If our first week in Terrier Rouge was about settling in and figuring out our basic needs (housing, food, water), our second week has been learning how to enjoy our free time... not counting the day Peter spent in the latrine with typhoid. As we took the end of this week easy for Peter to get better we have had lots of time to sit on the shady corner of our roof, play cards, cell phone tetris, read, and most of all talk. We are finding that living in Haiti is giving us the perfect vantage point to reflect on our lives in Vermont, and what we want them to be like when we return.
Meredith has had success at starting to work at one of the clinics in town. It is called Esperance et Vie (hope and life). There is one general medical doctor, an eye doctor, and a dentist. The support staff runs the lab and pharmacy. Meredith's primary role will be as a triage nurse, helping the medical assistant who is currently filling that role. She is also continuing to meet some of the many midwives in Terrier Rouge in hopes of starting to work with them soon.
We have been busy with some projects at home. We started a garden in the backyard, and set up a worm composting bin on the roof that we smuggled here from the DR.
Despite what challenges we face as newcomers and outsiders here, we can't but feel incredibly blessed for the lives we have been given. Although it sucks being sick, our ability to see a doctor, pay for medication, drink clean water, or eat well enough to get better does not hinge on whether or not the rains fall this month, or how many shoes our mother or aunt can sell in the Dominican Republic. And while we have enjoyed our forced time to relax and reflect, it is not burdened by thoughts of missing a day of work, or like many here, not being able to find work at all.
We hope you are all well at home. keep the comments coming, we love hearing from you all! Lots of love,
Meredith and Peter
ps Peter really is feeling well now so please dont worry! sorry we tried to get pictures up tonight without success, we will try again next week.
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I do hope Peter is feeling better, it just sucks to be sick so far away from home. Meredith, I look forward to hearing about your nursing adventures. So, right now I have been running many school clinics to vaccinate children against the H1N1 and now I have it myself! Yes, no fun at all. I am going to think of you during Thanksgiving so that I can keep this holiday in prespective. I think that Chrispopher Columbus reached Haiti somewhere near the part of the country where you are living. I remember travelling there on my last visit. The bastard.
ReplyDeleteOk, you both take care and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Ann
I do worry about you guys. Pete, I hope you recover quickly. Take care to rest properly.
ReplyDeleteMeredeth, you take care as well.
Let us know soon, with another blog to let us know how your doing. I will be thinking about you for sure.
photo's too.
Ida