Midpoint

We finally got our IRB approval for our community projects a week ago (hurrah!) so – at the midpoint of 9 weeks in Haiti – we finally began our field work and data collection this past week!

We travelled to one of the surrounding villages on Tuesday and Wednesday to measure children and ask mothers/guardians about feeding practices and their children’s health.  Tuesday we walked to this spot in the village under a big tree where women had gathered with their children for a monthly weigh-in (a hanging scale hung from a tree) with the community health worker.  We joined in to do our study, and it was chaos for 4 hours straight – measuring screaming babies (who don’t like crazy-looking light-skinned people making their baby limbs stay flat on a measuring mat, or making them hang from a tree in a wedgie sling to measure their weight), scribbling down data, and at times doing some crowd control.  No water, food, or breathing breaks – data collection in a crowd can be exhausting.  By the time we had to leave with the other med students who were already finished up collecting data for their projects, we still hadn’t gotten to all the moms with their kids and had to escape.  Wednesday was calmer – a few of us went from house to house in the same village, spending a good amount of time with each family to take measurements and provide some nutrition guidance.  The families were all very welcoming to us as we barged into their yard with our clipboards and equipment – the grandmother in one family told us how honored she as that we came to her home, that no “white” people ever came to visit her home when she was young. 

We went to another dance spot in town twice this past week (yes – in this tiny rural town, there is more than one night club!), once to celebrate a couple birthdays and the second time to see a local band perform.  I've never been to a club like this, that’s for sure!  Not only did we again have to walk a while into town in the dark, but then we turned down an alley between buildings and through a gate to enter what looks like an empty concrete house that is missing half a roof.  The band or DJ plays in the corner and the only light in the club comes from a few black light bulbs, a light-up Santa Claus ornament, and the stars above, since there’s no roof.  Everyone dances and enjoys $1 beers or $2 8-oz bottles of rum.  I’ve been told I dance like a Haitian!

Yesterday, my old pal, President Clinton, came through little Milot!  Sadly I didn’t see him or know he was here during his quick visit, but some of the board members and staff here got to snap some photos with him by the old palace.  I think he was just coming through for a quick hello on a little tour of different areas of Haiti, as he’s often here as the UN Special Envoy.  Alas, he and I will have to coordinate a little better so don’t miss each other next time.

Here’s my pile of 36 mangoes that I bought for $2!  My translator picked them up for me – they’re a labor of love to peel and cut, but ooh they’re good.  If I were buying, my pitiful haggling skills might get me about 8 mangoes for that price.  But, the interesting thing about haggling for basic things like food or soap here is that vendors might give you a high price at first because you’re a foreigner, but if you suggest half of that price (or the real price for Haitians if you know it), they just say “OK” and give it to you – they don’t try to exhaust you with negotiation. 

This afternoon, I head to the orphanage to visit little J!