So, we have had a few more days here, and unfortunately, it seems that I have caught one of the kids colds. I have a very stuffy nose and sore throat. This is also unfortunate for my roommates as I was snoring last night. Currently I am inside, as the smoke from garbage burning heaps is bothering my throat and lungs. That being said, I am nicely showered, and ready for dinner.

On the topic of food, our meals have been pretty standard. Haitian fare for lunch, hot or continental breakfast, and then a variety of carb heavy dinners. It is carbs with a side of carbs. Almost nothing in the way of fruits or veggies. Last night we did have an AMAZING salad. I was dreaming of Kathryn, serving a plate of bell peppers, carrots and dip. How I miss my fruits and veggies! Mom and I have gotten a local teen to go buy us some, although our selection is papaya (yuck), very ripe bananas (delicious with PB) and lovely mangoes (licking my lips at this moment). Needless to say, our guts are not pleased with this sudden 180. Even though I expected it to be a very carb heavy fare, I was expecting much more fruit to be served. Our lunches have always been very tasty. Usually rice (with beans) and then some form of meat. There is always bread available too. We have been introduced to something called “pikliz”, which is a cabbage, carrot, chile (and other cold veggies) salad that has been pickled in vinegar. Depending on who makes it, it has quite a delicious kick to eat. I will need to find a recipe to try this at home. Even the beef, which I find can be quite tough, has been very tasty and soft, in a wonderful sauce.  *(As a side note, I have now had perfectly ripe papaya, and it does not have the gross vomit aftertaste. So I guess I had never had good, ripe papaya.)

As for the kids, it is interesting to see their different reactions. I definitely prefer the 18 month- 3 year olds, as opposed to the babies. Mom loves the babies (big surprise!). It has basically been all free play so far, but Naomi (who works in a daycare in Manitoba) and I are thinking of organizing more activities so that the children can start to follow more directions and have some more structure. We also went up to Fort Jacques on Thursday afternoon to visit the “Toddler house” (which is actually kids from 3-13). The oldest 10 will be moving out shortly, as Joyce, the former English teacher, is taking them under her wing and will teach them life skills so that they can have a good life in Haiti (they are unadoptable, since their papers were lost at a previous orphanage). The facility that they are building at Fort Jacques is beautiful, overlooking Port-au-Prince bay. This facility is on 6 acres, and they will eventually be moving everyone up there. Currently, the kids are split between the Main house and Fort Jacques, and the volunteers (and parents coming for their socialization visiits) stay at the Guesthouse. After helping to paint, we went to play with the kids. This was a bit overwhelming for me, as we were swarmed by 30 children, all wanting to hold your hand, and climb over you. Even some of the older boys were very touchy. I realize this is something that is cultural, but as a teacher, I do not enjoy having a teenager trying to hold my hand, or keep tapping on my shoulder etc. Needless to say, I was happy when our afternoon was done. To avoid being trampled, I made sure to stand up, and play games like ring around the rosy.

I have found the evenings to be quite long. With the sun setting by 6, I am ready for bed by about 8pm! We have been watching Friends on DVD to pass the time, and I have finished the 1 book I brought. The weekend is potentially more of the same, so when Marguerite arranged transport to the Baptist Mission, we gladly took the invitation. So, this morning, after cleaning our bathroom up, we were picked up by Wilmo (not how his name is actually spelt, but how it sounds). The mission is up the mountain, in Fermate, near Fort Jacques. There, we looked at the handicrafts and then ate lunch. I tried “pate” which is like an empanada (fried with chicken and cabbage inside). It was quite tasty. We also had a look at the souvenirs on the street, but they are all the same looking paintings that I have seen before (they are beautiful, but I have nowhere to put them). We did find a nice wooden chest that is tempting, but would be difficult to bring home.

As for the rest of the weekend, we did our laundry, relaxed and then tomorrow we are going to the Haitian church down the street. I am not exactly sure what to expect! Then Naomi and I are going to work on organizing activities and games.

That’s all for me.