notification and navigation

so some of you may be aware that every town i have ever moved to has started a road widening project right around my arrival on a road i had to use frequently...which usually resulted in me dealing with construction the whole time i lived there and then there being a much nicer road for me to travel on once i had moved away...people have invited me to come live with them so they could get their road paved etc...so seeing as the road system is a big issue in haiti we jokingly remarked that maybe my moving here would be how haiti got their roads fixed...

fast foward to last night...we were sitting around talking and heard some noise outside...some members of the group we have in right now helping us around the house wanted to know what it was...just the sounds of haiti...you never really know...but two of us could swear we hear spraypaint cans being shaken...this morning we found this...which is apparently how the government notifies you that they plan to widen your street...and take down your wall as well as your living room and dining room and half of your backyard to do it...in a month...

so that should be interesting...its really fun to try to explain that to the group who has just spent three days putting building stuff on the other side of that wall...good thing they are amazing wonderful people...and i am not just saying that b/c they brought popcicles...

in other, less destructive, news...yesterday i took my haiti driving to a whole new level...navigation...we had to make a trip to the hardware store (to build the shelves that might now be torn down by the mayors peeps) and will (pastor from above mentioned amazing group) really wanted to drive in haiti...so i rode shotgun and gave directions...even though i had never been there...i know that doesn't sound so amazing but you need to know a few things...i am no navigator even in the states...finding your ways along the streets of haiti is a trick with a hole in it as my daddy would say (and often in this case with literal holes!)...there are no maps...

so after having taken only one semi solo outing in haiti i took two blancs on a little adventure...we stopped at the grocery to cash a check...get a few things...and chat with the locals...i actually ran into someone i met at the sugar cane park in true "jesup we socalize at the grocery store style"...to the hardware store...translated a little creole...and then strapped some lumber to the top of the truck in true precarious teameffort style and then home again....and we made it! it was a really happy day for me...i felt like it was really finally truly HERE somehow...anyway...

i love this place...i love my life...i love you all.