Wednesday, August 29, 2007

One thing that impressed me about yesterday that I forgot to mention. When they were working on the truck, it appeared that in order to weld two metals together they used the sparks off of jumper cables because they did not have power to run their welding machine. I thought that was really quick thinking and inventive. So today, still no visit from the plumber, crossing my fingers that my glasses are lodged in the pipe somewhere. Ate breakfast and spent some time with the children this morning watching music videos and talking about what kind of music and movies they like. It is funny to hear them tell me what they like because the whole sentence is in Creole except the name of the song, artist, or actor/actress. At about 10 we road along with Wisley to drop off the daily regiment of food we provide to this feeding program of about 150-200 kids. It runs Monday-Friday and we take food there every day for them. It was at this house that I got yelled at for the first time for taking pictures. When I want to photograph something and we are at a shop or house or near people I ask Roland if it is ok, so that he can ask the people for me. So I did just that and Roland said I could (without checking first, because he knew the guy). However, one of the ladies that work at this house was not happy about that because in Haiti it is disrespectful to not check with the owner of the house first. Rightfully so, and had I known that they all spoke very good English at the facility I would have asked me myself. As it turns out the gentlemen did not care even a little bit and according to Roland, the lady that yelled at me thinks she is big stuff and can yell at anyone. It did not bother me either way. I had a very pleasant conversation with both of them and left happy and encouraged. After stopping at one more place while Wisley went in to talk to someone, we went back to the Orphanage. After lunch, since it was so hot today, we took the kids swimming again for about 45 minutes. It was a different experience this time because, since it has not rained in a couple of days the tide was about 20 feet further out than it was last time and the non swimmers (me and Roland) could walk out to where the kids were swimming and not get out feet wet. Also, with the tide being that far out it gave the little kids the opportunity to go hunting for critters. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera, so that scene will have to be at a later date. Sorry. After the pool, I did some laundry and hung out outside at the playground for a while, until everything went south. While I was in my room doing laundry, one of the dogs got into a bowl of the kids food (it was down where he could get it though) and the kid kicked at him and got growled at in return. After counseling him and disciplining the dog, we moved on. Wisley later asked me if I would take over feeding the four dogs that are at the Orphanage, and since I was already upset that they don’t get attention, I GLADY said I would. After I fed Duke (a big, gorgeous black lab), I tried to round up the three little ones; Sam, Snots, and Nikko (the one who got into the food earlier). Snots, for some reason will not eat and is very no responsive to most things. Nikko, however, who sleeps in my room during the day and escapes there when the kids are mean to him, ate A LOT, and I believe enjoyed every bite. All was going well until two things happened; first, Sam and Nikko do not know how to share very well so they were fighting over the food until I separated there piles of food. Second, the kids noticed the dogs eating and decided that they wanted to play with and/or eat the food also and since you should never bother any animal when it is eating one of the children got bit. It wasn’t really any big deal, just got cut a little. The issue arises when all the other kids pick up rocks or brooms or sticks and begin to throw stuff and hit the dogs in retaliation. After I calmed Nikko down, cleaned up the leftover food, and put Nikko in my room, I went to find Roland to express some frustration. As I came to find out Roland was having his own disciplinary fun. Apparently there had been some teasing that took place between a kid that was playing soccer and one of the boys that was sweeping the courtyard. When the teaser was disciplined by one of the parents he started swearing at her and Roland was not going to have any of that apparently, which is why when I got there I saw him shouting and the teaser was in timeout. After that incident Roland and I both wanted to have a chat with the children. I wanted to talk to the staff as well but I don’t know if that will happen. We got mostly all of the kids in the church, and had what seemed like a useless talk with them. Please don’t misunderstand me, I LOVE the kids and the Orphanage, but I am very strongly feeling that the staff does not want to teach these kids’ life lessons and behaviors, they just want to make sure they get an education and three meals a day. That of course, is wonderful, but without teaching them things like respect and discipline how do we ever expect them to be examples to non believers and other Haitians. I want kids to leave this place, well educated AND respectful, but I am not seeing much willingness from the parents to participate in that vision. When I spoke to one of the parent couples, the other day, the dad said that because the kids have only been in their families for a year that it would be a long process for them to be disciplined. Come on, I think a year is a pretty long time, especially when they never leave here. Also, in the short time that I have been here, Roland has been the only person that I have seen in the courtyard with the children and definitely the only person that has disciplined them. Ok, that is my frustration for the day. I am going to be speaking with the main “mama” of this place to see what she thinks about this whole thing, because I am also feeling that my frustration comes from the American in me and the fact that I don’t really know yet how discipline works in Haiti. At one point today, I could have just gone down town, and bought a dozen wooden spoons and went to town. BUT I didn’t. Please be praying for peace of mind for me, and clarity for whatever is going to take place. After that little “talk,” some of the kids and I sat around and listened to music and then I took a shower and went came to my room. I am going to bed now. Peace