Haiti: Day 12 & 13

LAJONES + Cite Soleil Mayoral Candidate Barbara Guilluame

In summation of my volunteer experience, I enjoyed my daily meetings and conversations with Barbara Guilluame and We Advance. One tangible product to show from the many discussions with Guilluame that of which I am proud of is – Barbara Guilluame’s mayoral website – which is now up and running. While still a work in progress, this was a great accomplishment.

Check out the in progress website: http://barbaraguillaumeformayor.com. Barbara will check out getting a paypal account for contributions.

DAY 13
My last full day in Haiti I stayed in at the Villa to get myself together and bags packed. Early in the day my two new friends, Robenson and Ernst, from my first hotel – Le Plaza – stopped by before their workday to spend a few hours with me and say goodbye. Although the Villa is private bed and breakfast, I thought since they were so determined to connect before I left, I welcomed the visit. During the visit, we finished talking about how we could organize their visit to the USA. I think if possible they too should experience another country. The idea about them visiting the USA derived from our conversation about my experience in Haiti.

That evening I just happened to look down at my cell phone and noticed I had received a text from Barbara. Barbara’s message was that the driver Fisnel was on his way to pick me up for our last evening with the We Advance staff out on the town. I thought I was having a quiet evening in. I had been enjoying a quiet day at the Villa catching up on school work and clearing out my lungs from the several days of pollution build up. Okay, back out on the town. The bright side was I did look forward to going to meet up with Aleda and Barbara and in this Petitionville area that is supposed to be where the hot spots are located. But, I had to tell the house manager that I was not going to be around for dinner.

On the way to the restaurant through the crowded dark streets of Petitionville, the driver Fisnel pulled over and I did not know why. Okay, here I am again in a situtation where I do not know what is going on because neither one of us can talk to each other. I eventually realized that he was lost. Another frustrating thing is that in many areas my cell phone did not allow me to send or retrieve emails. This was a way that Barbara Guillumne and I communicate. So I had to turn on my data roaming and text her “HELP” and to call Fisnel! She finally called himand finally got us back on the way with clearer directions. I was just thinking, please I just have a few more hours here and want to get home safe.

We had a ball at the restaurant. As they were accustom to their cuisine, I was still leary about my food selections. Red meat was the speciality at this restuarant and I had a salad to be safe, I thought. Outside the energy was loud with Haitians still celebrating Carnaval. I was motioned to go outside to see the caravan of people marching and dancing down the street in the rain nevertheless. I then sashayed out clapping and two-stepping to the drum music. A young man pointed over to me and came over to dance. We had not danced but two seconds when I was told okay enough. I was curious as to Aleda’s motion. But later I was to learn that many of the young people especially are on drugs. I thought how in the world can such impoverished individuals have money for drugs. Then I thought back home to the lower income communities were drug use is prevalent. Aleda shared that Columbia, the drug source, was not far from Haiti. Another shocking revelation for me.