The Haitian Tied To Haiti Journal (Ewing, Brown, Bride, Riggs, Kwapiszeski, Schmidt, Polsel)

Day 1:  The Haitian dream begins nightmarishly (except for Millie)

• Energized send-off at KCI with photos
• AA quickly announces immediate 1-hour delay (turns into 1 1/2 hours) due to inclement weather in Dallas.
• Arrive in Dallas, quickly putting the pedal to the medal to make it to our connecting flight. Not happening.
• Went to stand-by for several flights (Tex constantly on the phone with AA headquarters as we try to get confirmed on a flight. (Girls play various games like Naked, BS, Spoons, Tex helps Ed; etc.)
• Finally we leave Dallas on the 5:35 flight that boarded a 6:35, that begins with Tex trying to nab blanket for his girls (What an A-hole), deplaning because of mechanical issues, 90 degree temperatures on the plane, then recreating itself on a new plane (still labeled Flight 60) at 10:35.
• Arrive in Miami at 1:30 AM, deplaning at 2:00AM with the women going first to search out the hotel. Tex and I took a more direct route as the hotel was 2 minutes from our terminal.
• We bed down for the short night as we had to wake up in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Day 2: The Arrival brings contrasts at all levels.

• Despite being confirmed on Air France we have a back-and-forth to get on 20 minutes before take-off.
• We have a no-hassle flight with breakfast of juice, coffee, a couple of rolls.
• We arrive in Port au Prince at 11:15 to be greeted by Wes and the H2H staff who smoothly move us out of the airport and customs that defies American logic.
• We hit the road, well slap, bounce, hip hop, do the old up-and-down, ride the mechanical bull 6 hours to our first destination.
• We stop about half-way to eat lunch (our introduction to Haitian cuisine, flush with juice, rice and beans, chicken, red sauce, macaroni,) Thiot (Chot).
• We then finish the bouncy, but vista-beautiful drive, to Cascade Piton (City of Waterfalls, 17 to be exact).
• We go to our rooms where mosquito nets are being hung.
• We eat a traditional Haitian dinner with the girls heading to be to the background sounds of the waterfalls.
• We hold a chaperone’s meeting with native foods such a “Prestige” offered up.

Day 3: Painted Ponies take on Quick Strokes

• Most rise by 6:30 although awake with the first cock’s crow at 4:30 and every 15 minutes thereafter.
• We have a Haitian breakfast at 7:00 with rich coffee, eggs, fish, onions, cornflakes with warm milk, always peanut butter and bread.
• The front of the Town Hall serves as a great small-sided soccer field. The girls play some 5 v 2 with the kids.  We later watch many 3 v 3 contests as we make sure Cascade Pichon has soccer balls.
• Today, we paint in teams as paintbrushes are thin in numbers (sort of like the enamel).
• When a team doesn’t paint, they play soccer  We paint the outside and inside before lunch and the windows after lunch with the hike down to the waterfall as the alternating activity in the afternoon.  This is quite an event as many children from the down swim in with us, pose for pictures, create huge echoes with their arms..
• The girls had 
• showered on the roof at lunch using the rain the Haitian skies provided.
• We have a Haitian dinner followed by our first Hi-Lo processing out of the day.  These sessions (suggested by Wes, and lead by Wes) help crystalize our experiences.  
• Counselor Session brings the day to a close.

Day 4: Tree Planting and then planting ourselves in Belle-Anse

• After painting we were looking forward to a project that we could actually do with success since our paint job was average at best.
• We woke early for another round of BB&J with a surprise of pasta.  The coffee for whatever reason was getting sweeter each morning. Not sure why.
• We took an inventory of the trees as the rooster crowed.  We counted only 600 trees of the 3000 we purchased.  Very puzzled only to find out 500 trees had already been planted by the village prior to our arrival and the balance was being delivered within minutes (Haitian Hours)
• We carried the trees down both by the case and by the bag. 
• As we started to plant trees, very young pants-less boys approximately 3-6 years of age came from nowhere to help us.  They taught us how to remove the plastic from the tree with a rock.  
• Jeff a young boy that we befriended since day one, mother was a big help. She was so kind with her large smile.  She would carry your shoes even though she had none.
• Rachel fell into a bush and quickly broke out in hives.  A little shower and antiseptic spray cleared it right up.  Molly also took a tumble however with a quick bandage all was better.
• Coach was crossing the stream and fell we thought he was going to continue down stream and never to be found again.  He pops right up only to be without his glasses.  Coach blamed a villager for the incident however those at the scene pointed out that Coach lost his footing. He found the glasses with one lens missing.  Annie suggested a prayer to St. Anthony and within 20 second the lens was found between rocks in about 6 inches of water.  
• After a hard day of tree planting we showered and headed to Belle-Anse.  We stopped short of the town because Annie needed to purge, her lunch was not agreeing with her.  Overall a great spot for a purge the view was spectacular a hillside looking over the Caribbean Sea, many pictures taken
• We all jumped in the sea for the first time we were extremely hot.  We had descended from the cool mountains so a swim felt great in the elevated temp.  
• Coach attempted to get out of the water only to perform an Olympic gymnastic dismount and tumble repeatedly.  The crowed goes wild and Coach was awarded a gold metal for his performance.
• We packed the car and found a fish market operating on car battery power and purchased soda pop.  
• We needed some gas so we went to the Belle-Anse one and only gas station which did not look like an actual gas station.  We told the shop owner we need 4 gallons of gas per land cruiser and 30 minutes later he comes back with 12 individual gallons of gas and poured them in one at a time. Not a typical American fill up but one that was interesting to watch.  
• While we waited for our gas we also had our tire repaired from a previous day.  Very interesting to see a flat being fixed and an inter-tube replaced all by hand.  No air compressor just a bicycle tire pump used for inflation.
• That evening we had our final high low talk after our dinner of BB&J with a side of fries.
• The highlight of the high low talk was Jeff, a young villager. He joined us and gave his own high low talk via interpreter.

Day 5 Move to Jacmel, bumpy roads, shopping and a first class hotel 

• Woke that morning early to depart from our beautiful view and say good by to several new friends.
• It must be noted that each time we were on the move via the cars we had walkie talkies for constant communication.  These added a lot of fun to the trip and a great way to connect everyone. Each car had a name, team brown eyed girls (Rachel Riggs), team American Airlines (Coach) and team donkey Tex Riggs).
• The drive was a long one the group had only planned on a few hours however it turned into 5 or so.  The roads seemed to be worse and our bodies were ready for a break.
• We arrived in Jacmel tired thirsty and sweaty and checked into our hotel directly in front of the sea, a great surprise after a brutal day and a great location. 
• After we checked in we went to lunch in a “sauna”.  As usual this restaurant and all the others had no power and no air movement.
• After we had lunch we shopped.  A Haitian man spotted us and acted as our tour guide.  He took us from store to store as we shopped.  Everyone made at least one purchase from a bracelet to paintings and everything in-between. 
• We also shared in a local treat of sugar cane.  For $2 we purchased two large canes and the vender cut the bark off and we shared in the treat.
• That night we had a couple of hours of R & R before a perfect dinner on the beach just feet from the water.  Everyone could choose from lobster, fish, or conch Fish and a soft drink of choice. 
• Julia Brown Rachel Riggs Hanna Kwap and Tex Riggs ate an eyeball from their fish for good luck. 
• That night back to the hotel for some ice cream or pie that everyone was craving.

Day 6: Orphanage: kids of all shapes and sizes

• The orphanage visit was a benefit to all.  Face painting seemed to be the biggest hit by everyone involved.
• Another big hit was just holding and cuddling with the young children.  Many times the orphans would just fall a sleep in your arms.  Sad truth, the biggest gift we could give was just a hug.
• We also had a mini dance party with some music supplied by an iPad..
• We left hundreds of soccer uniforms along with candy and 500 toothbrushes along with 20 tubes of toothpaste.
• We enjoyed our time with the Sisters of Charity that ran the orphanage and Hanna did an excellent job presenting the Sisters with two bottles of holy water from Lourdes. 
• We drove into the Port-au-Prince rush hour, a rush hour only a New York City might comprehend. We went slow enough to buy water and crispy treats from the street vendors.
• Our return (well only for Millie) to the H2H compound meant a parting photo with all of our drivers and translators. They had become much more than that.
• The H2H compound is impressive, a former Chinese restaurant, a former Haitian government official’s house that is just beautiful, complete with a on grounds swimming pool, beds to sleep 30 with more construction going on. The lot houses tree after tree in a country that has lost 80% of all trees.
• We stepped up in food (not type but quality) had the H2H compound.
• Most of us returned to our Wi-Fi addiction after and before dinner (I mean iOS 7just was announced).
• Slumdog Millionaire offered up some movie magic for a few before bed.

Day 7: Beach Day Ah what a day!

• The last day was truly a treat.  We spent the day at a Hotel Resort, swam in the pool and ocean.  
• Two hours up and two hours back seemed to be a little easier.  Paved roads the entire way and I think the group was getting accustomed to long drives.  This was an enjoyable ride because we traveled through a lot of small towns with plenty of people watching.  
• We spotted one Haitian in a Jayhawk shirt to the delight of those attending KU next year.
• One highlight of the day was getting passed on the road by a school bus.  
• Another highlight was a women with 26 dozen eggs on her head walking down the street along with a motorcycle with 6 goats on it. Did we mention we saw a motorcycle rider holding up his umbrella?
• Our last night in Haiti allowed us to go off the plan to take Wes (and the rest of us) out to a nice, local Haitian restaurant.  We also gathered two of the other H2H workers to join us.
• The girls dinned on pizza (or a bacon cheeseburger, Julie Bride) while the adults partook in wine, pasta, escargot, fish, 5-Star rum under the umbrella of music laced with plenty of sax and flute.
• Most bedded down early as the day had taken a lot out of us.

Day 8: American Airline Nightmare #2

• We rose at various times as we did not have to leave until 10:00 to head back home.
• Breakfast offered a throw back as we had an oatmeal-like rice dish we added cinnamon and sugar to.
• On our way to the airport, we stopped on last time to pick up some artwork for the Extravaganza and Ascension’s Mardi Gras.
• Millie Brown got an alert from AA that our flight was to be quite late. Flashbacks of hell began.
• When we got to the airport we began working with the ticket agents trying to get our flights adjusted as to make it home.  It seemed impossible.
• The flight arrived much earlier than expected, so now it became a possibility to get ourselves off the plane, through Customs as soon as possible, and to get rebooked on our original flight.
• Miraculously all but the Riggs clan got rebooked with our original itinerary.
• The Riggs spent the night and a lot of the next day in Dallas, getting stuck in a tram, run over by an AA cart until finally after moving to priority boarding (because of the injury) returned to KC to complete officially our trip for all.  
• And what a trip it was.