Linda’s visit to Haiti

My wife, Linda, returned home to Florida today. She was here only 6 days. She spent time visiting schools in the neighborhood. Tuition is about US $100 to $200 per year for elementary school. There is no public education, and many people, most people in this rural area, are illiterate.

She told me that the schools she visited have very little supplies. Mostly, they have only a teacher and a blackboard. The pupils, clean and dressed in neat uniforms, repeat after the teacher and copy into their notebooks. Children are polite and behavior problems unusual. Parents value education.

As usual, Linda made friends with everyone. She was a good sport and seemed to really enjoy the long hikes, up and down mountain trails, fording rivers, traveling by tap-tap. She didn’t complain when we missed lunch because of over-optimistic scheduling by our trek leader. She was just happy that we had plenty of clean, fresh spring water to drink at the spring above Verrettes falls. Many people were walking up to their homes from the market. Linda seemed to establish a friendly relationship with them, in spite of the language barrier.

We ran into many pigs, goats, donkeys, horses, and poultry on our hikes. It was quite warm for most of the hike to Verrettes. Afterward, some of the younger trekkers  (and also myself) were exhausted.  Linda though, after a cold shower, was her customary lively, friendly self at dinner.

She showed me her usual affection, which I’ll miss. As you know, I hadn’t seen her since Dec. 19. She even said she was proud of me. (Well, what would you expect?)

I have 3 more weeks here.

Encountering a pig.

On a hike.

At children’s Carnival celebration.