So much to type about, so little time.

Another (damn) hot day in Haiti . . . sweating like a crazy woman here. I don't think my hair has been dry since I got here. Okay, let's be more positive. Maybe I should have started this blog saying another great day in Haiti! The past two days have been very productive - way too productive to consider this a vacation :) Am I working or vacationing here? It's hard to tell at this point. Regardless, my father was right (yet again). Good thing I have a round trip ticket because I don't want to come home! Ahahaha!

Last night at the house, I heard more descriptions and stories about the earthquake. More Haitians died than necessary because they ran into their houses instead of out, since they didn't understand what was happening and weren't educated about natural disasters. People ran for their lives and ran kids over on their way out the door. As people ran to check on their family, they could hear the screams of people stuck under the rubble. One would like to think they would always do the right thing at the time it was needed. But, when SO many people are in need, what do you do first? Do you help at all? Do you hold your babies tight and not let go? Do you check on your family and then head out the door to help others? Would you remember to grab those around you as you are confused & running for your life? Do you move the dead bodies from the streets, or do you step over them? Really, how do you know how you would react until you are faced with the situation? I'd like to think I'd make the right choice, but it was pointed out to me last night that there's no way to know how you would handle things until your adrenalin is pumping, and you are standing in the middle of hell on earth.

However, the Haitian spirit will never fail. Sometimes I wonder if they are put to the test because they can handle it. You have to handle the situation the best you can and put one foot in front of the other. As we drive around the streets, you are constantly driving over piles of rubble and concrete that has been pushed to the side just enough to allow a car to pass while waiting to be disposed of. People shouldn't have to live like this, but they have no choice. In time, the government and organizations have promised to remove the rubble from the streets. It doesn't seem to be happening very quickly. Thankfully, they are working to recycle as much as possible.

This afternoon, I spent time at The New Victorian School. Yesterday was their first day back to school since the earthquake. Their building is gone, but just down the street USAID helped to clear out another school's collapsed building to build temporary classrooms. Thankfully, TNVS is able to hold classes there in the afternoon. There were only 6 students today in the English section as many of them left for the US. I spent time teaching them songs, playing "duck-duck-goose" and hangman, and working on math and reading. It's a different atmosphere than before, but I think it's great that they can go to school in the afternoon at least instead of staying home all day. I imagine it brings brief sense of "normalcy" to their lives. The conditions aren't ideal, but there are classrooms with a chalkboard and desks. Many of the books were recovered from the rubble. Something is better than nothing! These kids are perfect reminders of why we have to keep helping Haiti to rebuild; they deserve a chance to succeed in life. Their once bright smiling faces are now shaded with sad eyes. Some just wouldn't laugh today, no matter how hard we tried. It was heartbreaking. As they say, laughter is the best medicine! I will have to work up some new tricks before I return :)