gated area and a few Haitians came and practiced their english on us, or they would try selling us stuff. 

"Enjoying" the Heat

(Me, Hilary, Becky, Bethany)

   
     After a 2 hour bus ride through Port au Prince, we finally came to Leogane. Port au Prince is a disaster. Remains of the Hurricane's doing were still very prevalent. Houses or sometimes tents were built on top of rubble.

The gang in the van for 2 hours traveling our "15 mile" trip from Port au Prince to Leogane. 

from front to back and left to right.

(Chandis, Gart, Junoir Belange, Becky, Bethany, Hilary, Me, Scott)

Becky in the van. She had a window. 

*** These aren't just sad pictures I had to search for. These pictures are from our drive. This is how it really looked the majority of the places we went. 

Tent Communities

proof of the Earthquake was every where

Tent Communities

Another tent community

Just a normal neighborhood

My picture of the Presidential Palace

    We passed multiple people showering in sewage. 2 Hours of driving through ten towns and sewage and smells that I can't even describe. By the way, This 2 hour bus drive was to travel to Leogane that is only 18 miles away. Ya. No traffic laws make for some interesting experiences. ( I have friends who can run 18 miles faster then that)

     Eventually We arrived at our house. Lunch was ready so we slumped into the kitchen and ate our wonderful meal of eggs & ham and spaghetti noodles & ketchup. Turns out when you are starving, this meal makes for a wonderful meal. 

     After Lunch we sat. That’s what you have to do to “cool off”. You sit. You don’t talk. You don’t eat. You sit and try not to breathe too hard. I will never complain about it being hot ever again. I thought I understood that it was going to be hot but this is hotter then heck itself. There is truth behind the saying, “Hotter then Haiti’s”. I don’t think there is such a place hotter. Standing in front of a fan barely helps. (okay done complaining for now)

This is where we would eat and then Sit. Food would be served buffet style on the table and then we would sit on the plastic chairs to eat. 

         After we got settled in the house, we went walking through the town to exchange money for Haiti Dollars or Goud. I have no idea about the exact conversions but $20 turned into 800 Goud. Haiti Dollars are different I think. Its like 20 Haitian Dollars = 100 Goud. Ya, I’m too tired to figure it all out.

         After getting the proper money, we went to an Internet café. I sent a very short email to my family and an even shorter email to Adam. I honestly didn’t expect to miss Adam this much. Like seriously. This is ridiculous.

         After sending our too short of emails we got some drinks [soda is the only cold beverages we can buy, hence I drink a lot of soda.] Then we went back to the house. I don’t really know whet happened but one minute all of the girls were talking and the next second we were all asleep.

         At 5:15 we went to ESL (Teaching English Time). Jill Wright, this guy named Alex and I will be teaching advanced English together. The students were mostly older males. They seem very smart and even more willing to learn.

         After English class we came home and ate stew and rice. It wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.

Random stuff:     

•    The power is very unreliable so when the power is out we don’t have running water
•         Even brown shower water can feel like heaven when its hot enough outside
•         I miss Adam more then words can describe.

Honestly today was forever long.  Even though today was difficult, I’m trying to be optimistic for tomorrow!

                        Bring it on.

*Snippets*

Me and Bethany are sleeping on a King size mattress bed together. We are so lucky cause everyone else is on a foam pad. We don't have a mosquito net though. I guess it's a trade off. 

Best thing I brought = battery powered box fan = heaven