Sidestream

Another amazing day in Haiti. We went off to the church in the am with the group, work continues on the building. Food continues to be prepared. Children continue to play. It took a bit of doing on my part, but I did arrange to meet Nancy and Lee and Andre at the hotel at 11 to go play on the street. As we were about to leave, a man with a guitar started to play. A few gathered and sang along. Next a boy appeared with two plastic bottles with a few rocks in them to add some percussion. Then a young boy with a glass bottle and a rock, then a teen with a tin can and a stick, finally one of the workers joined in on the cap to a propane tank and a stone. What a beautiful sond they made as we drove away.

We arrived at the hotel just moments before they did. We chatted briefly and I decided to go to the closest tent city, the one just up the hill across the street, next to the funeral home, where I had performed two months ago. It was a time of day when I usually don’t work because of the heat, and I also think there might not be people around, but it was the time we had arranged, so off we went. As we neared the site, I saw four children playing under a tree. I thought, Perfect! That’s enough to start. As I came into view, a middle aged woman saw me, shouted something out, next thing I know, she has brought her chair along and sets it down right in front of me. She had remembered me from before and didn’t want to miss a thing.. And have a good seat to view it all from!!So now there were about 15. A crowd gathered quickly, probably 75 strong by the end. All ages were present, several motorbikes stopped to see the action. An old man stood and joined in. It was a great reappearance for me. I was curious how it would go at a place where I had already been. It couldn’t have gone better. I premiered my concertina. They loved it. And when I started to play the national anthem, by the second phrase they were all singing along. Perfect.

Nancy was very impressed and promised to send me her pictures as well as her son’s. She also had some ideas of how to go other places in the world. Amazing how it all turned out from sitting and drinking a beer yesterday.

Sarah and I went back to the hotel to rest a bit. Caleb and Caleb would meet us at 1;30, so after a short lie down, we headed out to get something to eat. We ended up with a huge plate of maiz moulet, a yummy mixture of ground corn and beans, spiced with pepper. We sat behind a curtain blowing in the wind behind the beautiful plump woman who had so lovingly prepared the food. Very cool.

Caleb was just a little late because he had lent his bike to someone. Not a problem, we were on his schedule. The three of us got on his bike and off we went. It was only a little disconcerting en route when he shout5ed over shoulder that he had never ridden a bike before he came to Haiti. And here he was with both of us on a bike navigating through the potholes, through the traffic and pedestrians. We arrived safely to see 60 kids sitting on benches under a tent patiently awaiting our arrival. As we got off the bike, they broke into a song in Engliish, “We welcome you, we welcome you, we welcome you today.” Sweet or what. We had a brief tour of Caleb’s house, a cinder block structure that was damaged in the quake. They have done some repairs but are still afraid to sleep inside at night. Several tents fill the back yard.

As we came back into the front yard, the children broke into song again. We sat in chairs facing them as Caleb introduced Sarah and I.

I had so much performing for this group. Definitely off the beaten path. I feel that the kids at the church program get so much input from all the groups that visit here almost every week. These kids are definitely off that track. So it felt so good to bring my work to them. They were so responsive and appreciative, and they too joined in loudly for the national anthem.

They sang some more, recited poetry, and gort a lesson from the Haitian Caleb. We then helped serve up their lunch, a healthy plate of rice and beans that they held on their laps patiently until everyone had been served, and grace said.

Another ride on the bike and we're back at the hotel. Sarah and I walk up the street and sit on an elevated porch having a beer, watching the traffic pass by and another day come to a close. Today felt so good to perform at the places off the mainstream. These are the ones that really feel good.