ABoverCs: Ferrier's First Surgery

Wednesday, March 9, 2011- Ferrier, Haiti Day 6

On Wednesday of our Haiti trip, My mom, Kim, and Sharon had a meeting with the teachers at Jackson's school. During this time they were able to tell us things that they needed, to ask us things they needed help with, and to just tell us how it was being a teacher in Haiti. Of course I wrote notes during the meeting:

"How are the students tested in Haitian schools?

They prepare paper examinations. One of the teachers takes her students outside and put them in a circle to help them learn left and right.

What is it that they would like help with?

Kindergarten teachers use concrete to have difficulties with materials. They need help with abstract things such as touch and hear. They do not have materials for that. The teachers like the students to determine and discover what things are. They need ideas of what to do with them.

In place value taught in school?

Yes. They do charts and do expansions.

How do they do place value?

They do concrete and abstract concepts and mostly algebra.

What do they have trouble with?

There are students that are smarter than others.

Sharon- what I do if the student is ahead I let them help teach those who do not understand.

How many students in a classroom?

There are many students in each class. There about 50 kids for each class which is a major problem. They divide classes or call another teacher to help.

Kimm- At our school we have them write definitions in the journal....

We showed them the large teeth with the toothbrush to use as a teaching aid. We also showed them the food pyramid so they can divide food into groups and learn about nutrition. After the meeting I talked with a man who is a foreman working on the school. He spoke Spanish so I had another opportunity to practice. He lived in the Dominican Republic for 8 years. He has a wife and 2 kids. A 4 year old boy and an 11 year old girl. He asked where I was from and if I was African because I have dark skin. I told him about myself and my family. He was very friendly and he laughed at me when I used the wrong tense in Spanish and tried to correct myself. He told me that it is hard for his wife to find work. His kids go to Jackson's school. I asked him if he planned to live in Ferrier and he said yes because this is where his family is from. He said everyone is in the Dominican- Cubans, Americans, Mexicans, and Haitians. It seems like that is the place to go fro schooling. He asked how many times I had been to Ferrier and when I would be coming back. I told him I would love to be able to come back every year....

Also at the school I met a 5th grade teacher named Welson, who spoke English very well. He is going to school in the Dominican for law. He said it takes 4 years to do that. He has already been in school 4 years to become a teacher...

We went to some of the sponsored kids' homes to give them news from their sponsors. There was one house with 3 small rooms that cost $1,500 and 13 people live there. I was very small, but survived the earthquake with no damages. There was a boy there who I saw at the school getting his picture taken to send to his sponsor. He had a camo shirt on with a Micky Martelly sticker. He is 20 years old in the 7th grade. He is the same age as me. Here I am trying to finish college early because I don't want to be old and in school and this man is the same age as me, still determined to get his education even though he is surrounded by children younger than him. He asked me how old I was and when I told him I was the same age as him she fell over laughing. I was confused. Then he raised his hands to show how short I was.. Even HAITIANS are making fun of how short I am. I get no respect.

At the clinic a little girl sat with me and we colored on sticky notes. She taught me my numbers, ABC's, shapes, and fruits and vegetables. She was six years old. There was a lady in the clinic earlier. She was 28 but looked so much older. She had AIDS and the doctors did not expect her to live much longer. AIDS is so prevalent in Haiti and awareness is not spread. They need health education. I am so glad that Dr. Johnnie is here now to be able to give them continuous access to health care.

We were able to watch a surgery today. Rob had to remove a benign tumor from a lady's side. There were no anesthetics he was just able to numb the area. She laid there in the same spot for two hours, and we were able to watch the whole thing. While Rob was performing surgery I went back to help with triage. There was a little boy there that I remembered from last year. He had sores on his leg and also an infection. We got the peroxide and he started crying because it hurt so much. I gave him candy and a balloon to try to help him calm down....

After the clinic we went to the micro loan meeting for a little while. They had their items laid out on the table and we window shopped...

I had Cergi at dinner. He has gotten so busy since he was given antibiotics. He is trying to walk, talk, and cant eating. He drinks so much gatorade its crazy (hint the nickname "chugalug"). I had to move things out of the way because he was grabbing for everything. He is like a totally different baby. He is happy and laughs all the time...

On the way to church we passed out glow bracelets because we had to walk in the dark. The kids loved it and pretty soon all you would see was a group of colors moving through the dark. During church Mom and Jeveline were filming the singing. Jeveline took the camera to the front and while she was taping, Guermanie did was she was good at- bossed her around. Then we passed out sticky notes to the kids and they colored with some crayons I have in my backpack and wrote us notes. We showed them pictures of our families. There are some things that can be communicated across language barriers and one of those things is love. I love those kids. They are great kids. I wish they had the same opportunities that we do in the U.S. They have so much potential just not the right means to reach their full potential. I have become attached to all of these people and I could not imagine my life without them or without these experiences."