Haiti-Aid

Tonight I was finally able to connect with a good friend of mine from Haiti - Kosciuszko.  To this point, I had assumed he was OK because I had not heard otherwise.  Though I was erring on the side of optimism, you can imagine how excited I was to see he was on Facebook chat.  We talked for about 30 minutes online, some in Kreyol and some in English. 


As happy I was to talk to Kosciuszko, it was a very difficult conversation.  I was afraid to ask all that was in my heart and was almost certain that the value of whatever words I had to offer would fall woefully short in easing the living nightmare that my friend is experiencing.  What was most awkward was finding some way to help - some way to make a difference.  I am not so sure I handled it too well!

In case any of you are curious about the details, here are some snippets...

Karen
hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8:46pmKosciuszko
hi

8:46pmKaren
ki jan ou ye? {How are you}

8:46pmKosciuszko
Byen {Good}
e ou menm? {And you}

8:46pmKaren
y tout fami ou? {And your family}
byen {Good}
mwen te okipe pou ou {I have been worried about you}

8:47pmKosciuszko
oui tout moun byen {Yes.  Everyone is good}

8:47pmKaren
sa bon {That’s good}
ki jan benji? eske li bon? {How is Benji?  Is he good}

8:47pmKosciuszko
gras a dye mwen byen {Praise to God I am good}
li byen tou {He is good too}

8:47pmKaren
mersi bondye {Thank you God}
ki kote ou ye? Potopwens? Petite Riviere? {Where are you?  Port au Prince?  Petite Riviere?}

8:48pmKosciuszko
sa fe ke m kontan pou mwen pale avew {This makes my heart happy to talk with you}
potoprens {Port au Prince}

8:48pmKaren
eske ou remen kreyol mwen??? :-)  {Do you like my Kreyol?}

8:48pmKosciuszko
Wi.  Ou pale byen {Yes.  You speak well}

**********************************************

8:52pmKaren
have you been busy, working with the injured?
mwen pa ka di sa an kreyol :-)  {I cannot say that in Kreyol}

8:53pmKosciuszko
wi chak jou {Yes.  Every day.}

8:54pmKaren
m'ap priye pou ayiti chak jou. mwen pa ka kwe ki te pase. mwen konen la vid se dificil avon pwoblem sa yo {I am praying for Haiti each day.  I cannot believe what happened.  I know life is difficult before these problems}

9:13pmKosciuszko
where you are

9:13pmKaren
i am at home.  where are you?  with your family ?

9:15pmKosciuszko
in the street.  near to my house

9:15pmKaren
are you able to sleep in your house or is it not safe?

9:16pmKosciuszko
not safe

9:16pmKaren
are you able to get food or water?

9:17pmKosciuszko
it s difficult

9:17pmKaren
are you seeing the people that came to help? is aid getting to your neighborhood?

9:18pmKosciuszko
some times food, water but it is not enough for so much people

9:19pmKaren
are people getting mad and fighting or are they calm?

9:21pmKosciuszko
where i am they are calm

9:25pmKaren
can you buy food or water on the streets? are all the markets ruined near you?
sorry i have so many questions

9:26pmKosciuszko
no , it s normal.  don t be

9:26pmKaren
is there anything i can do to help? can i send you some money? would that help?
everyone here wants to help

9:28pmKosciuszko
i m embarrased

9:28pmKaren
i don't want to embarrass you. i was afraid i would do that by offering
i am sorry

9:30pmKosciuszko
i know.  thank you a lot for your support

9:32pmKaren
how about i just keep praying for haiti and you can forget i offered anything else.

9:34pmKosciuszko
i didn t want to hurt you.
we need help truly

9:35pmKaren
you did not. i feel bad that i offered. i should have known better.
we dumb americans think money fixes everything

9:36pmKosciuszko
ok

9:38pmKosciuszko
you still have opportnuity to get staff from organizations?

9:38pmKaren
yes
we have people that could fly to haiti tomorrow.
do you know of a hospital or clinic in PaP where they need help?

9:46pmKosciuszko
actually almost all the hospitals have medical help from other countries

9:46pmKaren
ok
we thought we might go to the countryside

9:47pmKosciuszko
but we still need a lot of help.  a lot of clinics and hospitals are broken

9:49pmKaren
are you going to the tents to help people or are you working in clinic?

9:52pmKosciuszko
most people don’t have tent.  N
not (working) in clinic but where they are

9:53pmKaren
do you have enough supplies? can you find more in PaP?
do most people have a tarp or nothing?

9:53pmKosciuszko
i don t have (supplies)
some nothing
a lot of people lost all they have

9:55pmKaren
can i ask you a question that is serious?
i don't want to hurt you

9:56pmKosciuszko
ok

9:57pmKaren
i know that many, many, many people died when the buildings fell
are you seeing lots of people who are still dying because of infections and disease
are these people getting help?

9:59pmKosciuszko
i m not sure but it s possible

10:00pmKaren
i have to get going. be safe my friend.
i will call you when i come to haiti.

10:00pmKosciuszko
ok
i will let you know the situation here
you are a good person

10:01pmKaren
thank you zanmi mwen! {Thank you my friend}
ou se bon moun tou! {You are a good person}

10:02pmKosciuszko
mesi anpil {Thank you very much}

10:02pmKaren
bon nuit! {Good night}

10:02pmKosciuszko
mwen pat konnen kijan {I don’t know how}

10:02pmKaren
ki jan ki sa? {You don’t know what?}

10:03pmKosciuszko
si mwen te aksepte lajan ou a mwen tap separe li ba anpil moun ki gen bezwen {If I accept you money and I separate it with many people who need it}

10:04pmKaren
if you accept my money and you give it to many people who need it...
mwen pa gen pwoblem avek sa {I don’t have a problem with that}

10:04pmKosciuszko
ok
avek tout kem {With all my heart}

10:07pmKaren
you know that i am here to help so don't be afraid to ask...but so i don't embarrass you I will not offer
dako? {Agreed?}

10:07pmKosciuszko
i m sorry
koman sa ka fet? {How can it happen?}

10:10pmKaren
i heard some western unions were open. do you know where one is?

10:10pmKosciuszko
yes
no tax is purchase to haiti

10:13pmKaren
i can go tomorrow and send you money...but you cannot say you are sorry.

10:14pmKosciuszko
ok that works

10:15pmKaren
i will send you a note to let you know i have sent it, so you don't go stand in line

10:15pmKosciuszko
thanks

10:16pmKaren
you are welcome friend

10:16pmKosciuszko
to much kisses for you
:)

10:17pmKaren
now i am embarrassed