It has already been two weeks since I left Brooklyn, yet it seems so much more because of my busy schedule! My first evening here included a cocktail for the Regional Director. Waiters served hors d'oeuvres all evening and eventually desserts. Near the end, I heard a waiter behind me say, "Who wants the last ice cream?". I didn't know that they'd been serving ice cream, but I turned around and there on a tray was a cocktail glass of ice cream.
When I was starting to look for a job I gave up ice cream-- one of my favorite foods next to chocolate. I'd been eating it all summer and decided not to have any until I found a job. The heavens opened a light shown down and soft refrains of angels echoed all around. Okay, not really, but it seemed that that last ice cream on the tray was a confirmation that I am in the right place. I enjoyed every bite.
The rest of the weekend I caught up with friends and the week was spent meeting with my manager in Cap Haitien, a city on the northern coast and a 45 minute flight from Port-au-Prince. I found out a week ago that I will be based there rather than Port-au-Prince as originally planned.
The upside is that Cap is much less chaotic than Port and I'll be living in an adorable seaside apartment with a gorgeous view. The downside is that Cap, although the second largest city in Haiti, significantly lacks amenities. Not counting the Hotel Roi Christophe with typically only 5 of 20 menu items actually available or the guesthouse near the office, there is exactly one suitable restaurant, La Kay. It serves as both the popular lunch spot and the evening hang-out.
La Kay sits on a nicely paved boulevard running along the bay. Although it is small, it does serve great food. Yesterday, on a day-trip to Cap, I enjoyed a delicious lobster salad. It is less than a five minute walk from the office, an old two story house, which faces the bay only 100 feet away. There is usually a nice breeze coming off the water and I can see ships going in and out of the port throughout the day. Life is good.
I am currently in Port and will be moving to Cap by Thursday of this week. Brooklyn feels a million miles away- two weeks ago I was wearing three layers and boots and last weekend I wore a bikini on the beach!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
In my search for jobs, I decided to do some volunteering to keep me busy and make new contacts. I volunteer for Doctors Without Borders and wanted to find a way to work on my creative writing skills. I did a search on idealist.org and found an opportunity with a women's writing group--a woman of color writing group. I thought, "What the hell, I'll see if they can use me as a volunteer."
After sending in a writing sample, an hour-long phone interview (and my revelation that I am white), they accepted me! It's actully my experience in Haiti and my awareness of race that qualified me.
There are actually two parts to the group. One, a two-hour writing workshop on Friday nights which is pay to play, and two, a group of volunteers promoting a community of women of color writers with the hope of encouraging confidence and the number of women published. Because I am volunteering I will eventually get a free workshop, so there is a bit of monetary reward besides the joy of writing and encouraging others.
A few weeks ago during our writing workshop the prompt we were given was to write a story about a bridge and begin with a small detail. Here's the story I wrote:
My pinky toe aches. These shoes meant for walking need to take their own walk over the side of this bridge. Okay, it was my idea to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I usually like it. The view is gorgeous despite the packs of tourists. It reminds me that the city really is beautiful. Today I had the grand plan of walking across at sunset. RJ had the grand plan of going to Manhattan and walking back to Brooklyn, which meant we ended up taking the wrong train, and we missed the most beautiful part of the sunset.
Once these shoes take a hike maybe I'll tell RJ he needs to take a hike as well. One minute he's saying he wants to be with me, thinks about me all the time, and even brings up the "M" word, but the next week doesn't make an effort to spend time together. Between the pain in my foot and the pain of dealing with RJ I'd rather just..."Um, excuse me, m'am, could you take a picture of me and my wife?" a tourist breaks into my thoughts.
"Sure."
When I read it allowed to the writing group they all burst out laughing at the end with comments of, "That's so true!". Everyone in New York is in their own zone. We are all competing for and trying to protect our personal space, so when a tourist asks something like this they break into our personal bubble.
Aha! That's it, I thought. New Yorker's aren't trying to be rude, they're just protecting their valuable space. When it costs $1.2 million for a Manhattan one-bedroom apartment "ready for your renovations", I completely understand.
A little piece of New York life.
After sending in a writing sample, an hour-long phone interview (and my revelation that I am white), they accepted me! It's actully my experience in Haiti and my awareness of race that qualified me.
There are actually two parts to the group. One, a two-hour writing workshop on Friday nights which is pay to play, and two, a group of volunteers promoting a community of women of color writers with the hope of encouraging confidence and the number of women published. Because I am volunteering I will eventually get a free workshop, so there is a bit of monetary reward besides the joy of writing and encouraging others.
A few weeks ago during our writing workshop the prompt we were given was to write a story about a bridge and begin with a small detail. Here's the story I wrote:
My pinky toe aches. These shoes meant for walking need to take their own walk over the side of this bridge. Okay, it was my idea to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I usually like it. The view is gorgeous despite the packs of tourists. It reminds me that the city really is beautiful. Today I had the grand plan of walking across at sunset. RJ had the grand plan of going to Manhattan and walking back to Brooklyn, which meant we ended up taking the wrong train, and we missed the most beautiful part of the sunset.
Once these shoes take a hike maybe I'll tell RJ he needs to take a hike as well. One minute he's saying he wants to be with me, thinks about me all the time, and even brings up the "M" word, but the next week doesn't make an effort to spend time together. Between the pain in my foot and the pain of dealing with RJ I'd rather just..."Um, excuse me, m'am, could you take a picture of me and my wife?" a tourist breaks into my thoughts.
"Sure."
When I read it allowed to the writing group they all burst out laughing at the end with comments of, "That's so true!". Everyone in New York is in their own zone. We are all competing for and trying to protect our personal space, so when a tourist asks something like this they break into our personal bubble.
Aha! That's it, I thought. New Yorker's aren't trying to be rude, they're just protecting their valuable space. When it costs $1.2 million for a Manhattan one-bedroom apartment "ready for your renovations", I completely understand.
A little piece of New York life.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Trusting God is Hard!
Two Sundays ago the church I attend announced a One in a Million offering that will go towards church planting, making contacts with one million New Yorkers this year and special needs projects. I thought about how I could be a part of it. I haven't had a job since June when I left Haiti, so I don't have income to contribute.
I looked at the memory verse for this week, "They should be good in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them." (1 Tim 6:18) I thought, well, the one thing God has given me is time. I can volunteer.
I've done quite a bit over the past few weeks whether for The Journey (my church) or for other organizations around the city. But, I still want to give money! I want to have a job with income so I can give money! Partly out of frustration and (in hindsight) partly as test for God, I thought, "Okay, God, any income I get this week will be yours." I had no idea how I would make any money.
When I arrived in New York last month, my friend Mary Anne asked if I'd gotten my economic stimulus payment. No, and I didn't expect to get one because I'd been living overseas so that probably disqualified me. She said I should check anyway. It so happens that my tax return was lost somewhere in the abyss between my office in Haiti and the weary federal worker charged with processing returns.
Mary Anne urged me to file again before the October 15 deadline and maybe I'd get $300 or more dollars. I was skeptical but did it anyway. Well, wouldn't you know, on that Monday I checked the status of my return and $300 was scheduled to be deposited in my account this past Friday. I also found my ideal job posted with the Clinton Foundation-- Program Coordinator for Haiti.
I gave the money joyfully on Sunday and thought to myself, "I just might be crazy, but God, I promised so here it is." On Monday night Mary Anne told me I need to move off her couch because she has relatives coming for the holidays. Eek! I need to find somewhere else to live! My underlying thought was, "I'm just going to trust God!"
This morning when I went to send my cover letter and resume for the job posted with the Clinton Foundation, the posting was no longer on-line!! Maybe they had already found someone even though the posting had only been up one week. I sent it anyway. It bounced back. I went on the website and found a different e-mail address and sent it again.
All day while I was volunteering at Doctors Without Borders and writing names on envelopes I kept saying, "I trust you, God. I trust you, God." partly as a mantra to not freak out. In 31 years He has never let me down. Why should I fret now?
I came home this evening and started looking for more positions to apply for. I checked my e-mail and found a request for an interview for this Friday for the position I applied for this morning! Amazing! I said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you" to God (and cried a little!).
I can't wait to see what happens next.
I looked at the memory verse for this week, "They should be good in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them." (1 Tim 6:18) I thought, well, the one thing God has given me is time. I can volunteer.
I've done quite a bit over the past few weeks whether for The Journey (my church) or for other organizations around the city. But, I still want to give money! I want to have a job with income so I can give money! Partly out of frustration and (in hindsight) partly as test for God, I thought, "Okay, God, any income I get this week will be yours." I had no idea how I would make any money.
When I arrived in New York last month, my friend Mary Anne asked if I'd gotten my economic stimulus payment. No, and I didn't expect to get one because I'd been living overseas so that probably disqualified me. She said I should check anyway. It so happens that my tax return was lost somewhere in the abyss between my office in Haiti and the weary federal worker charged with processing returns.
Mary Anne urged me to file again before the October 15 deadline and maybe I'd get $300 or more dollars. I was skeptical but did it anyway. Well, wouldn't you know, on that Monday I checked the status of my return and $300 was scheduled to be deposited in my account this past Friday. I also found my ideal job posted with the Clinton Foundation-- Program Coordinator for Haiti.
I gave the money joyfully on Sunday and thought to myself, "I just might be crazy, but God, I promised so here it is." On Monday night Mary Anne told me I need to move off her couch because she has relatives coming for the holidays. Eek! I need to find somewhere else to live! My underlying thought was, "I'm just going to trust God!"
This morning when I went to send my cover letter and resume for the job posted with the Clinton Foundation, the posting was no longer on-line!! Maybe they had already found someone even though the posting had only been up one week. I sent it anyway. It bounced back. I went on the website and found a different e-mail address and sent it again.
All day while I was volunteering at Doctors Without Borders and writing names on envelopes I kept saying, "I trust you, God. I trust you, God." partly as a mantra to not freak out. In 31 years He has never let me down. Why should I fret now?
I came home this evening and started looking for more positions to apply for. I checked my e-mail and found a request for an interview for this Friday for the position I applied for this morning! Amazing! I said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you" to God (and cried a little!).
I can't wait to see what happens next.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
One Month On: My Experience So Far
New York!
NEW YORK!
Appearing on The View and receiving free gifts(iPod speakers and a book)
Staying with a great roommate, Mary Anne
Receiving an iPod nano as a gift
Feeling blessed
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset
Walking in Prospect Park, on Broadway, Times Square, Columbus Circle on Columbus Day
Shopping for boots, browsing really
Walking on the beach, lots of seagulls, lots of wind
Feeling tired, but elated
Writing cover letters, cover letters, cover letters and resume updates
Interviewing for volunteer work
Walking, walking, walking catching the bus, catching the train
Seeing the neighbor in his whitey tighties strolling to his car
Seeing homeless and beggars, hustlers on the train
Feeling not too far from Haiti
Observing people, all nationalities- Haitian, Dominican, Pakistani, Indian, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Senegalese, Omani, Guyanian, Mexican
Being confused for Russian
Attending seminars and lectures- conflict mediation, AIDS, nuclear disarmament, Cuba
Feeling curious and intellectual
Eating food on the run
Eating sushi, stuffed mushrooms, spinach pie, baked penne, baby spinach salad, panceta panini
Meeting new people
Networking
Meeting more people
Sending out cover letters and resumes
Feeling frustrated
Attending church, attending growth group
Feeling encouraged
Volunteering for Doctor's Without Borders
Volunteering at church
Volunteering and writing with women of color
Feeling content
Enjoying New York!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Train Travelogue, Part 2
Riding the train is a good chance to meet some people that I normally wouldn’t intersect with during the day. My train ride is now long over, but there are a few personalities and one little story worth sharing.
On the last day of my trip towards Portland, I met a guy in the lounge car who kindly pointed out some of the more interesting landmarks. He had worked at the National Park and grown up in North Dakota and was on his way back to his home in Portland after his father’s funeral. A while later as I was enjoying the sunset in the lounge car he called me over to join him and a few others and help him eat the many snacks he had brought along on the trip. Upon sitting down, he invited me to dig in to the assortment of junk food. I nibbled on a few M and Ms.
- Help yourself to anything. I’ve got lots of snacks. You know, I had to clean out the house after the funeral.
My first thought was -I’m eating a dead man’s M and Ms??
-Really, I think I ate too much already....I brought a lot of snacks along, too, so you know, I don't want to over eat....
A bit later in the conversation the topic of Haiti came up (it always does, doesn’t it?). An older man with white scruff and his red baseball cap slightly askew piped in.
- I had a friend who lived there. He got kicked out by that dictator.
- Duvalier? Baby Doc?
- Yeah, yeah. He worked at a casino, was married to one of the locals and got himself real messed up. They did a number on him. Kicked him out of the country and hasn’t been the same since.
- Did his wife return with him?
- No, no. She stayed and he’s never been the same. I don’t know what they did to him.
Who knew I’d run across this story on a train in Montana? On the trip back I came across a few more interesting characters. I didn’t meet them directly, but they sat at a table directly behind me playing cards and I picked up on a few interesting stories. One, Buckey Allen, is a professional rodeo-rider. He happened to be wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt with his sponsor and his name on the back. This complimented his belt-cinched Wranglers with a flask in the back pocket. Another guy, Mike, was on his way from California to New York (that’s one heck of a train trip!) to get back together with a his “girl” that he’d dated 7 years ago and decided to get back together with. If he wasn’t playing cards he was on the phone talking to “my girl”. A third was a young woman with wearing cowboy boots, knickers, a loose jacket and a hobo cap with a long feather. She was on her way to New Orleans with her grandfather to meet up with his Marine Corps buddies. She smelled of patchouli and said she’d joined the circus at a young age. Currently she is living in Idaho making pottery that no one buys. They guys suggested she put in on E-Bay.
The interesting people part continued on my train trip to NY. (Thanks to Shan for dropping me off at the train station!) I sat next to an Indian engineer from South Bend to Penn Station, NYC. A real Indian- he came for a niece’s wedding in Chicago and was using the rest of his tourist visa to see New York and Seattle. I also met a Yogi and an elderly gentleman who’d lived in New York all his life and wanted to tell me all about it during the stopover in Albany. I was most impressed with how his T-shirt pocket was stuffed with stuff. Not only the pocket, but he was able to store Kleenex on his shoulder with the stretch of the shirt holding it in place. Interesting.
So, if you ever want to break out of the mold, meet some interesting people and enjoy the scenery, take the train!! And you might get to claim, like I can, that you’ve slept my way through Fargo, ND- twice!
On the last day of my trip towards Portland, I met a guy in the lounge car who kindly pointed out some of the more interesting landmarks. He had worked at the National Park and grown up in North Dakota and was on his way back to his home in Portland after his father’s funeral. A while later as I was enjoying the sunset in the lounge car he called me over to join him and a few others and help him eat the many snacks he had brought along on the trip. Upon sitting down, he invited me to dig in to the assortment of junk food. I nibbled on a few M and Ms.
- Help yourself to anything. I’ve got lots of snacks. You know, I had to clean out the house after the funeral.
My first thought was -I’m eating a dead man’s M and Ms??
-Really, I think I ate too much already....I brought a lot of snacks along, too, so you know, I don't want to over eat....
A bit later in the conversation the topic of Haiti came up (it always does, doesn’t it?). An older man with white scruff and his red baseball cap slightly askew piped in.
- I had a friend who lived there. He got kicked out by that dictator.
- Duvalier? Baby Doc?
- Yeah, yeah. He worked at a casino, was married to one of the locals and got himself real messed up. They did a number on him. Kicked him out of the country and hasn’t been the same since.
- Did his wife return with him?
- No, no. She stayed and he’s never been the same. I don’t know what they did to him.
Who knew I’d run across this story on a train in Montana? On the trip back I came across a few more interesting characters. I didn’t meet them directly, but they sat at a table directly behind me playing cards and I picked up on a few interesting stories. One, Buckey Allen, is a professional rodeo-rider. He happened to be wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt with his sponsor and his name on the back. This complimented his belt-cinched Wranglers with a flask in the back pocket. Another guy, Mike, was on his way from California to New York (that’s one heck of a train trip!) to get back together with a his “girl” that he’d dated 7 years ago and decided to get back together with. If he wasn’t playing cards he was on the phone talking to “my girl”. A third was a young woman with wearing cowboy boots, knickers, a loose jacket and a hobo cap with a long feather. She was on her way to New Orleans with her grandfather to meet up with his Marine Corps buddies. She smelled of patchouli and said she’d joined the circus at a young age. Currently she is living in Idaho making pottery that no one buys. They guys suggested she put in on E-Bay.
The interesting people part continued on my train trip to NY. (Thanks to Shan for dropping me off at the train station!) I sat next to an Indian engineer from South Bend to Penn Station, NYC. A real Indian- he came for a niece’s wedding in Chicago and was using the rest of his tourist visa to see New York and Seattle. I also met a Yogi and an elderly gentleman who’d lived in New York all his life and wanted to tell me all about it during the stopover in Albany. I was most impressed with how his T-shirt pocket was stuffed with stuff. Not only the pocket, but he was able to store Kleenex on his shoulder with the stretch of the shirt holding it in place. Interesting.
So, if you ever want to break out of the mold, meet some interesting people and enjoy the scenery, take the train!! And you might get to claim, like I can, that you’ve slept my way through Fargo, ND- twice!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Train Travelogue, Part 1
Jess, I know you're anxious to hear about NY, but I have to get these stories out of me and on to paper, too. I know I'm back tracking a bit, but hang in there and I promise to post more soon.
September 9, 2008
There are a lot of strange people in this world. I might be one of them. There certainly are a different variety of people who take trains versus those who take planes. Trains are so much more accessible than planes. Although, not many of us know this or take advantage of it. Most people are very friendly. Some of them are 'train fans', others just trying to get from one place to the next at the lowest price. The most striking person I came across today was a long-haired blond guy pushing his crate of belongings through the 'B' track waiting lounge. I'm guessing he's a 30 something with a solid frame, but not one that hits the weights if you know what I mean. He was loudly proclaiming something, but I didn't quite hear. Maybe something about justice or inequality of not being able to get his bags checked. The next time I saw him was in the lounge car hunched over and asleep in a pair of observer deck chairs. Other interesting people include a family of the Amish. They boarded on the same train I did this morning in Grand Rapids. I overheard that they're coming from Mio in northern Lower Michigan near Grayling. I'm curious as to where they are going. Everybody's got a story.
The train is a nice experience. A slower pace and certainly not as invasive as a trip through your local airport; no x-rays, body checks or bare footing through the security line. As I go through the day, I'm picking up little hints and tricks on how to make the most of the train. So far I've learned that if you aren't in a sleeper car, the lower level coach seating is the place to be- lucky me, I was intuitive enough to get a lower-level ticket when I made my reservation. It's a smaller cabin with only 12 seats, there's no through passage, so there aren't constant streams of people walking by, there are electrical outlets next to every seat, and it's only steps from the bathroom.
So far this train experience is a good one. For some reason or another as soon as I get on the train I feel like I took a sleeping pill. I have a weird drugged out sort of feeling and just want to close my eyes. I'm forcing myself to stay awake though because before too long it will be dark and I'll have a lot of hours of possible sleep time all through the night, all in this seat. But, back to the good experience part. The scheduled three hour trip between GR and Chicago was a little longer than planned due to a late train and, yes, construction on the track. Once in Chicago I immediately sought out some coffee and was directed to go up a few levels out of the bowels of Union Station (yes, we NEED to invest in better public transportation!) and found Caribou Coffee. And, I'm glad I went. Not only did I get rid of the caffeine headache with a Mocha, I also received a free bag of coffee beans which will provide me with a fresh coffee smell all the way to Portland. With coffee in hand, I spotted a few of the Amish folks going outside. I followed and found myself next to the river on Adams Street in downtown Chicago. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a cool breeze. Ah, to be outside in the city! I love people watching and this was a fantastic place to do it. People on their lunch break, people waiting for trains and some just milling about. I soaked in as much sun and people watching as I could before heading back down to the grungy train station and boarding for a two day ride to Portland.
September 9, 2008
There are a lot of strange people in this world. I might be one of them. There certainly are a different variety of people who take trains versus those who take planes. Trains are so much more accessible than planes. Although, not many of us know this or take advantage of it. Most people are very friendly. Some of them are 'train fans', others just trying to get from one place to the next at the lowest price. The most striking person I came across today was a long-haired blond guy pushing his crate of belongings through the 'B' track waiting lounge. I'm guessing he's a 30 something with a solid frame, but not one that hits the weights if you know what I mean. He was loudly proclaiming something, but I didn't quite hear. Maybe something about justice or inequality of not being able to get his bags checked. The next time I saw him was in the lounge car hunched over and asleep in a pair of observer deck chairs. Other interesting people include a family of the Amish. They boarded on the same train I did this morning in Grand Rapids. I overheard that they're coming from Mio in northern Lower Michigan near Grayling. I'm curious as to where they are going. Everybody's got a story.
The train is a nice experience. A slower pace and certainly not as invasive as a trip through your local airport; no x-rays, body checks or bare footing through the security line. As I go through the day, I'm picking up little hints and tricks on how to make the most of the train. So far I've learned that if you aren't in a sleeper car, the lower level coach seating is the place to be- lucky me, I was intuitive enough to get a lower-level ticket when I made my reservation. It's a smaller cabin with only 12 seats, there's no through passage, so there aren't constant streams of people walking by, there are electrical outlets next to every seat, and it's only steps from the bathroom.
So far this train experience is a good one. For some reason or another as soon as I get on the train I feel like I took a sleeping pill. I have a weird drugged out sort of feeling and just want to close my eyes. I'm forcing myself to stay awake though because before too long it will be dark and I'll have a lot of hours of possible sleep time all through the night, all in this seat. But, back to the good experience part. The scheduled three hour trip between GR and Chicago was a little longer than planned due to a late train and, yes, construction on the track. Once in Chicago I immediately sought out some coffee and was directed to go up a few levels out of the bowels of Union Station (yes, we NEED to invest in better public transportation!) and found Caribou Coffee. And, I'm glad I went. Not only did I get rid of the caffeine headache with a Mocha, I also received a free bag of coffee beans which will provide me with a fresh coffee smell all the way to Portland. With coffee in hand, I spotted a few of the Amish folks going outside. I followed and found myself next to the river on Adams Street in downtown Chicago. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a cool breeze. Ah, to be outside in the city! I love people watching and this was a fantastic place to do it. People on their lunch break, people waiting for trains and some just milling about. I soaked in as much sun and people watching as I could before heading back down to the grungy train station and boarding for a two day ride to Portland.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Travel on my Journey
Over the years of flying back and forth to Haiti I often mourned the lack of journey- of feeling like I was actually traveling somewhere. It was a shock to my system to make the transition from somewhere in the sterile, prosperous States and being a part of the majority to humid, dirty, over-populated Port-au-Prince and being a minority within a few hours time (actually this starts at the gate in Miami...). I would simply climb aboard one aircraft pass through one or two busy nondescript airports (catching a Starbucks on my way) and suddenly arrive in Haiti with the only scenery being the clouds and a stranger sitting next to me.
Now is my chance to slow down and actually journey. Taking the train from Michigan to Washington will be incredible. I'll get to see parts of the northern US that few people take the time to enjoy. And I'll complete a cross-continental train journey when I go to New York! Yes, I'm moving to NY on the train! I'll get to enjoy the journey- see the lovely lake shore stretching from Michigan to New York. The bonus is that the ticket was only $80 and I can take 5 pieces of luggage at no extra charge! When I completed the ticket purchase, I felt elated. I'm actually going and it's going to be great!
I'd put off the actual purchase of a ticket to NY waiting for the timing to be right. Mostly I was just waiting to attend a re-entry and renewal retreat so I could process the last few months I had in Haiti and be ready to move on. I'm so glad I did. Now that I'm in recovery (from not being able to express my emotions!), I also feel ready to move on and tackle new adventures. And this will certainly be an adventure! I tell myself that if I could do Haiti for 7 years, I can certainly handle NYC.
Many people have questioned my desire to move there. At this point, it's just one of those things to check off on list-of-things-to-do-before-I-die. It is certainly tempting to go the easier route; stay here in GR and apply for the job at Grand Valley State that I saw in the wanted adds today. Not that that's a bad thing, but I'll feel like a cop-out if I don't at least give the move to NYC a try. What better time than the present? I have no real obligations except making enough cash to pay off school debt. And I can't question my sense of elation when I finally purchased the ticket. There's always plan B- move back to GR and live with my sister! And that wouldn't be horrible, just another part of my journey!
Now is my chance to slow down and actually journey. Taking the train from Michigan to Washington will be incredible. I'll get to see parts of the northern US that few people take the time to enjoy. And I'll complete a cross-continental train journey when I go to New York! Yes, I'm moving to NY on the train! I'll get to enjoy the journey- see the lovely lake shore stretching from Michigan to New York. The bonus is that the ticket was only $80 and I can take 5 pieces of luggage at no extra charge! When I completed the ticket purchase, I felt elated. I'm actually going and it's going to be great!
I'd put off the actual purchase of a ticket to NY waiting for the timing to be right. Mostly I was just waiting to attend a re-entry and renewal retreat so I could process the last few months I had in Haiti and be ready to move on. I'm so glad I did. Now that I'm in recovery (from not being able to express my emotions!), I also feel ready to move on and tackle new adventures. And this will certainly be an adventure! I tell myself that if I could do Haiti for 7 years, I can certainly handle NYC.
Many people have questioned my desire to move there. At this point, it's just one of those things to check off on list-of-things-to-do-before-I-die. It is certainly tempting to go the easier route; stay here in GR and apply for the job at Grand Valley State that I saw in the wanted adds today. Not that that's a bad thing, but I'll feel like a cop-out if I don't at least give the move to NYC a try. What better time than the present? I have no real obligations except making enough cash to pay off school debt. And I can't question my sense of elation when I finally purchased the ticket. There's always plan B- move back to GR and live with my sister! And that wouldn't be horrible, just another part of my journey!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
If anyone is still out there....
actually reading this blog?? It's really more of a time capsule because my posts are so few and far between that I use it to go back and find out vital information about what happened so long ago. For instance, today after reading my second (now third) to last post I now the last time I had my hair colored. I was trying to remember and thanks to my time capsule, I have an exact date.
So much has happened since then. You could say that those last posts were at the peak of the most stressful, traumatic time in my life, and since then I've quit my job, moved back to the States and have enjoyed nearly 3 months of blissful summer vacation. It's been so blissful that I actually enjoy unemployment....well, until the money runs out.
I've started seriously looking for jobs. The time is right and it's time for me to get back to a regular routine. BUT FIRST, I'll take an adventurous trip Amtraking from Michigan to Washington State to see my mother, then a few weeks later I will throw caution to the wind and take the train in the opposite direction to NYC. There I will continue the job hunting process and find a place to live. Do I have faith or am I just foolish? I'm leaning towards faith and fully believe God has a great plan for my life.
So much has happened since then. You could say that those last posts were at the peak of the most stressful, traumatic time in my life, and since then I've quit my job, moved back to the States and have enjoyed nearly 3 months of blissful summer vacation. It's been so blissful that I actually enjoy unemployment....well, until the money runs out.
I've started seriously looking for jobs. The time is right and it's time for me to get back to a regular routine. BUT FIRST, I'll take an adventurous trip Amtraking from Michigan to Washington State to see my mother, then a few weeks later I will throw caution to the wind and take the train in the opposite direction to NYC. There I will continue the job hunting process and find a place to live. Do I have faith or am I just foolish? I'm leaning towards faith and fully believe God has a great plan for my life.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Tale of a Wall
Last night around 9 pm I was driving home, coming up Rue Metelus. As many of you know there's is usually an overflow of market women and street vendors during the day in the area around the cemetary. Last night, there were workmen and police erecting a wall made of wood 2 x 4s and corrugated tin roofing to block the two roads where the market women usually spill out of onto Rue Metelus. I thought, "Hmm, interesting. Wonder how long that's going to last?". I assume it is the mayor's attempt clean up the street market problem.
This morning at 7 am on my way down Rue Metelus, I noticed there were no market women anywhere on the street and there were a few men 'guarding' the entrance to the cross street. On the other side, a few people were pushing on the wall as the tried to get around it.
This morning at 8:15 am on my way back up Metelus, the wall was completely destroyed. Traffic was backed up in both directions and only one lane could go at a time because pieces of tin sheeting and 2 x 4s were laying halfway across the road. There were no police officers in sight and no one looked like they were doing anything with the broken wall.
I'll pass by later today. My bet is those materials will be part of someone's house before the day is done.
This morning at 7 am on my way down Rue Metelus, I noticed there were no market women anywhere on the street and there were a few men 'guarding' the entrance to the cross street. On the other side, a few people were pushing on the wall as the tried to get around it.
This morning at 8:15 am on my way back up Metelus, the wall was completely destroyed. Traffic was backed up in both directions and only one lane could go at a time because pieces of tin sheeting and 2 x 4s were laying halfway across the road. There were no police officers in sight and no one looked like they were doing anything with the broken wall.
I'll pass by later today. My bet is those materials will be part of someone's house before the day is done.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Just Another Saturday in Port-au-Prince
Today's emotions:
exhaustion
fear
sadness
contentment
anxiety
anger
Today's events:
Woke up feeling tired after a late night with friends and some alcohol (no, alcohol is not one of my friends)
Ate 3 chocolate chip cookies and some scrambled eggs for breakfast
Shared some cookies with my neighbor
Met a friend at a cafe to do some work
Found out an NGO worker's husband was shot and killed last night. She's in Africa and hadn't yet been contacted
Went to the salon for a cut and color, mani and pedi; came away with color and not much of a cut- everyone says it looks great
Had a meeting for work purposes although the topic didn't have much to do with MCC work (sorry, can't give more details!)
Witnessed a mob of 20 beating a man to a pulp in the middle of Route de Delmas with UN soldiers standing by with weapons- the soldiers had even put out orange cones for traffic to move around the mob
Met a friend for a rant session about work with a little chocolate ice cream therapy at Fior di Latte
Came home and wrote this blog
exhaustion
fear
sadness
contentment
anxiety
anger
Today's events:
Woke up feeling tired after a late night with friends and some alcohol (no, alcohol is not one of my friends)
Ate 3 chocolate chip cookies and some scrambled eggs for breakfast
Shared some cookies with my neighbor
Met a friend at a cafe to do some work
Found out an NGO worker's husband was shot and killed last night. She's in Africa and hadn't yet been contacted
Went to the salon for a cut and color, mani and pedi; came away with color and not much of a cut- everyone says it looks great
Had a meeting for work purposes although the topic didn't have much to do with MCC work (sorry, can't give more details!)
Witnessed a mob of 20 beating a man to a pulp in the middle of Route de Delmas with UN soldiers standing by with weapons- the soldiers had even put out orange cones for traffic to move around the mob
Met a friend for a rant session about work with a little chocolate ice cream therapy at Fior di Latte
Came home and wrote this blog
Saturday, February 16, 2008
A Day in My Life: Friday, Feb 1
5 am: Woke up when the electricity came on and hoped for a hot shower. Stayed in bed until 7, but the water didn’t get warm. Have to figure out what’s wrong.
9 am: Chaired the monthly office staff meeting and explained the yearly staff evaluation process.
11 am: A pick-up truck with 4 Haitian drummers and their drums beating a Haitian-roots rhythm pulled into the office. They’d been at one of the employee’s son’s school for a Carnival party and were meeting up with some other people. They continued their drum session for another 20 minutes.
12 pm: Had a meeting with our Connecting Peoples Specialist to figure out a home stay and language training for a new MCCer.
2 pm: Attempted to contact partners about the upcoming MCC country evaluation and answer e-mail in between phone calls.
2:15 pm: Gabriela (the 18 month old daughter of a volunteer) pooped on me while sitting on my lap at my desk.
2:16 pm: Hop in the shower and change. Luckily, I had a spare pair of pants with me for an overnight trip.
3 pm: Head to the airport and while waiting 2 hours for the flight (which was late by an hour), hurriedly make arrangements by phone for a tour of the city for the new employee and another woman staying at our guesthouse. Looked over staff evaluations from the Reforestation team unit.
5:30 pm: Land in Les Cayes with two people from a partner organization and we are driven to Guilleme to check on the progress of a school construction project being funded by an MCC constituent. (It looks great!)
8 pm: Head to a little restaurant on the Les Cayes wharf where I ate a plate of fresh Creole shrimp and had a rum and Coke.
9:45 pm: Take a call from a MCCer who needs more money when I get back to Port-au-Prince the next day.
10 pm: Crash into bed hoping there aren’t any bed bugs in an I-can’t- believe-this-costs-$50-a-night hotel. (There weren’t!)
9 am: Chaired the monthly office staff meeting and explained the yearly staff evaluation process.
11 am: A pick-up truck with 4 Haitian drummers and their drums beating a Haitian-roots rhythm pulled into the office. They’d been at one of the employee’s son’s school for a Carnival party and were meeting up with some other people. They continued their drum session for another 20 minutes.
12 pm: Had a meeting with our Connecting Peoples Specialist to figure out a home stay and language training for a new MCCer.
2 pm: Attempted to contact partners about the upcoming MCC country evaluation and answer e-mail in between phone calls.
2:15 pm: Gabriela (the 18 month old daughter of a volunteer) pooped on me while sitting on my lap at my desk.
2:16 pm: Hop in the shower and change. Luckily, I had a spare pair of pants with me for an overnight trip.
3 pm: Head to the airport and while waiting 2 hours for the flight (which was late by an hour), hurriedly make arrangements by phone for a tour of the city for the new employee and another woman staying at our guesthouse. Looked over staff evaluations from the Reforestation team unit.
5:30 pm: Land in Les Cayes with two people from a partner organization and we are driven to Guilleme to check on the progress of a school construction project being funded by an MCC constituent. (It looks great!)
8 pm: Head to a little restaurant on the Les Cayes wharf where I ate a plate of fresh Creole shrimp and had a rum and Coke.
9:45 pm: Take a call from a MCCer who needs more money when I get back to Port-au-Prince the next day.
10 pm: Crash into bed hoping there aren’t any bed bugs in an I-can’t- believe-this-costs-$50-a-night hotel. (There weren’t!)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The Rat in My Closet
I came home one night and I'd accidentally left the balcony door open. This wasn't a big deal until I climbed the stairs to my room, flicked on the light and saw a rat run into my bathroom. Realizing that there was no escape for Mr. Rat except the way he came, I just stood and stared at the bathroom thinking, "There's a rat in my bathroom. There's a rat in my bathroom! THERE'S A RAT IN MY BATHROOM!".
Not only did Mr. Rat have access to my bathroom, but also my closet with the majority of my clothes. I closed the bathroom door. I opened the door, went in, and closed the door behind me. I got up on the counter and collected all the things I would need to get ready for church in the morning. I didn't see Mr. Rat, but knew he was there somewhere. I climbed back off the counter and escaped back out the door.
Then, I realized that I have a nice pair of leather shoes in my open closet that I didn't want Mr. Rat to feast on. So, I went back in and saw Mr. Rat run into a second part of the closet which didn't have much in it. I closed that door so he was trapped in the closet, grabbed my shoes and left the bathroom again.
Before going to church the next day, I stopped at the grocery store and bought some poison. I stuck it in my purse and carried it into church, so then it became holy rat poison. (Really I just didn't want to leave in the car baking in the sun.) When I got home, I made a paper cone to dump the poison into the closet then promptly closed the door and hoped for the best.
On Monday, my housekeeper, Joseph, was assigned the task of opening the closet door.
When I returned from work, Joseph told me he'd spent a "bon ti tan" ( a good while) chasing the rat around the bathroom until he was able to kill it. I didn't ask exactly where he'd killed it or how. I'm just glad it was dead and that I was going to move out of that house in the next two weeks.
The moral of the story is: Don't leave your balcony door open for small (or in this case rabbit-sized) critters to enter, and if you do, let someone else do the dirty work.
Not only did Mr. Rat have access to my bathroom, but also my closet with the majority of my clothes. I closed the bathroom door. I opened the door, went in, and closed the door behind me. I got up on the counter and collected all the things I would need to get ready for church in the morning. I didn't see Mr. Rat, but knew he was there somewhere. I climbed back off the counter and escaped back out the door.
Then, I realized that I have a nice pair of leather shoes in my open closet that I didn't want Mr. Rat to feast on. So, I went back in and saw Mr. Rat run into a second part of the closet which didn't have much in it. I closed that door so he was trapped in the closet, grabbed my shoes and left the bathroom again.
Before going to church the next day, I stopped at the grocery store and bought some poison. I stuck it in my purse and carried it into church, so then it became holy rat poison. (Really I just didn't want to leave in the car baking in the sun.) When I got home, I made a paper cone to dump the poison into the closet then promptly closed the door and hoped for the best.
On Monday, my housekeeper, Joseph, was assigned the task of opening the closet door.
When I returned from work, Joseph told me he'd spent a "bon ti tan" ( a good while) chasing the rat around the bathroom until he was able to kill it. I didn't ask exactly where he'd killed it or how. I'm just glad it was dead and that I was going to move out of that house in the next two weeks.
The moral of the story is: Don't leave your balcony door open for small (or in this case rabbit-sized) critters to enter, and if you do, let someone else do the dirty work.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Shot at the Caribbean
Just wanted to let you know I'm alright. I was shot in the Caribbean (grocery store) parking lot, but came away with only a very minor wound. It actually turns out to be quite positive because I'm now immunized against yellow fever....
So, the real story is that I needed a yellow fever immunization for entry into Mali this summer. (Yes, I'm travelling to Mali, Kenya and Tanzania!) So, I met up with the US Embassy nurse at the Caribbean parking lot who gave me a shot. So, it is true that I was shot in the Caribbean parking lot, but it was a needle and not a gun. I guess I could also say that I was shooting up in the Caribbean parking lot...
So, the real story is that I needed a yellow fever immunization for entry into Mali this summer. (Yes, I'm travelling to Mali, Kenya and Tanzania!) So, I met up with the US Embassy nurse at the Caribbean parking lot who gave me a shot. So, it is true that I was shot in the Caribbean parking lot, but it was a needle and not a gun. I guess I could also say that I was shooting up in the Caribbean parking lot...
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
I'm Moving!
Yes, yet again- the fifth time in two years! This time, I hope to be in the same place for a while.
The house where I am now is way to big for me. The reasons I moved there in the first place was that: a) the house was available after the last person who was in my position left the country b) Joseph, my househelp/maintanance guy lives there with his family and was well-established in the community, so moving would mean he would have to find a new place to live too c) everything in the house belongs to my employer, so moving out meant moving tons of furniture and tons of stuff accumulated over 8 years at the same time as starting a huge new job.
But, now, it's time. My landlord has been a complete ass- telling Joseph that he has to pay rent which is ridiculous because I'm the one renting the property. The house is way too big for me. I only use half of it. I think its size has contributed to feelings of depression in some way because I'm so alone in that big house. Plus I've felt really guilty paying a bunch of money for a house I hardly use.
I'm very excited about the new place. I'm getting a great deal on rent- only $300/mo and the place is brand new. It has windows all the way around. I can have a roof garden and the rooms are small enough to be cozy. I've already met most of the neighbors and they are all very welcoming. In fact, yesterday when I stopped by to talk to the construction guy who is going to take out a wall for me, I ended up with 5 other people coming in to say hi!
Here are a few pics of the current house. I did some major painting, so I'm sad to have to leave all the hard work behind!
The house where I am now is way to big for me. The reasons I moved there in the first place was that: a) the house was available after the last person who was in my position left the country b) Joseph, my househelp/maintanance guy lives there with his family and was well-established in the community, so moving would mean he would have to find a new place to live too c) everything in the house belongs to my employer, so moving out meant moving tons of furniture and tons of stuff accumulated over 8 years at the same time as starting a huge new job.
But, now, it's time. My landlord has been a complete ass- telling Joseph that he has to pay rent which is ridiculous because I'm the one renting the property. The house is way too big for me. I only use half of it. I think its size has contributed to feelings of depression in some way because I'm so alone in that big house. Plus I've felt really guilty paying a bunch of money for a house I hardly use.
I'm very excited about the new place. I'm getting a great deal on rent- only $300/mo and the place is brand new. It has windows all the way around. I can have a roof garden and the rooms are small enough to be cozy. I've already met most of the neighbors and they are all very welcoming. In fact, yesterday when I stopped by to talk to the construction guy who is going to take out a wall for me, I ended up with 5 other people coming in to say hi!
Here are a few pics of the current house. I did some major painting, so I'm sad to have to leave all the hard work behind!
Friday, May 04, 2007
It's May!
It's May, so it must be time for a new post. I think I can acheive a minimum of one post per month!
I'm currently on vacation in Michigan also known as 'home'. I've gotten my fill of family this past week seeing everyone come together for my youngest sister's graduation from university. After the ceremony we all went out for dinner to celebrate. My sister could only swing reservations at the swankiest Italian restaurant in town. My family is NOT a swanky family. Hot dogs and beer are more the order of the day. Reading through the menu was a bit trying since there was no spaghetti or lasagna, and ravioli was a stretch for some of the family to understand. Anyway, we made it through to dessert which I was excited to have. My dear grandmother sitting next to me says, "Dessert? Oh yeah, you're a skinny girl....(then pats my hip)....Well, except for right here..." Thanks, Grandma!
Me with Grandpa and Grandma
I'm currently on vacation in Michigan also known as 'home'. I've gotten my fill of family this past week seeing everyone come together for my youngest sister's graduation from university. After the ceremony we all went out for dinner to celebrate. My sister could only swing reservations at the swankiest Italian restaurant in town. My family is NOT a swanky family. Hot dogs and beer are more the order of the day. Reading through the menu was a bit trying since there was no spaghetti or lasagna, and ravioli was a stretch for some of the family to understand. Anyway, we made it through to dessert which I was excited to have. My dear grandmother sitting next to me says, "Dessert? Oh yeah, you're a skinny girl....(then pats my hip)....Well, except for right here..." Thanks, Grandma!
Me with Grandpa and Grandma
Friday, April 13, 2007
Alas
Here I am back in Haiti and back to work. Bolivia was a great time. The bus adventure?? Well, the 10 hour trip out to Moro Moro went well. The trip back was another story. The bus left Moro Moro an hour late on Saturday (10 am) and arrived in Santa Cruz at noon on Sunday. Twenty -six delicious hours of me on a bus with no bathroom and lots of people with body odor. It wasn't too horrible. Compared to being on a bus in Haiti, I'll take the one in Bolivia any day. When the sun set and before it came up again I did some squatting by the road side. Luckily, I had the forsight to bring some TP.
The reason for the long ride was mudslides. I now understand what mudslides really are when they talk about them in the news. Masses of mud, rock and whole huge trees covered the road and blocked any hope of getting to Santa Cruz in a timely manner. We had to sit, along with hundreds of other busses, tractor trailers, and cars and wait for the mud to be cleared by bull dozers.
Not only were there mudslides, but several times I thought the sticky oozing mud on the roads would carry us over the road side cliffs. When I would look out the bus window and NOT see the edge of the road I decided to just look the other way and hope for the best. Let's just say I was happy to get off. And, I was told that sometime people get stuck on that road for weeks!!
I did come up with a few ways to express how long I was on the bus:
1. I was on the bus long enough to meet a nice guy. We'll be getting married next month.
2. I was on the bus long enough to now speak Spanish and Quechi fluently.
3. I was on the bus long enough that the other passengers are now fluent in English and Kreol.
4. I was on the bus long enough to shear the sheep hanging off the back of the bus and knit a sweater.
Despite the agony of the ride, I did have an angel with me. The woman in the next seat travelling with two kids kinding shared bread and peaches and juice with me the morning after sleeping scrunched up on a bus seat. I was very touched by her kindness.
Pictures to come....
The reason for the long ride was mudslides. I now understand what mudslides really are when they talk about them in the news. Masses of mud, rock and whole huge trees covered the road and blocked any hope of getting to Santa Cruz in a timely manner. We had to sit, along with hundreds of other busses, tractor trailers, and cars and wait for the mud to be cleared by bull dozers.
Not only were there mudslides, but several times I thought the sticky oozing mud on the roads would carry us over the road side cliffs. When I would look out the bus window and NOT see the edge of the road I decided to just look the other way and hope for the best. Let's just say I was happy to get off. And, I was told that sometime people get stuck on that road for weeks!!
I did come up with a few ways to express how long I was on the bus:
1. I was on the bus long enough to meet a nice guy. We'll be getting married next month.
2. I was on the bus long enough to now speak Spanish and Quechi fluently.
3. I was on the bus long enough that the other passengers are now fluent in English and Kreol.
4. I was on the bus long enough to shear the sheep hanging off the back of the bus and knit a sweater.
Despite the agony of the ride, I did have an angel with me. The woman in the next seat travelling with two kids kinding shared bread and peaches and juice with me the morning after sleeping scrunched up on a bus seat. I was very touched by her kindness.
Pictures to come....
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Estoy en Bolivia
As I wrote last time, I've been crazy busy. Right now I'm sitting in Santa Cruz, Bolivia far far away from the office and my responsiblities in Haiti. It's great! I have time to breath and post to my blog. So, over the next week or so, I'll be posting lots of info about the past couple months because I actually have time to do it!!
To the most pressing question---why Bolivia? The real answer is work. I'm here for regional meetings which will take place all of next week, but I came a bit early to visit some programs here that are similar to what we are doing in Haiti.
I was not so excited about coming- mostly because I didn't want to pack and I was not looking forward to the overnight flight smushed into economy class. The forces that be also threw up a few road blocks to make getting here a bit of a challenge.
1. President Preval did not follow the recent time change, so now we are in Haiti Standard Time. My assistant realized this might mess up my flight times, but alas everything there went according to plan.
2. Hugo Chavez (president of Venezuela) decided to visit Haiti. This caused two roadblocks. First, there was a demonstration outside the airport that was on the verge of violence causing a huge traffic jam. Second, Chavez decided to land his plane when my plane was to be leaving causing a significant delay.
But, I'm here now without any major incidents. Tomorrow I'm heading to an area called Moro Moro, which is somewhere out in the country side. I'll be taking the bus; but, this could be a bit of an adventure. Last week someone from the organization attempted twice to take it. There were mudslides and he ended up turning around on the bus the first time, and walking 12 hours the second. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
To the most pressing question---why Bolivia? The real answer is work. I'm here for regional meetings which will take place all of next week, but I came a bit early to visit some programs here that are similar to what we are doing in Haiti.
I was not so excited about coming- mostly because I didn't want to pack and I was not looking forward to the overnight flight smushed into economy class. The forces that be also threw up a few road blocks to make getting here a bit of a challenge.
1. President Preval did not follow the recent time change, so now we are in Haiti Standard Time. My assistant realized this might mess up my flight times, but alas everything there went according to plan.
2. Hugo Chavez (president of Venezuela) decided to visit Haiti. This caused two roadblocks. First, there was a demonstration outside the airport that was on the verge of violence causing a huge traffic jam. Second, Chavez decided to land his plane when my plane was to be leaving causing a significant delay.
But, I'm here now without any major incidents. Tomorrow I'm heading to an area called Moro Moro, which is somewhere out in the country side. I'll be taking the bus; but, this could be a bit of an adventure. Last week someone from the organization attempted twice to take it. There were mudslides and he ended up turning around on the bus the first time, and walking 12 hours the second. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
I've Been Busy
I've been so crazy busy. This can be verified by the contents of my refrigerator-- beer and butter. Until yesterday. I bought some vegetables to way lay the guilt of my overloaded schedule.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
PVC
No, not the pipe- the club-- Petionville Club. Every Wednesday night they have a happy hour which stretches into the happier hours. (The crowd really shows up around 8 or 9). Last night I went with my neighbor, Pam. At one point she said to me, "You see that short guy with the short hair? I think I know him from somewhere." Considering that we were swimming in a sea of short men with short hair, the comment was a bit comical.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Petite Goave
Allo Mes Amis!
This past weekend I went with the Port-au-Prince team for an outing to Petite Goave on Haiti's southern peninsula. The trip was fantastic and I'd encourage anyone with an open weekend to take a trip there. The hotel, Relais du l'Empereur (or something close to that) was Emperor Faustin's place of residence while he reigned in Haiti. In the 1970s and 80s it was a posh hotel for the jet set from France and the US.
The hotel is on Petite Goave's main square, but the associated beach, Cocoyer Plage, is an hour-long boat ride away (or 30 minutes in a power boat). But, worth the ride! Here are a few pics to tempt you to this little jewel in the Caribbean.
The hotel has 10 bedrooms, all with king-size four poster brass or mahogany beds. Every room except two have luxurious bathtubs and all the bathroom fixtures are gold-plated. Every room also has a balcony with a view facing the ocean or the mountains. One of the other impressive things is the stairway. Huge steps lead up the three flights of stairs to the bedrooms. It's good exercise, but well worth the climb!
This is a view of Cocoyer Plage. Gorgeous white sand and aqua water!
Guylene, Kurt and me drinking coconut water.
This past weekend I went with the Port-au-Prince team for an outing to Petite Goave on Haiti's southern peninsula. The trip was fantastic and I'd encourage anyone with an open weekend to take a trip there. The hotel, Relais du l'Empereur (or something close to that) was Emperor Faustin's place of residence while he reigned in Haiti. In the 1970s and 80s it was a posh hotel for the jet set from France and the US.
The hotel is on Petite Goave's main square, but the associated beach, Cocoyer Plage, is an hour-long boat ride away (or 30 minutes in a power boat). But, worth the ride! Here are a few pics to tempt you to this little jewel in the Caribbean.
The hotel has 10 bedrooms, all with king-size four poster brass or mahogany beds. Every room except two have luxurious bathtubs and all the bathroom fixtures are gold-plated. Every room also has a balcony with a view facing the ocean or the mountains. One of the other impressive things is the stairway. Huge steps lead up the three flights of stairs to the bedrooms. It's good exercise, but well worth the climb!
This is a view of Cocoyer Plage. Gorgeous white sand and aqua water!
Guylene, Kurt and me drinking coconut water.
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