More good experiences

Kirk here again, thought I'd squeek in a short post while I had a minute.  I'll let others post their activities today though.

First a few notes--as you can tell from the posts my wife waxes a bit more eloquently than I--good to have a "better half" for that.  I've been forgetting to let the TeBrake's know that their car charger fans that they were so dismayed to open when they got here as they couldn't use them to sleep have not gone to waste!  Last week Nick repurposed them and wired them up in the electrical control room to keep the components cooler--they reduce the temp in that room by over 10 degrees.  So TeBrake's, thanks for the thoughtful donation!  Also, Jamie, if you are reading this, your chairs are almost home!  We have them packed and will deliver them in a few days.

On a more personal note, I had yet another "one of a kind" experience today.  I had the priveledge of digging two holes for concrete posts that will frame a new gate being installed.  The gate is being made by a man from Port who lost all his material wealth in the earthquake. (He's showed me many of the scars where a building fell on his right side.) He and his family now live near COTP.  Later when we began installing concrete and rebar there was a crew of us--Me, Wilson, Reikerns, Samson, Blan, Camielle, the gate maker, and his son.  So here is this "green behind the ears" Minnesotan who doesn't know but a few phrases in Creole being told a joke about a Haitian traveling to America by a very animated man from Port.  The joke was lost in translation, but it had something to do with New York, corn, and Kentucky Fried Chicken--even so, the smiles and laughter made the moment enjoyable.  Our loud antics even brought Nick over to the scene--any good boss would come if all his workmen were making that much noise and clearly not working to our full potential.  (Sorry Nick, but not sorry as well.)
I planned the trip here for our group, oversaw its implementation, but here in Haiti I am the student.  Today I was the student learning best building practices from a group of Haitien men.  Learning some of the culture of tag team working when digging with a pick-ax, trenching spade, and gravel shovel in a thick dirt/clay soil.  And, learning some of the internal joy for life from a man who still smiles often after loosing much in an earthquake and having few to none worldly possessions--not to mention the jokes and joy of the rest of the crew who each go home to a home/room about the size of my bathroom each night.  I don't know the name of the class I'm taking or exactly all of what I am learning, but I do hope to take time to process and make the most of my education here in Haiti.
I'm thankful for the priveledge of having the resources to take this wonderful continuing ed class--I have some wonderful instructors.