1878

How do you fix a sewing machine that is 130 years old?
Simple!
You call Al Danis in the States. Oh wait! You get on-line via Skype and call Al Danis in the States with your laptop that has a built-in camera and wireless access so that Al Danis can see what you are doing and can walk you through with step by step instructions for a sewing machine that was made in 1878 by the Singer Company only 130 years ago that is now in the middle of a classroom full of ladies getting ready for a sewing final in Haiti. Sounds Crazy!! But, that is what Dan did today! I am not sure they could have fixed it without Al seeing the machine in real time.

When we say, "it takes everyone to make this work", we aren't kidding! Thanks Al!

Just For Fun: We walked around the classroom with Al on-line so he could see all the ladies working on their machines! They loved it!

Practical vs Overkill

Today I thought I would talk about an important part of driving in Haiti - The Bumper! It is important that you understand the unwritten rules of driving here.

RULE: You are given the right of way if your bumper enters the intersection first!
This can be tricky. If you think about going for a second longer than the other drivers deems necessay you will loose your rightfully earned spot in front of the other cars. It's kind of like having a kid and scolding them. If you even think about cracking a smile you have lost the battle and they know that you won't really spank them and after a few minutes of yelling you give in and they win.
Back to the bumper!
Most vechicles here have bumper issues, they have been smashed and trashed as their owner learns the painful and costly unwritten rules. Some things are however out of the drivers control. This is when you have to think about practical vs overkill bumper issues.
RULE: Can my bumper stop a tap-tap that can't make it up a hill, while keeping my bumper and car in tact?
TEST: This morning we started out for church making our way down Delma 33. As we made our way in and out of the traffic, we climbed up one of many hills in our route. All of a sudden, everything slowly began to slide backwards toward us. This was the test! Would we pass? The tap-tap couldn't make it up the hill, his brakes began to fail and he rolled back into the water truck, as the water truck rolled back into the jeep which in turned rolled back into, you guessed it, our bumper! I am happy to report that we passed the test and didn't have to test the back bumper as well this morning!
What seemed like the overkill bumper of the century on our truck has now become the very practical bumper!
LESSON: Never judge a bumper!

The Art Adventure

The past two weekends we have been able to get out as a family and see some new parts of Haiti. Today we went to a small village called Croix-des-Bouquets about thirty minutes from here to see all the artisans who create a large part of the tin art here in Haiti. I love going out of the city. I love being with all the people and seeing the good parts of Haiti. Life is so different outside the city. I love the art work and I love having the freedom to walk around with my camera taking pictures and talking to the people. Maddie and Parker had never really been out in the village to experience these things first hand and they loved it. As we walked the little kids yelled "blan"(white) hoping I would stop and take a picture. It was a game. They yell, I stop with the camera ready to take a picture,they run and hide. I love it and am willing to play with many of them the whole time we stayed to look at art. Well, really, Dan did the shopping, I looked at a few things I liked, but I loved taking pictures. Dan said, the digital camera is paying off already since I took 91 pictures.

Exam Week!!

You will have to forgive me for not having a blog in a few days - it has been exam week here at school. Little did I know what that meant! Thinking back to exam week at school in the States I never really liked it. I still don't like the idea of it, so me being the one in charge isn't what I had in mind, but it is part of what I need to do.
I can say that this week has been a test of my understanding of the Haitian school culture, creating a wicked learning curve, often referred to as, "baptism by fire"!
I have said, "You've Got To Be Kidding Me" this week more than I have ever said it in my whole life. Today, was the biggest,"You've Got To Be Kidding Me"! I had to remove the teacher from the class for talking to the students and giving the answers to them! Hello? Why was she helping them? Again, "You've Got To Be Kidding Me"!

Lesson Number One: In the Haitian culture, she would not be considered a good teacher if she didn't help them cheat because, very simply, she knows all the answers. Logical? No, not really, it all seems confusing to me because while she teaches class it is normal to hit them with a ruler, grown woman, with a ruler, or to encourage the whole class laugh at them if someone can't answer the question or heaven forbid asks a question considered to be foolish. It seems to me that this all is a bunch of mixed signals. I will admit and I am the first to say, I don't begin to understand how all of this works.

By Friday, we had reached the last step in our testing! I was so relieved because part of me had been holding my breath for each of them. Will they pass? It was twelve o'clock,class was ending and each lady was clearly on her way to having
compleated a project that they could be proud of and the class room was full of giggles. I am so proud of each of them!

Stay tuned for the fashion show!!

What Can I Say?

What Can I Say? It has been so much fun getting to know the ladies in sewing school. In some respects we are worlds apart and our worlds would normally never meet. But, in more ways than you think we are the same in every way. These are the things that I am learning everyday. They are shy, funny, ready to learn, love their children and want a better life. We are the same!

Funny Miracle

Today Parker Boy said to me, "Hey Mom, do you know that Jesus did a really funny miracle?" Oh really? Yeah, there was a group of people that had this really bad black stuff in them. Jesus told the really bad black stuff to go out of the people and in to the pigs, so it went in to the pigs. To help me understand better Parker started screaming and running in a circle acting out the pig drama. He stopped, looked up at me, laughing and said, Mom, isn't Jesus funny! The black stuff had to listen to him! Well said, Parker Boy!

Google Earth

On Friday, as we finished up with sewing class, Beth dropped in with some friends to show them the sewing program and asked if I wanted to have lunch with them. I could honestly spend my whole week here at the house and not go out until Sunday for church with all that I have to do, so I jumped at the chance to hang out with this group that I love. It would take me a bit to clean up, so I said I would tap tap over and meet them in a few minutes. After lunch, we would try to find Sisters of Charity - Hospital for the Dying for John and Beth's daughter Morgan who will be coming in today and wants to do some volunteer work for them. We finished lunch while Jen, the doctor, was on Google Earth looking for our destination - In Haiti! (Hello!) We thought we had a good idea of the general area, so we all piled in the car and off we went. We Googled ourselves pretty close, but had to stop and ask for directions a few times. Finally, we found a very kind older man who got in the car with us and took us where we needed to go. Go figure! Google Earth -vs- A Wise Old Man!

Now, I don't always like to talk about things that are hard here, but Haiti is hard. Really hard! After parking we found the sister in charge who gave us permission to walk around. I am guessing because Jen, the doctor, was with us. We went upstairs to the woman's section, did a quick tour, returning to the first room at the top of the stairs. As we walked in again, I could feel the tension in the room, with a quick glance around I saw the problem and said, Beth, I think we should pray for this lady! That quickly the room was filled with crying that you would never hear in the States. She was gone. I can't seem to shake the picture of those thin, poor, sick ladies laying in the beds alone. I keep thinking, we can Google the whole earth so we can see it, but, we can't really see it. We can't seem to get rid of so many painful things on earth, like people dying alone, HIV, mama's who deliver babies alone with out any help and kids without food or medicine.

So, for now, we will continue to work in our one little area here in Tabarre, while others continue to work to also make a difference, in Haiti, and so many other places on earth. I wonder if we can Google heaven? I think that is where another wise man keeps all the answers.