"There's an eggshell on your head, Melissa."

Bonjou!

I have been having a great time so far.  No groups are coming in until Monday, so we have just been doing some training and travelling all over Haiti.  So far we've gone to the waterfall, the orphanage at Salines Mayette, Tortuga, Port du Paix, and today we went to Ansefelour.  Ansefelour is where the voodoo temple and monument is.  We actually got to climb up the mountain and see the site where many voodoo rituals take place.  We also walked through the temple where they sell voodoo dolls and worship a doll they call “Ti Ann.”  Ann is the mother of Mary, Jesus’ grandmother, so I guess the doll represents her...  I don’t really know.  It was kind of creepy but very eye-opening.

After that we got to eat at a Haitian restaurant where they served us black beans and WHITE rice (with hot sauce?  Genius!) and SALTY plantanos.  Haitians know how to cook.  For realz.  Then we went to the beach—weirdest beach ever.  It was mostly only a couple of inches deep but had these random “pools” where it was deep.  We would be walking and then all of a sudden drop into the water… and then the Haitians would life at us.  Se la vi, I guess.

Tonight after devos we had an egg fight.  Yes.  You read that correctly.  And yes, it is just as sticky and gooey and slimey and awesome as it sounds.  Look forward to pictures.

Tomorrow we will head for La Baie—another beach day.  All the travelling is giving me "Tap Tap Butt."  Just imagine sitting on a wooden board while driving down the bumpiest roads you've ever seen... You get the picture.  

Things I love about Haiti:

• They put hot sauce on their spaghetti.
• They are resourceful: My sandal broke on the way back from the waterfall and the boy I was talking to used a stick to fix it.  (Yes, the strap of my Rainbows broke.  Whoa.  I didn't think it was possible.)
• They actually say "Bonjou!" when you pass them on the street.  Unlike cranky Americans who avoid eye contact.
• Their language is an easy version of French.  I WILL be fluent.  Seriously.

Things I less than love about Haiti:

•  Mosquitos
• Tap Tap butt

Anyway, things are amazing over here.  Don’t worry about me!  Tout bagay deja byen!

Melissa

Creole Lesson #1: Tout bagay deja byen: Everything is already okay.