When I got back, Kels and Shaun wanted coffee, so we went out again, this time carrying the size 8 shoes that my cafe lady had requested. She wasn't there, probably her daughter was there instead, we sipped the hot sweet cafe with the anise flavored milk.
When we got back we met with LaFleur to hear what he had planned for our day.
We would go to Morne Oge for breakfast and then he had organized for the children to come at 10 to do this drawing project for Robin and Camilla. He had invited a few, he said; as the time arrived, there were a few. Many called out Roget when they saw me. What a warm reception I was given.
A young boy mimed my actions of juggling. Another took a rope that I had and DID one of my tricks!! I taught him more. What a quick learner he was.
The drawing project went very well. By the end, there was not a space left at any of the tables, they drew on the benches, hunched over their papers. i found a couple of young girls with tears trickling down their cheeks. They had been asked to draw about the day of the earthquake. It would not have been my choice to ask them to revisit that day, but it is not my project. I continue my work outside.
It was amazing what they did produce though. The older the children were, the more graphic the images were. The ages ranged from 4 to 22. Some of the older boys were busy the whole time, using rulers to draw wonderful representations of their homes.
After lunch we rode back to the hotel for a rest. We then took a walk through the market. I juggled long sticks of soap. One of the market streets is filled with rubble, yet the selling goes on, next to and on top of the jagged bits of concrete and stone.
In several places, I nearly lose my way because the buildings are gone. Where there once was a heavily damaged building is now an empty space, completely gone. Progress continues at its Haitian pace. There are piles of cement blocks, gravel and sand in many places, waiting to be formed into a new building.
Shaun had commented on how he would love to see how they make their rope here; as we wandered toward the beach, I saw a man making rope!! We watched his hands twisting and turning the strands into a beautiful two strand rope. A huge ball of it lay at his feet, easily over 100 feet. Seeing us standing there, an artist who was on his way home for the day, set his paintings down at our feet along the curb. Robin and Camilla bought a beauty.
As we stood there, a man came down the street with two white men. He recognized me and came and gave me a big hug. I recognized him from Pinchinant, the tent city I visited in March. I have picture of his family. He told me in words and actions of how I had entertained the children, and that they refer to me as Papa Noel.
He joined us on the beach for a drink. He spoke very eloquently of his plight in the tent city, caring for his children and dealing with the daily challenge. His English is very good yet he would lapse into French often. Robin continued the conversation then.
It was getting late, so I arranged for moto taxis to take us back to the hotel. Certainly a real Haitian experience not to be missed.
A wonderful soup made of banana, plaintain and cinnamon awaited us. It was a very comforting way to end our first day here.
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