In the Summer of 2010 I was one of many lucky people who had the opportunity to take a short trip to Haiti. I fell almost instantly in love and just can't keep myself away. I've spent about 11 months in Haiti since the first time I went two and a half years ago and my time there isn't over. I'm exploring my options on where to take my life from here but it WILL include Haiti in one form or another. This is where I record stories and thoughts about my experiences.

Monday, November 21, 2011

thinking of a title is my least favorite part about blogging

We heard from Katie and she's doing fine! That's a relief.

It's actually been going OK without here here. Sue and the workers have been helping with the babies during the day a little and the boys have been sleeping SO good at night. For the past couple nights they've only been getting up once each! That's been very nice.

The other day I was at the computer and the babies were on the ground. One started crying and the ladies were in the kitchen so I got right up to pick him up because I knew they'd be in there in a second giving me the evil eye for letting him cry. Instead, they laughed and said, they're big boys now, you need to let them cry! They said "in Haiti, when the babies get up in the morning, you give them a bath, feed them a lot and put them down. If they cry, you don't go get them because then they will be weak when they grow up." News flash! A week ago the ladies thought I was crazy for letting them cry for more than 30 seconds. I asked why they changed their minds all the sudden. I guess when babies hit 3 months they're big all the sudden. They have some crazy ideas. Like that the boys need to start practicing sitting up or else they'll die. I think they're ways are crazy sometimes but I can't imagine what they think of a 22 year old American lady trying to raise two HAITIAN boys. For as much as I think they're crazy, they must think I'm crazy times 2 because I'm in Haiti with Haitian kids.

I was in the kitchen one night with Fabula (a worker who speaks English very well) and I asked her what she thought about me "raising" the babies. I said that I guessed that she must think the way I do things is very crazy and she subtly agreed. But I told her that the American way is the only way I know and that's the best I can do. I told her this because I don't want her to think that I don't do things the Haitian way because I don't agree with it or don't like it. I just don't understand it or know how to go about raising them the way she would. I think it was good for me to tell her that because I don't want to come off as a know-it-all. I'm glad that she knows that I don't think that her ways are wrong. I think that we really are learning from each other.

A while ago, the ladies who work here told me that they boys had coughs because I didn't put them in clothes during the day. They thought it was crazy that I'd keep the boys naked because they'd get cold. I thought they were crazy because It's so hot here that the boys would sweat when I had clothes on them. However, since then, I have been putting clothes on them because I realized that they may know better than me. The next night one of the ladies was holding one of the boys a few feet from the tv while a show was on. I told her that I thought that it was bad for his eyes. She looked at me like I was crazy but she turned him around anyway. A few nights later I noticed her telling one of the kids to move the baby back from the tv because watching tv was bad for their eyes. It made me smile. I think that we both realize that we both have good ideas and can learn from each other.

The boys are doing very good recently. I'm sure no one is as excited as I am but for the past 3 or 4 nights in a row they've only woken up once each! The blood in their diapers is gone too. It's been gone for a while but I forgot to update everyone. I picked up Jackson today and knew he had a fever. It was only one or two degrees and went away by bedtime. They're getting to be FAT and I love it.

The school kids had an AWESOME day. They didn't want to stop working. Michaelle and Peter are working on knowing all their numbers up to 100. Tonight as I was feeding a baby near Peters bed as he was trying to fall asleep he asked me "How do you say nine zero?" I told him it was ninety. I am so happy because that means he was thinking about school as he was falling asleep. And it was GOOD thoughts! Maybe his dream about school the other night wasn't a nightmare after all. Yay.

I hope all of you eat a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for me! I'm missing home a lot. Especially my bff Fan.

4 comments:

  1. You said the word "crazy" so many times. Other than that im glad to hear the babies are doing well but still keeping you on your toes. <3 fan

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  2. The babies are already 3 months! Oh my gosh! I decided babies grow too fast!! Bryn is almost 4 months old... -Lauren

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  3. Wow, I didn't think about the complication of raising the boys the "Haitian way" and you don't really know what it is.

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  4. Becca, I just found out today that you are still in Haiti and I just read your blog to catch up. Surely you are doing God's work every time you cuddle a child. -Kathy

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