Day 7: Friday

Today was our last day in Pignon. I know I'm gonna miss this place. While the doctors and nurses were doing cases, Mom and I chilled at the compound. I had 3 naps before lunchtime. Ah, that's the life! Everyone came back before lunch, packed, and we all headed over to the hospital. There, we had a feast! Ziti, pasta salad, cake, rice and beans, and chicken. It was delicious! We then walked home and stopped at some "shops" or blankets laid down on the street. We bought some stuff, but, boy, it was intense. Everyone was yelling, "Blanc! Blanc! Miss! Please!" to try to get us to come look at their items. I bought some bracelets and a wooden machete for Drew. Once in the compound, we waited until the bus came to take us to Port. You probably have heard about this "bus" or the American Mini Van. Before we loaded, Jim, one of the Americans that live in Pignon, argued with the driver in Creole for fifteen minutes about the prices. They claimed it was just "a friendly discussion," but anyone with a brain knew it wasn't that friendly... We hopped aboard and set out for our 3 1/2 hour drive. Once we arrived in Port, we got lost, but we asked for directions, a risky move. We finally arrived at our hotel, Visa Lodge, and ate dinner. Mmh, pizza. Probably the best meal ever. After hanging, we went to the room. I felt terrible, but by the end of the night, I was good. It was a great day, and we set out for home tomorrow(:

Day 6: Thursday

Today I probably learned more than all my years of schooling. So, so, much happened. We woke up, ate, and set off to the hospital. There, we were setting up for surgery, and the power went out. Haitian electricity is completely different than American electricity, though. Here, there are two generators, a main and a back-up, that provide the power for the hospital. The main generator was pretty messed up, and the other one wasn't working well. So, during this time, we chilled for a while until Julie, one of the CRNA's got an idea. Earlier this week we had found some Epidural trays, and she wanted to give one of the nurses, a young woman that was due to have a baby today, an Epidural. Just  so you know, Epidurals are only given in Private Practice and doctor's don't even tell women that Epidurals are possible. All the women know are Csections and painful, natural birth. Julie told the nurse, and she was up for it! So, Julie gave her the Epidural, and we all got to watch the delivery. There were probably 15 people in the room watching. It was so.. different. I almost passed out, but it was such a great learning experience. The woman gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and she said she had no pain. While we were waiting for everything to be settled so we could see the baby, Julie joked about how it would be awesome if they named the girl after her. Turns out, they did. D'joulie, spelled differently so in Creole it would be pronounced Julie, was one of the cutest girls ever! Well, after that, the power came back, and everyone returned to surgery. After all the cases, we went to the Cholera treatment center. You should've seen my dad. I have never seen someone put on so much hand sanitizer. He was disgusted just at the thought of going into the center. To make matters worse, Friend was eating at the center! Everyone thought it was the grossest thing ever! Then, we headed home to eat dinner of chicken, rice, beans, plantains, and beets. Mhmm, good. I bought a beautiful necklace with a cross with my name, '12, and Haiti engraved into it. Tomorrow may be our last day in Pignon because we might take the bus over to Port, so we are sure we don't miss our flight.

Bon swa,

Morgan

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Day 6: Thursday

Today I probably learned more than all my years of schooling. So, so, much happened. We woke up, ate, and set off to the hospital. There, we were setting up for surgery, and the power went out. Haitian electricity is completely different than American electricity, though. Here, there are two generators, a main and a back-up, that provide the power for the hospital. The main generator was pretty messed up, and the other one wasn't working well. So, during this time, we chilled for a while until Julie, one of the CRNA's got an idea. Earlier this week we had found some Epidural trays, and she wanted to give one of the nurses, a young woman that was due to have a baby today, an Epidural. Just  so you know, Epidurals are only given in Private Practice and doctor's don't even tell women that Epidurals are possible. All the women know are Csections and painful, natural birth. Julie told the nurse, and she was up for it! So, Julie gave her the Epidural, and we all got to watch the delivery. There were probably 15 people in the room watching. It was so.. different. I almost passed out, but it was such a great learning experience. The woman gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and she said she had no pain. While we were waiting for everything to be settled so we could see the baby, Julie joked about how it would be awesome if they named the girl after her. Turns out, they did. D'joulie, spelled differently so in Creole it would be pronounced Julie, was one of the cutest girls ever! Well, after that, the power came back, and everyone returned to surgery. After all the cases, we went to the Cholera treatment center. You should've seen my dad. I have never seen someone put on so much hand sanitizer. He was disgusted just at the thought of going into the center. To make matters worse, Friend was eating at the center! Everyone thought it was the grossest thing ever! Then, we headed home to eat dinner of chicken, rice, beans, plantains, and beets. Mhmm, good. I bought a beautiful necklace with a cross with my name, '12, and Haiti engraved into it. Tomorrow may be our last day in Pignon because we might take the bus over to Port, so we are sure we don't miss our flight.

Bon swa,

Morgan

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Day 5: Wednesday

Today gave yesterday a run for the money for the title "Best. Day. Ever.". It was great. We visited another orphanage where we helped with their milk clinic. At the clinic, they fed malnourished infants whose mothers had died. Tragic stuff. These babies were some of the toughest people ever. One case was a family with 3 kids and a single mom where the mom drugged herself and her children so much with witchdoctor drugs they weren't normal. The 7 year old boy couldn't talk at all and his eyes were super crazy, going off in all these directions. That's not even mentioning his infected ear and herneated stomach. All of the children were in great need but absolutely adorable. At the orphanage, I met one of the nicest guys ever, Wesley, one of the orphans, a freshman. Wesley wants to come to the U.S. to go to college to become a doctor when he graduates high school. He knows Creole, French, Spanish, and English. He is great. Also, we met Danielle, a missionary from Wisconsin. As a young woman in her twenties, she lives with the Campbells, the missionaries  that run the orphanage, and home-schools their kids as well as helping around the orphanage. After a tour, we rode home on a four wheeler. It was awesome.!  Well, today is only half way through, and I don't know what the rest of the day will hold! If anything too exciting happens, I'll do another blog! My stomach is feeling worse, but I can handle it. I mean, I'm in Haiti, can't make Americans  look like some whimps(:

Morgan
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Day 4: Tuesday

Best. Day. Ever. 

Today I wasn't just school-girl Morgan, or athlete Morgan; I was medical-student-in-training Morgan. While Mom was at a school and witchdoctor church ( a story of its own), I was in the OR. You probably know that I am deathly afraid of needles, blood, and anything that comes along with that, but surprisingly, I had no problems. It was an experience like no other. Scrubbed up and smothered in any anti-bacterial sanitizer in a million mile radius, I watched surgeries from start to finish. First, I watched the patients walk themselves to surgery. Just imagine carrying your Iv, strolling into the operating room, and laying down on the surgical table, something I know I could never do. One of the nurses said that Hatians are some of the bravest people out there, and I would have to agree. Next, I watched the patients get anaesthesia and fall asleep. After the patient was asleep and positioned for the procedure, it was surgery time. I was able to stand a mere 2 inches from the table, watching every single incision. I have a whole knew respect for surgeons because I know I couldn't stay focused for over 4 hours doing the same thing! Lastly, I helped wake the patients. That was fun. Between cases, Cole, Chis, Friend, and I would sort medical supplies. You have no idea how badly organized the hospital was. We knew where everything was more than the workers! After a long day, we came home to spaghetti and rice, a delicious step up from the spam and plantains for lunch. FYI, if you ever have a chance to eat plantains, they are the best! Add some ketchup and dig into the best french fry ever! Well, today was a good day, other than the virus that started going around the compound today. My stomach hurts so bad, and its supposed to be harder on young people. With Friend, Cole, and me not feeling too well, its gonna be interesting. (: 

Morgan 
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Day 3: Monday

Monday. Monday. Monday. Today was very interesting. Mom and I toured a remote school and clinic. The clinic was heartbreaking. In the U.S., if there is any kind of animal or any dust in a doctor's office, it is cleaned automatically and taken care of. In the clinic, if there are less than 20 roaches, you're lucky. They were in need of SO much! The school was very different from our schools. The teachers came and sat all day, not teaching a minute. The reason was Dr. Acene, the owner. hadn't paid them for four months. They were on the verge of strike. There was no water at the school, and the bus could barely get to the school; the students came to school knowing they might have to walk the long journey home. We also visited a sugar cane mill where they broke down and boiled the sugar. The liquid will be put in barrels and sold to rum companies nearby. It was a unique day, and I learned much about the Haitian culture, people, and way of life. 

Morgan

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Day 2: Sunday

The day started at seven with Sunday Soup, a pumpkin based soup with noodles, chicken (all of the chicken), vegetables, and spices. After breakfast, we then went to Philadelphia Church where we sang old, recognizable hyms in Creole. The weirdest part, and highlight, of the service was something I had never seen in my life: the riddance of a bad spirit. In attempt to rid the teen girl of the "spirit that was holding her back", everyone prayed while she was passed out in a chair in front of the alter, a practice I was less than used to. After church, we went to the orphanage my mom and I will be working at for the next week. It was life-changing. I met and chatted with some of the young kids. These children don't get adopted, but when they turn eighteen, the are freed and expected to get a life of their own. The heart wrenching visit was moving, and you have no idea how blessed we Americans are. Later, we came back to the compound where we had lunch consisting of Nutella, Spam, and bread. Gourmet stuff right there. The doctors just went to clinic, so Mom and I are on the roof of the compound, reading and blogging. I have actually made a couple of friends here in Pignon, and I know I will be coming back later in my life. 

Morgan 

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