Doctors are good drivers. I swear.

Today was laundry day at the orphanage. I insisted on helping, so they showed me how to wash laundry by hand. Turns out I'm very bad at it. Ten minutes in and I had managed to scrub my knuckles raw. Like to the point of bleeding. So I was pulled off the laundry crew and made to sit on The Chair covered in Hello Kitty Band-Aids. So for two hours or so I was utterly useless. The baby was asleep and everyone else was either washing or cooking.
It was nice though. Such simplicity. I appreciated the breeze and watching the family of rats that lives at the back of the courtyard. I was also given bread and coffee.
They let me hang all of the laundry though. Then Richardson started crying and I zipped upstairs to get him. He was too hot so I blew on his face and rubbed his tummy until he calmed down. Then the kids got home and it was the usual frenzy of hello's and kisses.
Lots of the kids got in trouble today for not doing their chores. When they cry everyone else leaves them alone, and I sneak in hugs and sympathetic noises.
I got to teach a bit today, and we did a lot with essential oils to prevent infection.
I got a ride home from Johanne's friend Andrew, and he showed me around a bit. I trusted him to drive me because he's a doctor. So obviously that means he's a safe driver.
I've made a lot of friends in just four days.
I'm picking up some creole. Feeling a tiny bit confident.
On Friday we are having a burning man party at the hostel. A couple of my friends and I are going to stay up until as late as we can Saturday so that we can count the party as my birthday party. Because in case you didn't know, Saturday is my birthday.
Oh one more thought: I was having a beer last night with my friend Samuel. He's from Haiti and helps run HC (the hostel). He also has an orphanage and we were talking about how the kids at CHOIDS, and the kids at his orphanage have very limited toys. Like...none. I want to start a toy drive, and Samuel has a connection with several churches that come to Haiti on a regular basis. So if I could get toys, I could then get them to those churches, and the churches could bring them here. Unfortunately I'm in Haiti until December, so I can't start the drive until I get back. I was wondering, if anyone had some free time, would you want to help out with this? I thought of just doing some flyers and posting things on Facebook, or EOU, or whatever. If not, no worries. Just a thought.
Anyway, I'll post some pictures on FB. Bye! 

Be grateful for what you have. Please.

I wore mascara today in an attempt to look as beautiful as Johanne. I am sad to say that I have yet to succeed. I'll keep trying. Stay tuned in for the next episode of Sadie's fail at being presentable.
I showed Richardson (The little one) how to use my pen, so he did some lovely drawings all over my journal. Will post pictures. We played a lot today, just the two of us. Peek a boo was riveting and absolutely hilarious he would tell you. If he could talk.
Sometimes he wanders around saying "Mamma" and I wonder who he's asking for. He was abandoned in a hospital and we don't have any paperwork on him so his age is unknown. Did I say that already? I've taken to packing him around with me.
Johanne and I were eating ice cream (what a treat!) and I wanted to give him some, but she explained to me that we really can't share spoons with them (Johanne and I were eating it with a single fork because it was the only utensil we could find.) Even though you cannot contract HIV through saliva it's better to stay on the safe side.
We left Richardson unattended for a few moments and he came back covered in red glitter. Some how he had gotten into the office and found what limited art supplies are there. As a result, I am now covered in glitter as well. Joy.
They are so polite at CHOAIDS. It's become kind of a competition between us. Who can be the most courteous. There is only one chair in the courtyard and the other three of us sit on rocks or bricks. When I walk through the main gait everyone leaps up and ushers me into the chair. I try to do the same so sometimes the chair ends up empty with all of us on rocks.
We chatter away, me and the other three women who work there. Johanne is the only one who speaks creole and English, so the rest of us just talk to each other without really understanding anything. Richardson sits with us, just another one of the girls. Kind of. I've never seen a toddler so patient.
He must have gotten bored though because his head started to droop and I picked him up to take him to his crib. He was asleep before we got to the top of the stairs.
The kids get home and kiss me and say hello, and I spray them with orange oil (good for your immune system). They thank me, and often come back for more.
Peek a boo is a popular game with the rest of the children as well. I've become very popular.
I have tons of friends. Maybe it's because they don't know what I'm saying most of the time.
I'm happy, and content.
And I'm tired of the other people at the hostel complaining nonstop about everything they should be grateful for. I am grateful for food, and a bed, and a pillow, and a fan, and everything else that I am provided. So dear everyone else: please stop complaining. I'm a princess, and even I'M more appreciative than you.  

And to everyone reading this, please remember to be appreciative of everything in your life. You are so lucky, and I find that it is often easy to forgot just how lucky you are.
Bye bye now!

Such a princess

So today, Samuel, the manager here (who is from Haiti) decided to help me doctor my burn. He was very excited about this and kept calling himself a doctor, until he had to avert his eyes because the blister was so gross. Then he called himself a bad doctor. But it's looking better. I think.
At CHOAIDS Reshudsun ( the little one, and I will have to work on my spelling) got a bath, which is much different in Haiti than it is for kids in the states. He was placed in a bucket, had water poured over his head, and then was scrubbed all over with a bar of soap. Face an all. He just held his breath as they rinsed him off and took him upstairs for his nap. He woke up crying so I went upstairs and scooped him up. I think his tummy hurt because I started rubbing his tummy and he fell right back to sleep. Then we took a little nap together.
When the other kids got home I worked with Obenz (7 year old) with his reading again, and Valencina (10) with her writing and reading.
Everyone takes great pleasure in attempting to pronounce my name. "See-dee".
Today one of the little boys asked me if I was a princess. I kind of feel like one, the way everyone kisses my cheek, and brings me delicious food. I've had to start insisting that I do chores for them. So today I ground garlic with a mortar and pestle, and learned how to wash clothes by hand.
Johanne is teaching me creole, and I am teaching her English. Mainly we just laugh at each other for how bad we pronounce things.
When I left today we were in the midst of taking the kids' weight.
Some of the other people in the hostel are doing pretty interesting projects. One group is building a bridge to go over a garbage trench in the slum. Another is making a series of short films about Haiti.
I feel really happy despite the fact that I'm covered in bug bites, and constantly sweaty. I mean, what did I expect?
Still phoneless.
Ah well.
I'll think of about a million things I forgot to say once I save this.

Motos and Taptaps

Today I rode a motorcycle for the first time in my life. Johanne and Danielle, who will be the one to take me to and from CHOAIDS everyday, picked me up. They sandwiched me between them and off we went. We squeezed between cars so closely that I felt sure I would lose my kneecaps, but despite that it was incredibly fun. I think I'm a natural. I will soon be pursuing a newfound dream of being a biker chick.
I did however sustain a fairly disgusting burn from touching my calf to some hot part of the bike.
I tried to get a phone but there was some miscommunication and they attempted to charge me about ten dollars more than it was worth. Long story short: I am still phoneless.
We went to the orphanage then and after being there about an hour the kids showed up, having just gotten out of school. They all took turns kissing my cheek and telling me their names. None of which I can spell.
The littlest one we think is about three. He was abandoned in a hospital about a year ago and they don't have any of his records. He is a little shy, and enjoys waving at me while peaking around the corner of the house.
I helped another little boy, who was seven, with his homework. We read some simple words together (Papa, Lili, Popo etc. etc.) So I felt that I was learning something too. Every time he got something correct I cheered "bravo!"
Johanne and I worked on getting to know each other. She speaks pretty good English, but it still takes us a bit of navigation to communicate effectively. We had café au let (Coffee with milk) and bread, then some papaya juice, and some chicken. All of which was so delicious that by the time they were ready to eat their full meal (around 3:00) I was too full!
I said bye bye to the kids around 4:00 and came back to the hostel for a shower and some dinner. Over dinner I met a man from England named Michael, who has been staying in the hostel for nine months now. He was going to the supermarket and asked if I'd like to tag along to see where it was. It was about a forty minute walk but we took a TapTap one way. A TapTap is a brightly painted truck with a canopy over head, and benches lining the bed. You wave it down and climb aboard, then when you see where you want to get out you taptap on the window to the main cab, and they stop.
When you're walking down the street, children will call out "Blan, Blan!" which literally means "White, white!" as in look, a white person. It's not rude, it's just observant. It is however rude to ignore them. Which is exactly what I'd been doing. Michael explained this to me. So after that I started replying to them with "Good morning!" though it was 6 at night. Oops.
I've seen a lot of the city today and I can't wait to get some better pictures. I will try to upload them to my blog but thus far I've been unsuccessful.
Anyway, I hope all is well! Write again soon.

Making it

Well I got onto the plane, which I had been telling myself was the first step. I met an entire group of people in Portland who were going to Haiti to work in an orphanage as well. Their's is in Jacmel however, which is where I will be during my second month of the journey.
The main question people ask me is "what group/church are you traveling with?"
And they always seem shocked when I reply "I'm not."
Sometimes this makes me feel brave and courageous, but mostly it makes me feel like I must have lost my mind.
I got on the plane in NY, destined for Port au Prince and quickly realized that I was the only person in my row. An entire row of seats all to myself. At first I felt very left out, but within ten minutes I had excepted that I was now blessed with two extra seats to call my own. The plane's doors were closed up, the flight attendants were going over safety rules, and then someone radioed in on the speakers saying "Flight attendants, disarm and open the doors." I thought, surely, that I was about to die.
Soon two young men had been let on the plane, having almost missed their flight. (That's what all the commotion was about?) They smelled heavily of cologne and had their pants sagging down around their knees. In my mind I was on the verge of making some judgy comment about street youths, and ruffians, when guess who's empty row of seats they were directed to?
That's right.
Mine.
My mind changed tactics as quickly as possible. Hello. So good to meet you. So glad you made it on board. I'm such a lovely, kind person who never judges people based on how much they sag their pants.
They were actually quite pleasant. Upon landing they promptly asked for my phone number, which I promptly told them I no longer had a working phone. So they promptly asked for my Facebook, which I not so promptly considered.
When I stepped off the plane there was a band playing music to greet us, and it was a balmy 90 degrees. Ahhhh how I love the sun. For those first few minutes, then I'm sweating profusely and pulling off as many layers as possible.
It took over and hour to get through immigration and customs.
But when I did I managed to find where my checked bags had been tossed into a corner, patiently waiting for me.
The director of CHOAIDS (Marie) had her brother FanFan and his wife Johanne pick me up. Johanne looking flawless in her tight floral skirt, and me stumbling out of the airport looking as though I had just climbed out of a particularly filthy pond. (My appearance does not hold up well while traveling. To say the least.)
They loaded me up in the car, and were as sweet as can be.
After they dropped me at the hostel I was given a tour and then shown to my very own straw bale house. Where I now sit reading and blogging. And waiting until I can help some of the other guests prepare dinner. I'll post some pictures soon.
xxoo

Well I'm packed. At long last. It's been quite the ordeal, only twice did I get so frustrated that I actually burst into angry tears. Okay maybe it was three times. Four? Anyway, it's all done. Now all I have to do is get on the airplane.
Some special things involving our community around this project:
I was interviewed for the news paper last week and an article came out on Monday. I had mentioned that the orphanage needed towels. Each child gets one towel a year, and there are 23 children. I had sort of been hoping for some donations, but was really just planning to use my GoFundMe money to buy the towels myself.

After the article came out however, random people began taking towels to the bakery where I work. Like brand new towels. The same thing happened at my going away party. Guests brought towels in excellent condition, and by Tuesday of this week I had all 23 towels that I needed! So if any of the people who donated towels anonymously are reading this, please know how grateful I am. And for the people I have already thanked, thank you again.
Let me tell you another amazing thing that happened. I have been a nanny for one family in particular for the last three and a half years. Wendy, the mother of the children I nanny is excellent at sewing. She even made me a dress one time. Well she took it upon herself to make a small quilt for each child at CHOAIDS (the orphanage). That's 23 quilts!!
 
I don't know how she did it, but needless to say, I was blown away.
These last two weeks have really shown me what a supportive community we have here in little La Grande, Oregon. From my surprise going away party (complete with a six layer cake from the bakery).

To towel donations, to quilts. I will never be able to thank you all enough.
So with this fantastic start to my journey I now venture off into the unknown! (Read dramatically for full effect.)
I'm not scared, just excited. I feel like I'm on the edge of a life changing experience. No matter what happens, it will be perfect in it's own way. I'll write again soon. But for now...
Bon vwayaj! (That's creole. Are you impressed?)

So the trip is coming up. In like three weeks. I'm beginning to feel that panic that you get right before an exam, except magnify it by 100. But in a good way. It's kind of like: "Oh my stars what did I get myself in to." And "This is the moment that my life will actually begin." I took my prep classes, I got my shots, and I'm making a list of what to pack.
Mostly though, I've been crying over the fact that I have to leave the kids that I nanny. "I wish I could be your nanny forever." And that scares me because I am going to work in an orphanage. Where I will be around children all day, and surely adore them just as I do the children here. And I'll have to leave them too.
That's mainly what this particular post is about: terrified excitement, and missing my kids that aren't actually mine.
It will be so different. I probably won't be running through the house holding a sword with a cape on my head, screaming as a child dressed as a Ninja Turtle tries to attack me.
And I probably won't be at home in my slippers drinking tea, and listening to Mozart. (Though I am loading music on to my phone.)
I feel kind of like that Calvin and Hobbes strip where they go careening down the mountainside on a sled. Except it's not a mountain, it's my life. And it's not a sled, it's my life. And Oh...my...stars.