So it has been almost four weeks since our last blog post - apologies, apologies! :) I have been posting here and there on Facebook for those that follow Facebook. It's been an interesting few weeks. At about week four I declared to BG that the honeymoon phase in Haiti is over (and not with our relationship, but with being in a new country). For those that read my rant of a Facebook post - I had a pretty bad couple days during week four of being here. However, following the horrible couple days, BG and I went to Jacmel (one of Haiti's most beautiful beaches) with Amy and Bernadin; hence the blog post title - where the possible is impossible and the impossible possible. Let's start with the former. Where the possible is impossible. We had two mornings without electricity. Try getting ready with just a flash light in the pitch dark. Not fun! One day with electricity was ok and interesting - but the second day, I was fuming. To top it off, we obviously didn't get coffee that morning b/c the electricity was out. And yes, we've started drinking coffee, due to the fact that we are STILL waiting for our VEMMA products which are taking 4-6 weeks to get shipped here from Florida through a company that ships to Haiti. (that's a whole other annoyance). Anyways, the same week that our electricity was out in the morning, I found a leak under the faucet in our bathroom which was getting all of my stuff wet underneath. And I guess, THAT is not the annoyance. The time frame it takes for people in Haiti to make stuff happen and get stuff done is the annoyance. Having something fixed or done in Haiti takes an eternity. Once again, something that seems possibly easy is essentially impossible. Next, the driver situation was wearing on me as well. We have one driver between 10-15 people and when you want to go somewhere you need to call the driver and schedule it. The other option is taking one of the cars the school has provided. Two of the cars are stick shift and one is an automatic. Driving is crazy here and if we get in an accident, it is obviously on our dime, so we haven't went the route of driving our own vehicle yet. Anyways, I was just wanting to go to the gym that BG and I work out at, and it was difficult. BG already got a tutoring job tutoring one of his student's siblings. (At Union School you can't tutor your own students - so one of BG's students went home and told their mom that Mr. G was so cool, so the family got him to tutor their younger son). Anyways, BG gets driven to the family's house everyday after school by their driver and then he gets dropped off at Karibe, the gym, or back home. So, I have to meet him at the gym somedays and if the driver is being used, I can't make it there. Once again - a mere event such as going to the gym - something quite possible, feels impossible at times in Haiti. That same week, our gas also went out on our stove - the day our maid was going to cook a delicious meal. So I was annoyed 1) because I was really looking forward to a Haitian meal and 2) I found out that getting a tank of gas for your stove was once again.. a process! Possible = Impossible. We had to call a company to drop it off. So then I had to get someone to translate to our maid that the gas company would be coming the next day while she was there and she had to pay them, etc. They ended up not coming that day (you can probably see me fuming again) and came the following day. It ended up being like 4 days without gas and without being able to cook. :) Hey, we ordered sushi one of those nights, so that made it semi better! :) Lastly, of my culture shock/culture reality came while walking on the streets. We get called, "blan, blan", which means, "white, white" all the time on the streets. And the first few weeks in Haiti, the honeymoon weeks, it was no big deal. I actually kind of laughed it off. But after awhile, after getting stared at everywhere we go, and then the "blan blan" comments were wearing on me. I think what really sent me over the edge was when we were walking in down town Port-au-prince, people everywhere, and we were rushing to catch some public transportation - I fell. Slipped on some disgusting wetness on the ground. (I say disgusting, b/c people pee all the time outside, so I don't even want to know what it was). Anyways, I fell, and some people tried to help me up, but some of the Haitian girls were saying something with "blan" and laughing. I was furious. And 15 minutes after that a girl was STARING at me by the place we were waiting for transportation so I was just annoyed! Phew! Wow - what a damper way to start a blog post. However, I think it's important to share the hardships with living in a third world country; some even call it a fifth world country. There is no doubt we are loving our time here, despite the above impossibilities and annoyances. A positive way to look at it is this - being born in the United States of America is a privilege and blessing beyond belief. Without coming to Haiti, I wouldn't be able to truly understand how well we have it in the US. You call an electrician and they are there in an hour, especially if it's a big issue. You have a leak in your bathroom, someone is there that day and it's fixed. You hop in your car whenever you want, and go wherever you want. For the most part, everything is EASY and accessible in the US. So for those of you that have not been to a country of inferiority to the US, know that you are blessed and fortunate beyond some of these people's WILDEST imaginations. Now for the ladder of my blog post title - "Where the Possible is Impossible & the Impossible Possible". As you know, we are able to do things that most people would describe as impossible or "only a dream". The day that I posted my rant on Facebook, I got a very enlightening message from Justin Rice - a friend and former colleague of Franklin. Justin was the one who kind of inspired me to go teach abroad since he had taught abroad for 4 years prior to going to Franklin. Anyways, after my rant of complaining, I got a Facebook message from him that read: Awww sorry you are having one of those days. I know exactly what they are like. The bad news is you will have a bunch more. The good news is you will have even more amazing days at beautiful beaches and in majestic mountain get-a-ways! You will see and do things most people will not even dream about and you'll call it Tuesday Living overseas has some serious lows but the Highs are worth it, I promise!!! Keep Smiling! Miss Ya His message really made me sit back and be appreciative and happy. Thanks Justin for your enlightenment and advice. With that being said - Haiti has allowed us to see "the impossible". You saw my blogpost on Rustik in Furcy, Haiti - the mountains and beauty in Haiti- absolutely astonishing! :) If you missed that blog post - Click Here :) To top off the mountains, two weekends ago we went on a getaway to Jacmel, a hotspot for Haiti's beautiful beaches. It was an amazing weekend vacation. Of course, I snapped an abundance of pictures... take a trip to Jacmel with us., exploring the endless possibilities in Haiti... In route to Jacmel...
Gotta love three grown men on a moto.
Check out the truck carrying all the people!
First we got dropped off in downtown Port-au-Prince and got on a bus headed for Jacmel. This was the bus ride. It was quite the experience just waiting in the van while they filled it. So many people came up to the windows trying to sell stuff. I was even offered condoms. lol. We paid 200 gourdes each for a seat, which is equivalent to about $5. It was a little crammed, so on the way back we ended up paying for an extra seat so we had more room. :) The ride back home was nicer than the ride there. Mind you, the ride is very twirly and windy, as you go up and around the mountains.
I see the water!
Getting closer to Jacmel! Love the little sail boat.
Always love the views in Haiti.
Once we got to Jacmel, we had to hop on a tap tap to our hotel. Amy, Brian and I got to sit in the back seat of the little pick up truck, while B took one for the team and sat in the back where it was crowded.
Crammed in the back seat. :) Although Amy is smiling, it wasn't a very fun 30 minute ride to our hotel. I couldn't feel my legs and butt.
Just snapping pictures outside the window of the tap tap in Jacmel.
Finally, we eventually got to Hotel L'amitie. It was obviously dark out when we got there, but here are some pictures from the next day of the fun little hotel we stayed at. It cost each person $35 a night and that included breakfast. So Brian and I stayed for $140 and only had to buy lunch and dinner. Cheap little vacation. #whatiloveabouthaiti
Our rooms!! :) Super cute place!
The outside dining area that is literally 30 feet from the ocean.
The inside dining room! :)
I enjoyed a rum sour when we finally go there and got settled in! :)
kj
Being goofy at dinner. Amy and B.
Love these two!
Love this crazy nut too!
:)
That night was an early night. Although our little rooms did not have AC, we got a good night sleep. We awoke and enjoyed are full day on the beach...
Our breakfast view...
Our breakfast. In Haiti, they serve spaghetti for breakfast. I've seen it on almost all breakfast menus! :) This one was served with a hot dog type meat. (I didn't eat the meat). :) The homemade juice was amazing.
Saturday morning we met Franklin. He was hanging out by where we were eating. We were making faces at him, smiling at him and talking to him a little. When we went to the beach he came out by us. He was just a sweetheart. We felt like the kids here in Jacmel were different than those in the city, Port-au-Prince. The kids in the city literally see white people and beg for money. Franklin and the kids in Jacmel were not like that at all. Therefore, I ended up giving him 35 gourdes, which is about 90 cents. But he was so so excited.
What melted my heart aftet we gave him money was that he came back a little later eating some food. Basically we paid for his meal for the day. We also bought a bracelet and other things from other kids on the beach and they came back eating too. It brightened our day to know that we allowed them to eat. :) Once again...something we take for granted - food or 90 cents and we just made these kids day by giving that to them. Many people only dream or hope to have an experience like this - making the impossible, possible here in Haiti.
Franklin dancing on the beach to B's beat! :) So adorable.
Having fun on the beach with seaweed! :)
B and BG having fun in the ocean!
Boys will be boys.
Of course they raced to the beach... and fell.
Where what is impossible for most to see.... is possible in Haiti. This is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking! Everyone needs to see Haiti!
The life.
I have been on the lookout for a painting. People sell paintings EVERYWHERE on the streets, etc. I found this one from a guy that was selling them on the beach. Of course it had to have that blue/green color (my favorite). This is a beautiful painting that I paid 700 gourdes for, which is equivalent to $15.50. It's nice for traveling, b/c I can roll it up. And when I get home, I can buy a canvas and put it on the canvas. :)
After hanging out on the beach for a few hours and catching some rays we got a ride to a public beach in Jacmel for lunch. We had amazing food and there was AWESOME live music! There is live music everywhere here in Haiti and I love it.
The public beach we went to.
My lunch - fresh fish and plantains! It was so good! :)
The awesome live music that came right to our table! :) Protocol is to give them money if they stop and play by your table. It was totally worth it!
Check out the live music for yourself! :)
Also, there were little kids coming around selling stuff. And we fell in love with this little girl who was selling candy and gum. BG introduced her to betting. Of course he did. It was originally 5 gourdes for two pieces of this gum. Anyways, he proposed to this little girl that he was going to flip his coin and if it was heads he would get one piece of gum, but if it was tails he would get three. :) So adorable. The first few times, she won, so she kept coming back wanting to play. Eventually she lost, but BG gave her the money anyway and didn't even take the candy. :) She just had our hearts. Once again... we are seeing some things and experiencing life of another culture that some may never get the opportunity to do - the impossible is possible. Here's the gem that stole our hearts...
Betting with BG.
How adorable is she?
When we got back to the hotel... of course we had to take some pictures on the beach!
*all that I'm after is a life full of laughter*
Amy & B <3
I don't know if I have a good caption for this one. :)
Hilarious! :)
I tried playing with the colors of this one. I need to work on my iphoto editing. :)
No doubt a selfie was in order. #butfirstletmetakeaselfie
Our little resort/hotel from the beach!
Everyone needs to travel the world with their best friend.
Dinner - I had the same thing both nights b/c it was AMAZING! Lobster, rice, plantains, and a salad with fresh avocados.
The dog with dreads that lingered around the hotel and restaurant.
Of course, we played Phase 10. But we did end up retiring it for a month b/c....
there was too much "skip Amy" going on. :)
And the next morning... we had to get a few more pictures before we left. :)
Beautiful. Finally I used my iphoto editing tools to enhance some pretty scenery.
When we were departing, the plan was to take a tap tap back to the city and catch a van. However, as we were waiting, it was taking longer and longer than expected to find a tap tap that was driving by our hotel. Meanwhile, 5-8 motos had been slowing down to see if we wanted rides and were just waiting outside of our hotel. Now, B and Amy have taken a moto before, and actually, that is their preference. They knew that Brian and I were a bit leery of them. However, after waiting for close to 30 minutes, I finally suggested taking a moto as long as B told our driver to take it slow So, before we knew it, Brian and I were sitting behind a guy on a moto. My big travel bag was sitting on the drivers lap, mind you. Amy and B got on a moto behind us. It was about a 25 minute ride into down and we each had to pay the guy 100 gourdes, which came out to about $4 total. Cheap cheap! Anyways, so there we were, two white people, going through little villages in Jacmel, Haiti. The road we were on followed the shoreline of the ocean as well, so you can imagine that view! I was a little too scared to get out my phone and start snapping photos and selfies, but maybe next time. Needless to say, Brian and I have basically done everything we have been warned not to do, in the first 4 weeks we were here. :) Solid. Now, for my mom and others... we are not being dangerous or stupid. The people that warned us not to do these things are people who rarely leave their homes, have drivers and security guards that go with them everywhere, and live a very sheltered life here. I didn't come to Haiti to live that way. The activities and things we are choosing to do, we are doing by being very cautious and smart and with someone (B) who knows their way around. So don't worry... we are safe! The last photos I have to share are of "Tablet Pistache". Before the weekend, I told my students I was going to Jacmel and a few of the girls said, "you have to try tablet pistache!" They said it was sold on the streets of Jacmel and that it was delish! I was looking for it the entire weekend and finally when we were in the van waiting for it to load on the way back, a lady was selling it! It was like 25 gourdes (50 cents). I enjoyed every bit of it...
Comes in this little baggie.
Tablet Pistache - basically it is like peanut brittle (kind of). It is very sweet, but very yummy!
Here's a quick video of us leaving the city to head back to Port-au-Prince. It's a little shaky and kind of makes me queasy watching it b/c it's so bumpy. Just a cool video to check out the people and the streets.
And so it brings our weekend to an end. Since this was 2 weeks ago already, I have so many more things to share. I have yet to share about school and the students. Wow... I am way behind. Bare with me people, I will try to do a better job of keeping up with the blog. So I end this blog post being positive and blessed to be living here. There are obviously hardships, however, are they really hardships in the scheme of things? We Americas are so used to connivence, things being done quickly and effectively, and efficiency. We aren't only used to this, it is an expectation and is just normal. Not everybody has those privileges. If we would have not come to Haiti, we would have not been able to feel blessed the way we do and have the empathy that we do for these people that live here.With this blog post in mind, be thankful and blessed for all that you have. And while I'm here in Haiti, I will be aware that things that are normally possible for me, may be impossible at times. Yet, the good always out weighs the bad...because BG and I are embarking on experiences that I never imagined. We are embarking on impossible. :) Haiti, mwen fou pou ou. (Haiti, I'm crazy for you). Woch nan dio pa konnen doule woch nan soley. The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun. -Haitian Proverb
