Trying to Accept What I Can't Change

Haiti Family Initiative
Wellness Program
Jacme,l Haiti

Sunday, August 4, 2013
 No matter how hard I try, these things are not going to change for me.  Regretfully, there are some lessons I need to learn again and again and again:

• No matter how hard I try, my French stinks;
• I can’t take it personally when the women from the women’s group steal from us;
• I am supposed to say “Bon Jour: until noon and then I have to switch to “Bon Swa”;
• The Haitians don’t eat for the enjoyment of eating.  They eat to sustain themselves.  I am not going to find a nice restaurant in Jacmel, with high end, quality food.  Its rice and beans, get over it,;
• It’s hot today.  It was hot yesterday and it will be hot tomorrow.  I need to get over my preoccupation with this damn heat.
• Wait service in all of the restaurants is slow, very slow. Time means nothing here. So waiting one hour for soup is not a long wait for the Haitians.  I don’t mind waiting that long for soup but some times that is how long I have to wait for a beer.  Now that is unacceptable!
• Prices are not consistent in restaurants. One morning, my breakfast costs 350G and the next day, the same meal is 430G.
• The litter problem is beyond my control.
• The city electricity is only available for 2 PM to 4 AM every day.  And that is out of my control.
• Cool bucket baths are better than no baths.

Its rice and beans or beans and rice and that are about