Slept in today. Woke up at 6:00 am. Waiting to eat then will walk up to the village. Noticed last night that my laptop has a hard time booting up if I hook up the sd card in it before Windows launches.
I was the only one for breakfast so there was no buffet. I had an omelet and fresh fruit.
Walked up to the village. The kids immediately wanted to play. It was so hot. By 10:00am I had to stay in the shade for the rest of the day.
Johnley hung out with me and on me all day. I think he is comfortable with me. At one point he kissed me. I had millet (a grain) and some type of stew for lunch. I played a little baseball with the older kids.
In the after noon everyone stays inside or in the shade. Did I mention it was “HOT”! I must admit, I am ready to come home. I think it was good to have a couple days here but I’d be ok with flying home tomorrow.
I caught a lizard today in the morning. Johnley, Johnnie and Wisnier (sp?) were with me. They laughed and screamed when I tried to show it to them. They would run then come back to get a peek but didn’t want to get too close.
I copied all the pictures to the computer and left then on the sd card. I have a ton of room.
So the power went out. The screen of the cheap cell phone Mansour gave me to use works pretty good as a flashlight. It’s enough to get you around in the dark without tripping.
It is almost dinner time. I am ready to eat. I don’t know if it is being here or that I am used to pigging out in the evening, but right now I’m starving.
Had dinner with Mansour. We learned that it rained very heavy in the mountains yesterday. There was a flash flood that swept over one of bridges between here and Port au Prince. A lot of homes were washed away, and at least 10 people died.
He will be going to another Holt office about 10:00am. They have a family preservation unit that assist families trying to keep them together by getting job training for the parents. I feel like my life is so insignificant and what I do is irrelevant when I listen to all the stories here.
I’m going to bed now. It has been a long day.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Wednesday - Day 4
It’s 6:40 am. I have been awake for 2 hours. It is so frustrating to be here and not be with Johnley. I am hoping to get a better understanding of when I can come and go at the village today.
The people are so poor. It was quite depressing driving past all the shacks and huts yesterday. We do not know how lucky we are.
I am still running through a million emotions about yesterday. I bounce back and forth between believing I am doing a good thing by adopting Johnley to I am the person separating this little boy from his mom. I hope she knows he will be loved and that we will keep her memory alive within him.
Breakfast was real French toast (Baguettes!) and some sort of porridge that was way too sweet for me to eat, eggs and spaghetti.
I went to the village at 8:30 am. It is a group of houses inside a concrete fence. They have their own water tank for cleaning water, a generator, solar panels (they go green) and one building that has a kitchen.
The office staff lives these Monday through Friday and goes home on the weekend. The care takers seem to work either the day shift or the night shift; I couldn’t quite figure that out.
I met Johnley and gave him his hat (Chaparre) and his shoes that light up. He showed everyone the lights. I gave him some cars, a ball and his photo album as well. He hung on to that photo album showing everyone the pictures. It was so neat.
The kids are non stop. Every little one wanted to sit on my lap. We played and played. It was amazing to see all these kids just being happy and playing.
I gave the staff their gifts. I think they really liked them. There was more than enough for everyone.
The Polaroid camera was a huge hit. I could have taken 300 shots with that. The kids loved watching the picture appear.
Around noon another bunch of kids came home from school. They were just as fun as the first bunch. When all the kids were there we gave out the toys. “OH MY GOD!” It was the happiest chaos I ever saw. They were so excited. I was amazed at these little kids. The suit case was like a treasure chest.
The staff divided up the clothes and the bed sheets. They seem to work well together.
Lunch was served around 2:30 pm. I had rice with bean sauce, okra and goat. Yes, goat. It was good.
The kids went to take a nap and I hung out and tried to send an email with pictures. It rained and rained for an hour or so.
Johnley woke up and came and found me. We played together alone for about 2 hours. I still don’t understand him but he laughs and laughs every time I say m’pa compren, (I don’t understand).
I said goodbye to him about 5:30 and went to the hotel.
Mansuer and I had dinner. He told me how Haitians eat a big breakfast and lunch. Dinner is something light. It is only for the foreigners that they serve big dinners.
I feel good about Johnley. I think he will do well in our family. I cannot wait to see him and Sammy playing together. I miss my family, I wish they were here with me. I am really a lucky man.
The people are so poor. It was quite depressing driving past all the shacks and huts yesterday. We do not know how lucky we are.
I am still running through a million emotions about yesterday. I bounce back and forth between believing I am doing a good thing by adopting Johnley to I am the person separating this little boy from his mom. I hope she knows he will be loved and that we will keep her memory alive within him.
Breakfast was real French toast (Baguettes!) and some sort of porridge that was way too sweet for me to eat, eggs and spaghetti.
I went to the village at 8:30 am. It is a group of houses inside a concrete fence. They have their own water tank for cleaning water, a generator, solar panels (they go green) and one building that has a kitchen.
The office staff lives these Monday through Friday and goes home on the weekend. The care takers seem to work either the day shift or the night shift; I couldn’t quite figure that out.
I met Johnley and gave him his hat (Chaparre) and his shoes that light up. He showed everyone the lights. I gave him some cars, a ball and his photo album as well. He hung on to that photo album showing everyone the pictures. It was so neat.
The kids are non stop. Every little one wanted to sit on my lap. We played and played. It was amazing to see all these kids just being happy and playing.
I gave the staff their gifts. I think they really liked them. There was more than enough for everyone.
The Polaroid camera was a huge hit. I could have taken 300 shots with that. The kids loved watching the picture appear.
Around noon another bunch of kids came home from school. They were just as fun as the first bunch. When all the kids were there we gave out the toys. “OH MY GOD!” It was the happiest chaos I ever saw. They were so excited. I was amazed at these little kids. The suit case was like a treasure chest.
The staff divided up the clothes and the bed sheets. They seem to work well together.
Lunch was served around 2:30 pm. I had rice with bean sauce, okra and goat. Yes, goat. It was good.
The kids went to take a nap and I hung out and tried to send an email with pictures. It rained and rained for an hour or so.
Johnley woke up and came and found me. We played together alone for about 2 hours. I still don’t understand him but he laughs and laughs every time I say m’pa compren, (I don’t understand).
I said goodbye to him about 5:30 and went to the hotel.
Mansuer and I had dinner. He told me how Haitians eat a big breakfast and lunch. Dinner is something light. It is only for the foreigners that they serve big dinners.
I feel good about Johnley. I think he will do well in our family. I cannot wait to see him and Sammy playing together. I miss my family, I wish they were here with me. I am really a lucky man.
Tuesday - Day 3
I didn't sleep well last night. I am getting really anxious about meeting Johnley. The full spectrum of my emotions keep flipping inside of me.
Breakfast included corn muffins, mango, watermelon and little french bread pizzas. Taishuana would have been in heaven. They were really good.
The sun is really hot today. I am going to be a dish rag by the end of the day.
Monsieur picked me up and we drove to the Homeland Security office. I met Johnley and his mother outside the building. She is so young. He has big bright eyes and the sweetest sounding voice, although I cannot understand him.
We waited for what seemed like an eternity before we were called. Mansour spoke to the woman then he and I left. Johnley and his mom stayed to be interviewed.
I learned that she comes to see min at least once a month. She rode back to the village with us and was crying. I don’t think I will ever know the depth of love you have for your child to let them go. It must be the hardest thing in the world to love someone “your baby” and know you want them to have more than you do so you let them go. I will be forever indebted to her and also will always admire her strength and love for Johnley.
She asked if we could send updates once a month; ie, pictures of Johnley, a short note on how he is doing. I am truly in awe of this young woman..
Had dinner with Mansour. It was nice. We had fish, and vegetables and some guinea fowl that were very good. It is only 8:20 pm here but I am exhausted.
Breakfast included corn muffins, mango, watermelon and little french bread pizzas. Taishuana would have been in heaven. They were really good.
The sun is really hot today. I am going to be a dish rag by the end of the day.
Monsieur picked me up and we drove to the Homeland Security office. I met Johnley and his mother outside the building. She is so young. He has big bright eyes and the sweetest sounding voice, although I cannot understand him.
We waited for what seemed like an eternity before we were called. Mansour spoke to the woman then he and I left. Johnley and his mom stayed to be interviewed.
I learned that she comes to see min at least once a month. She rode back to the village with us and was crying. I don’t think I will ever know the depth of love you have for your child to let them go. It must be the hardest thing in the world to love someone “your baby” and know you want them to have more than you do so you let them go. I will be forever indebted to her and also will always admire her strength and love for Johnley.
She asked if we could send updates once a month; ie, pictures of Johnley, a short note on how he is doing. I am truly in awe of this young woman..
Had dinner with Mansour. It was nice. We had fish, and vegetables and some guinea fowl that were very good. It is only 8:20 pm here but I am exhausted.
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