You want a story about fitting prostheses and patients. I don't have that tonight.
I can't say that I am not here for the patients. I always am. I will toil until it is done to see it through. But my purpose and drive for being here in Haiti is the continued support of the guys at Medi for Help Klinik. I want this place to succeed and I want to see these guys make it happen. If these 2 weeks only showed them appreciation for them and value in what they do then it is 2 weeks well spent.
What? It isn't Hanger Klinik any more? This isn't about me. As I had mentioned, I am the first American and Hanger volunteer in 2 yrs. It isn't because they aren't needed. Speaking with Cornelia today, the clinic has gone as long as 6 weeks in a row without a volunteer. It could be partly because Medi is a foreign company. I know the challenges. I work where you work. I am busy too. Making a 2-4 wk commitment seems impossible. All, I know is that if you do NOT try then it will probably not happen.
My fellow empolyees and I share the same affliction. Occassionally, when confronted with a decision or directive that seems challenging or unwanted we say, "Why is Hanger this? What does Hanger think?" I know the answer. Want to hear it? Hanger or ....fill in the _______, Is to any employee, whatever their superiors tell them, as well as show them, it is. Frequently, we use the question when we don't agree with a directive. I can hear many of our superiors saying, "why do you say, what does Hanger want?"..."You are Hanger!" at least 10 times this week I was confronted...not in a bad way, by a Haitian or person from HAS. They would ask me where I am working. I would say the prosthetic clinic. They would then comment that Hanger was here but they left. I would respond,.... I am Hanger.
Today, was not spent in the clinic. Today was a day off. HAS and Medi supported a day at the beach for the Techs and and some family. It was a farewell to Cornelia, who is leaving soon as well as a welcoming in to Ralf who is new. Me...I am sort of in the middle. Just happy to be here really. Though, the other day on the street, a knickknack vendor had hounded me all the way to clinic after lunch. On my way home I saw him outside the one and only tennis court. He was walking back to his "shop" with his racket in his hand. We walked together and ....I dont know....maybe cause he was out of work, he just stated talking and not trying to make a sale? His English was pretty good.
Are you Creole?, He said. I looked at him like he was insane. and said NO. He continued, well you don't look, act or sound like the almonds that we usually see. I tried to stop from laughing. This Blanc ain't Almond. Praise be? Almond... All that was coming to mind was Euro after Euro coming in with the hairstyle I call the European Mullet,accompanied by a Flourescent back pack or worse...the Carry-all. I am soo thankful they could see and hear the difference.
Today, was great. The techs along with kids , Cornelia, Ralf and I went to club Indigo in St. Marc. It was just incredibly nice to see these boys outside their work. See their kids and the tight relationship they have with them.....how you could see each parent inside the cute adorable child.
I snorkled some with Ralf's mask and snorkel only to pull up a few too many brown sand dollars for Cornelia's liking. "No,they're still alive!!! Throw them back. Throw them back!!" she exclaimed.
I gave the lot to Roseline. She needs to make something nice for Cornelia...soemthing for me,....and the rest are hers. Roseline, like many Haitians is an artist. She does a lot with papier mache, jewelry,...and stuffs.
You know....the beach was cool. Sooo great to hang with the boys and their kids. I so wish my kids could meet them all. and we all could hang out. The thing that struck me the most was the ride home.
It's the beach. Close our eyes. Beach smell....like the cologne that Kramer invented....you're kinda dry a, kinda salty-sandy even though you all changed into different clothes. Kinda tired and kinda not. You are bouncing to and fro on your way through St. Marc, 16 in a van. The diesel engine sounds like it about to crack at any minute. We stop at a...wait for it....GAS STATION...yes, they seem to exist here in Haiti...all a sudden. As we stop, this Van with no AC begins to fog up. It is dark and rainy and hot. This blanc is starting to broil. We finally start moving...crack some windows... maybe 5 minutes into the return to movement and the Creols breakout in song. I don't know if there are Haitian campfire songs but these next three sure sounded like them. I could not understand a blessed thing. I took part in an occassional misplaced fa rar ra ra ra ra.... inside I just rejoiced at the notion that this group was more than just coworkers.
As we dropped them all off....goodbyes are tough. I honetly don't think Alex wants to say goodbye. It is either too hard or he just doesn't want to allow the thought. He was a stop at the beginnig of the HAS corridor. For the rest apart from Roselline, it was hugs and actual somewhat glad and sad remarks of "until next time."
Tomorrow I plan to watch the sunrise over the Arbonite.
Adime
Chove Blanc
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