Thursday from Jana

I am writing this from my perspective, as the prosthetic guys are just too busy to get to a computer. and our internet access is so very limited. Actually I don't quite have words to tell you about what we are experiencing here. So if my writing seems confused and out of order and chaotic, it is either due to heat stroke :) or a very true reflection of daily life here. I have started to converse in a few short sentences in Kreyol. Mostly pleasantries, but the Haitians just enjoy it so much. And I don't mind being the subject of their laughter! But I think I have gained some trust from them, because if their prosthetic leg bugs them they come to tell me! Unfortunately there's not much I can do there. But I know just the guys who can! AJ was in his own little heaven yesterday - he got invited into the surgery to witness an amputation... halfway through the femur the electricity went out and someone ran in with a flashlight! Most of the people they casted earlier this week, were fitted with prostheses today and we are working with another group of PT's from Montreal and things are really going well. AJ has done serial casting on 3 kids with club foot - seems to be something very common here. One PT knew of at least 8 more. But he has tried to teach someone here his method, and hopefully that will help. They were very interested in that. My little 5 year old friend, Florika, had someone carry her from the rehab centre to the clinic to come and tell me I still owed her bubbles! She really stole my heart and I was quite sad to say goodbye (kenbe fo) but I was able to tell her that I thought she was "belle" (beautiful). I have been sewing makeshift shower curtains from rescue sheet (sewing machine didn't like that much) and real ones from fabric. And teaching some of the women at the rehab centre to sew. They made two pillows and a little skirt and we had a lot of fun while listening to a soccer game. Everyone knew Brazil was playing, but no one could tell you against who! Other than that I am sweeping the floor, making training notes for the local staff, and making sure that everyone keeps drinking water. We have not had a warm shower since our arrival, and there is actually very little point in towelling off - half an hour later you are just as wet again. We have done a few crazy Haitian things - like 6 on a quadbike! And I fell off - did not get hurt. But I was hesitant to even get on with just one other person and an exercise ball :) Did okay that time. Tonight we are heading to the beach for dinner. I am going to try and upload a few pics with this note - will see if the internet speed allows me. We are exhausted - last night I was asleep by 8.45pm! But none of us would trade this for anything.