Have a God Week

          Have a god week.  Earlier this week I read that line in an e-mail that a friend wrote to me.  My mind initially read “have a good week,” because I’m pretty sure that’s what she meant.  I went back, though, to re-read the sentence because something seemed “off.”  That’s when I noticed the typo and realized it read “have a god week.”  Then I thought “Have a God week.”

            That phrase has made think all week.  I think it’s stuck in my brain in part because it’s Holy Week and I've been watching the celebrations around me and learning about Easter in Haiti.  I think it’s also stuck in my head because it’s such a cool saying.  Have a God week.  I've thought it many times this week, and each time it makes me think of God and makes me smile.  Not bad. 

            I've also thought about what does it mean? to “have a God week,” especially the week we observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and then celebrate Easter.  I don’t have any answers; I just know that every time I've thought of the phrase, I think about God for a bit.  Maybe that’s enough.  Maybe that’s the start to having a God week. 

            Vendredi Sens.  That’s what Haitians call Good Friday.  Good Friday is celebrated much differently here than in the States.  First of all, it’s celebrated, not observed.  It’s a big food day, and there are parties in the streets with bands and dancing and singing.  Then today there were a number of processions in the streets observing the Way of the Cross.  These processions stopped traffic and often had a police escort.  Most of the people in the processions wore white (that’s pretty traditional).  And, the church services and processions were held in the morning.  I explained to Oriol, my tutor, that in America Good Friday was very different.  The church services tended to be in the afternoon or evening, and that the day wasn’t so much celebrated as it was observed.  Churches turned out lights at 3:00 if they held services in the afternoon, all the colors were taken out of the sanctuary this week, not to be replaced until Easter Sunday, and services focused on the suffering of Christ (no celebrations there).  Oriol was surprised by how different it was.  Many offices closed yesterday and won’t re-open until Tuesday.  He also explained how most stores will be closed on Sunday.  Hmm.  Since we were trying to speak only in Creole, I knew I didn’t have the words to explain that not only would most stores in America be open, but that many of them would also have great Easter sales to entice people in.  I settled for “that’s different from in the States.”

Fresco Man

            I went back to work with Chi Chi this afternoon.  I felt bad for missing the last two days due to being ill.  I showed the nanny how to do things, and explained that she could do them even if I’m not there.  She seems as if she really wants to help Chi Chi get stronger, so I’m pretty positive that she’ll work with him.  On my way back, I passed a guy selling “frescos,” or slushies.  It was hot; the ice was cold.  I decided to buy

one.  For 25 goudes (about 60 cents), I had a grenadine-flavored treat for my walk back.  Quite nice.

            Thanks for reading.  Have a God week.