Streets of PAP

I begin with the rain. Looking out through the slit glass windows of my home I watch it pound the greens of my backyard. I know that just outside the gate people are running in the streets, scattering in all directions to find a dry refuge. There are few. In minutes streets turn to rivers, washing dirt, garbage, and the like at rapid speeds downhill. In minutes too, the sun can push through and make this all seem like just a flash dream.  I prefer though to watch it. How the sky opens up around 5pm the lightning, and thunder begin...a dramatic symphony that has been the soundtrack to my evenings.

Erdem is in Europe for a conference regarding climate change - one that concerns Haiti in all measures. This has left me to navigate Haiti with a new perspective. It is that feeling that I remember so well upon my first travel solo, which was to Guatemala. When you are faced with the simplest tasks yet fail to complete them without the help of many or that you complete them in record time - that is of course, in an obscene amount of time. It is a mix of courage, challenge, and stupidity which result in a nice balance of humility. Every day has been so for me. 

I am borrowing Erdem's friend's Suzuki sidekick. It has given me freedom to explore, to get into hilarious and uncomfortable situations, and to get out of them hopefully as quickly. Driving isn't so scary anymore. I've learned it requires one eye on the passenger window, one on the rearview, two looking ahead, one looking out for pot holes, one looking out for people that seem to spontaneously jump in front of the car, one hand on the steering wheel, one hand constantly shifting gears (between 1 and 2) and one hand on the horn - that's how the game is played. I have taken several photos of both the less traveled roads (such as the narrow rocky dirt one that leads me to creole and drumming class) and the busier streets - although pics show them at their down time.

My head is full of new creole words. I love that there are so many English words where the "r" has been replaced by "w". Such as: pwoblem, woz, kawot, makawoni. They make me smile to say. Head is also full from dealing with the little things: phone card, power-outages, finding parking places, directions. The things that have no manual. I enjoy this. The pure exhaustion

of being fully awake.