First two days

Bonjou!

(More or less the sad extent of my Creole knowledge)

So yesterday morning we flew in to Port-au-Prince and that marks the start of my Haitian Exploration! Technically this all started back in December when I applied and was accepted for this program called DukeEngage, which fully funds and sends people all over the world on different service trips. This one in Haiti will involve eight of us undergrads working in Leogane with Family Health Ministries, an NGO focusing on maternal and child health.

Driving through Port-au-Prince provided our first and somewhat distanced observation of Haitian life; motos and the brightly colored tap taps trucks driving crazily on the road constantly honking, little makeshift market vendors lining the roadsides on broken up sidewalks, tent neighborhoods scattered throughout and trash littered all over the place. Many of the surroundings surprisingly reminded me of India minus hundreds of cows everywhere. We also drove by schools just getting out and the children were all really sweet, smiling and waving and yelling bonjou to us. One even asked to open the car door to high-five us and say hello.

The drive from Port-au-Prince to Leogane took about 2 hrs, much of it on bumpy rough roads. Before arriving at the hospital guesthouse we visited an ob-gyn clinic run by Dr. Delson who has worked with FHM before (we’ll also get to work with him later). Then we arrived at the guesthouse located on the second floor of one of the local hospitals, L’Hopital St. Croix. The first floor has the functioning clinic while our floor and third floor are still under construction from the earthquake damage.

After first hearing that our weekdays always start at 7am I honestly thought I’d die, but it turned out to not be that bad. By 5am this morning there was already bright sunlight and the frequent sounds of cars honking and then constant sweat just dripping down my forehead. I was basically fully awake by 6 and ready to go by 7, probably the earliest I've been up all year.

Today we walked around exploring more of Leogane and being exposed to Haitian life more closely. Our out-of-place group of eight plus our advisor Nicole drew lots of looks from people passing by, many of who greeted us. I later heard that apparently a schoolgirl thought I was Japanese… not exactly sure what I should take from that. But I also had my first Creole conversation trying to buy soap at the ministore across the street and it was a success! (thanks to my roommate Sedlin, a native Creole speaker)

In the afternoon a translator employed at the hospital showed us around and through communication and organization with some of the docs it looks like we’ll get to shadow them later. The translator also randomly asked me if I liked cricket and whether it was true Indians are very smart and do well in science classes…apparently funny stereotypes have no bounds.

So now we have to figure out the details about our group projects and will begin working out in the field by Monday. Till then I’ll hopefully learn more Creole and see more of Leogane and perhaps the coast and I’ll definitely post some pictures soon!