Finally food

[due to short attention span, fatigue, and a little laziness this blog was started Monday and finished Tuesday]

“Sak pase!” faithful readers. Three things today:

1. I am officially the longest tenured ex-pat volunteer at HAH. Dr. Nelson went home for a while so he doesn’t count.

1a. [added Tuesday] Happy Haitian Flag Day

2. Someone from the World Health Organization [WHO] called MY PHONE today[Monday]. Did they want to talk to me? No, but that’s not the point.

3. A while ago I said I’d blog about food, so here it is. There are so many things to write about, so let’s start at the beginning (some things mentioned have been previously noted). I was told that I would be receiving two meals a day, so I should bring snack to supplement that. So when I first arrived at HAH without my check-in bags I was a little worried about eating, but those fears were quickly relieved when I realized how much food others had brought and how the volunteers left stuff for me when they left. So even when the Supreme Masters of Ching Hai (the humanitarian aid mediation cult) left, I was still eating well enough. (I’ve been down to 165lbs, I’m hovering around 170. I left home at just under 180.)

Since the Supreme Master’s (who produced 3000+ meals a day) left, the Haitian kitchen took over feeding people. Originally they were only going to feed the ex-pats 2 meals a day (which is short for ex-patriots, which pretty much means foreigners), but we would have none of that. We decided to feed the patients and translators too. So there were about 100 meals to feed everyone. Not exactly enough to feed everyone. Multiple volunteers stepped up and helped distribute food, but when they left and no one stepped up, [name withheld] decided that it would be a good idea that I take over food distribution. From day one the experience was eye-opening. In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about feeding the hungry, now I know what that’s like. It was the only meal for most everyone who received food. Most of them showed appreciation, giving me the “warm-fuzzy” feeling inside. But even after “re-directing” food from volunteer break room to some patients and translators there were still people who were going hungry. It was also kind of gut-wrenching to have to say no to people who asked for food. I say kind of because after explaining my job/the process of distribution to people multiple times and yet daily hearing sob stories (which are probably true) about how families haven’t eaten in days, someone’s friend or mother is starving, and I’ve become jaded and kind of annoyed. I won’t lie, I like to think of myself as a pacifist, but over the past few weeks the urge to punch someone in the face has never been so strong [I know "don't sweat the small stuff..."]. In the past week the situation has become much better. We have an exact count of patients, translators, and ex-pats and the kitchen is able to produce more than 200 meals. People are still going hungry, but the hospital can’t double as a handout center. People will find other means.

My experience with food distribution was stressful, taxing, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve realized how protective people are of food. Don’t mess with people’s food (or food they think belongs to them). I’ve seen the ugly/dramatic/prideful/selfish side of a lot of people. Last but not least, I’ve learned to appreciate what I have. Its cliché, deal with it, it’s real.

How could a blog about food be complete without mentioning all the wonderful things I’m gonna eat when I get back home.
Mi tortilla (pollo salad $10), Kogi (Tacos, sliders, & a burrito $15), Del taco (Chicken works, tacos, fries, drink $10), In-n-out (Double double x2, fries, vanilla shake $10), Guppy’s (Boba, shaved ice, other food that someone decides to order $15), CPK (hawaiian BBQ chicken pizza and italian soda $20) and Chipotle (chicken fajita burrito, chips $10).
So, if you’ve got $$ and wanna drive around and eat, there’s the list (in no particular order, prices are approximate and may vary).
And if you don’t wanna drive around, come over to my house where my mom will be makng: chicken strips, brown rice, broiled green beans, grilled cheese sandwiches, and SALAD, SALAD, SALAD! (did you catch that mom?)
And if you’re not into cooked food and wanna chill: Ice cream, fresh fruit of any kind, and Lucky charms!
Hit me up when I get back!

*Side note for the day*
Call me a cynic, call me a product of my environment, call me whatever you want, but as I was looking LSU banquet pics [insert comment about girls dresses and how beautiful they all looked here] and I was totally disgusted. Such frivolousness [can you believe that’s actually a word], such waste, while people all around me are living in poverty: starving, homeless, sick, etc. people at home, my friends, spent a good chunk of $$ to dress up and eat.
Before you say anything I’m aware that I’m kinda being a hater because of my socialist tendencies and the fact that I’m not a fan of anything formal. I know La Sierra has donated a lot of money to many different causes already, there’s only so much you can ask people to do, you have to take care of your own and have fun sometimes, and there really is nothing wrong with banquets. Also giving the money to people here wouldn’t really solve problems, it might help a little short term, but Haiti’s problems are bigger than poverty. That being said, my point is still valid.

Shout-out to my brother and the rest of the RAA class of 2012. Solid job with class challenge Friday and have fun and be safe on Bio trip!