Roadblock!

So today started off like any other day in Haiti. Up at 5:30 for breakfast and on the road at 6 to make it to the job site by 7. About half way into the drive our bus driver pulled over for what seemed to be no apparent reason and got out of the bus. Come to find out about 500 feet ahead of where we pulled over there was a "political demonstration" blocking the road. We waited for a few minutes to see if it would clear out and decided it would be better to turn around and head back to the resort. We ride in a big bus to and from the job everyday and by the time we were turned around there was another roadblock set up behind us trapping us in between. Our driver got out and spoke with one of the people participating in the demonstrations and he was able to get us through. We made it back to the hotel and decided we would try our luck tomorrow. At about 2:30 some people showed up form Port au Prince and said that the road was now open so a few guys went into work to prep for one of our final foundation pours. Hopefully things are calmed down tomorrow but you never know what will happen here. The resort is completely safe so im content hanging out here until the the route is clear.

The good news is that I got some more time to try and figure this whole blog thing out. Here is a link to check out some pictures pictures from my trip so far.

Leave me some comments about anything you would like to know about life in Haiti!

Sunday Trip to La Grange

So like I stated before I met a lady who owned an orphanage near our resort. Well Sat night she came by and asked if I wanted to come on a trip with here and another group to the remote village of LaGrange. I immediately jumped at the opportunity and agreed to meet her on the highway @ 745 the next morning where she would pick me up in her truck. The next day 745 came and went and it was nearly 815 and after being offered numerous motorcycle rides from locals Anne from bonsamaritan.org came rolling up in a little beat up Nissan pickup. We met up with the group Water4Haiti at the local gas station and began the trip to LaGrange. Riding in the back of this truck was adventure enough with semis and dump trucks whizzing by. I found out while we were driving that the group we were following had a dentist along and was planning on pulling teeth all day. We drove through St. Marc and turned off onto a gravel road. At this point were only 20 min into the trip and I was thinking that LaGrange would be just around the next turn. The road cut through the Haitian rice fields and we passed dozens of little villages. Every village we went through the kids would run out in the street chanting "Blanco" meaning white or "Terry" who we later found out was a white man that brings food and clothing to the villages. Along the drive we passed abandoned trucks stuck in the mud and farmers harvesting rice. I had to hop out of the bed numerous times to help navigate along the washed out gravel trail we were now driving down. Finally after nearly 2 hours of driving we made it to LaGrange. I started taking pictures right away. Most of the kids had never seen a white person before let alone a camera so every picture I took they would mob around me to see the themselves on the little display. After helping the dentist set up we walked around the town and Anne found two orphans that she would eventually end up taking back with her. There were so many people that needed teeth pulled that the dentist decided to stay the night. I had to work bright and early the next day so I rode back with the Water 4 Haiti crew. We made it back to our town and visited Anne's orphanage where she currently has 16 Haitian orphans staying with her. We ended the night with dinner back at the resort with both the Anne and the Water 4 Haiti group. The week ahead has concrete pours scheduled every day. Not sure what the next sunday will have in store for me but I do know its gonna be tough to top the LaGrange trip!

Week 1

Well week one in Haiti is done and its been quite the experience so far.  I nearly missed my flight in Mpls.  From Mpls we flew into Miami where I had a 4 hour layover and got to meet most of the guys ill be staying down here with.  As we flew into Port au Prince you could see shipwrecks scattered throughout the bay and smoke from burning garbage piles.  After we landed and found our bags we attempted to find the bus giving us a ride to the resort that we will call home for the next 9+ months.  As soon as we left customs we were “attacked” by airport staff trying to help carry our bags and make a quick buck.  Finally we found our bus tipped the 10-15 bag boys that were carrying our luggage and made our way down Route 1 out of Port au Prince.  The driving here is out of this world.  Words can’t describe the mayhem that happens on these roads.  It’s basically a 2-lane highway with 4 lanes of traffic and no speed limit.   Motorcycles ride the shoulders with small pickup cabs called “Tap Taps” that are always packed with people.  Regular cars, busses and semis ride in the middle and try to dodge each other as the road winds along the coast through villages packed with people.  The drive to and from work is wild to say the least and its not uncommon for us to see a newly flipped vehicle each day.  Our resort, Moulin Sur Mer, is right on the ocean and has exceeded my expectations already.  The food has been surprisingly good with fresh fruit and eggs being served at breakfast and a supper buffet that ranges from fresh seafood to lasagna.  Were on the road by 6:30 every day and make the 50 min drive to Les Moulin de Haiti.  Onsite activities are slow because of customs and the lack of a competent labor force in Haiti but mid January we will be busing in 130 Dominicans and hopefully the pace changes.  Lunch at the site is usually just plain white rice sometimes spiced up with beans.  Today we made a trip into Port au Prince to do some shopping.  When the plane landed it was dark by the time we hit the road so I wasn’t able to see the damage to the town but today everything was visible.  There is still tons of collapsed buildings and tent cities sprawling out as far as you can see.  Sunday is our only full day off and I’m planning on visiting an orphanage near our resort owned by an American we met at supper a few nights ago.  I’m still working on getting a Haitian phone but my Skype account is Karl.Kratzke and I usually go on every night so add me and I would love to talk with you and catch up.