Making a Living in Haiti

I have told you how I spend my days in Haiti. As for the Haitians, there are numerous ways they keep busy during the day. Cornelius has taken some pretty great photos of this. Check out the pictures on the Broersma's blog about how Haitians make a living.

Click here to see the post!

Do what you LOVE!

I really love to paint... I really love to help people! When Randy asked if I was interested in painting at their (the Broersma's and Lodder's) school, I was more than happy to help. 

About a month ago Natasha, Cornelius and I painted these bookshelves. Tasha and I brainstormed ideas of what to paint on the outside of the doors and then we picked the colors (the blue/green and the red) to go along with our design.

At the end of the day we had the base colors done. I couldn't wait to finish them...

This past Monday I had help in finishing the doors. Karen's sister, Nicole, and her friend, Sherrie, were in town from Canada. They are both super creative women- I am so thankful they came to paint with me! Nicole drew our design on the doors and then we all picked out colors. 

Nicole and Sherrie

And this is how they turned out!! Very bright and fun! Just like Tasha and I had hoped they would. Thanks so much Nicole and Sherrie :) I couldn't have done it without you.

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you. ~Maya Angelou

A Favorite Pastime

In the States I really enjoy shopping at Target, Meijers, Michaels, and thrift stores. I spend way to much money on things I don't need. I especially love buying clothes!

My initial thoughts upon coming to Haiti were, "Oh, I won't be tempted to spend money here because you can't shop like you do in America." However, I have been out shopping a good number of times. I've been to grocery stores, clothing stores, a shoe store, a purse boutique, an athletic store, a few home decorating stores, and places that sell hand-made Haitian crafts. There are many places in Haiti where I'm tempted to spend lots of money.

Last Saturday morning I went shopping with Taressa, Natasha and Ruth. We had a few things that we needed to get. Amazingly enough we got it all at one store! Acra was the place to be.

They have a huge selection of fabric which is the main reason we went there. Taressa also needed a shirt for her class picture so, after picking out fabric, we meandered upstairs where they had a nice big room full of women's clothing. We were shocked to find that the prices for the clothing was about the same as the prices in America. Taressa found a shirt that was only $10 and I noticed the colorful apple bottom jeans were only $20.

A big selection!

1440 gouds = 36 US dollars for this pair of jeans

Kayak anyone?

We got a good look at the giant Best Western hotel that is going up across the street from Acra- seven stories, 105 rooms, a spa, a full service restaurant, and a reception hall with room for 140 persons. Wow!

MAF Retreat ~Part 3

On our trip to the D.R. I had my first experience flying in a little airplane. I have flown in the giant commercial airplanes a few times and I enjoy that. I was excited about flying with MAF. 

Thursday morning when we got to the airport the guys got the airplanes ready for us. MAF has their own hanger at the PAP airport. We went through this pitiful little security area in the building that houses MAF's office, separate from the main airport. The wives, kids, Allie and I waited until the planes were loaded up and ready to go. A man escorted us a short distance from the building to the planes. Ten people in our group loaded up the Caravan, which also carried most of our luggage. Then I looked over to the left and there sat this tiny little airplane-

I did a double take and then thought, "Ok...this will work." It had to work because I didn't have any other options :) And it did indeed work! I rode on this 6 seater plane with the Carwell family. They have two little kids that were crying and crying at first. But once their dad started up the plane they were fine. Both of the kids slept on the way there and the way back.

Nathan with Naomi seated right behind him.

The flight and the landing on the way there was very smooth. The scenery was gorgeous! I was loving the view from the air. The landscape was flat, then mountainous, brown in Haiti, and very green in the D.R.

Haiti mountains

D.R. mountains

The landscape became greener and greener the closer we got to the ocean. There were also many palm trees by the ocean.

A dam

D.R.

I got to ride shot-gun on both flights!!

A river (obviously)

The runway in Puerto Plata

View of a street.

Waiting with our luggage while they tied down the planes and re-fueled them.

We we arrived at the airport in Puerto Plata we were greeted, in Spanish, by the security workers. We couldn't exactly use our Creole to speak with them so we stood there awkwardly staring at each other. It was great! When we finally went into the airport there were no other people in the area that they took us too. We cleared customs and immigrations in no time.

Leaving Puerto Plata on Sunday afternoon we had our own escort through the busy airport. They stopped the security line for us and quickly sent us through with all our bags. The other people were looking at us, wondering why we got to cut in line. I don't think I've ever felt so special! We were led through the whole airport right out to the planes that were all lined up waiting for us. We taxied out to the runway right behind this HUGE American Airlines plane. Those planes seem so big now after flying the little ones. 

The way back to Port was little rougher; we bounced around a lot and my stomach dropped a few times. Thankfully the flight was only an hour long and we made it back safe and sound!

MAF Retreat ~Part 2

Saturday afternoon we paid a mere $10 a person for an awesome excursion at the waterfalls! This place was a short distance away from our resort. 

Upon arrival we were fitted into life jackets and helmets. Then when everyone was ready, we followed our guides, hiking until we came to the first fall. They led us along these rocks and stopped us there. The older guide said, "This is where the adventure starts..." The younger guide was laughing. We had no idea what he was talking about but we soon found out! We walked a few steps further to the edge of a slight 'cliff' and then he pointed down and said, "Ok...JUMP!" At that moment Allie and I were freaking out. We looked at each other, thinking is this really happening!? It really wasn't that high of a drop off but it was enough to scare us. So, Kyle (bless his heart) braved it out and went first. And after I jumped I was fine. 

We followed the river down- walking, swimming, and sliding down a few of the falls. They were natural water slides! There was one other opportunity to jump. This is a video of a few people from the group jumping:

I wasn't gutsy enough to jump so I slid down the little fall instead. Whenever we came upon a fall that we could slide down the older guide basically picked us up and dumped us over the edge:

I usually got pulled way down by the current, sometimes touching the bottom of the riverbed. Then I would shoot back up out of the water. It was a good thing we had helmets on cause as soon as I reached the surface I hit the rock wall with my head a few times.

Things were going wonderfully until the younger tour guide started hitting on Allie and I. He kept asking Allie, in Spanish and in English, what her name was. Over and over again she told him her name. Over and over again he pronounced it wrong and so she continued to repeat it. Eventually she realized that he was just messing with her. He settled on Ass-LY for her name. We got a good laugh each time he yelled it out. Next, he asked me what my name was. I repeatedly told him I didn't have a name. Allie finally told him that my name was Bob. He looked at me in disbelief and then left me alone. Success! I am sick of getting hit on by Haitian guys and so the last thing I wanted, on my vacation, was to be hit on. On the plus side, he was a good photographer. He took all the photos that you see in the slideshow.

Bob and Ass-LY

The trip went by so fast but it was worth every dollar and scare! At the end we were all pretty happy.

MAF Retreat ~Part 1

This past weekend, Thursday through Sunday, I was in the Dominican for the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) staff retreat. I was invited to go along as a babysitter. One of the ladies had heard about me and asked if I was available to come watch the kids. I wasn't sure I should go (and take off from my classes again), but after talking it over with some friends they couldn't believe I was thinking of even passing up this offer. Therefore, I took them up on it. And that's how I ended up staying at an all-inclusive resort for the second time in my short life! 


Five MAF families went; there were 11 adults, 8 children, and 2 babysitters. Early Thursday morning we left from the Port-au-Prince airport. We took the MAF airplanes (more about this in Part 2). We arrived in Puerto Plato around ten o'clock. From there we took a very nice bus, complete with air conditioning, to our resort. 


We stayed at a beautiful Iberostar resort. There were flamingos and turtles hanging out in the lobby. 

While we waited to check in we were served cold, refreshing slushies. This trip was already good! Then it only got better-  We went to this restaurant for lunch where they have a buffet everyday. There were tons of options for food. Our favorite was the soft serve ice cream machine. Ice cream is a treat in Haiti and so we were loving having it available all afternoon for free! You don't want to know how many cones some of the kids had :)

Allie (the other babysitter) and I shared a room. We got the keys and opened the door to find a spacious, colorful space complete with three beds. We weren't sure why we had three beds but whatever!

I opened the big cabinet door and found a TV, immediately turning it on. We were both amazed to see American programs in English on the TV. I was awe-struck as soon as the commercials came on. I believe my response was, "AHHHH! I haven't seen a commercial in 4 months!!" We were delighted! One night we stayed up late watching Friends.

We spent a lot of time relaxing by the pool and the ocean when we weren't watching TV.

And the babysitting part... Allie babysat the three younger kids and I watched the five older kids. We had to watch the kids for a few hours on Friday and Saturday morning while the parents attended Bible study sessions. The older kids didn't really need watching. I mostly just had to keep track of them and supervise them if they went swimming. The first morning we swam in the cold pool and then watched Scooby-Doo. The second morning we went swimming in the ocean.

At night we played games, watched TV, and/or attended the shows that the resort staff put on. 

Allie, me, and Nathan all dressed up for dinner one night.

A Night On the Town!

Last week Wednesday, March 14th, the Broersmas took me out for dinner. They took me out for dinner because of all the help that I have been giving them in the past couple of weeks. I helped put a video up on their blog, the one where Chloe is swimming.  She is adorable...check it out if you have time (Click here)

We went up to Hotel Montana for supper. Before supper Chloe and Mindy went for a swim in the pool.  The water was pretty cold but Chloe loves the water so much they stayed in for at least 30 minutes.  Chloe loves to show off her swimming and she is getting really good at it. After they were done swimming we went and ate some supper. I ate this delicious Fetticini noodle meal of some sort. Mindy had the steak while Cornelius ate the same as me. Chloe, of course, ate just french fries like she usually does when we go out for supper. After dinner Mindy gave Chloe her camera to take pictures. Can't believe she did that after what happened the last time she had the camera. After dinner we went back to their house to watch a movie. It was also the first night we had rain here in Haiti in a long time. It was nice to sit on the couch and listen to the thunder and see the lighting flash while the movie played in the background.  


Here are some of the pictures that Chloe took at the restaurant.

The sun setting.

Me!

The warm pool.

Taking a picture of each other.

Mindy posing for Chloe.

The girls!

Good things come in small packages....

and BIG boxes! 

We get very excited when people come to visit because we often ask them to bring things down for us. Then it's like Christmas when they arrive with those things we have been longing for!! When my family came they brought down a whole suitcase and a half full of stuff. In my defense, this stuff was not all for me. Some of it was for Jenny and for other friends. Some of the things they brought were purely necessity, but they came with many other treats. My favorite thing that they brought was a giant box of Reese's Puffs from my Grandma! I hadn't had that cereal in 4 months...it is sooo good! Love you Grandma!! (I did only eat a couple bowls but there is a reason behind that...keep reading) I was also very thankful for the art supplies that my mom gathered for me. I was running low on ideas and with the new supplies I was able to come up with a few more projects. 

I was overwhelmed by goods after being by spoiled by my parents and friends. I was thinking...I'm set for awhile now! However, then Howard received word that the crate carrying the rest of my art supplies was finally available. There is quite the story behind this crate. 

I bought all my art supplies in the States before I came. I packed the majority of the supplies in my 2 very large suitcases, and my carry-on, with all my other personal belongings. Because I had to stay with-in the weight restrictions, not everything fit. Imagine that! What were we to do with the rest of the supplies? We considered a few different options...eventually settling on sending the supplies via an organization based out of Grand Rapids. This was also the cheapest option. We had been warned that it could take months for this crate to arrive because it usually takes a long time to clear customs. With that in mind, my parents packed the supplies that I would need later in the semester. I left November 9 and arrived in Haiti with everything in check. My parents brought the boxes to this organization at the end of November. I was then told that the crate shipped right after that.

I trusted that it would arrive. My mom kept asking about it... I forgot about it. I had plenty of supplies and things were going great. In the past few weeks though I had been wanting to doing projects that I didn't yet have the supplies for. So, I came up with other ideas. When my parents were here they asked if I had heard anything about the crate. They were wondering why they just didn't hang onto the supplies and bring them with them. But it was too late for that. Then the day after my mom left Howard said to me, "I got a call. The crate is here!" I was silently rejoicing inside! I knew it would come. Howard went that morning and picked up my boxes for me. It only took 3 and a half months!! I'm not complaining :) 

I found this little bag of Reese's minis in the crate, along with everything else. I picked up the bag and  laughed! For one, they have been sitting for 3.5 months... I am wondering if they are still good. I've been told that processed food will stay good for a long time- they may be edible. I'll have to check the expiration date. For two, about a month ago my friend got me a giant party bag of Reese's when she went to the States. This bag was so HUGE! I had never seen so many Reese's in my life :0 I ate a lot of them and then started sharing them with the Van Dams and my friends. I brought them with me whenever I was hanging out with people. I didn't think I would ever see the end of those. Just ask my friends! I went everywhere with those Reese's. So, this weekend in the D.R. I finally got rid of the last of them. (Oh, and my mom brought me another little bag of Reese's mini's too when she came. Those I took to the D.R. as well to get rid of.)

I was happy when I arrived home because I was finally free from all the candy. It was my favorite candy. Not so sure anymore. Then I found this little guy! Maybe if I give it a few months I'll be up for eating them again :) 

Updates...on the horizon!

Rest assured blog readers...I will be posting many many updates over the next couple of days. As my mom said, "people enjoy reading your blog. It's been over a week since you last updated it. You need to post again soon!" Yes, I know- thanks mom.

In case your wondering, my oh so interesting life just keeps getting more and more interesting. My family was here for a week, along with my best friend. My mom stayed an extra few days after that. It was a good time, but a lot of work on our end. Then right after that I was whisked away to the Domican for the weekend. Twas a wonderful, relaxing weekend!

Can't wait to share more with you... :)

The Art of Cooking- Haitian Food

I had a sleepover with Katie this past weekend. She was planning on making banan peze and invited me to help. Banan peze translated, for those of you who don't speak Creole, means pressed plantains. Plantains look exactly like bananas...only they're not. I tried an uncooked one and it didn't taste at all like a banana. They don't have much taste actually- same texture though. 

Banan peze is one of my favourite Haitian foods. I think they taste best when they are fried to a crisp (crunchy). Then you add a little salt to them and eat up!

Katie had everything ready: vinegar, salt, plantains, vegetable oil, and tostonera (a plantain smasher!). 

1} Make a slice in the skin of the plantain.

2} Get the plantain out of the peel- not so easy! 

3} Katie mixed up the vinegar, salt, and water mixture while I sliced the plantains crosswise into half inch thick slices. 

 4} Fry the slices, two minutes on each side. Katie was in charge of the frying...the first time I went near the pan I got sprayed by the oil! Ouch! I stayed away after that.

5} Take the slices out of the pan and drain the oil off from them. Then use the nifty tool to press each slice till it is about a quarter inch thick.

6} Soak the slices in the vinegar salt mixture and then place them back in the frying pan. Fry them for 1 minute on each side until they are crispy and golden brown.

...ours turned out golden brown alright but not exactly crispy. They were very greasy and soggy! Let's just say they looked a whole lot better than they tasted :) It was our first attempt...we are hoping for better results next time. 

We then prepared lots of other good food to eat, along with our banan peze.

Kati Marie & Katie Marie

Yup, we have the same first name....then we figured out we have the same middle name. Even crazier, I just noticed that we both have a scar in about the exact same place on our forehead. I asked Katie what her scar was from and she said she got it when she had chicken pox as a kid. That's where MY scar came from too!