Howdy, folks. I realize that I didn't update my blog as much as I had intended to do this summer and for that I apologize (because I know everyone really cares). Regardless, this is the final post as I just left Haiti for the last time.
To be completely honest, it wasn't a thrilling summer. It was great to be with my parents again, to see our neighbors and friends again, to be in a place that had become familiar to me. But I have to say I didn't do much. I started working right after I arrived, so I didn't have much time to go places or do things that I didn't do last year.
I did get to do a couple things that were interesting, two being in the last two weeks before my departure. Part of the job of ACS is to deal with the American citizens who have died abroad. A few weeks ago I helped sort through the belongings of a deceased American, which is as morbid and interesting as it sounds. My colleague and I were both thinking the same things: what if this was me? What kind of stuff would people find in my suitcase? It just goes to show that you never know when you're going to go, you never know what you'll have with you. As I said: tragic and thought provoking but also very interesting.
On my last day of work (Monday), I went on what's called an outreach visit. Three of us drove down to Jacmel, which is on the southern coast. If you look at Haiti, it's shaped kind of like two claws opening to the left. Jacmel is on the bottom of the lower 'claw'. We left the embassy around 730 am and drove through downtown Port-au-Prince and other suburbs. It was crowded, noisy. The roads were relatively evenly paved and reasonably maintained, until we started driving in the mountains. I didn't get sick, but I sure thought I was going to be. The roads were horribly bumpy and windy, and we were driving on them for almost two hours. Furthermore, we couldn't roll the windows down for safety reasons, so there was no chance of fresh air. I was so nauseated by the car ride that I didn't feel back to normal until the next day (of course, when you add in the stress of packing plus saying goodbye plus airplane travel, that didn't help either).
The visit itself was really interesting though. We visited with other Americans who live in Haiti for extended periods of time and gave them information about the Embassy and ACS itself. Really the car ride was worth getting to meet other Americans who were down there for something other than government work. Sometimes I forget that not all Americans are either missionaries or Embassy folk. There are a ton of other organizations that do an incredible range of things.
All in all, it was a successful visit. The view from the mountains was amazing, even though I couldn't look out the window for very long before my stomach would twist and turn. The air was so much clearer up there, especially given that the air in downtown Port-au-Prince is practically opaque with dust. Really anything is clearer than the air in PaP.
That night a few of us went out for sushi at a local restaurant as a sort of farewell dinner and I also went over to the Embassy the next day to say goodbye. I'm not good at them (I can't imagine one person who likes or is good at saying goodbye) but it had to be done. It made me genuinely sad to say farewell to everyone, particularly people who have been there since the very beginning with us. I had some incredible role models in our friends and neighbors, and that's not something easily forgotten.
As for Haiti, I don't think I will miss it very much. I had some great experiences, some not-so-great experiences, and a lot that were just in between. I will not miss the heat. I will not miss the smell of burning garbage or the dust that clings. I will not miss the mosquitos or the frustration of doing something that should be simple, like going to the grocery store. However, I will miss the tight-knit community I leave behind. I will miss the sense of freedom within the restrictions. I will miss the beautiful beaches and the mangoes and the friendliness of everyone I met.
I've said it before and I'll say it again a hundred times: taking a year off was the best decision of my life, and the fact that I got to continue that to a certain extent is really quite incredible. A lot of people my age have never left their home state, let alone the US. A lot of people will never experience the things I've been lucky enough to see or do.
So overall it's been a good ride. Thanks for sticking with me. This is THE VERY LAST POST so you won't be hearing from me again, at least not on this particular blog. If I go anywhere else I'll start a new one because honestly I don't think I could top the title of 'It's Always Sunny in Port-au-Prince'. It takes too much work to be funny.
Anyway. It's been real and it's been great and it's been really great. Cheers.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
July 7th: I Can America Harder Than You
Ladies and Gentlemen: did you know that July 7th is the traditional date that chocolate was thought to have been introduced to Europe? History is a cool thing.
Anyway, back to business.
There's not a whole lot to report, unfortunately. I've been working since I got here, which was my plan but also has hindered my desire to sit by the pool and become a little less pale. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I really enjoy the people I work with. They are so unendingly patient and willing to answer my questions. Now, the job itself is not exactly a thrill. It's intern work, which is basically all I can think of to describe it. Makes it hard to remember why I wanted to come down here again sometimes...but then I look at the people around me, I look at our neighbors and coworkers and I think, oh. That's why I'm here. I'm not here to make money, I'm not here so I can put a cool looking job on my resume (though that is, admittedly, a benefit). I'm here to get experience, I'm here to see the people that make living in a place like this so much easier.
On a lighter note, my brother T and the 4th member of Team Panetti was here this weekend for the 4th of July. A couple of weeks ago we went to Virginia to visit him (he's interning in Yorktown this summer). That was really nice. We were only there for a few nights, but to be out in the fresh air and the beauty of Yorktown, Virginia was a well needed break - especially for my parents. We drove around the battlefields of Yorktown, where I've been a few times. Highly recommend taking the guided tour: the battlefields are immense and there's incredible history there. It gives me a bit of a chill to walk on the ground where so many men died all those years ago (macabre, I know, but it's true). T took us to his favorite restaurant, we went for a nice hike, we drove into Colonial Williamsburg for an afternoon...it reminded me just how much I loved being in Virginia.
Then on Thursday the 3rd T flew down to Port-au-Prince and joined us for the 4th of July. Prior to his arrival, he warned us that he had an 'outfit'...which made us all a little nervous. 'Haiti will never know what hit it' is what I believe he said. It was a full body suit decorated with what else? The American flag. He came into my room on the morning of the 4th and said "Do you even America?" like it was a verb. That became the catchphrase throughout the evening. "Do you even America?" "Man, I America so much harder than you." "I dunno, I can America pretty hard." you get the picture.
speaking of pictures...
We had a grand old time at the party, which included the traditional egg toss, water balloon toss, kid's parade, fireworks and of course, lots of food.
At the end of the party my dad revealed to a coworker and good friend - who departs post tomorrow - that he (my dad) was the instigator of an extensive prank. Around Thanksgiving, this coworker R left a coffee mug sitting around in the cafeteria. My dad nicked it and started taking it everywhere, taking pictures of it around Haiti and around the US when he traveled, careful not to reveal himself. He even made a Facebook page for this coffee mug, where he posted a good 50 or so photos of the mug doing things like sitting on Santa's lap or trying on a dress. R was, of course, frustrated and confused by this. The mug was held by the Ambassador, had a few too many drinks at Christmastime, got a pedicure, sat on an airplane, and generally got up to all sorts of shenanigans. My brother T managed to find my dad the exact same mug for Father's Day, and it would have been hilarious if we could have continued the prank all over the world- but it was time to give up the jig. We wrapped the mug and put it in a box, then that box went into a bigger box, and then a bigger box, and so on. R opened it at the party, and had no idea who it was from.
Eventually Dad gave himself up and it was acknowledged by everyone that it was indeed a very good prank.
So if you're looking for ideas, look no further than that.
The rest of the weekend passed quietly enough, although dad and I both got migraines the day following the party. Not sure what triggers mine - stress or too much sun, maybe a little of both - but that wiped me out for the rest of the weekend. Still feel a bit off today, though that could be something else. There's a new(ish) illness going round called chikungunya, which is mosquito borne. It usually causes headaches, fever, severe joint pain and sometimes a rash. I know a few people who've had it, but - knock on wood - I haven't gotten it yet. Hopefully I can avoid it, as there's no cure other than just riding out the symptoms.
So that's about it, not a whole lot of new things to report. Hopefully I'll have something more interesting later on. Happy Monday, y'all. Keep it real.
Anyway, back to business.
There's not a whole lot to report, unfortunately. I've been working since I got here, which was my plan but also has hindered my desire to sit by the pool and become a little less pale. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I really enjoy the people I work with. They are so unendingly patient and willing to answer my questions. Now, the job itself is not exactly a thrill. It's intern work, which is basically all I can think of to describe it. Makes it hard to remember why I wanted to come down here again sometimes...but then I look at the people around me, I look at our neighbors and coworkers and I think, oh. That's why I'm here. I'm not here to make money, I'm not here so I can put a cool looking job on my resume (though that is, admittedly, a benefit). I'm here to get experience, I'm here to see the people that make living in a place like this so much easier.
On a lighter note, my brother T and the 4th member of Team Panetti was here this weekend for the 4th of July. A couple of weeks ago we went to Virginia to visit him (he's interning in Yorktown this summer). That was really nice. We were only there for a few nights, but to be out in the fresh air and the beauty of Yorktown, Virginia was a well needed break - especially for my parents. We drove around the battlefields of Yorktown, where I've been a few times. Highly recommend taking the guided tour: the battlefields are immense and there's incredible history there. It gives me a bit of a chill to walk on the ground where so many men died all those years ago (macabre, I know, but it's true). T took us to his favorite restaurant, we went for a nice hike, we drove into Colonial Williamsburg for an afternoon...it reminded me just how much I loved being in Virginia.
Then on Thursday the 3rd T flew down to Port-au-Prince and joined us for the 4th of July. Prior to his arrival, he warned us that he had an 'outfit'...which made us all a little nervous. 'Haiti will never know what hit it' is what I believe he said. It was a full body suit decorated with what else? The American flag. He came into my room on the morning of the 4th and said "Do you even America?" like it was a verb. That became the catchphrase throughout the evening. "Do you even America?" "Man, I America so much harder than you." "I dunno, I can America pretty hard." you get the picture.
speaking of pictures...
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| That...creature and Uncle Sam |
At the end of the party my dad revealed to a coworker and good friend - who departs post tomorrow - that he (my dad) was the instigator of an extensive prank. Around Thanksgiving, this coworker R left a coffee mug sitting around in the cafeteria. My dad nicked it and started taking it everywhere, taking pictures of it around Haiti and around the US when he traveled, careful not to reveal himself. He even made a Facebook page for this coffee mug, where he posted a good 50 or so photos of the mug doing things like sitting on Santa's lap or trying on a dress. R was, of course, frustrated and confused by this. The mug was held by the Ambassador, had a few too many drinks at Christmastime, got a pedicure, sat on an airplane, and generally got up to all sorts of shenanigans. My brother T managed to find my dad the exact same mug for Father's Day, and it would have been hilarious if we could have continued the prank all over the world- but it was time to give up the jig. We wrapped the mug and put it in a box, then that box went into a bigger box, and then a bigger box, and so on. R opened it at the party, and had no idea who it was from.
Eventually Dad gave himself up and it was acknowledged by everyone that it was indeed a very good prank.
So if you're looking for ideas, look no further than that.
The rest of the weekend passed quietly enough, although dad and I both got migraines the day following the party. Not sure what triggers mine - stress or too much sun, maybe a little of both - but that wiped me out for the rest of the weekend. Still feel a bit off today, though that could be something else. There's a new(ish) illness going round called chikungunya, which is mosquito borne. It usually causes headaches, fever, severe joint pain and sometimes a rash. I know a few people who've had it, but - knock on wood - I haven't gotten it yet. Hopefully I can avoid it, as there's no cure other than just riding out the symptoms.
So that's about it, not a whole lot of new things to report. Hopefully I'll have something more interesting later on. Happy Monday, y'all. Keep it real.
Monday, June 16, 2014
June 15th: Voodoo, Cats, and Paper Lanterns
Happy Monday, everyone! Today In History: In 1963, the first woman went into space! Russian astronaut Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova spent a total of 71 hours in space, more than any other astronaut combined at the time. Hooray for women and space exploration!
In other news, I had a very busy weekend. The CLO (Community Liaison Office) organizes trips periodically into areas of Port-au-Prince that are a little more restricted; that is to say, we're not allowed in these areas unless it's official business or maybe passing through on the way to a different and safer area. This time our trip was called a “Windshield Tour”. On Saturday morning, we stopped at five different places in Port-au-Prince that are further downtown than where we live.
We left the Embassy at nine am, and the heat was already stifling. Even early in the morning, the dust rolls over the mountains and leaves the air hazy, leaves every living being coated in a thin layer of dust. I, stupidly, was wearing a long sleeved button down. It’s hard to gauge what will be appropriate- we see Haitians wearing shorts or skirts all the time, but sometimes it’s preferable (for modesty reasons as well as safety) to wear longer clothing as well as to protect from mosquitos.
We drove for about twenty, twenty five minutes to our first stop: a statue in a center plaza, dedicated to the slave rebellion. Titled Neg Mawon (Le Negre Marron en Francais), it depicts a freed slave blowing into a conch shell.
We had a group of guards that stood around us while we snapped pictures of the statue and its surrounding area. They stood with their backs to us, shooing away vendors that approached us, eager to sell their paintings. We got a lot of stares from passersby, which is pretty routine.
Side Note: I’ve mentioned this before, I think, but it’s still relevant: the stares you get, as an American, are frequent. Often they are curious, sometimes apathetic, and sometimes hostile. Generally Americans are welcome here, but you will get the occasional Haitian who will perhaps resent our presence. This is not unique to Haiti, of course. It occurs in every country around the world including our own. There’s an underlying element of xenophobia that still shows up in every culture, even if it’s not the majority of the population. All part of what makes travel so interesting, I suppose.
As obvious as we were, we were completely safe. We piled back in the vans and took a short trip across the plaza – in other countries, perhaps, it would be possible to walk but not for us, not here – and visited a small museum that displayed a plethora of artifacts from Haitian history, from both before the revolution and after. Paintings and drawings of the French leaders, coins, swords, different tools, documents, even an ornate crown were all on display. The museum even possesses an anchor from one of Christopher Columbus’ ships, but I don't remember which one. It was massive and rusty, but an incredible sight to see.
Along one of the walls was a series of portraits and photographs depicting each leader of Haiti, from the beginning to the present. One of the museum guards approached me and pointed out Francois Duvalier and his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as ‘Papa Doc’ and ‘Baby Doc’ respectively. The Duvalier administration was really more of a dictatorship, and they were known for their ruthless terrorization of the Haitian people. ‘Papa Doc’ ruled with the use of the TonTon Macoute, a rural military group. Together they were responsible for the death of approximately 30,000 Haitians and the exile of more. He used murder and exile to suppress his opponents, making the Duvalier government known as one of the most oppressive regimes in the Western hemisphere. His son, Jean-Claude or ‘Baby Doc’, who succeeded him, was not much better. He lived a lavish lifestyle and supposedly made money in the drug trade and other (rather dubious) activities. Eventually in 1986 he was overthrown in a military coup.
It goes without saying that the Duvalier family was not extremely well liked. The guard who pointed out their picture nodded when I recognized the name and called them ‘Papa Doc’ and ‘Baby Doc’. Making a face and shaking his head, he conveyed his distaste for the family. It was interesting to see the perspective of a Haitian, even if it was expressed merely by the shake of the head.
There was also a beautiful little gallery displaying paintings by a Haitian artist. Many of the paintings detailed those who had aided in the revolution several centuries ago, but others were more modern: Louis Armstrong and Frederick Douglass were among those painted (not sure why, I don’t believe either one was Haitian). My personal favorite was of a woman named Marie Laveau, the ‘Voodoo Queen of New Orleans’. In the painting she is in the process of helping a client, sitting at her dressing table and preparing to communicate with the spirits. In the painting’s caption it points out elements of Catholicism and voodoo in the painting: a rosary and a decorated gourd, among other things. The syncretism of Catholicism and religions from Western Africa resulted in voodoo, which is now one of the nationally recognized religions of Haiti.
Moving on through the tour, we journeyed to the Iron Market:
It is absolutely massive and smack in the middle of downtown. Two warehouse sized buildings stretch on either side of the entrance, crammed with stalls and hundreds of people. I’d heard about this market from people who had been there, but nothing compared with its size and absolutely cacophony of car horns, shouts, chickens clucking and above it all the sun beating down relentlessly on the hub of life flowing in and out of the market.
The first building we went into housed mostly artwork and other handicrafts: paintings on canvas, metal work, wood work, clothes, dolls. Every aisle was the same and the vendors often held out their hands to slow us down and get us to look at their wares. ‘Madam, madam, see what I have? I have something you will like,’ they told me over and over. It was difficult to even look in the direction of a piece of art without them trying to sell it to you. If you’re anything like me and you hate confrontation, this was an uncomfortable experience. But all I had to do was smile and say ‘no, mesi, no thank you, not today’ and they would back off. Some vendors were more aggressive than others, and I was eventually convinced to buy a painted metal parrot to supplement my collection of animals. I now have…thirteen I think.
In one corner of this building were stalls that were a little more… formidable. The artwork started to shift to bottles upon bottles of coloured liquid, strings of beads and feathers, painted statues of the saints, sacks filled with coloured chalk or various powders and other more sinister items: baby dolls, brightly painted and clothed in sequins, mounted on crosses. Mummified skulls peering out from underneath hoods of fabric dulled by dust and sunlight. Black twisted horns and wooden swords mounted on the base of these statues. Voodoo paraphernalia, we were told.
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| The various bottles and statues of saints |
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| More of the same |
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| To name it or not to name it? |
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| Not sure what this is but it's interesting |
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| that is a real skull under there |
It was a little creepy and entirely fascinating. This whole section of the building was dedicated to items used in voodoo ceremonies, and I’ll be honest, I felt a little chill run up my spine when I turned by back on this:
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| double whammy |
Underfoot there were cats, tied to the legs of tables and chairs. I hated to imagine their fate, even though cats are often eaten here. My mom remembered being told that the cats are also sometimes used in voodoo ceremonies, though their purpose remains unclear. While voodoo often is put in a negative light (thanks, Hollywood) it actually doesn’t serve any sort of evil purpose. Nevertheless, the objects we saw in the Iron Market were, in a word, eerie.
The other building was mostly food products: sacks of rice and beans, small cages crammed with birds, buckets full of turtles, jars of mayonnaise sitting out in the heat. Again, every stall had practically the same products, probably all for the same prices. Everything was swarmed with flies, especially the fresh produce sitting out in the open. Without any form of refrigeration you can imagine that certain items didn’t last long in the sweltering temperatures.
After leaving the Iron Market we journeyed to a small art gallery. It was crammed with metal work and other Haitian crafts. I actually went there once last summer on a CLO trip to various art galleries. They have a great selection of the painted animals, so of course I picked up another one.
Finally was lunch at the Oloffson Hotel, which is a historic place. It's that 'gingerbread' style of architecture, and you can tell that it used to be really beautiful. Now it's rather unkempt, with only the shadow of its glory days peeking through the peeling paint and cracked wood. The steps creak and tremble, the cement path has weeds sprouting through the cracks and it is, of course, blisteringly hot anywhere you go. The food is simply mediocre, but you go there more for the atmosphere and the historical aspect than anything else.
Thus concluded our Windshield Tour! Overall a success, though I was feeling extremely carsick for several hours afterward. Driving here is definitely not as much of a challenge as it was when I was here last year, but I still suffer from upset stomachs every time I have to sit in the back seat. I have driven here already, several times, and it's funny how easily I fell back into the more aggressive pattern of being on the road.
On Sunday we traveled up the mountain, which was an adventure in and of itself. My dad had been asked to give a speech at the commencement ceremony for a local American school (go Dabes!) so my mom and I joined him. It took us a long time to get up the hill, and I of course was getting extremely carsick - the road has a million twists and turns, bumps and ditches - but the air up there was so worth it. Clean, clear and cool. It was another world from the air down here, which constantly tastes and smells of burning trash and dust. Eau d'Haiti, I call it, because it permeates my clothes and hair like an acrid perfume. Anyway, it was much nicer up the hill, perfect for a graduation ceremony so no one would be sweating through their robes. There were only 5 kids graduating, so it didn't take long. My dad's speech was really amazing. After 17 years as a high school teacher, he knows a lot about standing up in front of people and getting them to pay attention. He also knows a lot about the journey from high school to the rest of your life, and his skill, his passion for teaching and for working with young adults really showed through. It only solidified my own desire to become a high school teacher. It also brought back memories of my own high school graduation, which seems a lifetime ago.
After the ceremony each of the five kids lit one of those floating Chinese lanterns- they were bright green and huge, and it was a crazy thing to see these five paper lanterns floating off into the sky. I can only imagine what the locals thought!
Hope you all are having a good start to the week! I'll be watching the season finale of Game of Thrones tonight so don't spoil it for me, okay?
Cheers!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
June 11th 2014: Off the Deep End
Hey, did you know that Ferris Bueller's Day Off came out 28 years ago today? Just a little trivia to hold your interest.
So it is Wednesday night and I've officially gone halfway through my first week back at work. It's weird to have to get up early again, look presentable, act like an adult, blah blah blah. I've been here less than a week and I already feel the restrictions tightening around my neck. I went from being twenty and free and crazy with my friends to acting like a real adult and having professional responsibilities, as well as more serious repercussions. There's not as much wiggle room here. I knew the lack of independence and the increased dependence on my behavior would be a pain in the ass, but I think I underestimated how hard it would be.
Adulthood, man. It sucks.
I can't say I love my job yet, as I've only been at it three days. I really like the people I work with, however. They're all very sweet and patient with me and my thousand questions. The first day I felt a little like I'd been thrown in the deep end of the pool without having taking swimming lessons, and it was incredibly stressful. I almost cried this morning at the thought of going to work, honestly. But then I ended up having a pretty good day, which just goes to show that I have to be open to changing my attitude. Even if I'm dreading it that morning, that doesn't mean my whole day has to suck. Even though I wanted nothing more than to crawl back in bed and hide from the world, I made myself put on my big girl pants and go out there.
I can't say a whole lot about my job, for fear of crossing some professional line etc. I can say that I'm working with American Citizen Services, and mostly I'm just doing intern work. Which is okay with me, actually. When it comes to this, I'd rather be a little bored and know what I'm doing than be stressed and freaking out. Pick your challenges, I say. It's nice to be challenged, but not when it gets to the point that it becomes a problem and damages your happiness. Besides, it's adventurous enough for me to live here.
It was surprisingly easy, how quickly I acclimated to Haiti again. It feels like I never left, and nothing here really shocks me anymore which is kind of a mixed blessing. The hardening of one's heart can protect it against pain, but if it's hardening against the intense poverty and illness, the squalor, the tragedy, that's not a good thing. It's not that I don't feel sympathy or guilt anymore; I just feel it less. Maybe I'm just becoming more cynical, I'm not sure. I just know that I'm used to seeing these things, and I almost wish that it still shocked me.
Anyway. On the bright side, some of the other summer hires are back, along with a few new ones which is awesome. What a relief it is to have people my own age! Some of the officers and staff are in their mid to late twenties, but they all seem so much older and more worldly. It's a good break to talk to someone closer to my age so they can relate a bit more.
I'm not going through some sort of existential crisis or anything, by the way. I just had a lot of thoughts upon my return here. I know it was a bit of a morose post, hopefully I'll have some funny stories next time.
cheers
P.S. There's a baby gecko on my ceiling, what should I name it? I think it's a boy.
So it is Wednesday night and I've officially gone halfway through my first week back at work. It's weird to have to get up early again, look presentable, act like an adult, blah blah blah. I've been here less than a week and I already feel the restrictions tightening around my neck. I went from being twenty and free and crazy with my friends to acting like a real adult and having professional responsibilities, as well as more serious repercussions. There's not as much wiggle room here. I knew the lack of independence and the increased dependence on my behavior would be a pain in the ass, but I think I underestimated how hard it would be.
Adulthood, man. It sucks.
I can't say I love my job yet, as I've only been at it three days. I really like the people I work with, however. They're all very sweet and patient with me and my thousand questions. The first day I felt a little like I'd been thrown in the deep end of the pool without having taking swimming lessons, and it was incredibly stressful. I almost cried this morning at the thought of going to work, honestly. But then I ended up having a pretty good day, which just goes to show that I have to be open to changing my attitude. Even if I'm dreading it that morning, that doesn't mean my whole day has to suck. Even though I wanted nothing more than to crawl back in bed and hide from the world, I made myself put on my big girl pants and go out there.
I can't say a whole lot about my job, for fear of crossing some professional line etc. I can say that I'm working with American Citizen Services, and mostly I'm just doing intern work. Which is okay with me, actually. When it comes to this, I'd rather be a little bored and know what I'm doing than be stressed and freaking out. Pick your challenges, I say. It's nice to be challenged, but not when it gets to the point that it becomes a problem and damages your happiness. Besides, it's adventurous enough for me to live here.
It was surprisingly easy, how quickly I acclimated to Haiti again. It feels like I never left, and nothing here really shocks me anymore which is kind of a mixed blessing. The hardening of one's heart can protect it against pain, but if it's hardening against the intense poverty and illness, the squalor, the tragedy, that's not a good thing. It's not that I don't feel sympathy or guilt anymore; I just feel it less. Maybe I'm just becoming more cynical, I'm not sure. I just know that I'm used to seeing these things, and I almost wish that it still shocked me.
Anyway. On the bright side, some of the other summer hires are back, along with a few new ones which is awesome. What a relief it is to have people my own age! Some of the officers and staff are in their mid to late twenties, but they all seem so much older and more worldly. It's a good break to talk to someone closer to my age so they can relate a bit more.
I'm not going through some sort of existential crisis or anything, by the way. I just had a lot of thoughts upon my return here. I know it was a bit of a morose post, hopefully I'll have some funny stories next time.
cheers
P.S. There's a baby gecko on my ceiling, what should I name it? I think it's a boy.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
June 4th 2014: Guess Who's Baaaaaaaaaack?
WHAT UP Y'ALL? Did you forget this was a thing? Probably. How are you doing? I like your shirt!
For those of you who have not checked out my blog before, here's a bit of background (or just a refresher if you followed it last year): My dad is a Foreign Service Officer at the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I took a gap year after high school graduation and spent about 5 months in Washington D.C while my dad finished training. I worked a few places there (see older posts for more info) and then in January of 2013, off to PaP we went! I volunteered and worked there as well before coming back to the states in August to start college at Gustavus Adolphus, a little liberal arts school in southern Minnesota.
I am now officially done with freshman year of school! it would take hours to write about everything that happened to me, so I'll just summarize it in one word: wow. WOW. What a GREAT year it was. It absolutely flew by. I know it's cheesy but I couldn't have asked for an easier transition or a better year at school. Awesome roommate, awesome friends, interesting classes, the list goes on.
You'd think that the transition would've been a little more difficult, especially given that I had a year away from academics, but I was really ready to get back into it. I missed school work, odd as that sounds. No one can say they like homework without getting an eye roll from the general public but I did miss the structure of school, the routine and the familiarity of homework. I knew that college would be a challenge, especially after a year away, but I was definitely ready. I was also ready for the independence that comes with being away from home. I was lucky enough to get an extra year with my parents, so even though I missed them, it was more in the back of my mind. the way I saw it, I had stored up on parent-time (picture giant metal canisters labeled "PARENT TIME. THIS SIDE UP. DO NOT ROLL" or something like that). That made it really easy for me to steer clear of homesickness. I wasn't homesick once this year, which was surprising for me.
Getting back into homework and study habits was a little more difficult but not impossible. I was able to register for fall semester a week before everyone else because I was overseas, so I got my first pick of classes. I had two that were relatively easy and two that were a bit more challenging, so that was a nice balance. I definitely learned how to really study and I had to work pretty hard, but it paid off. I never really struggled or felt overwhelmed the whole year, which I think is pretty unusual for freshmen in college. I was really lucky.
And now it is time to go back to Haiti. I'll only be there through the end of July, which I'm happy about because it means I won't be losing my entire summer. I've gotten to see a bunch of my friends in the last week and a half, and i'll see them again in August. My parents are done in Haiti in January of 2015, so this is the last time I'll be going there (unless something crops up this fall and I fly down there for a long weekend or something).
Anyway, I'll do my best to keep this as updated as possible. I realize this entry is not a hugely interesting one, but I wanted to kind of get the ball rolling and remind people that I was doing this. Hopefully this summer will have some interesting stories! I'll be working with American Citizen Services, which means I'll be near my parents. Not sure exactly what I'll be doing- but who cares!
N a we pita,
Soph
For those of you who have not checked out my blog before, here's a bit of background (or just a refresher if you followed it last year): My dad is a Foreign Service Officer at the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I took a gap year after high school graduation and spent about 5 months in Washington D.C while my dad finished training. I worked a few places there (see older posts for more info) and then in January of 2013, off to PaP we went! I volunteered and worked there as well before coming back to the states in August to start college at Gustavus Adolphus, a little liberal arts school in southern Minnesota.
I am now officially done with freshman year of school! it would take hours to write about everything that happened to me, so I'll just summarize it in one word: wow. WOW. What a GREAT year it was. It absolutely flew by. I know it's cheesy but I couldn't have asked for an easier transition or a better year at school. Awesome roommate, awesome friends, interesting classes, the list goes on.
You'd think that the transition would've been a little more difficult, especially given that I had a year away from academics, but I was really ready to get back into it. I missed school work, odd as that sounds. No one can say they like homework without getting an eye roll from the general public but I did miss the structure of school, the routine and the familiarity of homework. I knew that college would be a challenge, especially after a year away, but I was definitely ready. I was also ready for the independence that comes with being away from home. I was lucky enough to get an extra year with my parents, so even though I missed them, it was more in the back of my mind. the way I saw it, I had stored up on parent-time (picture giant metal canisters labeled "PARENT TIME. THIS SIDE UP. DO NOT ROLL" or something like that). That made it really easy for me to steer clear of homesickness. I wasn't homesick once this year, which was surprising for me.
Getting back into homework and study habits was a little more difficult but not impossible. I was able to register for fall semester a week before everyone else because I was overseas, so I got my first pick of classes. I had two that were relatively easy and two that were a bit more challenging, so that was a nice balance. I definitely learned how to really study and I had to work pretty hard, but it paid off. I never really struggled or felt overwhelmed the whole year, which I think is pretty unusual for freshmen in college. I was really lucky.
And now it is time to go back to Haiti. I'll only be there through the end of July, which I'm happy about because it means I won't be losing my entire summer. I've gotten to see a bunch of my friends in the last week and a half, and i'll see them again in August. My parents are done in Haiti in January of 2015, so this is the last time I'll be going there (unless something crops up this fall and I fly down there for a long weekend or something).
Anyway, I'll do my best to keep this as updated as possible. I realize this entry is not a hugely interesting one, but I wanted to kind of get the ball rolling and remind people that I was doing this. Hopefully this summer will have some interesting stories! I'll be working with American Citizen Services, which means I'll be near my parents. Not sure exactly what I'll be doing- but who cares!
N a we pita,
Soph
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