Well, I didn't buy the the motorcycle from yesterday.

I bought . . .

. . . this cool red one instead!

It comes with a red helmet, elbow and shin guards, and red riding gloves.  My plan is to donate it to the orphanage so that it then becomes a tax deduction (kind of like Cars for Kids . . . betcha can't get the tune out of your head now!)

I plan to learn how to drive it in the next couple of days and will practice in the neighborhood.  I won't take it out on a main road until it has a licence plate and I feel comfortable on it.  Or never.  I really would be okay with someone else driving and me being the passenger.  I just like the idea of the orphanage having another mode of transportation.  Of course, it helps that it's a cool red motorcycle!

"The government is working for a more beautiful Haiti."

Ditch digging

I did some walking this afternoon in the neighborhood.  I stopped by a local shop and purchased a Prestige to go.  The ice cold (literally, ice cold) Prestige wet my whistle as I walked.  I headed out to one of the main roads heading toward Rte. National #1 because I had seen some road construction going on.  Took some pictures.  Rumor has it that the government plans to pave the road.  For those of you familiar with the area, if you are heading out from Gertrude's, you take a right at the Sejour bottling company.  When that road ends in a "T," take a left.  This is the road being paved.  It takes you out to Rte. National #1.  

Construction traffic

I walked through the construction site just to see what it was like.  I spotted this young boy in the picture below (9-11) climbing on top of the dirt to get a closer look while the big 

Young boy getting a closer look!

earth-moving machine was working!  No one seemed to notice/care.  I like exploring to see what's happening in the area.  When I take my walks, I get to meet people and practice my language skills.  Today I spoke with August Watson in French for about 10 minutes--that was on my way to work with Chi Chi.  On my way back from the construction site I had to take a new route, and I surprised a girl by buying her friend and her some "creme" (sort of like ice cream).

She jokingly asked me whether I would buy her some.  I said, "Ah, ou vle ke mwen achete ou kek creme?" (You want me to buy you some ice cream?).  "Yes" was her response.  I then asked, "Ki sa ou pral achete pou mwen?" (What are you going to buy me?).  She laughed.  I took that as "Nothing."

I bought three ice creams for a total of 30 gourdes (just under $1), and I got to enjoy a new Haitian treat for me on my way back to Gertrude's.