January 12, 2010

To set up the following journal excerpts for you from January 13th and 14th some background information:

I was on my seventh day of a ten-day training period for a new job. I was to work for a communications company that distributes the largest cell phone carrier in Haiti: Digicel. The company is called Alo. The previous week and Monday I spent in two of PaP’s busiest stores, one right downtown where much of the damage of the earthquake has been concentrated. I had just returned home, alone, about 25 minutes before the earthquake hit. I had spent the day driving with Mik – Head of Rechaj (prepaid minute cards) to see many vendors. I met many people that day that I am scared for – it may have been the last time we met too. Who knows.

13 January ‘10

Thank you God, thank you universe that I am okay and my family here is safe. It is 7:30 am; I woke up to helicopters after an eerily silent night once a few hours ago, then again, as always, when Stéphane awoke. He’s just told me he and Max discovered the gas line cracked and so it was a damn good thing I recalled to turn off the propane tanks.

There are millions of thoughts going through my head, as the ground still shakes and trembles over 12 hours after…

11:24a – We went next door to Michel and Fabiennes (Stéphane’s uncle and cousin, whom we share a compound with) to have coffee and breakfast. Stéphane heard of a friend whose home collapsed on him – most presimably gone. Went to Tecina (development down the road) to check on Sonson and Joelle who never returned last night and found a neighbor whose internet is working. Sent word home, Steph put up an appropriate status message on fb. The Kuhns (Sonson’s family) et al spent the night outside for fear of more tremors. There was a fire in another neighbors home they had to go put out early this morning. Sonson and his brother went to a friends business whose first floor collapsed on many people to go try and dig out some survivors, he’s still gone.

Shortly after we got back to Michel’s, Fabienne’s husband (Pascal) arrived from the beach , thank God ! He looked so shaken, so intent on finding his wife. She had just left to go try and email him at Tecina. I am so happy for their reunion.

The guys left in search of food, water, over near Delmass 33 (nearby Jonto). Roselyn and I finished cleaning up the glass and inventoried the food pantry, watched the news… We must conserve energy though because who knows when EDH (electric co.) will be turned on again. Cars or trucks with loudspeakers have gone by asking for doctors and medical assistance…

… Poor Haiti. As if it weren’t enough, Chain Masse, the palace, is all ruined. The city’s most beautiful and proud area I’d say. And to think of everywhere I had been yesterday with Mik. I saw more of Port-au-Prince than ever, the real city. I was in Belaire. I was in Turgeau, Petion-ville, almost everywhere. I was viewing everything as if it were for the last time. I wished I had brought my camera to work yesterday. How ironic it all is. The absurdity now of Lisa’s friend who had been here last weekend building a school. Perhaps he’s still here, perhaps he had just left. I hope Mik who so kindly took a few extra minutes to drop me off to Jo and Sonson was somewhere safe when this all went down thirty minutes later. I hope Alo at Turgeau and Place Boyer are ok and my new colleagues escaped, although I know the road home is the most difficult aspect.

The wall of our compound

Demolished slums looking out from Boudon

14 January ‘10

6:25a - Tuesday, The Day, has so many ifs. And, looking back, leading up to the quake seems so surreal. I was at Hotel Montana (this hotel has since entirely collapsed, one of the worst affected areas), feeling so swell to be at such a lovely place for lunch. Mik and I sat near the waterfall pond and I admired the spectacular view of Port-au-Prince, wished for my camera. Thought, this place is beautiful in a way, despite its dirtiness and the dust. As I shadowed Mik’s job I thought, ‘you know, I can do this, I can be in business here, I am definitely capable.’ I was full of the grabbing life by the balls feeling. I was already saying affirmations of commitment to my new job and the prospect of working toward what Stéphane and I talked about for hours the night before. We had spent the previous evening mapping out how we would allocate our coming salaries and save – when we might buy a car, travel, get our own place.

At the end of my day with Mik, Didier (my boss), whom Stéphane has since spoken to- both are fine, called to see how I was doing. Mik reported that he was truly impressed despite having shown me some rough areas and the real, real Port-au-Prince. He suggested I be dropped off at home since we were in Tabarre (our neighborhood) anyway. This is how I came to find myself at home for the quake…

I got myself in the doorway of my bedroom as soon as I realized what was happening. Fist I thought maybe the generator next door blew, then I thought for a split second it was bulldozers but then it seemed too strong. When it was finished and I gathered my breath enough to get out of the house, I walked out and for the first time ever, I could see my neighbors faces. You see, part of our barbed wired, compound wall had fallen down.

“Tout moun, ca va?” (everyone ok?) I asked,

“Wi, et ou?? Tout moun?” (Yes, you? Everyone?)

“Wi, se mwen seul” (Yes, it’s just me)

I ran and called for Michel’s maid, Marie. She and the handyman/security-guy, Fançois were alright. I told her to go shut off the gas, then we waited. After trying Stéphane (who was waiting to be picked up with Max and Roselyn by Sonson and Joelle from work) a dozen times unsuccessfully, I got a call through to Max, they were okay, they were coming home to me. Fabienne was home in what seemed like twenty minutes, I think it really was like five. She was trying desperately to get in touch with Pascal, who was standing by the ocean minutes before on the phone with her. He manages a resort and had been having an awful time at work. You see, for the previous two days there had been incredible amounts of garbage washing up on shore…