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...

That...creature and Uncle Sam

 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.