greetings to all. another trip to haiti has come and gone: another whirlwind of actions, impressions, accomplishments and failures. it is psychologically very difficult to be part of haiti - even if only for a week. staying there longer - a month or more - is definitely a more peaceful experience: everything settles and there is not such a rush to see and do all, or time to accept and understand. aside from that: i cannot be gone from carl that long.
this will be long, but much has happened again. ready it or dump it :D
as always, i just jot all this down, hope the spell-checker works (has not been...it must be in haiti....)and what you see is what you get. this trip was different. as all are. dinah dreher 19 yr old girl from germany, and katie bower, a social studies teacher in her late 20s from tunkhannunk (rural n.e. pennsylvania) were my companions for this powerful, short journey. dinah was steered my way by lisa walter, our onebigboost ambassador in germany. dinah was searching for something meaningful to do before beginning her university studies in the fall, and is now the volunteer math teacher in saint mark, haiti. a very brave young woman who will need all the encouragement from us all that she truly deserves. she will have many good and many difficult times. but i will let you follow her own stories on facebook and, hopefully on blogspot. thank you so very, very much for doing that, lisa! you've made a great contribution to the el shadai american-english school in saint marc, and a life-changing one for dinah! and that's really what onebigboost is all about!
arrival in haiti.
i was amazed at the improvement at the port au prince airport: an actual arrival into a 'sleeve' rather than across the tarmac (which with one airstrip is perfectly safe even if it is an instant blast-furnace), walking into organized halls to our luggage retrieval and waiting calmly in line for customs. amaaaaazig! outside was a long, covered walk-way with kind luggage porters and, at the very end, a group of people, including gladys and frantz and, most importantly, my little jean. he knew me from a great distance and was pulling away to find my neck with two tight little arms. absolutely wonderful. he is so healthy, so beautiful and so filled with love.
ok. so let me backtrack and give you the perspective as i heard over and over from dinah and katie:
...there were people everywhere...people touching me, yelling and talking, taking my luggage...it was scary and so confusing! i didn't know what to do! it was so horrible! then meeting gladys and frantz and jean, trying to get into the truck with everyone claiming to have helped us and wanting money (that was certainly true and maddening) and...and...
it would be easier to continue like this for pages and hours, but i will give a simple summary of what we did, saw, experienced and accomplished this week. it was good to go home at this point, after 8 instead of 10 days because, for once, i was truly overwhelmed as well. having dinah and katie close was absolutely great!
summary of some of all memories, good and bad mixed:
- there is building and construction absolutely everywhere, including in cities where there was no destruction. ergo: employment and upward motion.
- roadwork was amazing and with fantastic results. raised high up against water, solidly constructed. to saint marc in under 2 hrs instead of 4-5. no more vw-deep holes
- water run-off systems everywhere, also really well-done
- all people working rather than standing around watching others work (one time excepted)...sound familiar?
- strong electric lines on solid concrete poles all along the highways, as far north as gonaives (farthest north we went)
- tent cities as far as the eye could see in every direction of the compass. thousands and thousands and thousands and....of them. the distances these people traveled to safety and shelter is unimaginable.
- safer toilets everywhere, particularly by s.o.i.l and oxfam, who are working side-by-side on the toilet/hygiene issues. more about that later.
- several camps where they are starting little garden plots, flowers and food planted in old car tires.
- many farmers working the land - more than i saw any other year.
- the food prices everywhere are sky-high. no idea how people can survive on it.
- it seemed like almost everyone had jobs, but i didn't see as many school children as usual.
- fabulous (hidden!) restaurants, bars, discos and hotels
- many people without limbs
- wheelchairs impossible in the rubble-filled streets and steep 'roads'.
- handicapped people house-bound as a result. employment opportunities???
- endless complaints that food and fresh water is not delivered to the tent camps, particularly to the out-lying camps, miles and miles into nowhere.
- orphanages who are inundated with children who are not orphans, but whose parents cannot feed them.
- very young prostitutes along every major road, lifting up skirts with nothing under them, hoping to have some food that day.
- the sudden safety and normal- all is relative - daily life when arriving at saint marc or other such towns.
- every inch of space in petionville, leogane, port au prince (on and on) occupied by tents, from make-shift plastic bags to nice square house-shaped units in orderly rows. asnywhere an inch is found: in parking lots, small side yards, on the median of highways,even i the beds of pickup trucks. all parks are occupied as are steep hillsides and rubble-filled empty lots. there is worry about land deeds.
- rebuilding in the city virtually impossible because there is no way to get to the place where something needs to be built: occupied by make-shift shops selling either 'maggie' boullion cubes, spark plugs or bras, behind which are row after row of tents, each filled with families who have no other place to occupy.
- families living under fallen buildings with the risk of another cave-in.
- still an occasional stench of death
- beautifully built or repaired hospitals, often filled with international staff who teach the haitian doctors what they don't know how to do right....(many of those trained overseas: good to see respect and all..)
- worst of all: thousands of ngo-s, who will absolutely not work with each other. (a few exceptions, of course)
- dozens and dozens of international aid orgs, such as individual countries' red cross orgs: sweden, finland, iceland, japan, germany, arabic relief, brazil, chile, canada, usa, switzerland, greece, poland, mexico, china, several african nations etc etc. what was nice there was that many shared vehicles and drivers as needed, judging by stickers
- clear work done and continued regarding past, current and future issues, from roads to schools to mountainsides, growing projects, safety, hygiene etc etc.
- higher level business such as upscale stores and galleries are blooming and true quality artwork is appearing there.
- lots of painters on the street selling "their" art, created faster than degas, renoir,
van gogh, kandinski and dahli combined...and in all styles, of course. one even had jars of paint, ad paint smeared on his hands! i took his hand, rubbed some of the paint on my hand and said "see? i made all those, too!" which created great laughter from his street-vending professionals. long live copy machines!
- we had a fantastic driver while in/around port au prince. a 24 yo college business student named watson who knew the mazes like his back pocket. his english was good and we had a lot of fun. he, as most haitians in such cases, became a special friend to all three of us.
- sleeping on the cold tiles on a balcony in soft rain. a real mix of comfort and discomfort.
- trying to deal with people who always want more, or more for less. very frustrating. their initial requests are usually unreasonable, yet you hate to dicker with those who have so little
- not being able to explain that not all whites are rich, that not all 'blan' are there to get something from them - but to give, help and, hopefully, get the hell out of there again.
- trying to deal with the superior 'blans' around us, who are so good to the inferior, teaching them all they do not know while rubbing in how much they know, and will probably not continue..
- seeing people who will never ask what it is what the haitians want but just bring shirts (maybe they'd tell you they need underwear!) or pencils and paper for school instead of building a small outdoor kitchen so the kids ca have a hot meal once a day. these are just poor examples, but hopefully make clear that we must ask!!
- mingling with the haitians on 'time off' occasions and visit a disco or sip a glass of wine. have lunch together - even if on the sidewalk. they live differently, but are as alive as we are. do we have to do this 'integration' business all over again?
- huge billboards, elegantly done, regarding use of condoms, yes or no on breast-feeding (no for hiv+mothers), other safe sex issues, cholera prevention, cholera treatment, pre-natal care, malnutrition, safe toilet habits, work and education and water purification. clear and open, no baloney. we could do that here too!
- never-ever being able to drink or brush your teeth from a faucet.
- not having a real shower anywhere except at our hotel, which was a nice surprise.
- being able to softly slide into the lovely hotel pool with our clothes on, or just a bra and panties, because after the intense heat we couldn't just let it shimmer there
- always being surprised at the beauty of the vegetation, the huge banyan trees or the...whatever the true giants are called....
- many new large grocery stores, available to all rather than just diplomats and people with passports.
- tons and tons and tons of international corporations who set up permanent businesses, employing the many educated haitians who previously had nowhere to go once they had their diplomas or degrees.
- some tet villages had a little garden plot started by each tent.
- we saw solar cell panels atop (really high) street lights to offer night-time safety for them
boy- that was a lot of blue, wasn't it? (red and blue, haiti's colors...) sometimes one just has to spew in order to release, relive and especially not forget.
as far as onebigboost is concerned: we got some things done, others on the way and some just died a quick death.
dinah has found her temporary home at the house of gladys, jean, frantz and her three teen brothers. she's had a couple of bouts of homesickess already, but it is almost impossible not to. i stepped into this madness having worked myself from the bottom up over the past 11 years, while she and katie landed smack on the top during an exceptionally difficult time. very, very rough. please follow dinah (dreher)'s 5 month intense adventure, if at all possible, on facebook and whatever because she can use all the t-l-c she can get!
she already has many friends there and the fact that gladys is close to her age, has made a complete room available for her and that we started out all together, makes it a little easier. but only a little. she just told me that everyone taught her to 'dance haitian style' before taking her out clubbing last night. she had a blast!
we found two small groups of people, in saint marc and pertionville, very very interested in the tile-making project. they have the free clay, can build a kiln (have free soft and hard stone as well as free/low-cost cement and firing materials-not wood). the glazing materials and tools are not so hard to ship there. this project would entail initial investment from outsiders to purchase and provide labor, and volunteer time for education, building at least two med-size kilns with with them. i explained that during the first 3-6 moths they would have to apprentice a few hours each day and that this was like a school, but they didn't have to pay tuition (and should keep their jobs!). that was understood and appreciated. at least 3 of the people will be excellent a reliable. one of them, using my sample book, immediately talked about design etc. i feel that it should be a selective system as well, to give more value to the project.
very, very great.
we made contact with two galleries who are dealing in quality and all original pieces, one more costly than the other but both within reason. paintings, wood carving, glass, multi-media, photography, jewelry and iron work. no fabric work, come to think of it. they said they would gladly accept tiles for sale, since they have no such items.
we visited a home for restavec teenage girls, which was a very moving experience for us all. They have seven of the worst raped, beaten and neglected girls, with another 8 to come. in addition they are working with hundreds of families through individual and group meetings to improve the lives of many less endangered work girls and boys, some as young as age 3. one of the housemothers, a perhaps early-30s young woman, american of haitian origin, is a Child Advocate. she told us that they are training the girls skills for a profession as well as going to school, having normal chores and the normal life of teens. baking cookies instead of cooking for the entire family.for once. katie, dinah and i conferred, all being equal in onebigboost, and decided to donate $500 to the home, to be used for an object(s) that would benefit all, such as a house computer for study and/or sewing machines. we'd love to give more: this project is worthy of all help we can give it and skill-building is essential for independence.
one camp we visited needed a school building, we were told. they had one, which was very confusing. the principal, rather than asking for books, asked for uniforms. there were about 300 tents, all with at least one family each and nothing much more than the clothes on their backs. we left in great confusion and some anger. it's a longer story - let's leave it like that.
cite soleil - the dirt under the crust of the earth.
after visitig the new gardens outside cite soleil and being told there was a door in the wall that surrounds it, i went to fid it and stepped through. like the witch and her war-drobe.
i made some people worried or even 'unhappy', but i couldn't help myself. i had hear children's voices, and by sound found a lovely little school. the 'building' was new: newly erected walls covered by cheerful yellow tarps which gave it such a sunny appearance! the children, all crowded 8 or more to a bench meant for two, were working hard and paying attention to their teachers. they only have 6 grades and are grateful for any students who make it that far. that school i hope to do something for!
the section of cite soleil i was in was like nothing i have ever seen or imagined. something from a made-up movie. each house was tiny-tiny and each one room only made of stone (or whatever) walls, dark and dank. the 'streets' were perhaps 3 feet wide and often no longer than one or two of the 'houses'. after each segment there was another turn and another. at each turn i looked carefully for things to help me find my way back. it was truly like walking through a maze - an eerie one. people stared at me, some shocked, but whenever i flashed a happy 'bonswa!!' to them, i was greeted with joyful smiles and the same greeting. one time is asked for lekol and was pointed to lakaila. sure enough: i had followed the sound correctly. they were too stunned to take me there.
i had a wonderful coversation with the principal, who took me around to each classroom, introduced me to each teacher and to all the boys and beribboned little girls. watson, deadly worried, finally found me and scolded me. i was really sorry that i had upset him, but am delighted with the little discovery trip. the principal asked me " are you by yourself? not afraid? that is good. very very good!". i have his and the school's information.
the gardens visited were wonderful. all 'fed' by composted, odorless and rich human waste (yes: safe to touch) and anywhere from 1-ft high bean and tomato bushes to peeping green. visiting their system of sifting and safe handling of the tons of waste was truly interesting! the toilets themselves were great! poo and pee are separated within the toiletry. liquid goes into containers, and poo gets a handful of...bash?...that helps the odor and starts the composting off to a good start. it would be good, with more nutrients, to ad the pee, but that also makes the whole process stink like heck. they have a special cleaning system (cholera) for departing trucks, tools and human feet. hip-hip-hurrah for SOIL! our $1500 donation is growing!
we went north, to gonaive, to look at a river that had not been contaminated, and searched for clay. it is excellent, so that was hopeful. we rode there in back on a tap-tap, something upper-class haitians have never done, and had a blast. renting car and driver would have come to $150 for 5 of us...the tap-tap was $6 rt for the whole gang.
another day, we bought some lovely clay/ceramic pieces in port and petionville, to be exhibited in frank goryls' upcoming haiti ceramic arts show at moscow clayworks. the pieces vary from a voodoo plate to a wall platter, a candle stick to simple vases.
can't remember the rest, but i am completely satisfied with the search and research of our goals. much done in just one week and yes: gladys' chicken is the best!
and my boy jean is, well, there is nothing like that, just like there is nothing like having a grandson. two such unique experiences. indescribable joy.
and haiti? my 'baby? sometimes i want to shake haiti in absolute anger. and then i realize that a shaken haiti has already happened, and that the result is awful.
back with courage and more complete plans next time, not so far down the road.
sticking with our mission statement: one time, one place, serving many, is not easy. food and clothing, tho' needed, is not within that scope. school books as school property would be, but pencils and paper are not. seeing the need makes you choke, but there are limited things a small org like ours is doing and should do if we are to be effective. we have that responsibility toward all those who trust and entrust us with their gifts and donations!
it is marvelous to see how and in which way we are growing, and which way it moves. and moves us. volunteers, people, like katie, who goes home with such vivid, confusing and often painful impressions, is carrying this on to her middle school students.
be gentle, katie. we live in a sheltered world and some of the children may have difficulty coping with your emotions!
still we promise to use 100% of all donations as entrusted to us, whether $5 or $1750. both have happened and we carry on your wishes and our promises if and when at all possible.
we're not only working in haiti: we will be wherever we can do a little bit of good - the little holes big orgs cannot or will not touch.
the 'village' is likely impossible, as we have realized after we put all the puzzle pieces together. we need too much from other ngo-s to make it work, and they're not interested in any project they cannot claim to be theirs. however: restavekfreedom has the same philosophy we do: 'it makes a difference to this one' when you pick up that lonely starfish and toss it back into the ocean.
please keep us in mind for donations, volunteerism, joining the international, growing team of all ages of onebigboost in decision-making and idea-contributions.
i already said that you didn't have to read it all, so don't blame me if it was too much. but thank you for sharing all this: the good, the bad and the ugly.
keep in touch via www.onebigboost.org
thanks and love, marianne
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
OneBigBoost-updates Jan 2011
The enigma Haiti. Now Duvalier has re-appeared, and yet no-one has an inkling why, for how long, what the reactions will do to the current elections. Just wait and see - another battle for Haiti and hopefully something will go uphil this year.
We at OneBigBoost have had a busy and great year! To see all the things that have happened, click on "to the bar" at the www.onebigboost.org website. Sorry, BYOB there. Our most recent project was a donation of $1500 to SOIL (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods), an NGO run by great young people in Haiti. They build toilets, do all sorts of organic info projects, and are now building a model garden on land they own in Tabarre. (A 'suburb' of Port au Prince, where the US Embassy also resides) Here the produced human compost will be used to show how valuable it can and will be in future gardening and tree-raising projects. In the central and northern region of Haiti in particular, this may well turn out to be one of the most promising projects! Needless to say they were at the center of action, and well over-worked, during the time and aftermath of the cholera epidemic. Thank goodness that is coming to be under control. Not gone, but almost contained. (but spreading in the DR..)
Now we have to turn to our last and by far largest project. Yet, again, in Haiti.
OneBigBoost wants to attempt a huge project that provides a degree of safety to small children: the restavec.
We have an opportunity to build an enclosed compound of 10 temporary structures, to last an average of 6 yrs, versus a tent to last 1 yr,( in a tropical climate.) Each structure is shaped like a yurt, made of recycled materials. The project intends to take 10 of these units and connect them permanently to create a safer environment for these runaway children. Each yurt can easily sleep 6 children, and two yurts should be given two single (also harrassed and raped) adult women to give a degree of supervision. The children for the first unit will be girls.
So what is a restavek-and what is the problem? Restaveks, boys and girls, are indentured slave children. They are either given or sold to well-to-do families in the city in hopes for a better life and education. Others are just kidnapped. Indeed: there are great and loving and responsible families out there, as Sander and I experienced ourselves. Sander befriended one of the boys: a happy, bright and well-educated boy clearly loved by the woman who had taken him in - and vise versa. Unfortunately this is only a small persentage. These 'stay with', 'reste avec' children often run away if they can, skinny, neglected, punished terribly and abused in many ways. Now, after the quake, it is estimated that 200 000 (yes: 5 zeros) children are abandoned and living off garbage heaps, and no safety - no-one to run to.
Here comes that starfish again. We can't save or help 200 000 children Don't We Wish!!!
But we can help one. Or 10. Or hopefully 50. And help a few women who are raped by strangers at night...when you are alone in a tent and nobody to protect you... (some smart woman in Port au Prince gave the women whistles!! Fantastic!) This is daily life there, including in the many places people escaped to outside Port.
The yurt village will cost $9500, which includes buying them, shipping them, paying workers to put them up (2-3 days), three to four toilets and ground cloths. Of course much more is needed - but these are basics that can be turned into reality.
Sadly, there are always stumble blocks.
A piece of land: there are already two options that are realistic.
Food, water, schooling, medical help...this is where things became a bit...well not so nice. (Although Jiminy Crickett tells me that the kids are better off to have a roof than nothing)
I contacted several big aid organizations this week, filled with hope and excitement. Together we can do great things! Right. Judging by their responses, they didn't realy read what I had sent them. I requested simple help in identifying one or more people/volunteers 'on the gound' in Haiti to make contact with when there, and pick their brain-just for a short amount of times. Asking them to introduce me to a person, direct me to a place. The response was each time: "we do not work with NGOs. You may donate to..." That was the moment that I wondered if we really all do want to save the children.
With the current political situation, we don't even know when to go. On the other hand, OBB is getting some much needed and exciting interest and action from overseas, which is so stimulating! Thank you, all!
We also have unexpected contact with some very rural schools in Guatemala, and a development in Nepal for (illiterate)adult education concerning the Nepali equivalent of Haitian restavec children. See if you can pick up the book SOLD by Patricia McCormick. This novel about a young girl in slavery is amazing - and so is the outcome as well as what is happening because of the book! And part of the book supports the new information project in Nepal! All poor countries have child trafficking. More starfish..
What can you do? Look at the website from time to time. Tell friends, family and collegues to look. If there is an opportunity for a fund raiser, consider us. If you would like to organize something fun, ask. Would you like a copy of our PowerPoint program to use for meetings and public information? Ask and we'll send a copy. Or find a cause and solution yourself!
NAMASTE'
We're not going away, and the need to give can easily be satisfied through the need to receive.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
readier..readier...
There are two really big containers in the living room. they're pretty: one is light b lue and the other an appely (yes: that's how I want to spell it) green. One even has wheels! The great part about these is easy organization and you can sit and work on them!
The dogs look at them and think "oo-oh! There she goes again".
I wish leaving became easier for me. This time, so close after Nepal, is really, really hard. I don't want to leave Carl again. I keep asking him to come. He is my love and my best friend. I need to be with him. And I am sure he is angry and sad and frustrated to have me leave again as well. He has made it clear that he is worried. Give him a call, a kind word when I am gone, Please?
Yet I am pulled the other way too: I hear Haiti and see it in my mind - already having so little in comparison to much of the world. So robbed by any culture that came along to do so. And still so.
I become so annoyed (furious is a better word) when people tell me about other nations being "just as" or even "more than". Do they not see? And SO WHAT! Everyone - all needy, deserve our help. Each team, every donation, all efforts are needed wherever we see need. Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Caribbean..on and on.
But about Haiti: do we not, also, acknowledge that these are our neighbors? Not just in time of such devastating need, but in time of every day? How can we let others live in squalor, in intellectual deprivation and physical hunger day by day? All can be (yes: I do believe ALL) changed through education. They can taught so they may establish a government that can give leadership, regulations, honesty and accountability. They can have good schools with good teachers and high standards, to present a stronger generation. Agriculture re-forestation are musts. Medical care, building practices, roads, clean water and sewage building. Tourism would be wonderful: their beaches, esp in the south and along the northern coast, are gorgeous. (Most are owned by 'Blans..')The fruits and vegetables are plentiful in variety and quality. So much there. And the people open, loving, so clean, so proud. Still.
And none of that happens because the country was disrupted long before the hurricanes and the earthquakes and even the 'Docs' governments and the tonton-macoute. So for now all we can provide is a variety of 'band-aids'. And I hope that will change soon. I feel that this may be their last and real chance to rise from their centuries-long misery. Maybe we can offer help that heals.
And that is about Haiti every day...now their need is beyond my comprehension.
Back to the packing. I get side-tracked in my insides at times. The containers are half full.
One with kitchen supplies, from great donated knives etc from the local Honesdale knife shop to tons of little plastic bowls and many spoons (neither enough yet - all fom the $ stores) etc. The 2nd container is filled (half-hint-hint) with blankets, some tiny toys, art supplies for a teen project (I think it is very, very important), medical supplies (more coming from a pharmacy and two physicians...one looks very familiar...) and personal hygiene (soap etc).
What would still be nice (read: needed) to have?
Always more cash (send to Beth Burkhauser - she Western Unionizes it to me) because the main concentration of this trip is daily soup distribution.
More 3/$ plastic bowls
More 3 or 4/$ metal spoons (NO plastic!)
Hand towels
Hotel soapies
Combs for Haitian thick hair.
Receiving blankets (!!!)
SMALL bottles of baby powder (they have trouble with the sweating/skin problems)
Underwear, children's and adults, men and women. I think this is important!
LARGE aluminum (light-weight!!)stock soup pots. Large! I can stick them in there and fill them up. Enamel ones are too heavy. I have not been able to find BIG ones. Used is great, of course.
Long-handled wooden spoons, sturdy ones.
Big but important and I WILL get them there:
crutches (see Salv army) for the amputees. Children and adult. Rubber caps at the
bottom for rocky soil.
Powdered milk. The more the merrier. I'll haul it.
Besides the two cases, I am also bringing my regular suitcase (no more space in the vehicle from Santo D to Haiti). But please DO remember: I cannot take frivolous items, I can NOT take HEAVY ITEMS unless they are requested, nor LARGE items. I'd just have to give them back to you.
The containers are closing Monday, February 15.
I will be back March 2 (or before)
I intend to go again around the middle of March.
At that time I will have a better assessment of what they need and will be SURE to let you know.
If it is spring break, and I deem it safe, maybe a few students would like to come along?
We're in a safe area and have a house to stay in.
Let me know.
Soup on Friday, Feb 12, U Meth Church, Honesdale, $7 sugg donation. Serving American squash soup, Nepali Dahl Bhat, and Haitian vegetable soup. Noon-1:30
Same day: Nepali craft in Clarksboro, NJ, from 6:30-? Contact me for info and RSVP. Line up in rows of 16.
Oh boy - are you all ever wonderful!
Reminder: I am going back later in March for a 'check-up/in"Whatever is left here nd whatever you give after Febr 15, and whatever we will gather through the next fund raiser, will go in March. And here you thought you were finished :-D
Marianne, with Beth.
The dogs look at them and think "oo-oh! There she goes again".
I wish leaving became easier for me. This time, so close after Nepal, is really, really hard. I don't want to leave Carl again. I keep asking him to come. He is my love and my best friend. I need to be with him. And I am sure he is angry and sad and frustrated to have me leave again as well. He has made it clear that he is worried. Give him a call, a kind word when I am gone, Please?
Yet I am pulled the other way too: I hear Haiti and see it in my mind - already having so little in comparison to much of the world. So robbed by any culture that came along to do so. And still so.
I become so annoyed (furious is a better word) when people tell me about other nations being "just as" or even "more than". Do they not see? And SO WHAT! Everyone - all needy, deserve our help. Each team, every donation, all efforts are needed wherever we see need. Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Caribbean..on and on.
But about Haiti: do we not, also, acknowledge that these are our neighbors? Not just in time of such devastating need, but in time of every day? How can we let others live in squalor, in intellectual deprivation and physical hunger day by day? All can be (yes: I do believe ALL) changed through education. They can taught so they may establish a government that can give leadership, regulations, honesty and accountability. They can have good schools with good teachers and high standards, to present a stronger generation. Agriculture re-forestation are musts. Medical care, building practices, roads, clean water and sewage building. Tourism would be wonderful: their beaches, esp in the south and along the northern coast, are gorgeous. (Most are owned by 'Blans..')The fruits and vegetables are plentiful in variety and quality. So much there. And the people open, loving, so clean, so proud. Still.
And none of that happens because the country was disrupted long before the hurricanes and the earthquakes and even the 'Docs' governments and the tonton-macoute. So for now all we can provide is a variety of 'band-aids'. And I hope that will change soon. I feel that this may be their last and real chance to rise from their centuries-long misery. Maybe we can offer help that heals.
And that is about Haiti every day...now their need is beyond my comprehension.
Back to the packing. I get side-tracked in my insides at times. The containers are half full.
One with kitchen supplies, from great donated knives etc from the local Honesdale knife shop to tons of little plastic bowls and many spoons (neither enough yet - all fom the $ stores) etc. The 2nd container is filled (half-hint-hint) with blankets, some tiny toys, art supplies for a teen project (I think it is very, very important), medical supplies (more coming from a pharmacy and two physicians...one looks very familiar...) and personal hygiene (soap etc).
What would still be nice (read: needed) to have?
Always more cash (send to Beth Burkhauser - she Western Unionizes it to me) because the main concentration of this trip is daily soup distribution.
More 3/$ plastic bowls
More 3 or 4/$ metal spoons (NO plastic!)
Hand towels
Hotel soapies
Combs for Haitian thick hair.
Receiving blankets (!!!)
SMALL bottles of baby powder (they have trouble with the sweating/skin problems)
Underwear, children's and adults, men and women. I think this is important!
LARGE aluminum (light-weight!!)stock soup pots. Large! I can stick them in there and fill them up. Enamel ones are too heavy. I have not been able to find BIG ones. Used is great, of course.
Long-handled wooden spoons, sturdy ones.
Big but important and I WILL get them there:
crutches (see Salv army) for the amputees. Children and adult. Rubber caps at the
bottom for rocky soil.
Powdered milk. The more the merrier. I'll haul it.
Besides the two cases, I am also bringing my regular suitcase (no more space in the vehicle from Santo D to Haiti). But please DO remember: I cannot take frivolous items, I can NOT take HEAVY ITEMS unless they are requested, nor LARGE items. I'd just have to give them back to you.
The containers are closing Monday, February 15.
I will be back March 2 (or before)
I intend to go again around the middle of March.
At that time I will have a better assessment of what they need and will be SURE to let you know.
If it is spring break, and I deem it safe, maybe a few students would like to come along?
We're in a safe area and have a house to stay in.
Let me know.
Soup on Friday, Feb 12, U Meth Church, Honesdale, $7 sugg donation. Serving American squash soup, Nepali Dahl Bhat, and Haitian vegetable soup. Noon-1:30
Same day: Nepali craft in Clarksboro, NJ, from 6:30-? Contact me for info and RSVP. Line up in rows of 16.
Oh boy - are you all ever wonderful!
Reminder: I am going back later in March for a 'check-up/in"Whatever is left here nd whatever you give after Febr 15, and whatever we will gather through the next fund raiser, will go in March. And here you thought you were finished :-D
Marianne, with Beth.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Getting closer
Today was an exciting day. Dates are set: Febr 16-March 23. Selfish dates: leaving after Val's day to go with a good trauma surgeon friend to Haiti - and being back in time for Tjitske's fundraiser for her 'kids'. All needed, all right, and all just. On the other hand: the Daddy won't be there because he'll be skiing with his buddies in Colorado... OK: you tell her. I don't have the guts.
All is taking shape, and rapidly. Today I thought it might be fun to have a Soup For Soup luncheon in Honesdale. Figured out a recipe (Hatian Veg Soup,, duh), fund a church who would host it - for free - and met with the local paper's writer man before noon to put an article + pix in the paper. Me and pix. Right. Funny, funny man. Then I met with a great group of students at Keystone College at 1pm, each representing a group they are 'in charge of'. Most are groups that are service oriented. It was great to hear different people's ideas and hopes. many more people who know about OneBigBoost, and many who think it is great.
Next Fri we'll serve rice, soup, bread and water for lunch for $7/each. Hope &7 is not too high. More importantly: after this blog I have to compose a letter aka guilt-trip talking the local food stores/chains into donating beef, (they're rather short on goat, I heard), tuber-type vegetables and rice. That should not come out of our kitty for Haiti.
Bought a TON more bowls at dollar stores, as well as sippy cups,little bowls, small and large spoons.
If any of you want to contribute: I need GOOD quality potato/veg peelers, about 6 or more, small pairing knives (GOOD ones!), a few big chopper knives and BIG ladles. (Yo-de-daddle-whoo) I will leave all behind and please let's not hand out $%@(#*. Their life already is. Make it last. One is better than four! We hope to make soup (and rice) for at least 300 people to start. We need to work fast and well each morning. And always more: small hand towels, baby receiving blankets and the newborn baby hats, individual soaps. Always ANY kind of med supplies. Someone gave tons of thermometer! Carl said that these are so important to see whether people with wounds have fevers. That was a great gift! We need TOP bedsheets. New or used. We're trying to buy screen tents, and by adding sheets to the tops outsides, we will have VERY cheap tents that do not give passes to mosquitos and allow families some privacy. Without a huge cost.
Gosh - I just love you all. You have no idea. And if you already gave stuff to wherever: don't be afraid to ask friends, neighbors you never speak to, grumpy has station attendants...you'd be surprised how people react. I just encountered that 4x today! Go. Ask. It's not for you--it really is ok! AC Moore gave me t shirts 5/$10, and 20% off all that was on sale. The shirt, 11, are for the women who will serve the soup in Haiti. Easy to identify.
Yes: I am excited. And Yes: we will make A DIFFERENCE!!! You should see my kitchen! Filled with bags with stuff (meds and personal items) Bethany Moser, aka whatever, sent with her friends, neighbors...sometimes it brings me to tears. I will try to send short updates, maybe even with pictures, whenever I can from St Marc. So be sure that I have your email address. You're good people. I think my son Sander (I really hope so) will come with me. He also speaks some Kreyol and knows the people we will be with. Life is good in dark times.
All is taking shape, and rapidly. Today I thought it might be fun to have a Soup For Soup luncheon in Honesdale. Figured out a recipe (Hatian Veg Soup,, duh), fund a church who would host it - for free - and met with the local paper's writer man before noon to put an article + pix in the paper. Me and pix. Right. Funny, funny man. Then I met with a great group of students at Keystone College at 1pm, each representing a group they are 'in charge of'. Most are groups that are service oriented. It was great to hear different people's ideas and hopes. many more people who know about OneBigBoost, and many who think it is great.
Next Fri we'll serve rice, soup, bread and water for lunch for $7/each. Hope &7 is not too high. More importantly: after this blog I have to compose a letter aka guilt-trip talking the local food stores/chains into donating beef, (they're rather short on goat, I heard), tuber-type vegetables and rice. That should not come out of our kitty for Haiti.
Bought a TON more bowls at dollar stores, as well as sippy cups,little bowls, small and large spoons.
If any of you want to contribute: I need GOOD quality potato/veg peelers, about 6 or more, small pairing knives (GOOD ones!), a few big chopper knives and BIG ladles. (Yo-de-daddle-whoo) I will leave all behind and please let's not hand out $%@(#*. Their life already is. Make it last. One is better than four! We hope to make soup (and rice) for at least 300 people to start. We need to work fast and well each morning. And always more: small hand towels, baby receiving blankets and the newborn baby hats, individual soaps. Always ANY kind of med supplies. Someone gave tons of thermometer! Carl said that these are so important to see whether people with wounds have fevers. That was a great gift! We need TOP bedsheets. New or used. We're trying to buy screen tents, and by adding sheets to the tops outsides, we will have VERY cheap tents that do not give passes to mosquitos and allow families some privacy. Without a huge cost.
Gosh - I just love you all. You have no idea. And if you already gave stuff to wherever: don't be afraid to ask friends, neighbors you never speak to, grumpy has station attendants...you'd be surprised how people react. I just encountered that 4x today! Go. Ask. It's not for you--it really is ok! AC Moore gave me t shirts 5/$10, and 20% off all that was on sale. The shirt, 11, are for the women who will serve the soup in Haiti. Easy to identify.
Yes: I am excited. And Yes: we will make A DIFFERENCE!!! You should see my kitchen! Filled with bags with stuff (meds and personal items) Bethany Moser, aka whatever, sent with her friends, neighbors...sometimes it brings me to tears. I will try to send short updates, maybe even with pictures, whenever I can from St Marc. So be sure that I have your email address. You're good people. I think my son Sander (I really hope so) will come with me. He also speaks some Kreyol and knows the people we will be with. Life is good in dark times.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Almost Haiti
It is so difficult to stand by - SITTING comfortably in my living room, actually...cup of coffee, fairly reliable computer with very reliable electricity and not feel complacent. Human nature, I guess.
Yet my mind is every hour on what Haiti is, at this moment in time. Not just destruction and terrible lack of drinkable water and food. These could be resolved fairly easily if the wheels of aid and honesty worked. And if they reached farther, equally, than the capital. I feel mainly that life and hope have been taken roughly from them. What little hope they had must be dwindling fast.
People ask me (me???) about poverty. About poverty in 'developing nations'. I think they honestly want to know, from their very safe place (look who's talking!) what it feels like to be poor. Because we cannot understand. Really can't. I have come to the conclusion that, aside from famine through circumstances, poverty is measured only by what others have. You do not know poverty when everyone lives the way you do. Nepal is not poor. Some areas need help and they are so ready to move ahead. That's not poverty.
We love to put a degree of blame on them: "Well, look at their government..." and "if they only took care and were honest (huh?) about all that aid..where is it going, anyway?" SEVERAL times I even heard "How come 'those Haitians' look so clean? I thought they were so poor!"
Even "Well, I saw a market on TV, and it looked like they had PLENTY of food!!"
HELLOOOOO- ANYONE HOME UP THERE??
You won't believe the excuses for our riches I have heard.
Gratitude? What do we know about that? Horn of plenty?
You do not need two shawls when everyone has one. As a man in Haiti asked Sander when he showed his camera "But why? Why would I need that? Why do I need a picture?" He doesn't need it and is satisfied.
Haitians are poor because they have been robbed blind for centuries, by others and by their own. They see the rich (mostly white - a black armed guard sitting next to them) driving in shiny Mercedes SUVs, shopping at the fancy big market in PaP (thank heaven it already opened again!) where armed guards protect the 'right' (from entry of the poor without the proper identification) that allows them to purchase better food, better quality.
How can I be here? How can I not?
I cannot leave my family, certainly never Carl. That I am not willing to give up. And giving up family is not necessry. But just about everything else I could. I really think so. Am I willing to put it to the test? Hmm....maybe...maybe not. I'm no different than anyone else: a creature who loves her comfort, fridge full of food, soft bed, a car that actually starts, tons of books and at least 3 shirts on my back. And I will part only with that which is convenient. Bless my soul with what I (and you) give, and I tell myself I've 'done good'. Right. What is 'good'? What does it really mean? How much suffering do others need before I 'get it'?
Do you ever feel, after having been on vacation somewhere, really close to the new people you have befriended? You promise to write and, in some cases, the relationship is close enough that you actually do. You want to see them again and feel that special closeness. The laughter, the great conversations and the quiet times over a glass of excellent wine.
For me it is that way with Haiti. They have become my family. Part of heart and soul and when they cry, I try hard not to because I am afraid that when I start, I will not be able to stop. We laugh, we look into each others' eyes. We drink coca cola (safe), look at books with pictures and we hug. I feel I have three families: my own nucleus, my dearest friends and extended family, and Haiti. I wish so much that my girls, even one of them, would take just ONE week to come and feel what I feel. As Sander and Carl have. It would enrich their lives beyond anything they could imagine. In a really good way. I just want to share that feeling. The people. The friends
But I have to (and do) honor their needs and spaces in life.
So how to get back to how I started. I have no clue what to say, what to offer. My tears don't do them any good. THEIR strength and unbelievable resilience is what keeps those who visit going. The Haitians always seemed to have hope. Still: they are hungry. Now they are not only hungry: they are helpless. Their own people bribe them $7 for a food coupon that was distributed for free by world aid. Goodness...now WE would never do such a self-serving thing!
OK. I'm rambling. I'm sad. I am trying to get from the DR to Haiti and right now I don't know how and the days are ticking by.
We are already starting to forget Haiti, because they are no longer in the headlines. How sad to have to remind you "I told you so!" More: you have to google "Haiti earth quake today" or "Saint Mark, Haiti, today". We have to work for it - make an effort. Efforts are good.
We, here, NEED to trim our trees and fertilize the fields. We MUST pay our taxes on all the money we made last year and we HAVE to look into better schools for our children, after we organize that vacation to the Caribbean. I'm no different.
Time to pack this blog up. Have to go upstairs and take a hot shower, take my expensive meds and figure out what I want for breakfast. So much to do...
Sorry for spewing my thoughts. Had to. Not to you but for myself.
Please keep up the good work, my friends. And thank you for your trust as I try to be responsible about all you contributed.
Marianne
Yet my mind is every hour on what Haiti is, at this moment in time. Not just destruction and terrible lack of drinkable water and food. These could be resolved fairly easily if the wheels of aid and honesty worked. And if they reached farther, equally, than the capital. I feel mainly that life and hope have been taken roughly from them. What little hope they had must be dwindling fast.
People ask me (me???) about poverty. About poverty in 'developing nations'. I think they honestly want to know, from their very safe place (look who's talking!) what it feels like to be poor. Because we cannot understand. Really can't. I have come to the conclusion that, aside from famine through circumstances, poverty is measured only by what others have. You do not know poverty when everyone lives the way you do. Nepal is not poor. Some areas need help and they are so ready to move ahead. That's not poverty.
We love to put a degree of blame on them: "Well, look at their government..." and "if they only took care and were honest (huh?) about all that aid..where is it going, anyway?" SEVERAL times I even heard "How come 'those Haitians' look so clean? I thought they were so poor!"
Even "Well, I saw a market on TV, and it looked like they had PLENTY of food!!"
HELLOOOOO- ANYONE HOME UP THERE??
You won't believe the excuses for our riches I have heard.
Gratitude? What do we know about that? Horn of plenty?
You do not need two shawls when everyone has one. As a man in Haiti asked Sander when he showed his camera "But why? Why would I need that? Why do I need a picture?" He doesn't need it and is satisfied.
Haitians are poor because they have been robbed blind for centuries, by others and by their own. They see the rich (mostly white - a black armed guard sitting next to them) driving in shiny Mercedes SUVs, shopping at the fancy big market in PaP (thank heaven it already opened again!) where armed guards protect the 'right' (from entry of the poor without the proper identification) that allows them to purchase better food, better quality.
How can I be here? How can I not?
I cannot leave my family, certainly never Carl. That I am not willing to give up. And giving up family is not necessry. But just about everything else I could. I really think so. Am I willing to put it to the test? Hmm....maybe...maybe not. I'm no different than anyone else: a creature who loves her comfort, fridge full of food, soft bed, a car that actually starts, tons of books and at least 3 shirts on my back. And I will part only with that which is convenient. Bless my soul with what I (and you) give, and I tell myself I've 'done good'. Right. What is 'good'? What does it really mean? How much suffering do others need before I 'get it'?
Do you ever feel, after having been on vacation somewhere, really close to the new people you have befriended? You promise to write and, in some cases, the relationship is close enough that you actually do. You want to see them again and feel that special closeness. The laughter, the great conversations and the quiet times over a glass of excellent wine.
For me it is that way with Haiti. They have become my family. Part of heart and soul and when they cry, I try hard not to because I am afraid that when I start, I will not be able to stop. We laugh, we look into each others' eyes. We drink coca cola (safe), look at books with pictures and we hug. I feel I have three families: my own nucleus, my dearest friends and extended family, and Haiti. I wish so much that my girls, even one of them, would take just ONE week to come and feel what I feel. As Sander and Carl have. It would enrich their lives beyond anything they could imagine. In a really good way. I just want to share that feeling. The people. The friends
But I have to (and do) honor their needs and spaces in life.
So how to get back to how I started. I have no clue what to say, what to offer. My tears don't do them any good. THEIR strength and unbelievable resilience is what keeps those who visit going. The Haitians always seemed to have hope. Still: they are hungry. Now they are not only hungry: they are helpless. Their own people bribe them $7 for a food coupon that was distributed for free by world aid. Goodness...now WE would never do such a self-serving thing!
OK. I'm rambling. I'm sad. I am trying to get from the DR to Haiti and right now I don't know how and the days are ticking by.
We are already starting to forget Haiti, because they are no longer in the headlines. How sad to have to remind you "I told you so!" More: you have to google "Haiti earth quake today" or "Saint Mark, Haiti, today". We have to work for it - make an effort. Efforts are good.
We, here, NEED to trim our trees and fertilize the fields. We MUST pay our taxes on all the money we made last year and we HAVE to look into better schools for our children, after we organize that vacation to the Caribbean. I'm no different.
Time to pack this blog up. Have to go upstairs and take a hot shower, take my expensive meds and figure out what I want for breakfast. So much to do...
Sorry for spewing my thoughts. Had to. Not to you but for myself.
Please keep up the good work, my friends. And thank you for your trust as I try to be responsible about all you contributed.
Marianne
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Haiti and Nepal
First about Haiti. What can one say? And what to tell beside what we all hear in the news? Only this, on a personal note: our little Jean is fine, as is his mom Gladys and her 3 young brothers. No tremors north of PaP/Petionville, in Saint Marc, which is about 5hrs by car up the coast. But little water available and food is running out there as well. The streets around the local hospital are lined with injured, brought up from PaP. I just talked to Gladys when she had a few minutes to talk before the line was cut.
Our dear friends Nathaelf, Erlantz and Christina, with children and spouses, are ok and working around the clock. Nathaelf, phys, was in the hospital in Petionville, the hospital you all heard collapsed. We have not heard about the two people at the UN/UNESCO we had meetings with...
Now about Nepal.
We stayed for several days in a variety of places, for a variety of reasons/ purposes.
The flight there was looooong. From JFK to Hong Kong and from there to Kathmandu (via Bangladesh), all together, home to 'home', about 34 hours. Talk about 'well-done'! (as in food)
We spent 3 days in Bakhtapur, a 'suburb' of Kathmandu and a World Heritage site (the entire town). It is beautiful beyond description. Very old, gorgeous woodwork on every old building (most, therefore), the highest temple in Nepal - five stories high-, of the known Japanese pagoda style which is originally from Nepal to begin with. There are religious edifices on every street corner, courtyard, in between and more. Each are prayed to, bell(s) rung, flowers and red or yellow Tika paste added etc. In the beginning I was filled with wonder and admiration, but later in the trip I began to have difficulty with the animal worships and sacrifices. Still admire their religious sincerity which was, oddly enough, more prominent in the city than in the country-side or smaller towns. It is usually the opposite. The Hindu religious had touches of Buddhism, the Buddhism touches of Hindu and the Christianity an odd touch of both. Even the missionaries. Good to see mutual acceptance and respect. For a change.
The three things that caught our attention first and throughout our trip were the bells all day long, starting a 5am: little and large bells rung constantly by men and women during their short and longer acts of worhip. The second was, yes, hawking. This 'nose-suck-throat glob-spit went on everywhere and from the first to the last mjintue is was totally disgusting. Mostly in the city of Kathmandu and surroundings and we figured it was related to the horrendous pollution. Really something awful.
The third thing was the never-ending, sincere friendliness and kindness. Especially so to Amricans, we felt. That was refreshing. The people who are educated, something every family strives for and gives up what most of us never would, have children studying in every corner of the world, mostly the US and the UK. And I mean Johns Hopkins, Prinnceton etc. And certainly not all on scholarships. Truly admirable and amazing. Getting them back is another issue, and quite understandable.
On the other hand we saw signs familiar with Haiti. The country side, town to fields, are strewn with garbage everywhere you go. Less so in really, really rural ares, most along roadways and in cities. Appalling and unnecessary. Maybe something will change in the future. We tried to talk to many people, and one never knows. Making Beautiful Nepal More Beautiful sort-of-speech.
We became true and life-long friends with a number of people, especially including our hosts Indira and M.P. in Butwal. What marvelous, loving, hard-working and caring people they are. They will be in our heart forever. Their two sons, at Susquehanna U PA and U of Texas, are graduating next summer and we will see them here! We hope we can be as kind to them as they were to us!
In Butwal, one ot the two reasons for our trip, we delivered TWO excellent computers and an excellent, top quality LCD projector to a public school that has next to nothing. It is too bad I cannot let you hear the cheers and excitement of the students. I'd l;ove to go back there and volunteer English speaking classes to those kids. Anyone interested?? They need you! You need to walk through a bad part of town (dirty), over a dubious swing bridge and through rice paddies to get there, but once there you are filled with utter joy and met with everlasting love.
Butwal is boring and ugly as heck, but since were were inundated with friends, parties and friendships we don't really remember much of that. In total we visited 7 schools, all but two private, of high level and discipline, and huge reception activities and speeches to welcome us. And gifts of all sorts, always beginning with looooong lines of "Namaste" and clapping greetings and being presented with off-white shawls, handsful of flower heads, and flower garlands around our necks. So marvelous. Cultural dances were often included.
Our jaunt into the country, Begnas Tal, was a great, contrasting experience. We stayed in a hostel-type place, which wasn't too clean, noisy, but with the nicest people. So all was well there also. We met with the sweetest adults and children in towm, gave each of them a (brandnew) book, many donated by Highlights For Children, and a new pencil. They were beyond delighted.
We visited a really poor school in the mountains and are considering sponsoring the kitchen that needs to be built, pots and pans and all, that will provide a free lunch for the poorest of the poorest mountain children. Part of our OneBigBoost© project. (One item per unit/not individuals, one place, one time ) That sounds like a good option to consider. We have some money left in the kitty due to generous donations at the end or after our departure, and with our sale-profit added, we should do well for the next stage!
We made a little friend, 12-yr old Ghatha, who spoke with more eloquence in English than her age-counterparts in the US. Amazing intelligence also. We'll keep watching that incredible girl, who said" I am so deeply saddened that you are leaving. You will remain embedded into my soul for the rest of my life." When we invited her and her 11 yo friend Nisa for dinner, and they preferred to order 'dry food'. To our surprise this meant Lays potato chips. Hmm. Another experience.
We saw musicians play primitive instruments, people dance spontaneously and in folkloristic dances. Hear different languages and dialects and, above all, saw the Himalayan mountains.
In the morning the hills and mountains surrounding us would be covered in fog, each layer above the other as the morning mist rose from each valley. Then, suddeny, a little white mountaintop would appear above it all, above the clouds. Just a triangle. Then more, and another one, and the top of a range. All shining white in the morning sun. As the fog disappated, the range of craggy mountains would rise majestically in the background. It was like seeing music. In the evening they would turn a fiery pink and orange in the setting sun, yet another experience. We were never in or close to them (no roads, only trekking paths) but it made no difference.
There was a water shortage in the valleys, because the water in the mountains were frozen. The snow doesn't start until February, so everyone was careful not to lose a drop. Ah: we did have a shower once. The rest were sponge-baths IF there was some water heated up.
It was, generally, almost unbearbly cold during the nights. We often slept with 3-4 layers of clothing on (make that 5). coat included. In Patan (Kathmandu suburbs) they brought us hot water bottles, after we asked for heat. That was utter bliss.
Beth loved the food, I did not, except for the yoghert (can't remember the exact spelling - senior moment), named King Curd, their fresh fruit. coffee and various ways of fixing chicken and curried vegetables and 'milk-coffee'. I ate very little, as I always do, so I wasn't 'starving'.
We bought, pre-planned, a large amount of beautiful items from our own 'seed money' that we had brought along. OK-so we went over the limit usin credit cards. But it was worth it. Besides a few family/friend gifts, we spent it all on beautiful crafts, to be sold at 'Nepal Parties', during which incredible deals can be had, with ALL profit going to a new OneBigBoost cause.
We have gorgeous, various weight and widths Pashmina (comes only from Himalayan mountain goats, and then only the wool from under the chin - no matter what they tell you in the store about "100% Pashmina) and Pashmina/silk mix shawls, wood carvings, lovely silver jewelry, some with gemstones. At the last minute we found a blue striped Yak, hand-spun and dyed, wool shawl!I have only one...!
An amazing amount of hand-made paper products such as note books, stationary, calendars and photo albums and heart garlands. A great variety of teas from black to herbal. Also a variety of "odd" objects such as lovely paintings, clay sugar or insense bowls, yak -bone items with brass and silver inlay, hand-cast miniature brass objects, a game, woven mini and larger baggies and purses, and more. It was SO much fun to be able to shop freely with the goal to sell it all. No guilt! We'll let you know (if you ask) when we have one of our 3 'home parties' at our homes or Philly at Tjitske' where you can hear music, watch slides and a video of our experiences, and buy one of the great deals we are passing on to you. IF you want to spend money. Be welcome either way! ALL of the profits go back to OneBigBoost!!! Come and see us: you won't be sorry. And you can come to just have (Nepali) tea. As I said: we had a blast.
I will try to post some of our pictures, but it may be a few days before I can get to them. I'm pretty tired still now and have been mainly occupied with Haiti stuff today. But I promised I'd write so here it finally is and all in one big bundle. Electricity is scarce and rare - internet even more so.
Love you all and thank you for thinking of us while we flew over Alaska, North Pole, Russia, China, Mongolia and into Hong Kong, traveled around and back again. What an unforgettable journey!
And mostly a BIG thanks to those who were able and chose to support the important project to that school, where some students had no shoes but walked to school anyway.
It does make me think of fancy Nikes and such socially needed paraphernalia our kids are forced into.
Thanks for trying to read the blog before, and thank you for doing so now.
Do good things, be kind and accepting (I'm learning!) and feel good about this world. It isn't as bad as we believe. There is ALWAYS hope and grumbling doesn't do anyone any good.
Marianne
Our dear friends Nathaelf, Erlantz and Christina, with children and spouses, are ok and working around the clock. Nathaelf, phys, was in the hospital in Petionville, the hospital you all heard collapsed. We have not heard about the two people at the UN/UNESCO we had meetings with...
Now about Nepal.
We stayed for several days in a variety of places, for a variety of reasons/ purposes.
The flight there was looooong. From JFK to Hong Kong and from there to Kathmandu (via Bangladesh), all together, home to 'home', about 34 hours. Talk about 'well-done'! (as in food)
We spent 3 days in Bakhtapur, a 'suburb' of Kathmandu and a World Heritage site (the entire town). It is beautiful beyond description. Very old, gorgeous woodwork on every old building (most, therefore), the highest temple in Nepal - five stories high-, of the known Japanese pagoda style which is originally from Nepal to begin with. There are religious edifices on every street corner, courtyard, in between and more. Each are prayed to, bell(s) rung, flowers and red or yellow Tika paste added etc. In the beginning I was filled with wonder and admiration, but later in the trip I began to have difficulty with the animal worships and sacrifices. Still admire their religious sincerity which was, oddly enough, more prominent in the city than in the country-side or smaller towns. It is usually the opposite. The Hindu religious had touches of Buddhism, the Buddhism touches of Hindu and the Christianity an odd touch of both. Even the missionaries. Good to see mutual acceptance and respect. For a change.
The three things that caught our attention first and throughout our trip were the bells all day long, starting a 5am: little and large bells rung constantly by men and women during their short and longer acts of worhip. The second was, yes, hawking. This 'nose-suck-throat glob-spit went on everywhere and from the first to the last mjintue is was totally disgusting. Mostly in the city of Kathmandu and surroundings and we figured it was related to the horrendous pollution. Really something awful.
The third thing was the never-ending, sincere friendliness and kindness. Especially so to Amricans, we felt. That was refreshing. The people who are educated, something every family strives for and gives up what most of us never would, have children studying in every corner of the world, mostly the US and the UK. And I mean Johns Hopkins, Prinnceton etc. And certainly not all on scholarships. Truly admirable and amazing. Getting them back is another issue, and quite understandable.
On the other hand we saw signs familiar with Haiti. The country side, town to fields, are strewn with garbage everywhere you go. Less so in really, really rural ares, most along roadways and in cities. Appalling and unnecessary. Maybe something will change in the future. We tried to talk to many people, and one never knows. Making Beautiful Nepal More Beautiful sort-of-speech.
We became true and life-long friends with a number of people, especially including our hosts Indira and M.P. in Butwal. What marvelous, loving, hard-working and caring people they are. They will be in our heart forever. Their two sons, at Susquehanna U PA and U of Texas, are graduating next summer and we will see them here! We hope we can be as kind to them as they were to us!
In Butwal, one ot the two reasons for our trip, we delivered TWO excellent computers and an excellent, top quality LCD projector to a public school that has next to nothing. It is too bad I cannot let you hear the cheers and excitement of the students. I'd l;ove to go back there and volunteer English speaking classes to those kids. Anyone interested?? They need you! You need to walk through a bad part of town (dirty), over a dubious swing bridge and through rice paddies to get there, but once there you are filled with utter joy and met with everlasting love.
Butwal is boring and ugly as heck, but since were were inundated with friends, parties and friendships we don't really remember much of that. In total we visited 7 schools, all but two private, of high level and discipline, and huge reception activities and speeches to welcome us. And gifts of all sorts, always beginning with looooong lines of "Namaste" and clapping greetings and being presented with off-white shawls, handsful of flower heads, and flower garlands around our necks. So marvelous. Cultural dances were often included.
Our jaunt into the country, Begnas Tal, was a great, contrasting experience. We stayed in a hostel-type place, which wasn't too clean, noisy, but with the nicest people. So all was well there also. We met with the sweetest adults and children in towm, gave each of them a (brandnew) book, many donated by Highlights For Children, and a new pencil. They were beyond delighted.
We visited a really poor school in the mountains and are considering sponsoring the kitchen that needs to be built, pots and pans and all, that will provide a free lunch for the poorest of the poorest mountain children. Part of our OneBigBoost© project. (One item per unit/not individuals, one place, one time ) That sounds like a good option to consider. We have some money left in the kitty due to generous donations at the end or after our departure, and with our sale-profit added, we should do well for the next stage!
We made a little friend, 12-yr old Ghatha, who spoke with more eloquence in English than her age-counterparts in the US. Amazing intelligence also. We'll keep watching that incredible girl, who said" I am so deeply saddened that you are leaving. You will remain embedded into my soul for the rest of my life." When we invited her and her 11 yo friend Nisa for dinner, and they preferred to order 'dry food'. To our surprise this meant Lays potato chips. Hmm. Another experience.
We saw musicians play primitive instruments, people dance spontaneously and in folkloristic dances. Hear different languages and dialects and, above all, saw the Himalayan mountains.
In the morning the hills and mountains surrounding us would be covered in fog, each layer above the other as the morning mist rose from each valley. Then, suddeny, a little white mountaintop would appear above it all, above the clouds. Just a triangle. Then more, and another one, and the top of a range. All shining white in the morning sun. As the fog disappated, the range of craggy mountains would rise majestically in the background. It was like seeing music. In the evening they would turn a fiery pink and orange in the setting sun, yet another experience. We were never in or close to them (no roads, only trekking paths) but it made no difference.
There was a water shortage in the valleys, because the water in the mountains were frozen. The snow doesn't start until February, so everyone was careful not to lose a drop. Ah: we did have a shower once. The rest were sponge-baths IF there was some water heated up.
It was, generally, almost unbearbly cold during the nights. We often slept with 3-4 layers of clothing on (make that 5). coat included. In Patan (Kathmandu suburbs) they brought us hot water bottles, after we asked for heat. That was utter bliss.
Beth loved the food, I did not, except for the yoghert (can't remember the exact spelling - senior moment), named King Curd, their fresh fruit. coffee and various ways of fixing chicken and curried vegetables and 'milk-coffee'. I ate very little, as I always do, so I wasn't 'starving'.
We bought, pre-planned, a large amount of beautiful items from our own 'seed money' that we had brought along. OK-so we went over the limit usin credit cards. But it was worth it. Besides a few family/friend gifts, we spent it all on beautiful crafts, to be sold at 'Nepal Parties', during which incredible deals can be had, with ALL profit going to a new OneBigBoost cause.
We have gorgeous, various weight and widths Pashmina (comes only from Himalayan mountain goats, and then only the wool from under the chin - no matter what they tell you in the store about "100% Pashmina) and Pashmina/silk mix shawls, wood carvings, lovely silver jewelry, some with gemstones. At the last minute we found a blue striped Yak, hand-spun and dyed, wool shawl!I have only one...!
An amazing amount of hand-made paper products such as note books, stationary, calendars and photo albums and heart garlands. A great variety of teas from black to herbal. Also a variety of "odd" objects such as lovely paintings, clay sugar or insense bowls, yak -bone items with brass and silver inlay, hand-cast miniature brass objects, a game, woven mini and larger baggies and purses, and more. It was SO much fun to be able to shop freely with the goal to sell it all. No guilt! We'll let you know (if you ask) when we have one of our 3 'home parties' at our homes or Philly at Tjitske' where you can hear music, watch slides and a video of our experiences, and buy one of the great deals we are passing on to you. IF you want to spend money. Be welcome either way! ALL of the profits go back to OneBigBoost!!! Come and see us: you won't be sorry. And you can come to just have (Nepali) tea. As I said: we had a blast.
I will try to post some of our pictures, but it may be a few days before I can get to them. I'm pretty tired still now and have been mainly occupied with Haiti stuff today. But I promised I'd write so here it finally is and all in one big bundle. Electricity is scarce and rare - internet even more so.
Love you all and thank you for thinking of us while we flew over Alaska, North Pole, Russia, China, Mongolia and into Hong Kong, traveled around and back again. What an unforgettable journey!
And mostly a BIG thanks to those who were able and chose to support the important project to that school, where some students had no shoes but walked to school anyway.
It does make me think of fancy Nikes and such socially needed paraphernalia our kids are forced into.
Thanks for trying to read the blog before, and thank you for doing so now.
Do good things, be kind and accepting (I'm learning!) and feel good about this world. It isn't as bad as we believe. There is ALWAYS hope and grumbling doesn't do anyone any good.
Marianne
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Kathmandu-Begnas Tal-Butwal
Yes-it has been very difficult to get online. Correction: it has been very hard to find a computer and nearly impossible to get one with internet...IF there is electricity! We don't know how we take lifew and all its small and large conveniences for granted.
At this moment I have VERY little time and am typing on an old-fashion Chinese script keyboard (no time for e\corrections) so please bear with me.
Nepal is wonderful and amazing and baffling and yseterious and...and...
I see similarities to Haiti, many, yet the sprit is so strong and positive. There is much poverty (no hunger at this time of year), terrible lack of education yet an enormous desire to do ANYTHING possible for parents to get their children to school. And of the many who succeed, their children can be found in the US, Australia, India, the UK..excellingat top universities. And now they need to come back. And that is the problem.
Roads, except for a fuw 2-lane (no markers) sure-highways, do not exist. There are half-finished houses everywhere and piles of rubble lining the roads. Garbage cans do not exist and throwing stuff out the wijdows is normal. No sewage to speak of.
The homes, small and one-room simple, as clean as a whistle. There are signs of deep religious belief and practice everywhere.
The old cars and taqxis have cloths neatly placed on the seats to keep vehicle and customers clean.
No shoes are worn in any home and slippers are waiting for you. The food is wonderful (although I have no hunger/appeite, as usuala) and the odor of spices permiates the air. Children walk long ways through rice paddies and u mountains, dressed to a 't' inn their uniforms,hair braided and tied up with red ribons.
Nature-indescribable. Beautiful hills/mountains - all is relative - with deep, deep valleys scethecd out with neat pencil lines into terraces. Colorful little houses are scattered throughout. The sky has a deep fog until the sun warms it up. And out up the upper layer of fog appear white, sunlit points, way high up in the sky. Way, way up. The fog clearws and as we watch, the mountains grow with unbeaqualled majesty.
We have to go to give a speach to chosen students of 5 area/mountain schools now about Interdependence and I have to run. Maybe there will be more internet later. They connected it for 4 days just for us@!
Love to all of you. Imagine those mountains, terraces smiling faces and I great you "Namaste' : I greet the Godlines ijn you.
At this moment I have VERY little time and am typing on an old-fashion Chinese script keyboard (no time for e\corrections) so please bear with me.
Nepal is wonderful and amazing and baffling and yseterious and...and...
I see similarities to Haiti, many, yet the sprit is so strong and positive. There is much poverty (no hunger at this time of year), terrible lack of education yet an enormous desire to do ANYTHING possible for parents to get their children to school. And of the many who succeed, their children can be found in the US, Australia, India, the UK..excellingat top universities. And now they need to come back. And that is the problem.
Roads, except for a fuw 2-lane (no markers) sure-highways, do not exist. There are half-finished houses everywhere and piles of rubble lining the roads. Garbage cans do not exist and throwing stuff out the wijdows is normal. No sewage to speak of.
The homes, small and one-room simple, as clean as a whistle. There are signs of deep religious belief and practice everywhere.
The old cars and taqxis have cloths neatly placed on the seats to keep vehicle and customers clean.
No shoes are worn in any home and slippers are waiting for you. The food is wonderful (although I have no hunger/appeite, as usuala) and the odor of spices permiates the air. Children walk long ways through rice paddies and u mountains, dressed to a 't' inn their uniforms,hair braided and tied up with red ribons.
Nature-indescribable. Beautiful hills/mountains - all is relative - with deep, deep valleys scethecd out with neat pencil lines into terraces. Colorful little houses are scattered throughout. The sky has a deep fog until the sun warms it up. And out up the upper layer of fog appear white, sunlit points, way high up in the sky. Way, way up. The fog clearws and as we watch, the mountains grow with unbeaqualled majesty.
We have to go to give a speach to chosen students of 5 area/mountain schools now about Interdependence and I have to run. Maybe there will be more internet later. They connected it for 4 days just for us@!
Love to all of you. Imagine those mountains, terraces smiling faces and I great you "Namaste' : I greet the Godlines ijn you.
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