March 11, 2009

ROAD TRIP!!! got into Port today. school was cancelled, no other good choices. several teachers were already out, Gary/Caroline had to work Agape, I was trying to get into to see the Livesay's...so VACATION DAY! unfortunately it didn't work to see T/T, they had some family things that could not wait, so we will see where we can try again in the future. The road to Port is getting much better, paved for long stretches now, though closer to our end there are still miles of really nasty roads. One new danger with the better roads is...horrible drivers on better roads. About a week ago there was an accident where 3 buses collided. Likely one was passing another on a curve, and the third came around the bend and boom. I was told there were many deaths out of it. Big rig drivers...buses, trucks, etc....are absolutely HORRIBLE BEYOND RECOGNITION here. They go as fast as they can, don't care if you are in their way (by being in their way, that means in your own lane as they pass others...or just use the best part of the road) and they fully expect you to move in ALL circumstances. People will die because of the new roads, buses will tip over that are overloaded, a common occurence, trucks will go as fast as they can. One step forward...3 steps backwards.

Found about everything we were needing in Port, drum for the copier, oil/filters for truck, cashed check, grocery store, worked Agape, got wood screws for Al from the Eco store. really cool place, Eco. like a Loew's for Haiti. EXCEPT, nothing has a price listed. it is assumed if you need it, you will pay for it. And if you do need it, well, you DO pay for it. Prices here are skyrocketing on everything. Gary and I shopped at the grocery store (Caroline wound up staying home to work on a class she is going to teach next month in Chicago) and filling one shopping cart cost almost $400 US. Granted we got a lot of meat, cheese stuff, expensive things. There is a team coming here and we bought for Al/Bev too. But still, $400? the common people are really having a hard time as prices go up and up. Rents are up too, land prices. The UN has provided security and other essential services the government could not provide, but their presence has sent prices up regularly. They are well funded and the local vendors make prices match. Regular folks are hurting. Another day. No wonder they at times take out their frustration in "manifestations". Unfortunately when they do, they usually tear up the road, and the cycle starts over. Friday a team comes in to do medical clinics for a week. Hopefully much good will be done, as many need it.

Djebenis tout moun.