Haiti: It's complicated

A piece of roofing material showed up this morning. I didn't ask where it came from. It's a different color, but the same fabric. Happily, Fritzner and I installed it, along with the ridge cap along the peak, and a couple of things that look like Madonna's breasts, and we pronounced it Finished! Most satisfying to have my week-long project actually completed.

A local woman brought around freshly made Haitian donuts this morning. Looked and smelled fantastic, and I was hungry. Someone asked Johnnie "are they safe?" "Kinda safe." "Kinda safe" works for me in some cases--areas to stroll around in, bungee jumping, etc. But not for eating in less developed countries. So I declined. With regrets.

Work day finished not long after lunch. Worked some more with Fritzner, on the scaffolding we built. Eventually, dignitaries and families arrived for the dedication ceremony. Lengthy, as these things go. Lots of preaching to the already converted (us) who were standing after a long day/week of hard work. Finally ended with the handing over of the keys. The two families (each with husband and wife, each with two kids) all dressed up and smiling (one later broke down completely, I suspect because of reflecting on what has happened to them during the past year.) And then, release! Back on our bus/paddy wagon, back to Auberge du Quebec.

No more building. Woke up this morning and my body said "no" and my brain said "it's okay, there's no building scheduled." A long drive up some hills to an area outside PAP for great views, then a long drive back and through PAP with a stop at the destroyed national palace, then a drive to a beach resort on the outskirts of PAP for lunch (at 3), and hanging out by the sea, watching the local folks enjoying a great day at the beach. Goat was on the menu, so of course, not having had it since my Mississippi days, I had to have it. Much better than I remembered (which isn't saying much.)

As always happens, the more I hang around, the more I learn. And the clearer it becomes that what I thought I knew I didn't really know. Learned that one of the men who received a house isn't (or may not be any longer) married to the woman and children with him. That he has "another" wife and four children. But there they were, beaming ("stand by your man?"). So who should get the house--him? her and the kids? the other woman and the kids? It's complicated.

Or the question of scale. This first duplex took about a month to build, using volunteers and paid labor and sweat equity from the families. That would mean 12 duplexes a year. Which would house 24 families, perhaps 125 people. There are 18,000 people in the Grace tented village. At that rate, after about 10 years, they would have moved 1,000 people to good, secure permanent housing. Is that a good use of time, money, energy? Or is some other model appropriate? It's complicated.

Or the question of cost. This duplex cost $15,000 to build (again, using volunteer labor in part.) This is their first, so they may find ways to economize in future units. By comparison, they have built "temporary" structures--metal frames, plywood walls, tin roof, concrete floor--that cost far less and can be erected in a day. Should they be doing this rather than building these more costly, yet permanent structures? It's complicated.

So I know I don't know. Yet I do know that because of this complex partnership of people, there are two new housing units, well constructed (especially the roof!), which will provide two families with decent housing. Kids a place to breathe, and play, and just be kids. And adults not to worry about whether their tent is going to blow down, be flooded out, or burned down when the close quarters in tent camps lead to inevitable human dramas. This isn't complicated. It's really quite simple. This I do know.

And so another fantastic adventure ends. Different in some respects, similar in many. A tremendous privilege to be able to do this. There will be more.