10.1 New Kids

Several new kids moved into His Home today. They came from the slum of Cite Soleil, so it was interesting to watch them adjust to their new surroundings. It was especially interesting tonight when it was time to get ready for bed. That simple routine was a whole new adventure for them. They had to be shown how to brush their teeth, how to shower with indoor plumbing, and even how to use the toilet–they tried squatting on the toilet with their feet on the seat. The kids had a lot of fun with everything and were so excited they had a hard time going to sleep. They will have a lot more adjustments to make in the coming days, and I hope the transition will go as smoothly as possible for them.

9.30 Leaving Port-au-Prince

My time here in Port-au-Prince is almost over. I have enjoyed the opportunity to see and experience life in such a different setting. Port-au-Prince is definitely urban and, as the capital city, there is significant foreign influence in the city. Life here means that things are more accessible–you can usually find what you want somewhere–but there are also the negative aspects of a large city–too many people living too close together, poverty, dirty streets, etc.

9.29 Errands

This morning I ran some interesting errands. Actually, most errands are interesting here in Haiti because they are so unique. They are just so different from what I am used to back home that I like to see what it’s like here.

After dropping a visitor off at the airport, we went to the hardware store. It seemed like a fairly normal hardware store (not that I’ve been in a lot of them!), but it somewhat reminded me of the stores in Biloxi when I was down there this past spring. Their supply doesn’t/can’t meet the demand (so now I’m in economics?!), so they may not have exactly what you want. So you buy something as close as you can get. Also, there were no prices on anything, which is just annoying.

We also went to pick up mail this morning. There is a missionary mail service with a Florida address which then flies the mail to Haiti. I’m not sure how all of it works, but it was interesting to see the people coming to pick up their mail and packages. And of course just the social aspect of friends meeting together, because I think they’re only open Saturday mornings.

9.28 Haitian Names

One of the things I have really enjoyed about this trip to Haiti is the opportunity to see and experience different parts of Haiti away from the area I have always gone. One thing I had not thought about being different was the names. Certain names or trends in names seem to be more common in the different areas.

For example, where I have been previously -line is a very common ending to a girl’s name: Mackline, Nachline, Dageline, to name a few. Here in Port-au-Prince, I have not met girls with names like that. Similarly, there seems to be a trend with some of the boys’ names here–Novens, Lovens, Lovensky–that I had not previously seen.

Of course, some things seem to be fairly similar wherever I’ve been. One name I’ve learned is very common is Junior; I have met at least five on this trip alone. Jean is also fairly common wherever I have gone, usually at the beginning of a boy’s name, although it is sometimes used in a girl’s name. Marie is also pretty universal, although it can be used for either a girl or a boy. Here at the orphanage we have Ismarie (girl), LouisMarie (boy), MarieAndre (girl), MichelMarie (boy), and MarieMichel (girl).

Another interesting aspect of names is the names that are different genders between the US and Haiti. There is a girl here named Anthonine (pronounced Antony). There are also boys named Angie, Wendy, and Daniel (pronounced Danielle). Some of these names, as well as others that would just be odd in the US, are changed by their adoptive parents: Wood-Joshua, Lovelie-Eva.

9.27 Interesting Task

Yesterday Marline, the head nanny and preschool teacher, asked me to write out the words to some songs for her. She had a cd, but she didn’t know the English words to the songs. So I spent awhile this morning listening to the songs and writing the words for her. It was fun to hear the children’s songs again. Of course, some of them are familiar–Jesus Loves Me, This Little Light of Mine–but others I have not heard in a very long time–Noah’s Arky, Arky, Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho. It was a fun and interesting job.

9.26 The Pool

This afternoon the team that’s here took a well-deserved break and went to the pool. And I got to go with them! There is a swimming pool at the school where Hal works so that is where we went. It was a nice pool, and it was nice to get away for an afternoon and take a break. Not to mention that in Haiti’s heat, it’s always nice to have a chance to cool off!

9.25 Painting

There is a work team here this week, and today I was helping them paint. They are painting Bible scenes on the walls of the babies’ rooms. My particular art skill is to paint inside the lines someone else has drawn (much like I did last year when I was working at the preschool). I painted a boat and an island and some palm trees and coconuts for the Jonah scene. I had a good time painting, although I might have inhaled a few too many paint fumes!

9.24 Waiting List Day

Today I was the “gatekeeper” for waiting list day. Actually, all I did was write numbers on the back of their appointment cards if they were returning or give them a numbered card if it was their first time. There were about 30 families who came, wanting help or wanting to put their kids in the orphanage. Some of the people brought their kids, dressed nicely in their best clothes. Chris accepted four new kids into the orphanage–three boys and a girl from Cite Soleil who will be moving in next Monday.

9.23 My Neighbors

Since the move last weekend, I have new “neighbors.” There are five little girls who live in my old room. Yverline is a special needs child with hydrocephalus. She has also had a brain tumor removed and other related problems. Yverline has a sweet personality and a loving heart and we’ve become friends. The other four–Matise, Gayel, Jasmine, Mamina–are all imps. They are adorable, lovable, full of energy, and very mischievious. Mostly, though, they just want love and attention. They are also very caring and giving. Besides playing with all of them, I get to give them their good-night hugs and kisses. Not a bad job at all!

9.22 Baking

I did some baking today for the church youth group. I made box mix brownies, so it wasn’t anything too difficult, but it was fun. Actually, I didn’t even do a lot of it. Michael, the Nungesters’ 5 year old son did a lot of the mixing for me. He thought it was great fun to stir everything together and to look at the brownies in the oven (supervised, of course). Later, his older sister Berline came and helped, too. The brownies seemed to turn out well, and we certainly had fun making them.