Market, Computer Classes and Beach Cleanup!

After the blog was posted last night, we asked Brad to take us out to explore the southern part of the plateau. With no regard for time, we set out on an adventure with Brad “guiding” us. After the sun started to descend into the mountains, we decided it might be a good idea to start veering back towards Lemuel. However, we were soon knee deep in brush and pikan rouj (red thorns), with no idea which way to turn. After a couple minutes of us scattering every which way to find a trail, a local Haitian family stumbled upon us in surprise. At this point it was nearly completely dark, and after hearing that we were from Lemuel and lost, the Haitian lady exclaimed “Oh Shizz” (what we believe is a Haitian term used to emphasize surprise :P ), and led us directly back to the compound through a maze of intersecting trails.

When we awoke this morning around 6 am, we were highly anticipating our donkey ride to Ans Rouj, the largest town on the plateau. However, much to our chagrin, only one of the donkeys in our expected convoy of thirteen had arrived. Commotion enthralled, as Brad and Will hurriedly made a few phone calls, and donkeys immediately started to trickle in. Adrian was given the only mule because of his long legs and above average Haitian weight. Nathan, being the gentleman he is, attempted to hoist Miss Moens onto her donkey, and received a blunt knee to the face in the awkward effort to gain her balance. After complimenting Kaitlin on her nice ass (donkey), we set out on our journey to the market.

This turned out to be an eventful journey with us desperately attempting to control the speed and direction of the stubborn donkeys. Everyone was forced to put a lot of effort into controlling their donkey, and eventually were forced to turn to the Haitian locals in order to get anywhere. One such local appeared to be making kissing noises at Will, and when she promptly told him she was happily married, he calmly replied, “No no, it was just to make the donkey walk faster."

After a bumpy and dust forty minute donkey ride we finally arrived at the market. Upon arrival, we steered our donkeys to the side, and parked them in the donkey parking lot. When we stepped foot in the market, we were greeted with a wide array of reactions towards us. Some people happily greeted us and gave us waves and smiles, while others of the less friendly type yelled at Adrian, “If you take my picture, I’ll take your camera.”

Being led by one of our guides, DJ Wilfred, we meandered through the large array of tents and vendors who were attempting to sell everything from fruit and vegetables to flip flops and unwrapped cartons of Tylenol. We had to watch our every step due to animals of various types, such as goats, pigs, stray dogs and sheep, scurrying around while they awaited to be slaughtered or sold. After we had experienced the entire market, Jorge picked us up in the Lemuel bus, named Anna, and brought us back to the compound where we were blessed with a delicious breakfast of rice porridge.

In the later half of our morning, we taught some of the Haitian university students who are home on summer vacation a few computer lessons. This included hand placement, sentence structure, and translating from Creole to English. Following these lessons, we ate lunch with the students and headed off to the beach.

The ride to the beach was surprisingly bumpier then the donkey ride. Our mission upon arrival to the beach was to clean all the garbage that had travelled by ocean currents and landed there. Upon completion of piling the garbage up to be burned, we received our first taste of the beautiful, turquoise Caribbean Sea.  The water was unbelievably refreshing, and gave us our first opportunity to cool down since arriving in Haiti. On our drive back to Lemuel, we were privileged to see a new well that was recently drilled, and provided water for a large field that supplies food for the people of the plateau. Supper tonight consisted of delicious spaghetti and fresh-baked bread, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.

Although we miss our loved ones back home; not having any cell reception, Wi-Fi or internet has been truly freeing. We are able to focus on the people and their culture and needs without the distraction of technology. Although the days are flying by, we are extremely excited for what each day has to hold, and will be sad when we leave.

P.S. I miss you Payton (Nathan)