May 8th, 2010 Haiti Blog: Make it Rain, Haiti style..

So, up to this point in Haiti the coldest drink you can get is beer and soda. Both of which dehydrate you and have zero nutritional value. Yesterday I was packing school kits to give to the kids for the UN and I decided I had to make moves. I asked my driver if he could help me get money from Western Union here and if its difficult. Right after work he took me to the only working computer in the entire country of Haiti(or so it seems) and sure enough helped me get money. After that it was a free for all to the one store I have found that actually sells normal cold drinks. Now, I know to most of you Gatorade and Snapple isn't makin it rain, but in Haiti, hydration mixed with cold liquid is like GOLD. I had the driver goto the choochoo which is the only market in town and I literally bought every Snapple and Gatorade they had. Once I got into the store I just couldn't help myself. I bought a bunch of frozen snickers and Doritos and Pringles. It was glorious. I must have bought thirty drinks by the time I was done and at least twety bags of chips etc. I couldn't wait to bring it back to base and hook up my well deserving, hardworking friends. We have no fridge. We have no way to keep anything cold, so I knew I just needed to gve everything out that I wasn't going to drink in the next hour and just enjoy this early Christmas in May.

I don't think I've ever gotten a bigger hug. It's funny too, because sometimes we do little hugs but we are usually so sweaty. Okay, IM usually so sweaty that they arent the good bighugs. Not today, I thought I was getting bear hugged by a wrestler. I almost had to submit. If you know me, you know this makes my day. Nothing makes ME happier than putting a smile on someone elses face, especially if it's the little things in life. Food is fuel here, good food is premium fuel. Everything is so cheap though, I only spent about 50$ US dollars, which is nothing for what I got. 20oz Cokes only cost about 50 cents here and Gatorade is no more than a dollar. It's just a matter of finding them, and goodluck now since I bought every single one they had! Muahahahaha!!!

Today I am going back out and testing the sun. Going to dig out some rubble with my team and hopefully enjoy the day and get a serious work in. I am a strategic worker, making this my hardest day since I know I have off tomorrow to recover. And by recover I mean goto some kind of beach and float in the water like a dead fish. Gonna be a long day today I can feel it.

I am starting to become close with alot of people and it's sad to start seeing them come and go as I have been here for almost two weeks. You rapidly begin to love these people because you are with them 24 hours of each day. We talk about things I wouldn't talk about with people I met a home 5 years ago, but here we get so close every single inch of our body is fair game to discuss. It's an interesting change but It's totally my style. Today is the first day that a couple people I really like are leaving. They aren't people I spend everyday with, or even many days with, but I did have a day or two with them, and you grow to love each of them. One of them said it best for her going away speach. She said "I can't lie, 95% of you I have absolutely fallen in love with. The other 5% of you are complete assholes, but I still totally respect you" That is the perfect way to describe this place. Some of the people here are just totally unapproachable, pretentious fucking assholes, but god damn do I respect them. Not only for what they do here in Haiti, but for having the ability to stay an asshole through this amazing experience.

Monday I lose my first inner circle soldier from third street. She will be deeply missed, but I think we all gained a friend for life. Most innocent girl I've ever met, it's actually refreshing. I need to go get ready to work and attempt to stay alive today. I love you all and keep it coming with me. Almost half way home....

LOVE

Dan