Jwaye Nwèl!

Jwaye Nwèl tout moun! Merry Christmas everyone! I wanted to give you all an update about what I have been doing since I last posted. It's almost been 3 months in Haiti and I realize that I haven't posted since my 6 week mark-- time has flown!  Since my last post, I have gone to the beach in Gran Goave, had a successful Thanksgiving potluck with friends, attended my work Christmas party, made my first solo batch of Banan Peze and Pikliz, and celebrated my 25th birthday. On Christmas, I'll be meeting up with my family in Punta Cana, DR and then on NYE with some friends in Santo Domingo! Below are some pictures from my last month and a half:

Gran Goave, Haiti

Obligatory ocean picture -- Gran Goave, Haiti (Kate's photo)

Note the little kabrit  hanging out in the shadows--- I think I ate him for lunch that day ;) -- Gran Goave, Haiti (Kate's photo)

Turkey Leg Lunch on Thanksgiving Day

My First Turkey (cooked for our Friendsgiving on the Saturday after Thanksgiving) = success! 

Work Christmas Party - (photo credit to CRS photographer)

Celebrating my 25th in Haiti- with a blow torch shoved in an ice cream sundae (photo credit to Kettianne)

Successful Homemade Banan Peze ak Pikliz!!

I had this post written up for Thanksgiving, but I never got around to posting it. I figured I might as well just try and pass it off as a Jwaye Nwèl post rather than deleting it:  

This year at Christmas, I am thankful:  

-For the adorable ti moun (children) with neatly pressed uniforms walking hand-in-hand to school who make me smile every morning on my way to work and who give me hope for the future.

-For the persistent ti moun with tattered clothes who ask to wash my car windows every morning, who are NOT in school, and who remind me that statistics (that 50% of Haitian children do not attend school) have names and faces. 

-For my coworkers who excuse me for my lack of a wardrobe (Haitians are very fashionable and I am not) and who push me to be more confident about my work (lest I be walked all over)

2 of my 3 wonderful neighbors (Kate's photo)

-For my neighbors who make Haiti feel like home, who are always just around the corner when I feel lonely in my 2 BR apartment or need a cup of flour, who give my jokes way too much credit, and who keep me from making a fool of myself at work Christmas parties (or at least give their best attempt).

-For the drivers, who are constantly making me laugh, who have taught me more about Haiti and Kreyol than anyone else here, who are respectful and courteous, and who always seem happy to see me (even when I know they really were hoping I would get another ride home so that they could go home early)

-For market days, where I get to practice my Kreyol, buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and haggle with the ti machann (market women) over prices and make them laugh with my attempts to speak in Kreyol. 

Happy Hour on the roof!

-For Kompa music, which reminds me that it is OK to make a fool of yourself in front of a large crowd of strangers.

-For Kreyol food, Haiti's famous Barbancourt Rhum, Prestige Beer, and for Happy Hour on the roof. 

-For Petionville and my fancy apartment--- a constant reminder of my easy access to privileges I didn’t earn.

-For my friends back in the US who humor me with skype calls, who send me Whatsapp texts to update me on all of the hot gossip in Omaha and to dish about potential love interests… who make me feel like things won’t change despite the distance.

-For my family who has been unbelievably supportive of this journey, from cards at every holiday to offering to bring essentially everything but the kitchen sink for me when they come visit in the DR. I couldn't ask for a more loving family. 

-For the opportunity to see the world--- both its beauty and its ugliness--- and to discard my rosy-colored glasses at every chance I get.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

DISCLAIMER: This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions (or grammatical errors!) represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog owner and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated.