So that’s why they call it “playing chicken”
I am not the sharpest tool in the shed and this may have
been obvious to all of you, but I guess I never really gave much thought to the
expression “playing chicken”. Like when
two cars or planes or people or American Bald Eagles head towards each other
and at the last second one of them pulls away…ideally. I made this observation
a while ago, but ever since I got my motorcycle I have found a new appreciation
for “playing chicken”.
Since chicken/roosters ultimately rule this country (primary
meat source, they control my sleeping patterns) they are literally everywhere
and when they are in the middle of the road they like to run back and forth
like 40 times as you get closer and closer. They run to one side, then the
other, then stop in the middle with their head cocked to the side, then run to
the other. I try to anticipate their movement but always end up lifting my feet
up (for some reason) my heart rate increases and I brace myself for sudden
impact. Thoughts race through my head like do I put myself in danger for
this….chicken….is its life worth it?…..should I swerve suddenly?..... WWJD, am
I right? In the end, the chicken always removes itself from danger and I keep
on going through. Just one of those enlightening moments I thought I would
share. I actually literally almost too one out the other day.....i'm ashamed....
ANYWAYS, I am cruising along here. I am still working
extensively in health census stuff. We have around 200 homes surveyed and we
are prepping another community to census in the coming week, which should bring
the total closer to 300. I am also preparing for the 40+ volunteers who will
weasel their way down here in the month of March. I need to plan an hour by
hour itinerary for each of the 4 Universities coming down, each itinerary more
intricate than the last. It is pretty challenging. By the end of March I will
either be completely insane or unresponsive and clinically depressed. It’s kind
of an either/or situation at this point.
We are also working towards training community members to
build ventilated improved pit latrines. There is small contingent of very
vulnerable Haitian families that poopy in the woods, which is no bueno
(starting to lose it already). We would probably start out with 10-12 latrines to see
how the project takes off. We are also working with a little 3-year old boy
named Willi whom I ran across during the census and realized he was
extremely malnourished, underweight, all of the above. I am trying to figure
out logistics to take him to a pediatric specialist/pediatric psychologist in
Santiago to have tests done. He was born pre-mature and the persistent
malnutrition has clearly done some pretty severe brain damage. The doctors here
are not sure what to do with him as most of them are still medical residents
and lack any specialized training to this point. The only option is to take him
to Santiago, 4 hours away. Keep him in your prayers. Poor boys' mother died at birth and father is not in the picture. He already has had to overcome more obstacles in his life than you and I will ever be able to think of. I am finding too many of these children recently.
Picked up some sweet onions today at the local market, which
I am pretty stoked about AND one of the Haitian doctors we work with just got
back from a short vacation to visit her family in Haiti and brought me a pack
of Wrigley’s Doublemint gum! I have realized certain things just don’t exist to
me anymore. When she handed me the gum I was literally taken aback I had
completely forgotten that this gum existed. I used to love Doublemint, they
don’t even sell it here but they do in Haiti. More of a gum market over
there….I suppose…..
What else, what else….My landlord is replacing my roof
tomorrow. The existing tin is lousy with holes and water damage is getting the
best of the wood…… first world problems. It should take one full day, but I am
counting on 2-7 days. So, I will be sleeping in the street for the next few
days J
I fashioned a make-shift closet out of bungee cords and an old broomstick. Pretty proud of that.
Que mas, Que mas. I am picking up Haitain Kreyol again and I
must say Mwen kapab mare li avek men mwen…..am I right? Trying to prepare for
our eventual projects in Haiti.
That’s about it folks. My parents are coming down to visit
on the 30th so you all need to start thinking about when you are
going to plan YOUR trips J
Adios.
