01.11.10
Posted in BRCC SIFE Goes to Haiti
at 7:19 pm
I woke up this morning at 4 A.M. to catch my 6:30 flight from Miami to Haiti. The flight and customs went very smoothly. The woman at the Haitian customs desk barely even looked at my passport and didn’t say a word to me, she just stamped my paper work and let me through. On the flight there I had been told that once I got through customs I would be overwhelmed with people trying to take my bags which would force me to tip them. Much to everyones surprise the airport was very calm because we arrived so early in the morning.
Two of the nuns and a very nice woman named Barbra met us outside of the airport with a car to take us to the riviere froide. The riviere froide is about 20 miles away from the airport but because it is up in the mountains it took us about two hours to get there. The ride there was very interesting because we got to see the city, the slums, and everyone that lived inbetween. There were street vendors every where trying to sell soda, clothes, food, ect.The slums were over crowded and very sad to sad to see.
When we got to the riviere froide we were set to stay in the nuns guest house at there school and convent. Before we got there we were all a little skeptical of how good our sleeping arrangements would be. We were all happily surprised when we learned that the guest house was a beautiful carribean style villa with running water and more than enough beds for each of us.
The whole compound was laid out differently than anywhere I’ve ever been. The whole place is bunch of interconnected rooms and small one or two story buildings. All of the space that they have is surrounded by large stone walls that have thick metal gates. Below the nuns compound is fairly large amount of small homes and shacks that go all down the mountain sides.
We spent most of our day getting acclimated to the area and meeting every one that there was too meet. For lunch the nuns made us a wonderful meal of goat, plantains, rice, beans, fried banannas, mixed vegetables, fresh juices, and a cake for desert. The lunch was wonderful but we all felt absolutely horrible eating it knowing that the thousand children who attended school there couldn’t have lunch today. The children couldn’t eat because they didn’t have enough food donated to the school to feed them. I have never felt like such a jerk for eating lunch before.
After lunch we met up with all of the school children. They were all very nice and we got sang to by about 5 different classrooms. It was fun to meet every one but a little bit difficult to get to know any one because almost every one here speaks creole.
The only work that we did for the day was too organize and distribute different supplies that we had brought to Haiti. I am actually slacking off from doing that as I type this blog. I am going to get back to work. I’ll post something else about my day tommarow.
Mike
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Posted in BRCC SIFE Goes to Haiti
at 6:55 pm
Well it has been a long day!!! None of us slept very well last night, but I don’t think that will be a problem tonight. We are all very tired.
We were up at 4:00 am on the plane by 6:15 and on our way to Haiti. When we arrived at the airport I was not sure that we were in the right place. Since last year the airport has changed for the better! Instead of unloading on the tarmac they now have a jetway that takes you directly into the airport. NICE!! The airport seemed much more relaxed (or maybe I am more relaxed) than in past trips. The area around the airport seemed much cleaner and we only saw 1 jeep with UN forces.
The place we are staying in very nice. What a pleasant surprise as well. It feels very safe here.
We unpacked our supplies and began passing out the 120 pounds of donations that we packed in like mules. Seeing the faces of the happy nuns and children made it worth the time and effort that went into lugging all that STUFF into the airport, through security, and then through customs. As we were going through the school here at Riviere Froide it was time for the children to have recess. We sat on a wall and watched the girls play games. One was a chasing game and I just wanted to grab the little girl and hold onto her so the other girl could catch her, but my companions would not let me join in the game. Then the girls were playing a clapping game and I could not stand it any longer (and Barbara had been distracted by a shipment that came) so I jumped up and got the girls to teach me the game. I was playing well by the time Barbara got back!! Then my new found friends had to go back to school (:( I know just how they feel) and we had a huge shipment of items that Barbara had sent to sort through. The others are still sorting so I guess I should get back at it too because I would like to get some sleep sometime.
Gotta run, Gail
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Posted in BRCC SIFE Goes to Haiti
at 5:25 pm
Well we landed….. after only sleeping 2 hours (if that!) last night we rose at 4:00am and went town to the Miami airport checkin and did the whole check in thing again….. by 6:45am we were in the air and off to Haiti. All our luggage arrived…including 125 pounds of donations ….and then we exited the terminal to find Sister Lops and Barbara waiting for us. I tell you women….especially nuns are a force to be reckoned with here in Haiti!
We drove about an hour to the guest house which is about 20 miles outside Port a Prince and lugged all our stuff to our rooms! I tell you I am amazed by this convent/guest house …again these nuns are happening! We have a clean bathroom….no flip flops needed for this shower. We have rooms with locks on the doors – although I could pop that lock with a hairpin….but hey its a deterrent! They teach over 1,000 children in their school everyday…we met them all today and they are all cute.
When we arrived they gave us a snack of mumba and crackers….and a cherry juice we were warned not to drink unless we were going to stay near a bathroom all day! Then we went down to the school they have developed for the handicapped and intellectually challenged students – they were sweet…and we were able to visit our rabbits from LaGonave that were paid forward to the nuns in October – they were doing great!
An hour later we had lunch/dinner…..goat, rice, beans, plantain, fried banana chips (sprinkle a bit of salt on them and they taste like potatoe chips) fruit, shredded carrots and cabbage and coca cola…they even had an upside down cake for dessert – I’m stuffed. The problem with such a great meal was that they ytold us the children did not get fed today (they usually get a meal a day) because the food did not arrive for them.
We then went to school….visiting about 1/2 of all the classes…we sat in on a frence grammar lesson, a math class, we were quizzed by the kids on our Kryeol and we were sung to repeatedly!
We feel right now like the walking dead but we have electricity and internet so we are blogging while we can.
For the next 3 days we will be working in Signeau about an hour from here setting up twenty families on their own rabbit businesses — tomorrow we build cages with them and then training starts on Wednesday with the rabbits. We also have been asked to help the farm in Signeau with the a bit pof our expertise from square foot gardening….and I am sure there is much more we will be asked to do. Its Haiti…so you expect the unexpected.
Right now Mike is passed out…Megan is blogging right next to me and Gail is helping Barbara unload a shipment of stuff that just arrived and I guess I need to go back to work!!
For all of you freezing…its hot and sultry but not as hot as usual as we were told by the sisters that they are experience cooler wather…hmmmm who told me about that days ago??? 
Miami was freezing!!
More soon and photos to follow!
Rebecca
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Posted in BRCC SIFE Goes to Haiti
at 5:22 pm
Our day started pretty early today, our flight out of Miami was at 6:45 this morning. It has made the day feel way longer than it should, but thats not to say it hasnt been good.
When we were flying in my first impression was that from the air, Haiti is an extreamely beautiful place. Just the landscape of the country is amazing to say the least. After we landed, we sucessfully met up with Barbara and two of the sisters who had come to the airport to get us. After piling into a truck with all our luggage, we drove through Port Au Prince and headed to Riviere Froide, where the guest house we are staying in is located.
After arriving here we were given a more than welcoming lunch by the sisters, who so far have been treating us better than good. Barbara showed us around the different locations around here and explained a little about the history of the place. We were showed around the school, and got a chance to meet a lot of the kids including a group of handicapped children who sometimes attend the school. They have morning classes and afternoon classes, most of the kids in the afternoon classes being older children who previously had not been given the oppertunity to attend school when they were younger. It was a priveledge to be able to meet them. We were also shown the new rabbit farm run by the sister who teaches the handicapped children, the rabbits looked good and healthy and seemed to be growing great! Im looking foward to starting things off tommorow with the rabbits.
Tomorow we will be traveling to Signau to start setting up the 20 new families with the rabbits. We will be building cages and things like that, just prep work to help kick start their coopertive. Im looking foward to getting a little recovery sleep tonight, I think that will make tommorow alot easier for me. The weather has been a pleasent suprize so far it has not been too hot although it looks like it is going to rain soon.
Well that is a short re-cap of the day, but more will come tommorow!
Megan
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01.10.10
Posted in BRCC SIFE Goes to Haiti
at 9:34 pm
So were here in Miami the night before our big trip, very excited! Its been a long day of airports and security so I think were all looking foward to a few hours sleep before getting up at 3:30 to get ready for tommorow. Not exactly sure it will be what I am expecting, but Im sure that it will most definitely be a life changing experience. More tommorow once we get there and we can have some electricity! Missing everyone at home already!!!
Megan
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01.09.10
Posted in BRCC SIFE Goes to Haiti
at 7:07 pm
Well after running around ALL week prepping and packing and then packing some more I think I am ready to head for Haiti. Its a bit of an unknown this year as we are staying and working on the main island and working with a new group of people but I am sure it will be productive! We have two suticase full of donations, tools, snacks, medicines and three laptops….two are being donated and one is for our blog purposes (keep your fingers crossed we have electricity and Internet access).
I’m kind of bummed that I will miss the New England Patriot game on Sunday – but hopefully I will be able to catch some of it at a restuarant or bar at the airport!! Go Pats!
Well more tomorrow I am sure as we start our trek to Haiti!!! Warm weather here we come!
Rebecca
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