Aftershocks

Dunno how to feel right now... Earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 hits Haiti yesterday and Port-au-Prince is essentially destroyed...  Haven't heard anything from my grandmother & it's really starting to get to me... I know she'll be alright because we made a deal, I have to give her some great grandchildren before she goes anywhere

The pictures are heartbreaking, people carrying others, digging for people under the rubble... Major buildings are destroyed so just imagine the homes because a lot of the them are so poorly made... I'm trying so hard to keep it together because I'm the biggest crybaby and I wanna stay strong for my family but how can you when you see something like this

I may not be the ultimate Haitian like my friends are but I wouldn't be here if it weren't for this country.  I love the food and the culture and the pride our people have. I love the language, the silly superstitions and idioms that make absolutely no sense when I translate them back to English.  I love our stereotypes...

You Know You're Haitian When....
1. Your parents still put you "a genou" even though you are 19.
2. You've eaten rice within the past 3 days.
3. You eat too much chicken, duri kole, or duri a djon djon.
4. Your living room couches are covered with plastic.
5. You try to bargain your way out of everything and anywhere even in department stores.
6. To get out of trouble with a fellow Haitian, you use the phrase: "bon sa-ou genyen la?, se Ayisyen nou ye mon(ma)che."
7. Once the temperature gets below a certain level, you lose all concepts of coordination when it comes to things like snow boots, winter coats, scarves, and hats often doing things like wearing two different color hats at the same time.
8. You have a bunch of expensive perfumes on your dresser but prefer to use the cheaper ones because you don't want to waste your good stuff.
9. You point at things and people with your lips.
10. You just don't feel fresh until you've drenched yourself in "Bien Etre"
11. Your house is so packed with meubles and *biblos* that you can't even take two steps.
12. There are entire rooms in your house that no one is allowed to go in because they are reserved for company.
13. You have three sets of china: odd, even, and miss-matched.
14. You might be late for a wedding or may not even even show up at all,... but damn it, you are early for the reception!
15. And of course you bring home a plate wrapped in aluminum foil and some 'gateau'. 16. You prefer juice in the form of concentrated syrup.
17. The weakest old woman can strike fear into your heart with just one look.
18. When you really get mad at someone you want to take off your shoe and slap him or her with it.
19. Saturday is "bouillon day" at your house.
20. Yawning more often indicates hunger than fatigue.
21. All soda is called "cola" and all chewing gum is called "Chicklets".
22. Maggi, Matouk's/Tabasco, & tomato paste are cooking essentials.
23. You refuse to throw out old grease so everything you fry has that taste of fried fish, chicken, bannan pese, or griot.
24. The US is only made up of three cities: Miami, NY, and Boston.
25. Deep fried pork (griot) is one of your favorite dishes.
26. You have either Jean or Marie placed somewhere in your name and you know someone named Roro, Fanfan, Pouchon or Marie Rose.
27. Your furniture is too big for your house.
28. You dip bread in your coffee, hot chocolate, and even certain kinds of liquor (Kremas).
29. You go to work as though you were dressed for church, you go to church as if you were dressed for a wedding, and you go to a wedding as if you were dressed to meet Queen Elizabeth.
30. When you hear "pssssssssst", you know that someone is trying to get your attention.
31. You nod your head upward to greet someone when you're too busy to talk.
32. If someone says that the party starts at 8pm, then you know not to show up until 11PM!
33. You're proud to be Haitian - and you pass these jokes on to all your Haitian friends

 

"L'union fait la force"

 

*****UPDATE*****

My grandma is FINE!!! I'm relieved and thankful.  Luckily her house is fine, the fence was the only thing to collapse, but she's staying out of it just to be safe.  She may only be 4'11" but she's the strongest woman I know.  Still the country needs our help.  I'm working with my friend Arnelle on donating food, clothes and whatever else is needed. If you're interested in helping you can text YELE to the number 501501 and it will donate $5 to YeleHaiti, Wyclef's organization and be billed to your cell phone.  You can do that up to 6 times. You can also visit yele.org (although every time I visit the site, the server is down... which is hopefully a good sign) and click DONATE.