Lists explained, About my JOB

Eliczara Augustin was buried in Sen Rafayel last month. She had just turned 26.  I remember the letter she wrote last year asking for help to return to finish the last 2 years of high school. She was on our waiting list. Her letter asked for support because she wanted to be a "fanm itil nan sosyete" ( a useful woman in society). With an average of 300 on our waiting list every year (not carried over from the previous year) it is difficult to remember the faces and the stories. But Eliczara and I shared a birthday - July 13 - that I remember. Her cousin Rose Magda-Alina told me  Eliczara would sit in front of our Jasmine Center in the hope that we would find the funds for her. According to her brother, she had a ''pwoblem goj' (throat problem) and was dead in 2 days. It could have been anything from Strep to Thyroid. I don't have her picture because she was on our waiting list and would have been dropped from it this month, replaced by new hopefuls.

Two of us travel weekly to Sen Rafayel - sometimes myself with Auguste, sometimes coordinator Lusnot or Myriame, a senior student who works in the office.  Beginning July 1st we hold interviews our Sen Rafayel coordinator Edeline sets up, working through the more than 500 requests for secondary school support we received in the month of May. By noon on the first day of May, our Sen Rafayel office had already received 146 letters.  Of the 500 letters we received, 300 have been sitting out at least a year for economic reasons - everyone a student unable to attend school for at least 1 year. About a third have both parents deceased, more than half have one parent deceased. Those who still have a living parent are often the caretakers, as the parents are ill and unable to provide for their children.

A trip to Sen Rafayel wouldn't be an adventure without a mountainside breakdown. And of course, no matter where the breakdown takes place, there will always be an expert who appears on the scene dispensing advice (for a gratuity, of course).Big news on the truck front - stay tuned.

Always an expert on hand to advise Auguste - even on the mountainside.
Note the water pump action in the background.

After cooling down and watering the engine, we continued without further adventure until we arrived at our corner. Our corner was no longer there, taken over by work crews under a deadline to finish the road surfacing before the start of school. Students Consienne and Adolph were waiting for us at what used to be the corner with our wheelbarrow (bouret la) . Our branch coordinator Edeline had hobbled down to help as well, her painfully swollen right foot encased in a tensor bandage. This is a recurring condition which none of the medical personnel in the village can diagnose. With no lab for analysis, most diagnosis are guess work.

Student Consienne waits with the bouret (wheelbarrow) as our corner is
getting a facelift.

Unpacked and settled, the business of interviews starts. But it's not that easy to find a quiet place.

A game of dominoes on the gallery...students from Cap-Haitien visiting family
mix with Sen Rafayel students, new admissions and returning

4th year university student Weby-Schneider prepares a group for Reto in the

'Chanm Devwa' (Homework Room). This week it's Chemistry.

Always readers in the library (Gasnel and Clenie)

Interviews get started a little early as those who have an appointment are always early and those who do not have an appointed 'rendevu' show up in hopes that we will have some extra time. There aren't enough hours in the day but we work late into the night to accommodate as many as possible. School is life to these young people, the reason they get up every morning.

Auguste questions Junior J. about his family

I frequently use the term 'waiting list'. We have two. The lucky students for whom we have general funds are admitted to our program, and their fees etc.. are paid from the general pool. They are on the 'Waiting for Sponsor ' list. If and when they are connected to a sponsor, those general funds are freed up and we can take on another from our 'Waiting for Admission" list.

Junior, pictured above with Auguste, is on our 'Waiting for Admission' list. These are some of the 300 faces I see, most of whom we cannot admit, due to limited finances. Junior is 17 and wants to start high school. He has been sitting out for 3 years, since he passed his entrance (Certificat) exams. . His father, a farmer, was killed in a random machete attack on their house when he was in Grade 4. He remembers it vividly. His growth is stunted from malnutrition, but his eyes sparkle when he talks about what going to school would mean for his whole family.

Ancito D., 15, waiting for Admission

Ancito is 15, also waiting for Admission. He was in Grade 7 at the Lycee, paid for by his mother who sold items grown in her small garden in the local market. She became ill with Kolera on a Saturday afternoon before Christmas. She was dead before midnight. His school days ended. 

Cassimilia, 14, waiting for Admission

Cassimilia is 14. Her father contracted Kolera last spring and died the next day. She had been enrolled at the Lycee but failed her year.Like many, she didn't have any of the required textbooks. Anyone who fails the Lycee is put out and private schools are more expensive.

Her mother has had 2 operations 'on her head' (diagnosis unknown to us) and is unable to function. Now Cassimilia is parent to her 3 younger brothers, one younger sister and her mother. 

The term "waiting list" seems impersonal to me, devoid of emotion. The young people who comprise our waiting lists are very real, so I wanted to share a few of their stories with you. Even though we do not have the funds to say yes to everyone who applies, our staff does an outstanding  job of making each feel listened to and welcome.

While we are in Sen Rafayel, our Cap-Haitien office functions smoothly. Our book repair program which cleans and recovers between 1500 and 2000 text books every summer has just finished. We needed room in Sen Rafayel for our pilot 'Ready for Reto' program (requested by the students) so the job was completed in Cap. First year nursing students Edwina and Sherlyne have returned to help us and seniors Myriame and Camiose complete the team. We learned Sunday that Myriame and Camiose were in the minority of students who wrote Philo state national exams who were successful. 80,000 will rewrite next week. Congratulations to both. They hope to head to University to study nursing.

Cap-Haitien office - while we are up the mountain -
Camiose, Edwina and Sherlyne shelve cleaned text books

In spite of the heat and dryness, Dieugrand maintains the yard (lakou-a).
Isn't our hibiscus (choublak) beautiful?

Mme Carmene drops in for a visit and shows
Myriame how to mend a tear.

Once admitted, students head off to have their picture taken for school records. After they deliver the 

pictures to us, our staff meet with the various school  administraions with pictures, birth certificates and proof of academic standing to register. 

That complete, students then come in to sign a contract which allows them to  access both of our drop in centers and lending libraries. Everyone takes signing their contract very seriously - new and returning students. 

New student Fatia signs her contract

Returning senior Carline

Returning senior Stephan

New student Norceline

Norceline, 22, has been sitting out since the
earthquake in 2010

New Cap-Haitien admission Norceline signed her contract while we were in Sen Rafayel. She lost her parents, brother and sister in the earthquake of January 2010. She has been sitting out for the intervening 3 years.  It has taken us months to secure  papers for her to return to complete high school, as all her records were lost. This week we succeeded. One Starfish at a time....

'What is my job on the planet with a capital J? What do I care so much about that I would pay to do it?" Author Jon Kabat-Zin (Wherever You Go There You Are  Hyperion, 1994) challenges the reader to ask oneself over and over 'otherwise, we may wind up doing someone else's job and not even know it." (p206)

"You can start asking this question any time, at any age. There is never a time of life when it would not have a profound effect on your view of things and the choices you make....Interconnectedness is a fundamental principal of nature." (ibid) How fortunate to realize what that JOB is.

The most difficult part of this job is not doing without the basics, the amenities. It is not the hazards of travel. It is saying "Sorry we can't help you" because of what in the grand scheme of things amounts to a few dollars.

Last interview finished but paper work remains
No electricity or running water - no problem.

Author Deepak Chopra, along with many others, believes that the primary aim in life is to be present. Being here is enough. At this stage of my life I am in agreement. Having found my Job in the universe, I just have to remind myself every day to be present. That way, when  a moment of joy occurs, like Wisline C. feeling so accomplished when figuring out a Chemistry problem that she does a spontaneous twirl and  bow, I not only capture it, I appreciate it and share her joy.

Concial W.  - a little twirl and a little bow for Chemistry understood

Be of service to-gether

Share wisdom to-gether

Become a community in spirit.

The only service I can provide for Eliczara is to tell you about her.  And be truly present to those who come after so that their stories can be told.

Namaste
Sharon

Haiti through the Senses

Hi all

On July 7th, teacher Monica McDonald, from Laurelwoods Elementary School in the Orangeville area, came to visit us. You may remember her from an earlier blog (Make the World Awesome). While here, she did everything from wash dishes to accompany staff to the vet with sick puppies. Of course the truck broke down numerous times as well, but she took any and all negatives (including cockroaches) in stride. Before she left , she pulled to-gether some impressions of her time with us. Here it is.

Sharon

                                                                                         

Anpan - Monica's first (but not last) breakdown. Auguste is becoming
quite the mechanic.

It is my last night in Cap-Haitien of a 12 day stay in Haiti. I will attempt to use words to describe the sights and sounds and smells, taste and "touch" of what I have learned in Haiti. Parting words of advice from a loved one in Canada were to come to learn about the Starthrower Foundation, yes, but most importantly about the people and life in Haiti. I have certainly done that.

The Assault on the Senses

Life in Haiti is happening all around you. People are living in close quarters and lives are interwoven. Children crying, music blaring, dogs barking, choir singing, church bells ringing, roosters crowing, funeral mourners wailing, voodoo drums pounding, loud protests over lack of hydro,  men rejoicing over soccer, fighting over dominoes and children laughing. To drive anywhere is to have a moving glimpse into life unfolding. Horns blaring, motorcycles weaving, wheelbarrows darting and people walking arm in arm, sweat dripping, drenched in the smells of open cook-stoves, coal,  spicy rice and raw sewage. Women getting their hair braided, children toting water, heads carrying supplies and sugar cane. There is joy, yes. There is also determination, resilience and misery. The faces of Haitian people have struck me as noble and hard but also able to readily break into a smile. Life here is difficult. It is difficult to witness.

Home Visits

The above is a home visit with Tamara who is sponsored by Pam Michels and the Gr. 6 class at Laurelwoods E.S. I am so proud of the work they did and feel privileged to meet Tamara who so readily brought me to the home of her aunt where she lives. I love how people in Haiti walk hand in hand or arm in arm and think nothing of draping themselves over you to look at a picture or word in a dictionary. Tamara was no exception and as we left, she grabbed Sharon and I in a hard hug and said in beautifully pronounced English, "thank you, thank you, thank you". 

This is a visit to Marc Arios' house many kilometers past the Foundation on what you can barely call a road (that was an adventure in itself!) where he lives with his mother and other family members. The walk would take hours. Unthinkable really and to think he does it both ways daily is humbling. It speaks to how important education is to the students. As Sharon quoted from one of the student letters, "please don't allow me to live with the shame of not attending school". I hope to be able to help Marc improve where he lives and the bike program, partially funded by the Laurelwoods Gr. 6 fundraiser will go a long way in making the trip to school easier. The energy the students will save getting to school will be better served in school!

The Bike Program

Painting the garage that will house the bikes!

The Interviews

Ilna is 13 years old and both of her parents are dead. The interviews with potential students at Starthrower were heartwrenching. It is one thing to view pictures of students but nothing speaks to listening to the kids in their presence. She was demure, polite, quiet, reserved, hopeful and so very sad. I sat in on approximately 10 interviews and although I don't speak Creole, their stories were understood loud and clear. 

The Dogs!

Three gorgeous puppies that reside at the Foundation along with two others blessed me with a greeting that befitted a long-lost relative! I was anxious about missing my own faithful canine companion at home but these darlings certainly helped in that department. Unfortunately, these healthy pups truly are a rarity in Haiti. One of the most difficult aspects of the trip has been to hear the horrible yelps late at night of a dog being mistreated and the skeletal frames of the countless street dogs. We perhaps err too far on the other side in our culture where dogs are sent to daycare and to salons to be pampered. However, I have to believe that when the people of Haiti are able to meet their own basic needs consistently, their treatment towards and mindset about their dogs will change. 

The Staff

I painted, did some accounting, helped with dogs, washed some dishes, pulled some weeds, went to the vet, tagged along to get mangoes and water, played some Haitian cards, ate some delicious food, discussed hair with the book club girls and had some giggles while fighting those damn "foumies" (red ants).This was all under the vigilant care of the wonderful staff and Sharon at the Starthrower Foundation.

I know that I haven't yet processed all that I've seen, heard and felt and don't know exactly how I will use what I have learned. What I do know is that all life has value and the people of Haiti are as deserving as anyone to have the basics of life met. Healthy food, running water, clean latrines and an education have to be a start.

Pi Ta

Monica



Up and down the mountain

It seems climate change has arrived in Haiti. With the exception of one night, every night of the 3 weeks I have been home has been an adventure in weather - rain, wind, thunder, lightning. Both pictures were taken after about 30 min. of rain which continued until morning. I have no idea what happened to the rainy season. It didn't show up when it was supposed to and this is not it.

Our drive way in Cap-Haitien

Our corner in Sen Rafayel

Daytime temperatures well above 100, yesterday real feel 122 (50 celcius) combined with the wet nights make for a bad mixture of mosquitos ( marengwen in Kreyol ) and malaria. Frequent electricity outages in Cap-Haitien make a bad situation worse. In the village, we are still not on the receiving end of hydro.

When we arrived in Sen Rafayel this week, student part-time staffer St. Luc arrived for work about the same time, presenting symptoms which turned out to be Malaria. We began treatment and kept him. Sending him home was not an option as the rain had begun and was too heavy. On the way down the mountain we played ' find the hot telephone service  spot' with Cap coordinator Lusnot, He was calling to tell us Paudeline had just returned from the clinic with a Malaria/Anemia/UTI diagnosis.

Fortunately we passed a very small but well stocked pharmacy (famasi) just past the airport so were able to pick up Chloroquine/Vitamin C / Fertone and Multi vitamins. We still have an adequate supply of Allimax on hand so were able to begin treatment for everything immediately. Our protein powder supply is finished but it made a great difference for a while.

Paudeline down with Malaria but still reading.

No time is a good time for a malaria outbreak but we are in exam mode so this is particularly bad timing. Grades 7,8, 3 eme and 2nd began writing the 10th of June. State Nationals for 9eme will be written the last week of June, followed by State Nationals for Retho week of July 1st, Philo week of July 8th. Sen Rafayel center is open 7 days a week,  in Cap we have reopened Sundays for those who need some extra tutoring.

For our nursing students at University Roi Henri Christophe, exams run 15-26 of July. Nursing students in Leogane are writing and putting finishing touches on 'Memoires". University students in the Dominican Republic will begin August 1st.

Once results are in for State Nationals, those just on the pass/fail line will have a chance to rewrite in September (ajoune)



The Breakfast Club in Sen Rafayel-they line up before we open.
It is often the only food of the day.
Easier to study/write exams with food in your stomach.

In Cap - Stephan -Francais

Rosema and Viola - Chemistry (Chimie)

                                         In Sen Rafayel -   Eguens and Sterlin - discussion

In addition to study mode, May is our admission month. During May we accept letters from students who have been unable to attend school for at least the current school. Of the 500 letters we received during the allotted time ,  nearly 300 had legitimately been out of school. (There are always dozens delivered after the deadline but we do not accept them. Our resources are already limited and because of limited finances, we'll only be able to take in about 10% of the applicants.) The other 200 applicants  had lost or were in danger of losing their support and did not want to sit out. It takes every staff member many hours to read through the letters, highlighting the appropriate information which will lead to an interview or rejection. Someday we'll have the resources to say yes to everyone

Lusnot gives letters first reading in Cap.

Kesner helps sort letters in Sen Rafayel. Yes, the purple
briefcase is full of letters.

Of the potential admissions which could result from the letters, 45 have both parents dead,  134 one parent dead and one other support system ie an older brother who helped had died of cholera, an uncle who had paid for school had been killed in the earthquake...., 37 had both parents living. Of that number, not one had a parent in good health or able to work. There were 10 asking for transfers between Cap and Sen Rafayel, another 10 we considered URGENT and another 15 who had written before whose circumstances had become more pressing.

Urgent situations are dealt with as quickly as possible. If a student is trapped in a 'restavec' situation, or being coerced to provide sexual favors for school fees, or their letter is filled with despair, we interview them first. Over the past 10 days we have admitted Odette, Emania, Ralph and Nathacha. Emania lost her parents in the earthquake, made her way to an aunt in Sen Rafayel who would not take her in. Another family gave her a job sweeping and cleaning in return for a piece of bread and allowed her to sleep outside their house. We have found an older sister and will deliver her to the sister in July once she has all her papers to-gether. She'll start school in Cap-Haitien.

When we admit a student , once they sign a contract they may use our centers in both Cap-Haitien and Sen Rafayel daily as long as they follow the rules. Giving them a place to go while waiting to start school gives them a community.



Ralph - Admi

Odette - Admi

Emania - Admi

Nathacha - Admi

Up and down the mountain we continue to find our share of challenges - sometimes it takes persistence, sometimes it takes a spare part, sometimes it takes knowing that turning around to-day will allow us to try again to-morrow.

Arriving in Sen Rafayel - so near and yet so far.



The trench dug by angry residents was a sign to turn around and try again.
Next day was no problem although the anger still simmers.

Some times a helping hand (or three) is all that's needed.

Occasionally it's sit for several hours until to-gether we find a solution.
There are no tow trucks and the police drove by and didn't stop.

That nightly thunderstorm I mentioned earlier decided to arrive in the afternoon to-day. I've sent the staff and kids home as the wind is making airborn missiles out of usually earthbound objects. Again there is no electricity so this laptop battery and Natcom 3g WIFI stick have performed admirably.

Have a great week

Sharon

Make the World Awesome

After 3 weeks in Canada, I returned to Cap-Haitien yesterday - returned to no electricity,  temperatures well over 100,  a symphony created by horns, roosters, dogs, cats, gun fire, children screaming (at play?) , house choirs singing, angry voices in 'discussion'... Symphony or cacophony? It's in the ear of the beholder.

I also returned to a household tetanba (upside down). On March 19, our beautiful dog Joli (who had been 'fixed' by the local vet) presented us with 5 adorable puppies. Surprise! Veterinary science with a twist.

Joli and family - 5 days old
Sablo, Ti Jo, Tchale,  Senkyeme (nursing)and Ti Ke'm (in front)

My return was heralded by dogs everywhere - now  2 months old. How they had grown. Obviously I smelled the same as they had definitely not forgotten me.

Tchale, Ti Jo, Senkyeme and Sablo with mom in the corner.
First born Ti Ke was off by himself - probably reading a book.
Typical first born behaviour.

What does this have to do with making the world awesome, you ask? Aside from the factthat these are my first (and last) puppies and they are pretty awesome, everytime I return to Canada I meet wonderful people - sponsors, volunteers, students...

Last week I was invited to Laurelwoods Elementary School. Resource teacher Monica McDonald, whom I had met last fall at Acheson's Fundraiser, had shared with the Grade 6 class the story of Starthower and what we are doing in Haiti.

Laurelwoods ES - home of some pretty amazing people.

With the support of classroom teacher Ms. Michaels and French teacher Mme, a fundraising activity was planned and put into action. Everyone took part. They made beaded earrings and sold them for $6 a pair. Every pair was unique. They designed packaging for transporting .

The work corner where genius designs came to fruition using wire and beads.

Display and sales where business was brisk.

At the end of the visit I was presented with the proceeds of the first 3 days of sales - $1000.
 That 's a lot of earrings!!!!!

The savvy young man looking at the camera is Remington, who added the challenge
 "MAKE THE WORLD AWESOME' to the packaging design. 
I am modelling a pair of their earrings.

They had already decided as a group how the funds would be spent. They are going to kick start our "Borrow a Bike" program which we will be implementing in Sen Rafayel for the new school year. I'll let you know how we make out.

One final group shot and the visit comes to an end.

Later that day back at my apartment, 4 librarians from Mill St. library volunteered to come to work after work. They trooped in with enthusiasm to help package the more than 100,000 Aqua Tabs which we received from OVERT (Ontario Volunteer Emergency Response Team) by way of Sylvia, a nurse from Bowmanville , who seems inexhaustible in her volunteer activities.

Shoeless Jane, Leslie, Kathy and Deb - they packaged over 50,000 Aqua tabs in just a few hours. Many hands.....

To everyone who was so supportive during my recent trip, mil mesi. Thanks are insufficient but I don't have a job so I can't pay you.

A big thank you to Dr. Ann Voyame and the staff of Dufferin Veterinary Clinic for your support and meds donations. Thanks to Kim of Euphoria for feeding me every day. Thanks to Janet Nieuwehuis, bookkeeper extraordinaire for doing my tax return.

Thanks to Yvonne, Cindy, Ingrid, Daniel, Nico, Diane, BettyLou, Benjamin, Marilyn and on it goes. If I have left you out it was inadvertent. The universe knows.

It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. That is probably true in some situations. Sometimes it takes a child to raise us up - show that EVERYONE can make a difference, regardless of age, social status, income.....

So I leave you with the wisdom of Remington and the Grade 6 class of Laurelwoods ES

MAKE THE WORLD AWESOME!!!

Til the next time

Sharon

Sunday in Sen Rafayel - a pictorial blog

 Ayiti cherie -dear Haiti - is a study in contrasts. Cap-Haitien, a fast paced (bordering on frenetic) city of too many people and  too little anything including land. Sen Rafayel, a mountain village of land for everyone but only if you can afford it. And in both, the contrast between the haves and the have-nots constantly assaults the eye, if one is aware.

Early Sunday morning - Sen Rafayel. Each morning the staff member who works night security, in this case,  Kesner and student John-Steevenson head out with our dogs Granjil and Tigger. Each dog has a story to tell if only they could talk-if only they could write!! The sun was just coming up over the mountains and folks were making their way to church. Students work 30 min each day walking the dogs with a staff member. The morning walk is especially beautiful - everything feels fresh and clean, possibilities for the day seem endless. By the afternoon walk (student Furmancia) at 4 pm, the heat of the day has wilted everything and everyone.

Granjil, John-Steevenson, Kesner, Tigger - doing the dog walking dance,
also known as the tangled leash waltz.

The first neighbor we passed was completely indifferent to our presence, just taking in the sun and munching.

The dogs were respectful but curious. The  pig was neither.

As we left the path and turned to follow the canal, a taximoto driver stopped to practice his English and asked me to take a picture. The cost of a ride to church was 10 gourdes. Not many in the village can afford to be chauffeured. There are no gas stations so gas for the drivers is sold along main street in dirty, recycled plastic gallon and half gallon jugs.

Always contrasts- a motorcycle complete with driver (Fred) who spoke English.

We met all ages going about the business of life in the village (bouk-la). This young lady was gathering water from the canal - she told me it was for drinking. I invited her to come to the center for AquaTabs to treat the water but she never did.

Gathering water from the canal. It is used for everything
including laundry, cooking, bathing (humans and animals)...

We talked to a choir director and  my eyes kept going to his blackened teeth. I sent a silent message to the universe for dentists and our dental student.

The choir director asked me to take his picture
as he was dressed for church.  He carries a keyboard, hymn books,
 treasures marking him as a person of status.

Sunday morning bath in the canal - a family affair.

This early riser displays bread secured  for his family 
from the house of 'matant'(my aunt) 

Walk over, day staff (students Angeline and Adelaine) had arrived and John-Steevenson changed his shoes and sat down to eat breakfast. We provide running shoes and socks for dog-walkers. Breakfast consisted of    Kasav (flat bread we purchase in Haut-du-Cap- made from manioc root - no wheat, no gluten), home made peanut butter (mamba), a sachet of potable water and a banana, which we had purchased in Dondon on the way up the mountain. Although bananas grow here, everything has its season, and right now bananas are difficult to find and very expensive. All students receive the same unless there is a peanut allergy and we eat what they eat. We alternate peanut butter with boiled eggs and cheese.

 Breakfast over we met with the engineer  (after tending dog bites on each of his ankles - another story) regarding pouring the roof for the second floor. Carpenters have been working on the frame and  boss feraye comes in next week to add the horizontal rebars. After the engineer,  2 intake interviews with new students Fresly and Jessido. By this time the center was full and Kesner had returned to take us to see the house he is building on the land he was able to purchase because he has a job.

   

His property is across from the new market (another story) in the middle of nowhere. The truck was secured, even though it would  have taken a pretty knowledgeable thief to steal it- the starter is gone and we have to use a screw driver under the hood to get going. The fun never ends.

Auguste locks the truck and checks. I'm not certain who would steal it
 - the chicken or the donkey?

Kesner proudly showed the walls, septic (fos pedi) he dug himself , chicken coop (already full) and the lean-to he constructed for temporary housing. His 11 month old niece was taking an afternoon nap on his bed while her mother and 2 siblings sat outside under a tree.

Security staff member Kesner is a builder and property owner.

His 11 month old niece takes a nap on his bed. She doesn't have one.

Visit over we stopped at a 'restaurant' for take-out - rice and beans with vegetables (diri ak sos pwa ak legim) the only item on the menu. The cook's son was kneeling beside the shack,cleaning the head of a goat recently slaughtered. Took my appetite away. As the vegetables need a lot of preparation, the cook only prepares legim once a day. If you arrive late, there is no food. Normally if I sat in the truck waiting, a small crowd would gather as I am a blan (stranger).However there was A DOG IN THE TRUCK - so the crowd grew very large and encircled the truck. Some asked questions, some taunted the dog and some had rocks to throw as that's how animals are treated by many. After several tense minutes and much talking, our food arrived and we headed back to Lakay Jasmine without further incident (except for the problem with the brakes).

Auguste eats Haitian style with a spoon. The dog is sitting on the steps
as the table is beside the staircase.(another story)

As we ate, I asked Auguste about the use of a spoon. He reminisced  about his childhood in the countryside commune of Montorganize. Growing up, his family only had 1 eating implement - a spoon. For everyone to eat at the same time, they hunted leaves which were strong and could be made into a scoop. This is still practiced  or fingers are used. 

Dinner over, I decided to forgo the afternoon dog walk and take a little solitary walk (ti vire) in the village (bouk la) We work in the community so it seems a good idea to be a visible part of it's life. Our drop-in center, Lakay Jasmine, is only about 3 minutes off the main thoroughfare. At our corner, a funeral home, the largest business in the area. Turn right and you head out down the mountain, passing through the bel antre.

At our corner, La Main Divine (The Divine Hand)
Funeral home

To the right, the grand entrance (bel antre) to Sen Rafayel

To the left, small homes and smaller businesses. Study on the roof top in the waning daylight. Electricity still has not made its way into Sen Rafayel, although there are posts and wires,

Small business - selling rice (diri) by the
cup. ( gode) Dressed for Winter - nightime
temps drop to 60.

Studying on the roof is common for those who have a roof.

Another small business- selling tomatoes.

Perhaps Haiti captures my heart because it is so real  and it challenges me to be real and to be totally present. Lately I've been reading author Deepak Chopra, this week The Ultimate Happiness Prescription" . Embedded everywhere  are nuggets of wisdom I want to mine and keep.  I have developed  a love/hate relationship with electronic readers. I can take a library with me to Sen Rafayel but I can't underline what I want to remember. This I want to remember:

 "The true self lies beyond images. It can be found at a level of existence that is independent of the good and bad opinions of others. It is fearless. It has infinite worth."

On January 24, Starthrower lost a treasured friend and staunch supporter. The world lost a tireless worker for improving the lives of those living in absolute poverty. Her family lost a wife, mother and grandmother.

Diane Plett was co-founder of the Jasmine Foundation, along with husband Benjamin. She was too young and too vital to be gone. She knew her true self and that's what you got when you met her. She was fearless and had infinite worth.

Diane's spirit is alive and well at Lakay Jasmine, part of her legacy in Haiti. She is remembered  and celebrated -   a true fanm vayan (valiant woman).

Beni-w

Sharon