Travel
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Back in America
Currently I’m back in the States. There is reverse culture shock, but not too bad. Some of the garden variety, and some a bit more. The garden variety includes being surprised at things like the driving being so rule-based, or the paved roads being so…
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Pictures
The village Ravine Seche. It sits in a small valley (ravine) between two sets of hills. I took this picture up where I sometimes walk to get good cell phone reception. A creek runs through town and out to the ocean. A Catholic mission came…
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More at Home
(Also written a bit ago, but the basic thoughts still hold, though I still have ups and downs out here regularly) I’ve turned a corner out here in my remote corner of Haiti. Instead of an outsider, I’m beginning to feel like an insider. There…
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Wedding
I attended this nearby wedding several weeks ago. I didn’t know either the bride or groom, but attended for cultural curiosity. And because Ironce, my landlord, invited ne. Here is a brief report, better late than never. I’ll start with a couple pictures. The first…
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A Long Wait
(written about a week ago) I’m sitting outside by the ocean. It’s evening and there is a brilliantly gorgeous sunset, the shimmering hues of pink and blues reflecting on the water. A sailboat is lazily rolling by, the gentle sound of lapping water soothing my…
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The Other Side
Today a team from America came to Ravine Seche to do a medical clinic. I didn’t know any of them. Getting to see things from the “other side” was a bit disorienting. I suppose at some point I’ll become so discombobulated I won’t know which…
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Pè and Pye
“Pè” is the word for “fear” in Creole. “Pye” is the word for old. Tonight I was out by the ocean (where I get good cell reception) making a phone call back home. After awhile my new Haitian roommate (another story), Noë, was sent to…
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On Being Asked for Things
I appreciated the thoughtful comments on my last post (and several emails too). Thanks to those who weighed in with the encouraging words. Todays windy thesis is on a somewhat similar topic of cultural differences… Disclaimer: this long post was written little at a time…
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Cross Cultural Connections
This week I read a book entitled, Cross Cultural Connections, by Duane Elmer. It was timely, and an easy read. At one point he listed about fifteen symptoms of culture shock, and I think I basically had all of them, or at least go through…
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Short Anecdote
While visiting an American couple last weekend, they received a phone call informing them a Haitian friend of theirs had just passed away at the hospital. The deceased mans wife had already returned back to her home and was mourning with family and friends. Of…