Where we live, it goes like you can pay for school, but you cant buy class. Well, here they cant pay for school, but some of these Haitians are nothing but class. So, last Saturday I spent another day in the hospital with dehydration but that was the last time I was in there. Dont panic dont panic, I havent been back since and I feel like a new man. As I got to lay in the hospital with the IV dripping I got to interact with alot of the Haitian workers. Most don't speak a word of English but they also have translators in there who do. EVery translator is between the age of 18-25 and is a Haitian male. These guys are the first magic I got to encounter since coming here, and I feel like the spark just gets bigger everyday.
As I lay there my man Jean Claude comes up and starts to chat with me in the english he knows, we laugh because I start talkin about how every Haitian just stares at me. He tells me because they have never seen anyone so big and they call me the snowman because im always melting. We joked around for a couple hours at first talking small about his favorite actor(Jean Claude Van Damme) haha and how much he loves Akon. He whips out a little ipod and starts asking me if I had ever heard of Akon or Snoop Dogg, I couldnt hlp but laugh. He plays the song "I wanna love you" by AKon and Snoop as if it didn't come out 3 years ago, but was lik brand new that day. It just put everything into perspective of how spoiledwe are. We bitch about the radio and how redundant it is and how songs are all overplayed and here is this kid LOVING a song that came out so long ago anyone of us would skip it. So, I whip out my I Touch and start going through my songs until I find him something I knew he would love and that was alot newer. He was OBSESSED. from that point on, him and I didn't stop talking for like five hours.
He began to ask me about standard practices between men and women in America, asking if we stood on the corner like they do and just howl at girls. I explained to him that American girls would knee him in the nuts if he did that where we live and h was laughing, but ompletely understood why. He started to tell me about how his girlfriend is 25 and wanted to have a child, but he didnt because hes not financially secure yet and still has two more years of studying before he was ready. He asked if he was right for doing that. I explained to him that he is in the smallest percentile, even in America, he is being RESPONSIBLE. I pointed out how many babies people have that they just arent ready for, yet they have them anyway and thn wonder why they cant make a better like for their kid than they did themselves. He understood the whole concept of take care of your own shit first, than you can have what you want in the end. He explained his girl left him because of it and is talking with another man. The way the words rolled off his tongue, no matter the accent, I know what pain sounds like. I told him to stay strong, gotta move on. You made the correct decision, you just have to face it that sometimes things just arent meant to be. He agreed completely. He loved it. I started giving him American cliche sayings such as :"Easier said than done" and "Just go with your gut instinct". It took a little bit of explaining but he got them. The connection was amazing. He started teaching me a bunch of creole so I could start talking to the nurses better and we kicked it for another few hours.
The most touching thing about all of this is the fact that he was so happy to learn and just as happy to teach me. He wouldnt stop thanking me for our help we do here and I just wanted to do anything I could to let him know that its ok man. We are all on this earth together, we just want everyone to get better. Its awesome. They all dress like us but have no meaning of any of the shirts they wear etc. He had on a Notre Dame T-shirt but had no clue what it was. It was cool to explain to him what it was, and he decided that his dream was to one day go there just to visit. He loved the little leprechaun guy hhaha. From that point on, my heart has opened up like a flood gate. I dont know if it was the IVs that got me pumped or the fact that I related with this man just as well as a life long friend. It was truly breathtaking and it started the cycle of interactions between me and the locals that wont stop until I am satisfied.
So, that was Saturday and Sunday we have off. I got out of the hospital at about 5pm but was allowed to walk back if I wanted to sleep in the AC(hahahahaha anyone suprised?)So, as everyone went to the bar to booze it up on Saturday, I walked to the hospital and watched sep brothers and slept soundly. The next day we had a beach trip planned to the city of Jocmel to finally get some Carribean beach dwelling goin on. The beach is exactly 20KM away, which isnt even 15 miles, but in Haiti, it takes about two hours. Sunday was the best day I have had so far, not because we had of, but because I got to swim with the locals and take in more and more of how they operate. My next blog will talk about sunday and the festival and art show we went to. Awesome awesome awesome.
I feel amazing, this experience has already changed me in so many positive ways. Obviously tired but i just want to put in as much effort as I can to learn as much as I can because in reality, I know I cant stay forever. It's a beautiful thought, but I miss my friends and family way too much.
I love you guys, and I thank you all for the support, texts, calls EVERYTHING. You guys make me want to learn just so I can share what I am doing. Today is Tuesday and I gotta work in less than an hour. I hope you all have an amazing day and enjoy that mid 80s weather. I hope by the time I get home I can endure the summer heat and never bitch about it again.
GOD BLESS
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