Back in the 'burgh

Even though we had only been in Haiti for a week, coming back to the states was still somewhat of a culture shock. It was weird and then kind of a relief to hear everyone speak English again. As we were flying over Miami, I noticed all of the skyscrapers. There were absolutely none in Haiti, even in the capital. When driving back from the airport, I welcomed the paved roads. The streets in Haiti were rarely paved and when they were had huge holes and rocks on them. Another factor that was surprising was how orderly everything was. There was no one running through the streets, weaving in and out on motorcycles with chickens hanging off the back. I realized that I kind of missed that. The hustle and bustle of Haiti was so interesting. Everything happened so fast and so much at the same time. There was so much life around you that you couldn’t help but feel energetic. I have noticed that I miss that here. I could drive for ten minutes and maybe see one person. I miss being constantly surrounded by people and life. That really creates a connection with people that you would otherwise miss. Back in Haiti everyone knows each other; you can’t help it. You work together, celebrate together and practically live together. Here, everyone stays inside, caught up in their own lives. People don’t bother to connect as much. I don’t even know all of my neighbors. Although when you look at Haiti, you might automatically notice things that they are missing, it is important for us to look deeper and perhaps realize what we are missing.

Coming home

Hi Everyone!

Thanks so much to everyone who's been reading so far. Well, we're back home, and I just have a few more concluding points I want to add to the blog before we stop posting.

Even after only a week in Haiti, coming back involved a little bit of culture shock. I was so used to always being the center of attention, having people stare at me because of the color of my skin. It was a bit of a relief coming back. After having to have other people talk to people for me, it was a little shocking to realize that people spoke English. It's hard to break the habit of saying "Mesi" instead of "Thank You." But there were changes, not only on that level. You look around the airport, full of mainly white English-speaking American citizens, and you think "I bet almost all of these people have a house and food to eat every day." They all have plenty of food, and a choice of it, as well as clean water right in their homes. In Haiti, it was common to have to walk more than a mile to find fresh water. I would be willing to bet that the people in the airport simply have to turn a knob. I bought a piece of pizza for about as much money as people in Haiti might make in a few weeks if they have a good job. I watched them drive off in their cars and think "They probably don't have to walk miles to go to market to make a small living of whatever they have." All of the tall glass buildings in the city loomed over me, and I remembered that in Haiti, there weren't any skyscrapers. As we enjoy the luxuries in our life, people there die of malnutrition. My trip to Haiti had a large impact on my perspective on life. It gave me a real appreciation for all the little extra things in life, things you now notice much more. I learned a lot through my experiences in Haiti. Overall, the trip was an incredible experience and I'm very grateful to every who made it possible.

Orevwa!


-Lily

Friday...

Today, of course, was Friday. Today we again went with Starry to take measurements. This time we walked a little bit more and went to I think four different plots. The program has different communities each one with a leader. H-Trip teaches the community leaders how important trees are by using pictures. The teacher asks the group what trees are good for and if they get it right the teacher will put the picture of that object up on the board. First we visited the nursery for the trees. The H-Trip people had about 3,200 seedlings in small plastic tubes lined up. When the trees grow big enough the will plant them in plots. To get to the nursery we had to walk over this very mean pig. Oh well. After, Starry told us all the different names of all the trees. When we were finished there we heading up the hill to a mans plot. Starry then tested us on how well we were listening. We didn't do too bad. Then we headed up an even steeper hill to a plot at the top. When we reached it the Haitians following us sat down and played a game. The game was to take sticks and put berries/seeds on them. Then they cleared a place and spun the toys like dreidels! Erin and our friend Lizzie tried. When we finished measuring the degrees of the slop and such we went to yet another plot. Again we did measurements and by then we were all very hot. We had back down the steep hills hopped in the nice cool car and drove off. Over all the morning was very fun. Signing off- Emily :P

Haitian Horses

Today after we returned from the H-Trip and the school, I was offered the chance to ride Starry's horse. In Haiti, horses are a very common form of transportation. Such as at the market, where the parking lot was made up of a series of posts that people tied their horses and donkeys to. Also when we were hiking, where every so often, a Haitian would pass us leading a horse with saddlebags full of food and other necessities, nearly knocking us off the trail. When we went to Petite Riviere, many men would gallop along the beach on horseback. Driving through Deschapelles and Verettes, many people use it as a means of transportation. For Starry, horseback riding means access to plots of land that are difficult to reach by car is made more efficient. Haitian horses are very different from American horses. They are a lot smaller, about half the size of a normal horse. The Haitians don't have leather saddles like in America. They construct bulky wooden saddles out of whatever they have to use. Starry had a saddle pad for her horse instead of a big saddle. Riding horses is an efficient means of transportation in a country where there are few cars, and the next easiest solution is walking wherever you want to go.

Orevwa!

-Lily

School

Hi everyone!
First of all, thank you for reading our blog. It has been a really great way for us to think about what we saw each day and express our thoughts. This afternoon we had a really cool experience. In Anger, we visited a school. This was an open-air one room building. It was basically just poles holding up a tin roof. The look itself was strikingly different from our multiple buildings and air conditions rooms that we get to enjoy at Ellis. There were kids who were 6 to 18. One of the most surprising things about the kids were their size. I stood up and said I was 13, and then the other kids who were 13 also stood up. I was shocked. When I looked at them, I estimated that they would be about 10, they were so much smaller. The girls who were 16 and 17 looked more my size. The reason for this is because of the way they live. They explained to us that they don't have lunch at all, and when they go back home after school, there is often just no food at home. I really couldn't imagine what that was like. I don't think I have ever come home to no food. It is a constant question in their minds; how am I going to eat today? Something interesting that we noticed was that the average family size was eight people. Of the 6 children, maybe one or two could go to school. They were very shy at first, and also really polite. When we walked by, they stood up for us. They were so happy with the pencils and notebooks we handed out, it was so worth the trip to see their faces. This meeting was so rewarding that we are hoping to visit again!
Until then,
Erin

H-TRIP

Today was Thursday. Erin, Lily, and I piled into the back of the car and set out for the day. Today we went with a women named Starry to measure trees. Trees in Haiti are very important. Long ago the French came and cut down many trees like mahogany to make furniture. Before the trees were cut down more than 80% of Haiti was forest. Now if you go into the mountains all you see is farmland or scrubs. Starry and the H-Trip staff are trying to plant more trees for shade and using. Like I said, we went up to some of the plots where there are trees and measured their heights. These trees had been growing for 2 or 3 years and they are pretty tall for that amount of time. We also measured how far the trees were from the canals. Canals are small dips in the ground to help with erosion. First they pile rocks up and then put millet on top. After they cover it with dirt. These canals also stop the water from washing away seedlings. The whole experiment was to find out why some trees grow taller closer to the canal. We also had a chart to record the data, of course. Some plots were on hills so we had to measure the degrees of the slope. We also checked the direction of the plot (South, West, etc.). After we finished we prepared to go on an extremely bumpy ride. I really enjoyed spending time contributing to the community. We are looking forward to helping out again tomorrow! Signing off- Emily:):)

Visiting Maude's House

This afternoon, my mother, Emily, and I visited an old friend. To get to her house, you first had to enter a little compound. The fence of the compound is made of cactus. This is common throughout Haiti and really genius. The cactus is fast growing, strong, and actually semi-poisonous too. No one would want to cross one of those fences! There were about five houses there, all pretty close together. The house we went to was really nice. It was one story and painted blue and pink. I absolutely love the houses in Haiti. I think because many people don't have the money to build really nice homes, they work extra hard in decorating them. There are often really intricate stone designs and beautiful colors. After greeting our friend she of course led us around to meet all her family. This is something I have noticed about people in Haiti: family is very important. Everyone we meet asks about your family, introduces you and brings people to meet you from their family. Not just sons and sisters, but mother-in-laws and such. Maude introduced us to her adorable grandchild. Lucina was very friendly and showed us all her baby doll. She really wanted me to take pictures of her and would pose for me. She lived in the same house as her mother and grandmother. In Haiti many families live together and share the same house. In America, its more difficult to have this same closeness with your family. We all have relatives in different cities, states, etc. I really enjoy seeing these families and how they obviously care so much about each other. It makes me envious to see a cousin and aunt have a closeness that I do not have. While being in Haiti I have noticed a lot about what people don't have because of the obvious. Lack of running water, not much money etc. I have also noticed things that I don't have such as the closeness of family, how everyone on the street greets you even if they don't know you, the sense of community and good humor in everyone that I seem to lack more at home. While visiting this family I was reminded of the unimportance of material things. I could see that what really made these people happy was being with ones they loved. And I guess, maybe that's all I really need too.

Walking the Waterfall

Most of today was reserved for a long, hot, but rewarding hike to Verettes falls. The same water place that former guides "didn't know the way to". We can't blame them though--the path was rocky, narrow, uneven, and miles long. We trudged along uphill for more than an hour, not to mention the scorching sun. It was endless--or at least that was our attitude before reaching the falls. They weren't exactly huge, but that was the good part.



They created a pool at the bottom in which you could swim, fight the current, or just lean into the waves. A step up in the form of unique entertainment was the fact that you could climb to the top of the cliff-wall bordering the waterfall, and jump off. Or you could go behind it and dive through to the front. On the way back, we passed many Haitians returning from the market, and stepped aside so they could pass. They were all friendly, and responded with a weary "bonsoi", carrying on home, bundles on their heads. It was just like evening rush-hour.

Market Madness (It was fun don't worry)

Today was Wednesday and we went to a market in Verettes.
The whole experience was overwhelming but very enjoyable.
As we entered, everyone was asking us to buy their items.
Our guide, Frederique, helped us bargain for good prices.
Julia and I bought some really cool hats!
We also went to see the "parking lot". Many people came from far away and they had many things to sell. To make their trip easier they take horses and donkeys. The parking lot is just where all the people park their animals when they come.
We split in two groups and walked around and through different tents or stands. People were making food to sell like soups and small cakes with sugar inside. People had shoes, make-up, clothing, soap, oils, hats, and loads of various fruits and vegetables too. We also saw the part of the market where they sell charcoal. Charcoal is a major item in Haiti because that is the only way to cook your food. People in order to get the charcoal they need, have to cut down the few remaining trees. Barely anyone in Haiti owns a stove or oven. The market has a part devoted just to animals like chickens, goats, and pigs. Truckloads of pigs and goats were waiting to be sold. As we walked by people held out their chickens so we would buy them. We didn't though. After we were finished at the market we hopped in the car to go find a waterfall that we couldn't find the previous day. I believe Julia is writing about that. Signing off- Emily:)

Talking with Fava

After we got back from visiting the babies at the hospital, we interviewed Fava, the thirteen-year-old daughter of the house manager. On mornings when she has school, Fava wakes up at six in the morning, eats bread with peanut butter for breakfast, and bikes forty-five kilometers to the school she attends in the nearby town of Verettes. She is in seventh grade. In Haitian schools, the main language used is French. Fava also is learning English and Spanish (as well as Math and Science). She does not return home for lunch break, but eats two meals each day. Fava helps her mother cook for the house too. She likes to sing, and sometimes sees movies in Deschapelles. She likes to listen to rap music. She wants to be an author when she grows up. We asked her if she knew why people reacted like they did when they saw us (see Erin's post on "Blanc"), and she said they thought we were "interesting." Fava buys all of her clothes in the market and is very stylish. Fava says it is normal for girls to begin to date when they are twenty. It was really great to talk to Fava because she is exactly our age, and by talking to her we gained more insight into the lives of Haitian girls.

Orevwa,

Lily

The Creek Adventure

This morning before we ventured to the waterfall we walked through the countryside. First, when we got out of the car, we walked a short distance to another waterfall. To get to the waterfall you have to walk on top of a tall brick wall. The wall had no railings and it lead to a couple of stairs. The stairs went up of course and they too had no railings. When we reached the patio were we could see the waterfall we were about 30ft or 40ft in the air. It was extremely nerve racking for me because of the railings, that were not there. My legs were wobbling like Jell-O! If there were railings they were tall and you could easily slip through. When we were finished looking at the waterfall we crossed a small creek. After we went for a hot walk through the hills and saw many horses and goats grazing on grass. When we finished that walk we again went to cross a creek. The cold water felt good on our swollen feet. Apparently we were heading towards another waterfall in Verettes but we walked along the creek for a while and turned around. Although we ended up walking up a current which was hard and drenched us all; it was worth it. The water was cool and refreshing. After the whole adventure we hopped in the car and headed to the next waterfall! Today was fun seeing many waterfalls and I am glad to be relaxing now. Hope you are following along! Signing off- Emily. Ovwa! (Goodbye)

Visiting the Hospitalized Babies

At the hospital, there is a special room for malnourished babies. Their stomachs are swollen, signifying worms, their limbs are scrawny (on most of them anyway), and their hair is lighter, because of a vitamin deficiency. Once a day, there is a session, during which the mothers and fathers massage their children with oil, and sing, and the babies play with toys. One way one can tell whether a baby is happy and healthy is if he/she gives a toy to another child. If the baby keeps it to him/herself, they usually are worse off. 

The things done for the babies in the session were also scientifically selected. Most of the babies that live in the mountains aren't exposed to much playing time or cuddling. The massaging is a new phenomenon to them, and makes them happy, positive, and overall more psychologically healthy, which in turn makes them more inclined to be physically healthy. Also, the parents will learn new songs and games and such, and will repeat them with their next/other children. In addition to that, the music, and colors in the painted walls will stimulate them, and stimulating them helps babies, or anyone thrive, no matter how they are fed. 

We had our own experience with taking care of a Haitian baby. We massaged him and sang, but he was a bit overwhelmed and scared and started to cry. Then he tried to hit me with his toy car. But oh well, I'd have probably done the same if i were in his place with strange people, and without my mom.

Saute D'Eau Waterfall

Today we went to a beautiful place called Saute D'Eau. This translates literally to Jump Water. We drove up an incredibly steep road to get there and it was well worth the trip. The waterfall was so stunning, The white water ran over steep slippery rocks. The trees surrounding it were lush and the place itself was just very interesting. This place is often used for VooDoo ceremonies. There are racks that hold candles and little holes in the tree with old wax in them. The candles are lit to scare away bad spirits during these ceremonies. There was also a really interesting tree branch that held many braided ropes. These ropes were put there by the people and they represented their dreams and hopes. The millions of ropes tied around the tree gradually wear off and carry ther wishes away. It reminded me a lot of the wish bracelets that we have in Pittsburgh. It was really interesting that this idea of representing your dreams coming true is universal. As I looked at the ropes I was reminded of my own hopes and aspirations. I could see why they would pick this beautiful place for their hopes to stay. I am looking forward to tomorrow! I hope that if you are reading this you will continue to follow us on this amazing trip.

Petite Riviere

Today we walked to Petite Riviere a Haitian town. As we walked and people commented we noticed many things. We wondered through the town and came to a cemetery. Inside the cemetery were small houses of all different colors. Each house was for a person or a family who had passed away. Each house also had a cross atop. We continued and soon got to the center of Petite Riviere. In the center there was a cathedral, a volleyball court, and a small monument. We walked weaving in and out and around streets filled with people and reached the market place. Today was not market day but many people still came. People were selling shoes, food, instruments (such as the RaRa horn), clothes, and much more. Our group exited and continued on. Goats, chickens, and sometimes dogs walked along side of us. Kids came and sometimes walked with us too. Our trip didn’t end here so we kept going. We reached a fort where there was a phenomenal view of the landscape below. An adorable little boy hoped on a canon still there from when the French used it. This place is very significant in Haitian culture because it was an instrumental fort that the slaves captured in order to gain independance. Up high, where we were, you could see all the people working in theirs fields and living their daily lives. Also the fort gave you a beautiful view of the mountains. The rolling hills are very peaceful. Down in the cities you can hear people and animals but up in the mountains it is quiet and soothing. Hopefully tomorrow will be just as enjoyable as today was. Singing off- Emily

Kids in Petite Riviere

As Lily mentioned, the kids loved it when you took their picture. My mom couldn't figure out how to work the camera, so she called me over to show a couple boys (the ones who ended up playing the Ra Ra horn). At first, they looked confused. Then, after a second, they recognized their friends (there were three of them), but not themselves. Finally they realized that the other boy must be them. It's likely that the boys who's picture was taken had never seen themselves before, plus, the digital camera would also have been new to them. They were so interested in us that they followed us all throughout our walk in Petite Riviere, and out to our cars as well. They were fabulous. They tried extremely hard to take advantage of the french we knew in order to communicate, and taught us some Creole as well. "Kann" is sugar cane, which, we were informed, is beaten and is good with coffee (or something along those lines). "Mayi" is corn, and "diri" is rice. They also pointed out several plants and geographical features that they recognized. And, their most charming feature, they were a riot to be around. They showed us their "tres forte" biceps (they were small children of nine or ten), and adopted funny poses for the camera. But, in the end, we had to say goodbye (or, au revoir) as we headed back to Deschapelles.

Taking Photos

In Haiti, you can't just walk around and take photos of everything and everyone you see. On one hand, the kids love it when you take photos of them. They'll pose for you and ask to see it afterwards. On the other hand, a lot of the people here in Haiti believe that if you take a photo of them, you are stealing their souls. On a few occasions, we've taken photos of people from far away, to hear them screaming at us afterwards. You have to be careful and make sure you see that they see you are taking a picture.

Blanc

Yesterday, as we walked through the streets of Petit Riviere, we evoked quite a…reaction I guess. Many of the people have seen Americans, or French people. Generally one or two grown ups at most. As you can imagine we were quite a scene. All eight of us parading through town, taking pictures, trying to recognize Kreyol words. The oddest thing about us was that four of us were very young. We were perhaps the only white kids any of the Haitians had ever seen. There were the constant comments: “Gade Blanc! Blanc!” (“Look Foreigner! White!”). Some kids dared each other to touch us then ran away laughing. As if we weren’t already a sight, Mrs. Scherlis decided to buy a Ra Ra horn (It is a large horn made out of metal that they play during holidays and such). After some negotiating, we thought we did pretty well with getting the price to be reasonable (of course, this price was twice what any reasonable Haitian would pay). The huge crowd that had accumulated to watch us now prompted Mrs. Scherlis to play the horn. Her attempt was not exactly successful and the people thought that was hilarious. They roared with laughter to see the white girl trying to play the horn. Only then did a boy ask to play it. He of course was not only able to make a sound but a good rhythm, and a kind of tune. He was nine. At first this sort of attention was weird for us. Sometimes I knew I was being laughed at, but it was never in a mean way. The Haitians were just curious, they thought we were very interesting. I guess I am a little used to it now, but that’s not exactly true. Many people have told me that you can’t be self-conscious, you have to keep your head up and pretend you don’t care. The occasional comments such as “Hey baby, hi white girl,” everyone just ignores. The Haitians are overall, very good humored and polite. I never feel scared by them. Today we will get to see even more of Haitian life as we walk through Verettes. Now that I understand what they see when they look at me, I guess it will be easier for me not to be shaken by it. But really, it just takes getting used to.

First Experiences: Miami to Deschapelles

Hi Everyone!

Today was a stunning experience for all of us. We flew from Miami to Port au Prince (the capital of Haiti) this morning. Did you know that the PAP airport is the only airport in the world that collects baggage tags? On the way out, it was crazy. A lot of people try to help with your luggage. You can’t really tell them no when they grab it, so you let them carry it through the little parking lot. We split into two cars and drove to a little restaurant to eat a lunch of rice and beans and pork. When we drove through the city, it was very different from Pittsburgh. Boys come up to the windows when your car stops. They tap on the glass asking for money, or selling random things. The roads are a little hectic; there are no lines and people drive all over. A lot of people were crowded into the back of covered station wagons with benches attached. Apparently they’re called tap-taps. These are the Haitian version of buses. They had school buses too – they were painted a multitude of colors and driven around town. All the cars were either station wagons or SUVs (they need those to get through the rough terrain). Everything in Haiti is so colorful. People paint ads onto walls, and everything else from cars to houses to fences is painted using many colors. It’s really neat. We then drove three hours to the house in Deschapelles. Here in Haiti, it’s always in the high 80s. Haiti is flat, with high mountain ranges passing through it. Along the drive the lack of order was surprising. It was common to see people swerving through traffic on roller blades or bikes. Villages were scattered along the roadside, with people walking along, carrying water and food on their heads. People weave along the roads, sitting on the top of other people’s cars. The people in Haiti dress almost the same as people in Pittsburgh but better in some ways. In fact, it was a bit disconcerting, since their living conditions were so vastly different. The average house was composed of four pillars, a tin roof, and four, or sometimes three brick, cement, or wooden walls. All houses were crowded together, and the only way to differentiate stores from them was their colorful painted signs. Another thing that we noticed were all of the animals. There were many goats, pigs, and dogs running wild along the roadside. Cows, chickens, and horses are abundant here. Driving through Haiti has given us an interesting view of what it’s like here, but it is obvious that we have barely scratched the surface of Haitian life. We are excited to explore Haitian culture even further. Enjoy the pictures! Keep reading tomorrow!

-Lily, Erin, Emily, and Julia