Getting ready

I'm having my last day at the office. I am full of mixed emotions. I will miss my colleagues so much! I will also miss being in the middle of the busy work of guarding human rights here. But at the same time I'm longing for more freedom to move, colder weather, certain food, and loved ones of course.

We made it through hurricane Tomas with less damage than expected - thank God! I ended up going to the training in Arcahaie on the Saturday, and had a great time. I got adopted by a group of women who thought I was funny. They spoke slowly to me in Creole, made me part of their sassy little gang, and brushed my reddish blonde hair with great excitement and fascination.
I did end up sick one more time, but thankfully not as bad as the last time. It gave me the experience of being cared for by beautiful haitian nuns though; yet another fun fact to add to my CV.. I also talked to two cute little girls with big smiles who lived next to the training center. They stroked my arms, very fascinated by my skin. In both cases I was very happy to be able to speak some Creole.

After the training there has been some slow days, where I've felt like I've pretty much counted the days until departure. I have spent my time on research for the coming thesis I will write in the spring, talking to colleagues - learning as much as I can these last days.
Today I have finished up my evaluation. I have payed my bills.
Now I have two small goodbye parties to look forward to. Then I will do my last bit of packing and prepare for lift off.

I am very greatful for my time here, and I will attempt a more extensive summary and wrap-up some other day, when my mind has taken it all in a bit better.

On another note, the cholera is taking hold of this country more and more, and people are getting a bit scared, and also angry. It has been proven that the strain of cholera came into the country with a troop of nepalese UN-soldiers; the disease has actually never appeared in this country before. So you can only imagine what kind of emotions this information awakens towards a UN-operation already called "occupation" here.
That together with the elections getting closer and closer calls for a bit more insecure environment here. I hope it won't get worse.

Writing my evaluation has shown to me how much I have learned here. It has been really tough - most of the time actually - and yet I feel like what I take with me are only good memories.
As I said, I will try to put into words something more comprehensive and thought-through on my stay here. I hope to also get some pictures online soon.
In the meantime I will leave tomorrow afternoon, and I will have a weekend in Chicago before landing in Stockholm on Monday night.

Take care, and I'll see many of you soon!
/L

This occupies my mind right now

"The incapacitation of Haiti" (article)

"'The media coverage of the earthquake is marked by an almost complete divorce of the disaster from the social and political history of Haiti,' Canadian Haiti Solidarity Activist Yves Engler said in an interview. 'They repeatedly state that the government was completely unprepared to deal with the crisis. This is true. But they left out why.'"

It all connects to the history of foreign intervention in Haiti which has stripped haitians of their right to self-determination.
Here is a longer piece on that.
It is interesting and sad reading.

Otherwise the city is sort of holding it's breath to see how hard the storms will hit. School is out until Monday. The last news I heard though was that Tomas would pass right in between Cuba and Haiti, which would mean less damage. But we've post-poned leaving for the training. Maybe tomorrow, but right now the situation is just too insecure, since there's nothing to know for sure about hurricanes. It could pick up speed, or it could decline. We'll see. And I'll keep you posted.

/L

Tomas among others

Tomorrow afternoon (Thursday) I will leave Port-au-Prince to go to Arcahaie , a small town right by the water up north. It is to take part in one of the trainings in human rigths that RNDDH carries out. I'll be away until Tuesday, and I won't have access to internet - in case anyone tries to contact me - but my cellphone should still work.

I think it will be interesting. It will be fun to see a new part of the country. I'm longing to see the sea, and I hear it is really beautiful there. I also think it will be an excellent opportunity to work on my creole further. But I'm sure it will be a bit tough also, as always when there's only a language I barely speak to use..

And there's also the threat of hurricane Tomas. We'll see tomorrow if we'll leave at all. But I just checked the latest news and it seems like it will pass over Haiti without upgrading from a tropical storm to an actual hurricane, so I think we'll be alright. But as always the people in the camps, as well as the poorer people in the countryside, will be greatly affected, so send them a thought or a prayer if you want.

Besides that I would love to share with you two things that brings me great amusement in this country:

1. The fact that a majority of stores here have 'christian' names. Like 'Son of God Dry Cleaning' or 'Christ is Capable Groceries'. It just cracks me up.

2. The water trucks. They play tunes, similar to the ice cream truck back home. Here there are three to choose from:
- "Ole Ole Ole Ole, we are the champions"
- "We wish you a merry christmas"
or my personal favorite
- "My heart will go on"

And I LOVE the evenings here. I try to really enjoy them, as I will miss them when I go back to the cold and dark. I sit on the balcony in the hammock. I watch the stars. And the lights on the mountainside. Often there's a bonfire on the hill straight ahead. Sometimes there's singing and drumming. Especially these past days when they've been celebrating 'fete Guede'. There's a breeze in the palm tree. And there's no need for a sweater.
I sit out there and think. I love having just the sky above me.

One last thing.
I decided a while ago to go back home a bit earlier. So I'll be leaving already on the 17th for Chicago, and I'll land in Sweden on the 22nd. I am very happy with my decision. I've loved it here. But the difficulty of the social life, the non-specific tasks at work, and the miles between me and my loved one has really been tough on me. I didn't see that coming! I thought the poverty and the culture shock would be it, but no.. I feel good though. I've learned so much and I'm ready to take it home.
And after last week with the swedish delegation, I got invited to attend the meeting they'll be having on the report that's coming out. The meeting is in Stockholm the very week I get back. So it feels like good timing.

Now take care Y'all!
And Happy Birthday tomorrow Gustav!

/L