welcome to my world

I guess I will be the first to admit that I haven't done my job in keeping this blog up-to-date this year. With electricity and internet issues at the beginning of the year, it was quite difficult to check my e-mail, let alone, keep up with this thing! But I guess I have realized a different reason for my lack of storytelling, as of late. Things that I would have posted about as odd or strange, now seem normal to me. The craziness of days without electricity, riding a moped as my #1 form of transportation with a haitian driver telling me loves me (and sometimes proposing marriage), jumping over sewage, dodging a donkey on the way to school, and being harassed for candy by the cutest little boy in the world, bendjy, are all common every day activities that I have forgotten aren't part of the "normal" life I used to live.

Gone are the days of driving my car to the Target to run some errands, fast food (actually fast anything), smooth paved roads, and hours of endless entertainment on YouTube. No more ice cream, reliable postal systems, blending in with the crowd (can you imagine this white girl trying to blend in among a crowd of haitians??!!), or Qdoba.


And I couldn't be happier :)

Longing for home...

I felt many emotions last year, my first year in Haiti, that I expected to feel and many that I DIDN'T expect. This year, however, I have felt completely at home. I love living here, I love working here, I love BEING here. I really feel at home.

Until today.

My brother and his wife had their first baby today. My first nephew was born today. And here I am, stuck across the ocean and not able to see this sweet little baby. Today, for the first time in Haiti, I am a little homesick.

Don't get me wrong, I am still glad to be here. I can't imagine being anywhere else. I just didn't think missing out on this day would be quite so hard. Only 33 more days until I can squeeze on that little fella, and you better believe I will be counting down!