Travel Group: Doug Woodson, Tracy Metzler, Nick Metzler, Dan Jepson
Below is an excerpt from Tracy’s travel journal.
Saturday
Awake Saturday at 6:00 head to the “coffee shop” – a lovely older Dominican woman boiling coffee in small metal pans over a fire – served up with lots of sugar in a very small cup – it will work! Drive to border at DaJabon – cross border in ankle deep mud dragging the very large suitcase Gina sent with all of the treats for the big girls at the rental house and for Edelyn back in Port Au Prince. I’m glad I packed light. Darling little Haitian boys eagerly approach us to carry our bags, taking their jobs very seriously, holding on tightly to the bags and carrying them on their heads through the vast mud puddles and debris left over from Market day on Friday. It costs $25 per person to leave the D.R. and $1 to enter Haiti – reflective of the dichotomous nature of these two countries that share the same island.
Ounaminthe - Children
We finally arrive at Danita’s place in Ouanaminthe at about 9:00 a.m. Kids come running – BIG HUGS! Some of the best hugs I’ve ever had. Had some breakfast with the kids – scrambled eggs – very good meal – kids all look happy.
Fabiola, Regina, Dan, Tamaelle, Maximus
After more hugs and laughs we take our bags to the hotel a couple of blocks away and then make our way to the rental house a few more blocks away where the older girls are staying. Lots of mud along the way from the previous night’s rain – Doug remembers the way to the house, which amazes us as we zig zag amongst shack after shack that are difficult to differentiate.
We arrive at the rental house where the girls, Father Bien-aime and some of the helpers are staying. They are washing their clothes in the yard. Their red and navy school uniforms are among the clothes they are washing. The girls look good- big smiles and warm hugs…
The girls tell me they like the school at Danita’s place and that they are doing well. It’s hard to know their true feelings and thoughts as these girls have been raised to only make positive comments to adults.
Swinging Jerry
