If you read yesterday's post, you know that today's agenda included running errands. You also know that I said hanging out with kids is more fun than running errands. It's way more fun.
I originally planned to head out right away in the morning, but then I though "No, stick around and help clean the therapy room." Well, we decided to do therapy and then just clean the mats. By the time all that was done, it was only noon, so I thought I had plenty of time to run all my errands:
1. Print new pictures of all the kids
2. Buy index cards
3. Measure the table at Delmas 2000 to see whether it would work for Phonsley
4. Buy Diet Coke
4. Print more stuff for the therapy room
6. Stop at the bookstore and just check it out.
I planned to start at the top and work my way down--literally. I would start near the top of the mountain at Delmas 86 and start with #1 on the list. After about an hour on the tap tap up to Delmas 86, I got off at Ga Ma, the photo place. Walked up to the door and pulled. Nothing. Locked. The very nice security guard stuck his head out of the side door and motioned me over. He explained that they closed at noon on Saturdays. Of course they do. I was only 1 1/2 hours late.
As a sign of my growth and maturity (I'm being serious here), I didn't get angry or frustrated. I just thought, well I'll start walking down toward the office supply store for the index cards. I typically walk down a few blocks anyway, so this was no big deal. I approached the office supply store. Walked up the front steps. Closed. This nice security guard explained that they closed at 1:00 on Saturdays. Of course they do.
I still didn't get angry or frustrated. But, I did get stubborn. I decided I was just going to keep walking down the mountain. Don't know why, but I did. Along the way I noticed Le Pappitry, a paper store. I remembered that they, too, carried office/school supplies, so I crossed the street to check it out. Closed. Noon. Saturday. Of course.
Kept walking down the mountain. Came to the Eagle Store and decided to check for the Diet Coke. Wonder of wonders they had it! Finally I could cross something off my list!
I crossed back over the street because I remembered seeing a place on my way up the mountain that advertised printing a bunch of stuff. It was on the down hill side, so I wanted to be on the right side so that I didn't miss it. I hadn't gone very far when I saw the Bon Jean grocery store. I thought "Why not? Give it a try. Maybe they would have index cards." I crossed back over the street and went in. The first shelf I looked at had index cards. Seriously. 500 of 'em. They were packaged all together, so even though I only wanted about 200, I had to buy 500. So what. Another thing crossed off my list!
I went back to the other side of the street (by this point, I was pretty good at getting across Haitian streets, which can be a bit like playing Frogger because pedestrians DO NOT have the right a way in Haiti). I started thinking about getting a moto taxi to take me the rest of the way--I thought I could keep an eye out for the photo place and save my feet some discomfort. Could've done that. I didn't. Stubbornness kicked in (thanks Mom and Dad!) and I kept walking. And walking. All the way down to Delmas 33 and the Delmas 2000 grocery store. For those of you who haven't been here, that may not mean much. But, to walk from Delmas 86 to Delmas 33 meant I had just walked about 2.5 miles. In sandals. With little water. In the Caribbean sun. Who knew running errands would've required preparing for a wilderness trip!
But, just before I came across Delmas 2000, I saw the photo printing place! And, it was still open. And, they could print my pictures and the Word documents. Two more things crossed off my list. Of course, the Kodak printing machine ran out of paper. And then ink. And then had to be rebooted. And the guys running the place were more concerned about getting printing done for one of the Delmas political candidates. Printing 48 pictures took 90 minutes. But it got done!
On to Delmas 2000. Walked right in, measured, and left. The table will work for Phonsley, one of our boys in a wheelchair. I'm looking for a table that he can sit at in his chair and be at the right height so that he can work on coloring and playing with objects.
I continued down the mountain with only one more item on my list: stop at the bookstore by the Rebo Cafe just to check it out. I grabbed a tap tap (finally) and sat down. No way was Haiti going to fool me again. I knew better than to get off and check to see whether the bookstore was open. It was 4:15 on a Saturday. Of course it would be closed!
I arrived home at 4:30 satisfied with my day--even though it started with little hope, I really did get a lot accomplished.
I still stand by my observation that hanging with kids is more fun than running errands, but at least errands in Haiti prove to be adventurous!
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