Haiti
As you've probably guessed from the sudden deluge of blog posts, the pace has been a little more relaxed here in Haiti than over the last few weeks. I've pretty much just been enjoying the comforts of the hotel while poor Shez has been hard at work in the local office. This week she has been trying to get a handle on the projects, and organise the training she is conducting next week. This week she is out in the field visiting some of the projects. Apparently, the road to the town where they'll be staying consists of basically driving up a river bed - sounds pretty slow and rough to me.
I'm sad to say that I haven't ventured far beyond the hotel this week. I was troubled by the security brief Shez received from the local office before we arrived. However, we've been out the last few nights with a local ex-pat (does that make sense), who says the brief is largely out of date and things are much more stable. We've been to a couple of local bars and tasted some local cuisine, which is heavy on the deep frying and light on vegetables - except for a salad which is like coleslaw infused with the hottest chili known to man.
Shez and I drinking coconuts from a street vendor in Pentionville Port-au-Prince.
Shez and I avoiding the killer coleslaw (but enjoying the rest) in a bar just down the road from the hotel. We went out a couple of times with Anne, a friend of Shez's from the office, and her boyfriend Alain.
Shez at the hotel.
Sadly, it is our last day together today. Shez is off into the field tomorrow and I am off to Miami (a few days earlier than originally plan since Shez is going to be away). We are both sad to be parting ways, but we've really enjoyed the last few months and feel lucky that we've been able to travel together. I certainly feel lucky to have been able to dip a toe into Shez's world and see what she does for a crust, and go to places I would never have imagined visiting before. I hope that I've been more help than hinderance along the way!
Shez will be here for a couple more weeks, while I head to Miami for two days then to Cancun to catch up with Jenn, Chris and to also meet Andrew who will be traveling to Cuba and NY with me. It doesn't seem like long now before I'll be back home. Apparently just in time for harvest according to my brother - maybe I'll have to miss a flight somewhere!
I'm sad to say that I haven't ventured far beyond the hotel this week. I was troubled by the security brief Shez received from the local office before we arrived. However, we've been out the last few nights with a local ex-pat (does that make sense), who says the brief is largely out of date and things are much more stable. We've been to a couple of local bars and tasted some local cuisine, which is heavy on the deep frying and light on vegetables - except for a salad which is like coleslaw infused with the hottest chili known to man.
Shez and I drinking coconuts from a street vendor in Pentionville Port-au-Prince.
Shez and I avoiding the killer coleslaw (but enjoying the rest) in a bar just down the road from the hotel. We went out a couple of times with Anne, a friend of Shez's from the office, and her boyfriend Alain.
Shez at the hotel.
Sadly, it is our last day together today. Shez is off into the field tomorrow and I am off to Miami (a few days earlier than originally plan since Shez is going to be away). We are both sad to be parting ways, but we've really enjoyed the last few months and feel lucky that we've been able to travel together. I certainly feel lucky to have been able to dip a toe into Shez's world and see what she does for a crust, and go to places I would never have imagined visiting before. I hope that I've been more help than hinderance along the way!
Shez will be here for a couple more weeks, while I head to Miami for two days then to Cancun to catch up with Jenn, Chris and to also meet Andrew who will be traveling to Cuba and NY with me. It doesn't seem like long now before I'll be back home. Apparently just in time for harvest according to my brother - maybe I'll have to miss a flight somewhere!