After our morning café run down the street, I had planned to write, but instead of breakfast at the hotel as scheduled, we went up to the church. The kitchen ladies love hearing me say “sa say coupay dwet,” and I love sneaking into the kitchen to see what they are doing. They chastise me for not coming yesterday, they say they had made maize moulay for me.
After breakfast we take a walk into the countryside to see the land where the new church and school will be built. It was a nice change from town life to walk out in nature. It is a beautiful land here in spite of all the deforestation, erosion and litter. Where we were were none of these.
We then walked back and to the school that is nearby. It is called Fils de Lumiere. I remembered it as the vey first school I had performed at in March. But this time I recognized many of the children from the church and was very welcomed by them. I had a great little show, what luck for me to have worn a red shirt, it stood out great against their yellow and green uniforms. They sang along with the national anthem, though not as loudly as I had hoped for.
It was the last day for the Forward Edge and also for Sarah, so they had planned to go to a nearby beach. We waffled on going, but decided it would be a nice thing to do, so we piled into the truck, I think there were 18 of us in the pickup. Raymond Beach is about 30 minutes East of Jacmel along the coast. We passed by the Hands and Feet Orphanage along the way. When we arrived we sat under a pavilion at a long table and set up our base there. Some people swam. Sarah and I had thought that a trip to the beach would not be that different from Antigua, but we were so wrong. The sea was so different, the waves were very confused, floating on my back was like getting a massage in a Jacuzzi. Lunch came, beautifully grilled fish, spicey, nicely blackened, with plaintain. After we ate the rest of them walked down the beach to look for waves to body surf on. I saw some boys playing soccer, so grabbed a diabolo and went to work. They were very playful and loved what I was doing for them. I wandered back up the beach and they followed me, now asking me to do it again for their friends they had gathered. There was also a bus load of white people, who watched out their open bus windows. We played for almost an hour, juggling, ball spinning, and I got a good workout of two diabolos!
When we got back to the hotel, they wanted to go buy some souvenirs, so Caleb took us all to a place he knew. It was up near where I had done a show two months ago. The young men recognized me when I walked up. It was raining as we walked. Crazy blah. All the Haitians watched as we moved up the street. There was a woman holding a little boy, maybe two years old. I offered to hold him as she helped her husband wrap up the purchases. He was very comfortable in my arms. But he grew heavy, so I passed him off to Sarah, next thing I knew, he was sound asleep in her arms.
That evening there was a farewell dinner on the hotel roof for all of the Forward Edge team and Sarah, since she would be leaving tomorrow. I stood in the back as they individually acknowledged each person for their unique talents. Wonderful local crafts were given to each one. Sarah was touted for being a good reporter!! They said that they were sorry, but there was nothing for me; I climbed onto the balcony railing ,threatening to jump, they shrieked in delight and beckoned me back. Since I’m here another week, I’ll get my farewell next week!!
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