Monday in Haiti: Haitian Time

Back in the States, our days are determined by time – the job, the appointment, the activity, the deadline.  We rush from this to that, pushed along by calendars and commitments.  Things are different here in Haiti.  They live by Haitian time and when a Haitian says we will be there in four hours it could mean nine.  It isn’t the calendar that determines destination - it’s the heaviness of the load you carry, the speed of the burro, the ruts in the road.  Haitian time.

Today was Teaching day!  The bags were unpacked, supplies set out, folders ready, posters hung, lessons written, and we were more than ready to work with 20 elementary teachers for three days.   Mary and Janet explained that we would have to be flexible since Haitian time is not the same as U.S. time – meaning the day was to start with a Geometry lesson given by a principal from the local high school.  He arrived over an hour late so we began our lesson by reviewing what a model lesson consists of along with activities using geoboards.  When he arrived, we did not realize he would teach for over 3 hours including pi and lines of infinity – well above the heads of many of our teachers.  To teach elementary school in Grand-Bois does not require any degree, not even a high school diploma is required.  You simply go in and say you want to teach and hope to get hired. That is why the teacher training provided by ServeHAITI is so critical to the future of education in this country.  Our teaching these next few days will focus on content but also strategies to make lessons come alive for students.  Many returning teachers said they loved the group work last year.  As one teacher stated, “It makes more pleasure when you share ideas.”

What struck us when we began were the shoes of the teachers.  Many had come a long way and from the wear and dust on their shoes; many had walked great distances to attend this training – with a belief that through this training they will improve as teachers.  Tonight there are several who are staying here in the clinic – some on benches downstairs while a few lucky ones have beds upon which to lay their heads.  The distance is too great to assure they will be back here on time for school.  While the World Cup was showing on a newly purchased TV in the clinic, many were studying materials they received today and writing model lesson plans for tomorrow’s class.

I know that when you work with someone of a different language and culture, the strategy is NOT to speak “loud and slow” although that is what I found myself doing today as we worked with these teachers.  Of those present, 15 were back after receiving training last year.  They said they returned to learn even more.  One teacher stated that last year the lessons were “fantastic” and this year he came to learn “perfection.” 

There were other things going on around the clinic besides the teacher training.  India was helping the pharmacist sort out medicine.  Robert, Sam, and Brian fixed toilets and faucets along with painting chalkboards for classrooms.  Gary and Chris visited another bakery that had received micro-financing from ServeHAITI.  The business has grown and now has two ovens – the first financed by this organization and the second purchased with profits from their growing business.  The kneader pictured above has helped them produce a bread that many walk several miles to purchase.  They run their stoves with propane gas so they are not cutting down trees to support the fire of their cooking.  Gary had some time along the way to deliver dresses made by families back home – no deadlines just Haitian time used to build relationships and add encouragement to the people of the Grand-Bois area.

One of the things we unpacked from the suitcases were endless supplies of black beads, cloth strips, and crucifixes.  These items are purchased on a regular basis by a local priest in Iowa.  Through generous donations, he also provides wages for workers based on number of rosary beads constructed.  He then donates the rosary beads to Catholic soldiers, serving around the world, a special outreach that helps to employ the people of Grand-Bois allowing an opportunity for many to feed their families.  The dream is that one day there will be a rosary bead factory that provides room to work rather than the narrow alleyway of the clinic.

We continue to be amazed by the resilience of the Haitian people who will not allow rough terrain or lack of resources to keep them from working to achieve their dreams.  It is said, “Teaching is not filling a bucket but kindling a fire.”  ServeHAITI is attempting to kindle many fires here in Haiti.  They are not filling a bucket but instead by offering encouragement, guidance for developing a finance plan, and some monetary resources with a guarantee to repay, those being served will take that kindling, that vision, that spark of a dream and bring forth its fire to improve themselves and their community.

Tonight we celebrated the 2^nd anniversary of Robert and India with a cake made by the local bakery.  It was a joy to reflect on the veranda about our day and the bigger picture of our lives.  We sat with no cell phones to answer, emails to read, deadlines to meet.  Instead, we filled ourselves with the contentment of learning about each other, sharing our insights, and pausing for a special moment we are coming to know fondly as Haitian time.