Adjusting to Haitian Lifestyle

5/27/2012 

Happy Haitian Mother’s Day to all Mom’s out there! Today was the most relaxing and restful day I have had since being here (besides yesterday which contained mostly sleeping!) This morning we woke up and took a slow morning getting ready. We had church service at 11am with the staff and missionaries at GLA. We held church on the porch that we hang out on everyday so it had a gorgeous view in the background and the heat was the perfect temperature. 

After church we had lunch together and had some time to rest. We were able to be online for awhile and catch up that way for a bit. Then we went and got some of the babies out for awhile and played with them. We aren’t required to take the babies out but a few of us weren’t tired so we stayed and played with some babies for a few hours. We had leftovers for dinner tonight and then came back to the toddler house where we stay. 

I have been thinking about some of the things that I have gotten used to while being in Haiti. It is amazing how quickly I have adjusted to life in a different culture. I don’t think I experienced much culture shock but maybe it hasn’t hit me yet. i don’t really know...

Some things I have gotten used to: 

• No seat belts...just climb in and hold on tight...literally! 
• Rarely having cold drinks...
• No ice cream or chocolate! :o 
• Super warm weather
• Changing diapers in record time...(that will come in handy someday!) 
• Being so tired I am in bed by 8:30 nearly everyday
• Showers every other day (and they are army showers...with cold water)
• Washing my hands THEN hand sanitizing every time
• Drinking tons of warm water in desperate attempts to stay hydrated
• Not always having lights 
• Hot nights
• Bugs! (...with SO many bug bites you could play connect the dots on my legs)
• Roosters and kids playing outside as an alarm clock
• Smelling like baby puke all day long 
• Reading for PLEASURE! 
• Limited access to the internet 
• No cell phone! (This is slightly hard but it is kinda nice not being in immediate access to people)
• Not brushing my teeth with the sink water 
• Rice, Rice and more rice!
• Super rocky and steep roads as a morning commute 

And my most favorite of all:

• Being attacked by tons of little kids every evening when we make it back to the toddler house (where we sleep every night)!

There are certain things like friends, family, kitties, coffee, ice cream and more that I miss about home...but the longer I am here the more at home and normal this Haitian lifestyle is becoming. Now, if only I could speak Creole...THEN I would be golden! :)