Another day  off

Well it's back to the old stuff in good ol Port-au-Prince.  The elections took place last week but the results weren't released until last night.  Schools were our all yesterday and today.  Actually yesterday there was no good reason for them to be closed since all was peaceful  at least until the late afternoon.  That's when I was coming home from Heartline where I see the sick babies and mothers on Tuesdays.  Things seemed relatively normal as I was driving home except for the fact that the amount of traffic I found myself in was gradually growing by the minute.  What I had not realized was that "they" whomever they are, had announced that at 6pm there would be an announcement about the results of the election.  So as I drove by the stores that I was supposed to have stopped at to buy the food for our dinner I found them closed or closing as the streets quickly were changing from somewhat full  to full.  

So I gave up the idea of obtaining food but made my goal change to getting home by 6pm so I could get the car in a safe place before the rocks and fire started flying.  

After eating I noticed my neighbor was outside our living room window and calling for me.  We don't see Phillip very often since he's a very famous Haitian Artist and spends much of his time in other countries at shows and sales.  He had just come up the mountain also and said that he had a new phone number and wanted me to have it and wanted me to have his just in case things got dangerous around here.  He had heard rumors that Martali, the famous "Sweet Mickey"Rap star, who was running for president had not placed within the top two vote getters and it was expected that his supporters would try to burn the country down or other idiocy.   

Actually the announcements came much later than what had been expected but was right on with what Phillip had called.  Actually though the only violence happened down town in Port and Petionville.  We did here some of the gunfire that was going on but luckily it never moved up our mountain.  The biggest disturbance of the night was simply a lot of drums from the local voodoo temple that let us know that we were probably not only in a political battle but also a spiritual battle and no! we're not going to debate that one.  

So anyway, it seems that Martali's gangs are still in the streets but to be honest I doubt if this going to go on all that much longer since these guys are going to get tired and they'll simply give it up.  It always happens.  Not that they won't get a new breath of air and start over again sometime when we least expect it but they will take time off to eat.  Another day in the life of a young (200 yo) democracy. 

Now it's time to get back to school and work.

If you're interested in seeing some of the pictures that a friend of ours posted on their website from this morning go to : http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/2010/12/haitidelma-758-10-am.html

And so it Goes

John

BRING DOWN THOSE PRICES!

It's been a fun day. Because food prices are high Haitians are protesting. They think their president should do something about it. They actually believe that he has the power to make the prices go down. Maybe he should have emphasized the education of the general population so they might have an inkling of understanding about how finances work.

I tried to get down the mountain to get fuel for the generator today and couldn’t due to the stones being thrown and people in the streets in Petionville. Also as of now Jodie is stuck at school along with Jessica and Jess’s friend Rebecca who is visiting this week from South Carolina.

I doubt if I’ll see my wife tonight. The 5^th grade teacher’s husband has been setting on Kenskoff road since 11 this morning. Can’t get up or down. There are about 6 other teachers who have a big possibility of not making it home tonight. Luckly CSI guesthouse has a group of theirs stuck out in the provinces. So the teachers can at least find a bed for the night.

Life is great. Claudette is here fixing a big meal possibly only for me. But I got the water fixed so it's again coming into our house. I'll get to take a shower anyway

This is the official stuff that the US Embassy is putting out:

WARDEN MESSAGE NO. 50 Tuesday, April 8, 2008 AM

This Warden Message is being issued to alert American
Citizens traveling to or living in Haiti that sporadic
protests have escalated in Port-au-Prince and its
environs. The protestors are blocking main routes
with burning tires and barricades in Carrefour,
Martissant, La Saline, Canape Vert, Delmas and
downtown Port-au-Prince. The Embassy received reports
from MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police (HNP)
that protestors are scuffling with the police,
throwing rocks and committing acts of vandalism
throughout Port-au-Prince. The HNP also reported that
several businesses and gas stations have been damaged
in Port-au-Prince. The HNP stopped protestors from
breaking into the National Palace. Tear gas and
rubber bullets are being used to disperse crowds of
protestors. Random gunfire has been heard in the
capital. Many schools, stores and businesses have
closed because of the tension and violence. The
airport remains open and commercial flights continue
on a normal schedule, though traffic on the road to
the airport has been disrupted at times by some of the
protests. As reported in Warden Message No. 49,
protests continue in the city of Les Cayes, located in
the South Department of Haiti.
The Embassy urges all U.S. citizens to maintain a high
level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to
increase their security/safety awareness. Americans
are encouraged to remain indoors if demonstrations are
taking place in their vicinity. Monitor the local
news and maintain contact with the U.S. Embassy in
Port-au-Prince. Also be sure to keep friends and
family updated on your welfare and whereabouts. The
Embassy reminds all citizens to avoid crowds and
demonstrations as even those intended to be peaceful
may suddenly turn violent. The Embassy will continue
to evaluate the situation and notify U.S. citizens of
any potential security threats.
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor
the U.S. Department of State's travel website at
www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide
Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be
found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens
to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html
, which includes valuable security information for
those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to
information on the Internet, travelers may obtain
up-to-date information on security conditions by
calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and
Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular
toll line at 1-202-501-4444. Citizens living and
residing in Haiti are advised to register their
presence in the country through the U.S. Department of
State's automated online
registration system,
https://travelregistration.state.gov.
In case of emergency, please contact the American
Citizen Services Unit in the Consular Section of the
U.S. Embassy. The Consular Section is located at 104,
rue Oswald Durand, Port-au-Prince. The telephone
numbers are: (509) 223-7011, 223-6440, 223-6443,
223-6421, 223-6426, 223-6424, 223-6407, and 223-7008.
The fax number is: (509) 223-9665. Our e-mail address
is acspap@state.gov. If you have an emergency when we
are closed, please call the Duty Officer at (509)
417-2399 or (509) 558-9099, or you may call Post One
(U.S. Marine Guard) at the Chancery at 222-0200.

So, here we are again back to the unstable stuff. Isn't it crazy how you can love a place and hate it all at the same time? At least I had something to blog about.

And so it goes!