Busytown

It started at 4:30 am -- a cacophony of roosters and dogs making sure everyone was either awake or moving in that direction. By the time 6:00 am rolled around, the day was in full swing. Dogs were sending messages to each other like in the movie, 101 Dalmations. Big trucks rumbled along, honking routinely along with every other driver on the road. Construction noises punctuated the soundscape.

My first impression of Port-au-Prince, Haiti was a comparison to the Richard Scarry book, Busy, Busy Town. I remember reading that staple of children's literature to my kids -- it was one of their favories, describing the constant activity in the daily life of Busytown. In Haiti, I was seeing it lived out before my eyes.

Well, it is not exactly the same as Busytown. I don't recall any of the Richard Scarry pictures showing mattresses being sold on the street corner.



First impressions are often based on surprise -- things encountered that are different than expectations. After four trips to Egypt and one visit to India, I was not surprised by the street-side vending or evidence of poverty. But after hearing and reading endlessly of Haiti's ordinary life being devastated by the earthquake, I was surprised at seeing bustling normality. Of course, "tent cities" are not standard Haitian life, and it is important to do what we can to help remedy the earthquake-related problems. But in the meantime, life goes on for the resiliant Haitians, and I feel privileged to see them in action. :-)