Worth Celebrating

We had an engagement at the GuestHouse last week! This is Greg who came to Haiti to visit Artooz whom he's been writing for the last 6 months. They decided after a week that they had enough in common to get married and he popped the question - through an interpreter!. She said yes - through the interpreter! The next 6-12 months will no doubt see them both busy learning each other's language as she applies to US immigration.

This is Ralph sitting in the middle of the picture - he was playing Santa Claus at an orphanage down the street - giving out toys and candy to the 30 some children who live there. It's fun for the person giving the presents and also for the kids getting them. However it adds to the notion many Haitian children have that the foreigner is just a source of hand-outs - be it money or otherwise. These children are not going to be adopted but rather are the first benefactors of a newly formed NGO called HaitianOrphan'sProject - which will help them to become healthy and productive citizens of their own country. The founders are also staying at the GuestHouse this week.


Our cook was 2 hours late for work one day this week. Turns out he was standing in one of these line-ups, which we saw all over the city - for new cellphones. There's a new company that has decided to get in on the market in Haiti and we saw banners and huge signs all over the city advertising it. This cellphone is newer, better and cheaper. Once again we notice the contrasts this country boasts - from donkeys and cooking on charcoal burners to SUV's and the latest technology - often all on the same street.

And finally, we celebrated Waldo's birthday today. (You may notice some white in his hair that you haven't seen before - it's actually paint as he took time out from painting to eat cake. The beard's natural though). The staff enjoyed singing Happy Birthday and wishing him Bon Fet.