People are Nice

Yes, I believe that people are nice.  Today I headed to the Caribbean Lodge on my own.  I had two sets of directions on which taptap to take, and I felt pretty confident as I headed out.  I got out to Three Hands just fine and crossed over to where I would catch a taptap to Quadeboquet  Crois des Bouquets (I have no idea  just learned how to spell that).  However, the taptaps weren't going the way I thought they would be going.  So, I asked a nice looking man (not as in cute, but in as appeared to be a nice person) where to catch the taptap I needed.  He told me to wait with him and he would help me out.  And he did.  Not the way I thought, but he did.  All of the truck taptaps were full, so he flagged down a big water truck that was heading toward Quadeboquet Croix des Bouquets.  I climbed up into the cab and we headed out!  A couple of blocks later I got off, and a guy who had been hitching a ride as well showed me the right truck taptap for me to get on, and in about 10 minutes I was at the Caribbean Lodge!

Now, I know some people will be like "WHAT?  You got into a vehicle with total strangers in a country where you barely speak the language???"  I did.  I don't do it often.  But, I have learned that people generally are pretty nice and want to help others.  I've relied on the goodness of strangers in France, Germany, Austria, England, and Haiti, and I've never been hurt or taken advantage of.  Again, I don't make a regular habit of it; but, when I've needed strangers to help me, they always have.

 My trip to the American Embassy was frustrating to say the least, but the ultimate result was positive.  I arrived at 7:00 a.m., and Marie Claude and her friend Johnny had already been let in.  I explained to the guy with the clipboard that I had a 7:00 a.m. appointment and that my friends had already gone it--could I join them?  No.  I showed him my passport and explained that the meeting was in the non-immigration visa area. I was there to help an ill woman with her medical visa--could I please go in?  No, we don't let Americans in the non-immigration visa area (lie--others have gone in).  Could he please see if someone could go in and find them so that one of them could bring out the paperwork to show that I should be admitted?  No.  At this point I became a snot.  My attitude certainly didn't help.  When I asked how as an American citizen I could get into the American Embassy, he replied that I had to go to my section.  I asked where is my section?  Not here.

I realized that it was fruitless to make any more attempts, so I backed off and stood next to the tent.  I waited patiently until 8:15 when Marie Claude and Johnny came out.  She had been denied.  We stepped back behind the barricade so that I could call Dr. John with the news.  He was pissed.  He sent off a series of e-mails to a couple of attorney generals in the U.S. who in turn contacted Director Jay Smith who runs the American Embassy in PAP.  Since they won't let Haitians wait by the admissions tent, I went back to standing patiently by the tent, waiting to hear back from Dr. John.  I waited from 8:30-10:00.  At last Dr. John called back to say that Director Jay Smith was working on it and that an embassy person was coming out to get us.  He had my description and my phone number.  I went to grab Marie Claude and Johnny.  Turns out the embassy worker was the same one who wouldn't let me in.  The three of walk up.  He lets Marie Claude in.  He lets Johnny in (who was there for moral support, like me).  He doesn't let me in.  Says that he was instructed not to let me in.  Really??  The director of the American Embassy specifically told you to not let in the American citizen?  I just said, "She can get in?"
         "Yes, she can.  Not you."

Okay.  Fine.  I went back to standing patiently by the admissions tent.  Twenty-five minutes later Marie Claude came out with a 6-month medical visa.  She leaves for the States and life-saving surgery tomorrow morning!

I learned some things that day:

1.  Check the attitude.  Mine.  Getting all snippy didn't help.  It just made it worse.  I don't think I'm usually
     like that; at least, I hope not.  Not sure where the attitude came from, but it came and did me no good.
2.  God can work miracles without me.
3.  My role in a process can be very different from what I anticipate.  I thought I was going to go in and help
     speak for Marie Claude.  I thought I was going to go in and convince people with my talk that she
     needed to be in the States.  I thought I'd be on the front lines, so to speak.  Turns out my role was to be
     on the sidelines, not the front lines.  Instead of speaking, I remained silent and prayed.  A role no less
     important, just different.

I still want to fill you all in on the Haitian wedding I attended on Friday.  But, I need to say goodnight for now.  I'll write about the wedding tomorrow.  Turns out it was not a typical Haitian wedding.  Thank God.