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...
 |
| 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.
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