Friday, November 6th, 2009 4:00p.m.
A rooster crows somewhere in the distance. The rustling of straw brooms and bare feet on the pavement reaches my ears, and soon the clinking of pots and pans being washed and voices in rushed conversation join the sounds of the morning. I roll over, irritatedly swat at the persistent mosquitoes buzzing around my head, and pull the thin sheet over my face. Finally the mosquitoes win, and I open my eyes, pull back the cover and sit up. Though it is only 6a.m., the sun is already pretty high in the sky, and our room is filled with light. My room-mate is still asleep, so after getting dressed I seat myself on my bed with a Bible, a highlighter, a book, and a pencil to have my quiet time before the day begins.
Soon Kelsey peeks her adorable, grinning face in the doorway and we say “Good morning.” By now Crash is awake, and I make sure all my materials are in order for the day before venturing out with my mobile desk (the rolling suitcase containing all of our school books and supplies) down to our school “room.” After setting out the desks and my chair I head back upstairs to wait for breakfast. Everyone else is up and about: Simone is busy in the kitchen, Yoka and the boys are hurrying (as much as a person can hurry in Haiti) to finish their chores before they leave for school, Bioude is cleaning and watching Josiah, while Dee and Crash sit at the computers working on forms, e-mail replies, and internet updates, and Wilckly is already busy meeting with people.
I finally locate the keys and open up one of the many storage rooms to retrieve canned milk for Kelsey’s and my cereal. Finding clean bowls and spoons is another matter, but eventually we have all eaten (Ashley favors pate and spam sandwiches over Cheerios) and the girls and I troop over the wall, down the stairs and to our seaside classroom.
Class begins with a hymn, Bible reading, memory verse of the week, and a prayer, then we practice handwriting. After that come Arithmatic, and while Kelsey is coloring her number pages I drill Ashley with flash cards, trying to beat her fastest time of 28 seconds for 20 cards. Then Ashley finishes her lesson and Kelsey and I have story time. Next is Grammar/Spelling/Vocabulary for Ashley, Phonics/Reading for Kelsey, then Geography, History, Science or Spanish (depending on the day), Reading, and finally Art or Music (also depending on the day). After History we have decided we need a slight change of scenery, so we pack up the books and tote everything back upstairs for a short break and finishing the remaining subjects at the table.
By the time lessons are over the afternoon meal has been set out. Around 2p.m. we are all seated with our dishes of rice and beans (always), corn, carrots, fried chicken, and Coca-Cola. The dining room table also serves as the office, so when lunch is over, I simply clear my place nad scoot over to a computer. The internet is free, so I spend some time replying to e-mails and checking my blog before connecting with Ashley to make sure all her homework is done for the day. Then I grab a book, a pen, and my journal and carry a chair down to the beach to relax in the fresh air for a while.
Once my mind and body are refreshed I climb the stairs once again to see if Dee or Crash need help with anything. Josiah is awake from his nap, so I lift him out of the playpen and tote him around on my hip until he grows tired of that and we find a room where he can crawl around. Soon Kelsey joins us and we play on the floor, reading, singing, telling stories, and giggling at ‘Siah’s antics.
Soon someone comes to relieve me of the children and I spend the next portion of my afternoon in my room, grading and preparing for the next day’s lessons. Very quickly the light fades from the room, and by 5:30 the sun has left the sky, showering the horizon with pastel pinks and creams and brilliant streaks of orange and gold. I gravitate to the office, where by now everyone else has gathered until the generator is turned on. Before long, we once again have light and energy, and while everyone takes turns on the computers Crash pops in a movie which we all enjoy watching while munching on Dee’s delicious popcorn and listening to the faint crash of the waves on the nearby shore.
Around 8:00 the boys place chairs in a circle under the brightest light we have, computers are shut down and the TV is turned off, and we each find a seat for our evening devotional. We begin with a song, repeated in both Creole and English, then Wilckly speaks. I do my best to listen and pick out a few words here and there that I understand, and even manage to piece together a concept he is explaining. Kelsey is sitting in her Daddy’s lap, and I watch as she lets her eyes slowly close, lulled to sleep by the sound of his voice. What a precious way to fall asleep each night. The discussion over, Wilckly asks me to pray, and I ask, “In Creole or English? ‘Merci, Sègné’ is all I’ve got…” Everyone laughs, and I say the closing prayer – in English.
The chairs are put away, and I pack up my computer, only to be met by Ashley halfway to my room with “Can Yoka and I borrow your computer to watch a movie?” I hand over the coveted laptop, after reminding her that “We have school in the morning, so don’t stay up too late!” and step into my room to read and write before bed. The floor is swept and mopped, the trash can is emptied, and my bed is made. I quickly check the wave of false humility (an attitude I have to combat quite often in this country) that sweeps over me as I struggle once more to grow accustomed to this culture that focuses so much on class and rank. After reading, Crash and I have a lovely conversation about what has been on our minds recently and what we have been reading, and then we strike the matches to light our nightly ration of Plakatox and pop in our ipods to wind down until the generator is turned off. About twenty minutes later the lights go out, the hum of the machine is stilled, and we are left to fall asleep to the calming sounds of crickets, a slight breeze stirring the mango leaves, and the perpetually crashing ocean waves. Bon nwit!
