Harold, Gerald, and Ford

Well, this has been an exciting week for sure! Last Friday, my sink shattered; Wednesday, the handle on my shower stopped working so I couldn’t turn my shower off (it ran all night and then some the next day before the plumber finally came to fix it); I walked to and from the post office twice in one day without accomplishing what I walked to the post office to accomplish (the first time I didn’t have enough money, the second time it was closed), and had three guest cockroaches which I named Harold, Jarold, and Ford (honestly, I’m not sure if it was the same one in three different places or three different ones…).

On the other hand, there were calmer, nicer things that happened to me this week: I was treated to dinner and the delightful company of Dirk and Karen Martin, my precious adopted parents in Haiti; visited a cool Haitian store that sells handmade teas, lotions, soaps, etc called Mel’Ange (if you like that sort of thing and are in Petionville, you should stop by!); and visited a Capoeira class at the Brazilian Cultural Center.

That’s my week in a nutshell! Happy Adventures, everyone!

P.S As a great kick-off to my week this week I HAVE A NEW NIECE!!!! Chelise Renae. 21", 6.6 lbs I got to be at the hospital via Skype!! Thank you, most gracious Lord, for a beautiful baby niece!!

Chelise Renae

A Dedication

To the women who wash my clothes and make my food

For keeping me clothed and fed I am ever indebted to you

With the rice and beans

hot chocolate and chicken

you keep my tummy full

and my lips I’m a-lickin’.

Piles of clothes

By hand you wash

Like jeans and dresses

And underwear and such

The smells from the kitchen

Waft to my nose

The warmth of the soup

Goes down to my toes

Clean garments hang out

Drying in the sun

Wringing out water

By hand can’t be fun

My white clothes are whiter

The holes are much bigger

My friends say I’m fatter

And I say, go figure

With the food I am given

And the clothes I get cleaned

I am well taken care of

Even better than it seemed

So a big thanks goes out

to Yolette and Marlene

For keeping me clean

But not very thin

With love and respect

I write this for you

In hopes that it brings

Much joy to you too