Finally a moment to blog!

I realize it has been nearly three weeks since my last blog post...I have not had even a few minutes to sit down and write, let alone write all the things I have to say. I won't be able to do that now, either, because I have 60 senkyem quizzes to grade, a week's worth of lesson plans to write, and two exams to create, but I'll give you a quick update! Here goes!

The last time I wrote, I had one more week of orientation to go. That week was full of class prep (and thus, uncertainty...), Creole lessons, and work, which included less rock crushing and more painting (of the mural making variety) which was actually more of a challenge for me than the crushing!

That first day of school was terrifying.  While I was confident everything would go fine, but I had no idea what to expect. I hardly had any idea what I was doing. You know what? I started figuring it out. I'm still figuring it out, but I know this year is going to be fine.  My students are wonderful and I picked up on lesson planning surprisingly quickly. I've got this. :)

So my life of late has consisted of those many lesson plans, reading, grading, study hours, work projects, and so much more. My 5:30am-10pm days are packed and tiring, but somehow I have energy to do it again every day.

Yesterday, I got up early (later than normal though...yay for sleeping in until 6!), got everything ready for the laundry ladies, ate breakfast, and set out for our four hours of work projects. While I spent that second week of orientation basically rock crushing all day every day, my work projects these days are a little more here and there...I like to think that's because whatever I'm told to do, they know I'll do it well. Today, I sifted dirt for the compost, scraped some paint in the kitchen to prep it for repainting, and then got to work helping with a mural of Our Lady of Chiquinquira. After I cleaned up and ate lunch, I spent about an hour shooting hoops and practicing drills, brushing up on my skills for my first practice with the Boys' Varsity team this week.  My Saturday wound down with Mass and Adoration as usual, although I spent most of Mass with a 5 year old Ti Moun (our children's program) girl sleeping in my arms, something that admittedly is not usual for me and is considerably hard. Sleeping children are heavy. Mom and Dad, I give you a ton of credit. ;) After Mass and Adoration, we prepared our sandwiches for dinner and had game night, which was tons of fun. Sometimes you just need a night with the community to laugh and wind down.

Today was pretty laid back too, as after breakfast we played a few games of basketball, did some laundry, and spent the afternoon grading and prepping for the week. The students are due back to campus in a half hour, and then we begin week three!

Love and prayers from Haiti,
Mandy <3

One week until the students descend!

Just a quick check in to let you know what's happening down here! Though I can hear the thunder rumbling outside and feel the humidity descending, the perfect weather to curl up with a book, I have so much to do! I've spent today hand washing a load of laundry, cleaning, preparing for my classes that start in ONE WEEK and being just a little bit lazy (I crushed rocks for about 3 hours yesterday so I'm a tad sore). And my day is not over yet!

I spent this week doing work projects every morning (Thursday they tore down a wall, so I spent that day heaving cinderblocks into a pile which is strangely an excellent time to reflect), had 3 hours of Creole class every afternoon (and I thought I was done being the student...), and, at night, praying and reflecting with my community. Wednesday night was the last night with the newest students for their orientation, so we even had a big dance party out on the basketball court...my moves don't stand a chance against those kids' moves! It was a full but great week.

And...drumroll please...I found out what I'll be teaching! I will be teaching Senkyem (8th grade) English, Sekond (hs junior) Religion: Catholic Morality, and Sizyem (7th grade), Senkyem, and Sekond Sports class! I always thought it would be fun to be a PE teacher, so that will be a nice addition to my classes. I'm very excited, but I know I have my work cut out for me in the next week to prepare!

Well, I must go and do my chores before evening prayer! Please keep me and my wonderful community in your prayers and know that you are all in mine!

Love and prayers,
Mandy

Almost One Week Day Check In!

Hello from Croix-des-Bouquets! It is Saturday and I've been here almost a week...5 full days to be exact, and it has been quite the 5 days. I arrived Monday, touching down at a tiny airport (not quite as tiny as the Pietermaritzburg Airport I touched down in last summer, but almost) and walked out to streets full of people. The ride to school was madness...there really isn't any organized way of driving here. You just stay to the right side of the road if you want, don't hit anyone, and don't let anyone hit you. However unusual it was so me, it was also slightly reminiscent of what was going on in my brain...complete chaos. My nerves dwarfed my excitement as I pulled into an oasis in a dirty and disorganized city. Louverture Cleary School is beautiful and it wasn't going to take me too long for me to fall in love with it.

Every day this week, my day began when my alarm went off at 5:30am (5:15 on my day to make coffee) and we set out to do a work project. I have learned to use the incinerator, turn and sift the compost, sort and crush rocks, and I even helped pour a wall (on my first day!). I've gotten to meet groups of students, especially the Philo and Rheto students (basically juniors and seniors) and I can't tell you how excited I am to get to know more of them...afterall, I didn't exactly come to sort rocks, though I knew that was part of the deal.

If you know me, you'll know that even if I try to talk myself out of it at first, I can pretty much make any place my home.  I've been here 5 days, and LCS feels like home.  Even I'm impressed with that.  Sure, I'm still getting used to bucket flushing the toilet (yup, I fill up a bucket and pour it in the toilet), taking cold showers 2 and 3 times a day (in this humidity, it's actually pretty nice), and doing manual labor for 4 to 5 hours every day, at least for the next three weeks (although I have to say, I'm enjoying it. There hasn't been anything that I can't do and don't feel strong doing, which is awesome) I am really looking forward to this year.  I think I'm going to coach the boys' basketball team this semester, as well as help out with other clubs. I'm going to help with music at Mass, and possibly help with the musical in the spring. Today we played basketball, new Volunteers vs. returning and staff, and it was a blast...I've still got it. :) I guess what I'm trying to say is that this campus is beautiful, but it's the people that make it home, as is usually the case.  So I'm doing well.  Great, even. 5 days in, who saw that coming? I sure didn't. But I can't say I'm surprised, because this is all part of a plan that's unfolding before my eyes, that's probably going to be even better than I imagine it will be.

Love and prayers,
Mandy

P.S. I probably won't be able to get on the computer except for on the weekend, so you can expect updates on Saturdays or Sundays...I'll do the best I can!

Hello there! Thank you for checking out my blog. Through this site, I can take you with me as I embark on an exciting journey, spending the next 10 months living and teaching in Croix-Des-Bouquets, Haiti as a Volunteer for The Haitian Project.

As many of you know, I just finished 4 wonderful years at Providence College, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, worked as an RA, and served in Campus Ministry in a number of ways, including as a student minister and singer in the Liturgical Choir.  Before PC, I spent my elementary and middle school years at Sacred Heart School in Groton CT where, among many other things, I forged a special place in my heart for the country of Haiti as we learned about our twin parish and sent school supplies and other necessities to Gran Bois each year and hosted Haitian priests from time to time.  As I grew in love for these people I had never met and a country I had never seen, I promised myself that someday, I would go to Haiti and help in person. 

So now I’m here, and this love of Haiti instilled by Sacred Heart and the love of Christian service instilled by PC are colliding as I prepare to give the next year of my life to serving in Haiti with The Haitian Project.  The Haitian Project is a non-profit charitable organization associated with the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island which runs a Catholic boarding school just outside Port-au-Prince.  As a Volunteer, I will live at the Louverture Cleary School full time, teaching classes, leading extracurriculars, running and participating in development projects on the campus, taking part in daily prayer, and more.  

Thank you for joining me on this amazing journey! I will do my best to update as much as I can, though my limited access to the internet may be an impediment. I can only promise to do my best!

Love and prayers,

Amanda :)