this is how late I am in my readings...(sorry)

Haiti win Digicel Caribbean Cup

Haitians clinch title in 2-1 thriller in Port of Spain

Posted on January 24, 2007

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 – Hasely Crawford Stadium, Trinidad: After the toughest route to the final, playing more qualification games than any other team, Haiti lifted the Digicel Caribbean Cup after defeating Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 in a thrilling final.

Watched by an expectant crowd of 18,000, Wim Rjisbergen’s Soca Warriors could not break down a stubborn home defence, expertly marshaled by Digicel Man of the Match Richard Pierre Bruny, as Luis Amelia Garcia’s side took their chances to bring the Digicel Caribbean Cup back to Port-au-Prince for the very first time.

A cagey opening 20 minutes saw few chances created before the game burst into life on 21 minutes when the Haitians silenced the noisy home crowd by opening the scoring.

Cadet Elphine made a surging run down the right before squaring the ball for Brunel Fucien. Fucien’s first time shot was pushed away by Williams in the Trinidad & Tobago goal but Boucicaut Alexandre was on hand to turn the ball home.

Trinidad struggled to come back into the game but showed their first real threat in stoppage time at the end of the first half. Kerry Baptiste fired just wide 1 minute into stoppage time and Kerwin Jemmott came even closer seconds later, Gabard in the Haiti goal blocking his long range shot.

But Rjisbergen’s side couldn’t keep their momentum after the break and on 52 minutes Haiti seemed to have one hand on the Digicel Caribbean Cup. A goalmouth scramble resulted from a Williams’ fumble and Brunel Fucien turned the ball home to give the Haitians a two goal lead.

With the crowd silenced, Haiti seemed comfortably on top but the game changed with a set piece. Trinidad earned a free kick fully 35 yards out on 66 minutes giving Nigel Daniel a sight of goal. Daniel’s vicious right foot strike, a real contender for goal of the tournament, left Gabard with no chance and brought the game alive again.

With the crowd performing an enthusiastic Mexican wave, the Soca Warriors poured forward in search of an equalizer. Substitute Joel Bailey almost found the net on 76 minutes, his header from Power’s long cross well held by Gabard.

As the crowd grew increasingly tense, the Soca Warriors threw 4 up front in the closing minutes and goalkeeper Gabard became the Haitian hero. He denied Glasgow after a flowing move, tipped over a Theobald free kick and then with only 2 minutes left on the clock brilliantly saved from Darryl Roberts after a mazy run.

Despite 4 nail biting minutes of stoppage time, Haiti held on for a famous victory which will be celebrated long into the night in Port-au-Prince.

Trinidad and Tobago: Jan Michael Williams, Makan Hislop (Joel Bailey 64), Osei Telesford, Leslie Fitzpatrick ,Kerwin Jemmot, Darryl Roberts, Gary Glasgow, Kerry Baptiste, Seon Power, Nigel Daniel, Densill Theobold

Haiti: Fenelon Gabard, Gilles Frantz (Dacius Gilles 90), Guillaume Stephane, Brunel Fucien, Cadet Eliphene (Lormera Roody 90), Boucicaut Alexandre (Raymond Ednerson 63), James Marcelin, Richard Pierre Bruny, Chery Mones, Vubert Alain, Maynard Josue

Skeptic

I was catching up on a Haitian Mailing list I’m a part of:

“These are inhuman hatred acts towards not only a Haitian man and his son but towards the whole nation of Haiti, based on generalized ethnic prejudices.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed at the sensationalism of the writer. The whole nation? Really? Couldn’t it just be a slight against two men?

Then I remembered what acts were being discussed, and I repented of my prejudice. The story really does seem to show prejudice against Haiti as a country. A man is arrested, apparently, while entering America legally with a legal passport, his medicine is thrown out, (“his son is told he will be given ‘American equivalents.’”) and he dies.

A man with a passport and family in the country he is trying to enter dies in custody. I roll my eyes.

Something is wrong.

Maybe “generalized ethnic prejudices” aren’t so far-fetched.

The man was a Baptist minister, and Grandfather of a prominent Haitian writer, although that only makes the case more high-profile, it doesn’t actually prove the accusations true… but they deserve my researching further before rolling my eyes and going on to the next story of educational abuse.

Original story at : http://www.nchr.org/irp/Timeline.htm

The comment I quote from is part of a mail list, and not, as far as I know, available anywhere else.
The picture is from someone else's Haiti blog.

i wanna go back to school!

Well, maybe not, I'm still not convinced I'm smart enough to waste tax payer's dollars on it. and really, I also want to go back to see my friends and be with my books, so I'm not entirely making the decision with the right thoughts in mind. But also, my school is the coolest school ever because it made the coolest grammar aid ever, and I want to share it with you. If you ever want to write in French, this is the place to go.

http://bonpatron.com/

Also, just a note that I'm feeling grincheux towards the world this week, especially people writing blogs and seeming like they are ... just having a completely different understanding of the world than me. Like, I know they're trying, but I'm afraid they're making things worse, or at least, not making them better, and I wonder whether my judgement is really about them, or about myself, in a sell-out office job.

I accepted my job knowing that it wouldn't hurt anyone and would give me money and breathing space to figure out this whole life thing, so I don't think I could be feeling guilty about not doing more than that, especially after barely four weeks.

I think I may just be full of ranceur because these people have managed to find a way to think they are doing good but aren't using those opportunities how I would.

I'm further bitter because I don't want any one to feel like I'm attacking them, and I know how defensive people can get if they feel their work is being criticized, but... I really do wonder if I can support some of the stuff I'm reading about. So maybe I should go home to sleep instead. Except I guess 5:40 isn't really sleeping time. I could eat legitimately though.

(yup, I sure don't have to wonder how I end up fat and with no clean clothes- but at least my escape mechanisms don't affect my ability to walk normally:)

I'm also going to use hunger as an excuse to not correct the grammar and random cliches and lazy writing above. It will be good for my pride to have this up there and remember that I'm not an author, however much tripe I write.

Seeing Red

I'm going to pray that all of you are smart enough to figure out that buying something you don't need because part of the money will go somewhere good is not as effective as just giving money, but for anyone who wants numbers-based accusations:

An article in Advertising Age last week reported that since the campaign
launched in the U.K. last March, its corporate sponsors (which include the Gap,
Motorola and Apple, among others) have spent some $100 million on marketing but raised just $18 million for the Geneva-based Global Fund

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17613550/site/newsweek/

Apparently, there is also this site which may have useful information: http://www.buylesscrap.org/ I haven't been there yet and am not responsible for its content. Time to get back to making money myself. (yes, i'm aware i'm a sell out. No, I don't think that's acceptable. Give me a few weeks with a full fridge to learn balance, eh!)

pretty fusion

My friend sent the below message, and it is worth checking on:

It’s Silent Auction time again. I have a set of 3 beautiful Polar Bears with their young up for bid.

Please go to my website and check out the Silent Auction Page to view them and see more details.

If you are not interested in Polar Bears, there is much more to see at my website. I have all sorts of Fine Art for all tastes and interests.

If you know of anyone that may be interested in this Auction or viewing other artwork, please forward this e-mail to them. The website address is:

http://www.jencotecreations.homestead.com/

my new work vocabulary

Haute gestion: upper management

Retrousser les manches: roll up your sleeves

Palier: make up for

Croire qu'on fait notre possible: believe you're doing your best

Amertume: bitterness

Écrouler : collapse

Prendre pour acquis : take for granted

to action: delegate: get someone else to do something while keeping most of the credit.

Katimavik Update

My friend got this back from her MP:

Dear XXXXX,

Thank you for your letter and the copy you sent to our Prime Minister
regarding your concerns about the Katimavik program.
It seems that there had been some speculation that the Katimavik program
would be cut. Earlier last year year there was an internal audit after
financial irregularities were identified at Katimavik. The audit report
is being studied by the Department of Canadian Heritage and will be
discussed with Katimavik officials soon.
However, I have been assured that the program remains intact and will
continue because Canada's New Government supports youth and youth
programs that promote active citizenship and engagement in Canadian
society. Katimavik is an important youth program with a strong brand and
a three-decades old tradition and will be funded because of the
contribution the program makes to youth in Canada.
Again, thank you for writing and may the blessed season of Christmas
bring you peace and joy.

Sincerely,

Richard M. (Dick) Harris, M.P.
Cariboo - Prince George, B.C.
B.C. Caucus Chair
606 Justice Building
Tel: (613) 995-6704
Fax: (613) 996-9850

I'm concerned by "Strong Brand"
In the 80s, Katimavik was not worth its salt, it was just some after school sports program, as far as I can tell. I object to using brands if you're not true to the original product. That's why eaton's (the purple version) is lame, why I don't read Maclean's - the cosmo version- and why no one drank new coke.

However, some change is good... in the first years, not all the sleeping barns were heated. I'm not opposed to taking advantage of some of the privileges of living in a first world country, and hot showers and warm beds are pretty much the top of that list. Especially if you're going to discourage sharing beds- which Katimavik does, despite its "hippy" take on nature and consumerism.

KATIMAVIK!!!!!

The most bestest thing I ever did is in jeopardy!

Please follow the link to petition the canadian government to not cut Katimavik financing. http://www.etatdufinancement.katimavik.org/support/index/

Or, you can post a paper letter to your mp and the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women free.

this beta thing

My blog has a new look, I'm sorry. I tried to make it be wider and don't know how well I succeeded. Hopefully the colours aren't distracting or difficult to read, please let me know and I'll try to work on it more. I've spent two hours now, reading through old posts and such, when I should be reading through job postings. It was a nice trip to the past- I have been back from Haiti a while now, i guess. Also I read my mom's blog from her trip last christmas, and noticed how similar we are, and also how different. It made me realize how much I love her, which seems to be a theme this week. I love you mom! (tell Wm I love him too)

(Sidenote: Ottawa is SO the place I've lived in Canada where I do the most exciting things. Tuesday I went to a play at the National Arts Centre. There was much jumping up and down when i realized I had been to the theatre and was now looking up at my nation's parliament buildings)

Anyway, back to work, ugh.

Yesterday and even farther ago

I went to church, and the text was "Love the Lord your God with all your heart..."

I know how to love God with my mind, but I forget for the moment how to love with my strength. That seems like an odd thing to say. I suppose I could use my strength for the thing that I love, but I don't know how to use it for God. He doesn't actually need me to physically climb mountains does he?

Well, come to think of it, in Haiti I climbed a lot of mountains, and thought it was necessary for my job, and thought that was serving God. Hmmm...

Monday Motday

Of late, I have been doing much reading and encountering words I don't know, or at least, of which I don't know the specific definition. In order to not simply look up definitions and then forget, I have decided to start Monday Motday- a day for words to be practiced. Since I'm not in grade school anymore, all the words will have to be used in one sentence. Not because I want to learn to use them in that way, but because effusive eruditism is much more ostentatious. (and as such, competitive and fun!) (Yes, I think word competitions are fun. Even against myself- but if you wanna experience the fun for yourself, the comments section is open)

antebellum: adj.
before or existing before the war, esp. Amer. Civil War
concomitant: adj.
existing or occurring with something else, often in a lesser way;
accompanying; concurrent: an event and its concomitant circumstances.
propensity: noun
1. a natural inclination or tendency: a propensity to drink too much.
2. Obsolete. favorable disposition or partiality.
anacoluthia: noun
lack of grammatical sequence or coherence, esp. in a sentence.

As in:
A propensity for anacoluthia to be concomitant with propaganda can be noted in the articles of antebellum journals.

Toast with your tea

www.myspace.com/toastlikestojam

Everybody go there, and then watch their video. It is like the second time that i can think of where I've been connected to a band personally, so I like their music, but everyone will like their video. (It is in Tripplettes of Belleville style.) GO NOW!

eh?

So, I'm looking for jobs, I started yesterday. Everyone whose been hassling me to do so may now relax. Those of you hassling me to go back to school, attend a different school or pay my taxes, you will be pleased to note that the looking for job option is ...I don't want to say unpleasant, but certainly ... well, here's the last post I read:

Years of experience related to the job offer : none
Description of qualifications : Be an incumbent(holder) of an equivalent secondary school diploma in the 11th year or in a 5th year of the secondary or the certificate the equivalence of which is recognized by the proper authorities; or belong to a class of jobs of the public service the conditions of membership of which as for the schooling are comparable; the person who is also admitted(supposed) has a lower number of years of schooling, on condition that it compensates for every year of missing schooling by two years of work experience; we hear(understand) by work experience, such as, the dependent or the time dedicated to the care and to the education of a child or the other persons with load(responsibility). The knowledge of the English language is essential in the exercise of the job and will be the object of an evaluation which will be eliminating heat. This competition addresses only the persons whose main home located in the RCM of Pontiac, administrative region of Outaouais. However, this condition does not apply to the members of cultural communities and to the persons with a disability. You also have to have the status of Canadian citizen or that of the permanent resident. Furthermore, to occupy a job in the Quebecois public service, you have to have a knowledge of French suited to the duties(functions). SALARY: the annual salary, calculated on a base of 35 hours per week, is 26 591 $ (14,56 $ the hour) in the start and of 32 581 $ (17,84 $ the hour) at most of the scale(ladder) *

Surely the coolest thing since that van commercial!

A movie of dominoes and billiards. You'll like it, really! (And plus, hey look at me being interested in something relaxing!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niSw5DWomIA

TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON COMFORT AND HEALTH

24C - top range of comfort

21C - recommended living room temperature

Less than 20C - death risk begins

18C - recommended bedroom temperature

16C - resistance to respiratory diseases weakened

12C - more than two hours at this temperature raises blood pressure and increases heart attack and stroke risk

5C - Significant risk of hypothermia

Source: West Midlands Public Health Observatory

Found this while looking up info for post about Marshall Islands. Interesting stuff the BBC has.

Thing I'm distracted from

Reading the news today, I got angry and defensive when Haiti was referred to as the poorest country in the americas. Then I looked it up, and sometime in the last year Haiti has indeed been reclassed in the human development index lower than any other american country.

But, underneath the status of "low development", there are a whole bunch of "unclassed" countries, which I imagined would be places like Vatican City and San Marino. They're there, but so are Afghanistan, Somalia and Serbia, and some others.

One of the others is the Marshall Islands, who I couldn't even generally point to on the globe. (North Pacific)

They are classed 195th in GDP per capita. (Haiti is 149, and Burkina Faso is 164th) I can't tell you who 195 is near because it doesn't even show up on the Wikipedia list, which stops at 181. To give you an idea of what those countries are doing, here are the ten preceding the cut:

171	Madagascar	908
172	Sierra Leone	903
173	Niger	872
174	Eritrea	858
175	Ethiopia	823
176	Democratic Republic of the Congo	774
177	Yemen	751
178	Burundi	739
179	Guinea-Bissau	736
180	Tanzania	723
181	Malawi	596

I also learned that:

Not being among the 179 member countries of the International Labour Organisation, Marshall Islands is among the handful of countries not obliged to abide by the core labour standards (elimination of forced labour, child labour and discrimination, and respect for freedom of association and right to collective bargaining) as required of ILO members.

The Marshall Islands also host an american testing ground for missiles, and its government is suing the US for increased compensation for its radiation-poisoning victims, according to the BBC Country Profile

Haiti defeats Bermuda in under 20 soccer!

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20061025/SPORT/110250178

That is a link to the Bermuda news article regarding their defeat 11-1 by Haiti's under 20 soccer team.

11 to 1 !!!

Haiti did surprisingly well in Carribean Women's Volleyball tournament this summer too, why do we never hear about this in the mainstream news?

I am indeed, starting to feel like we are being distracted from other things by despair about Haiti.

Haiti is poor, don't get me wrong, but there are moments of hope, things to rejoice.

Ordinarily I would say that sports don't do much for the masses, and am annoyed at how much my govt is spending on the 2010 Olympics. HOWEVER, Haiti really does care about football. When there is a game on, even a small game, it is as big a deal as the Stanley Cup playoffs in Edmonton. I can't imagine what it would have been like during the world cup games this summer.

Donc, If arguments are made about sports bringing pride, and that being good for the solidarity of a nation, if it were going to be true anywhere, it would be true in Haiti, where the people really do need a current reason to be proud of being Haitian.

And so, an eleven to one victory against Bermuda, a country of much wealth, seems to me to be worth rejoicing. Although, I admit that there is much dodginess in how it was achieved, and would rather have had a smaller victory more obviously fairly.

(The match was moved from Port au Prince to St Marc, and earlier in the day, instead of in the evening, the day before it was played. I wonder if this was actually an attempt to put the other team of balance, or if the Port stadium was having troubles and St Marc was closest. The noon start time really does seem dodgy though- Unless it was because, given that they had to get from St Marc back to their hotel, the game needed to finish earlier. I wouldn't want to be a rich foreign team travelling at night and have the whole country know it! )

the US political scene: Red, White and Green?

http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006
/10/05/gate/index.html?source=weekly

That is a link to articles about evangelical environmentalists.

Not, mind you, environmentalists who are christians, (there are many of those, it isn't news) but christians who are coming to be environmentalists.

I will try not to let my pride get to big about being on the right side of right:)

Besides, given my history, if too many people start to agree with this global warming thing, I might join Dr Dobson and call it hooey.

The most wonderful picture of the day

This picture is curtesy of livejournal Haitian community (featured in links to right).

You will notice there are also quite a lot of other Haitian links, and not much else.

I am not unignorant of Haitian affairs, but I certainly am more ignorant of everything else, and I am concerned about this.

1-Am I distracted from more urgent problems, such as Darfur, Burma, even Afghanistan?
2-Am I actually in love with Haiti, or simply an addict?
3-Can I do anything to make it better there, or am I so ignorant & prideful that the first rule, the "Do No Harm" rule, would be better translated as "VT GO HOME"?

All of this is, I am sure, a part of reverse-culture shock, but I feel like I need more knowledge of that too. Shouldn't I be getting better yet? I have been back as long as I was away.

My roommate, who went through all of this already, gets frustrated with me often, because I hold my ideas too closely, they are the only babies I have here to hold, and so I am angered when she tries to take them and hold them to the light of reason. I try to tell her to give me time to be angry, that I am also listening and will tomorrow agree with her, but this doesn't make it any easier to deal with me when I'm bichy NOW, I'm sure.

Especially when sometimes, eg literacy and what language it should be in, I don't come round to her way of seeing things the next day. I am not ready to condemn Creole to an oral language only. I should do research and see that her opinion is the wise one, but I don't. I don't know why not, although partly I don't really know where to start, and I am tired and distracted by all the other things I feel I should know.

So instead I sleep, and Wormwood's successor drinks happily.

Do those of you in education, or wherever, have suggestions on what I should study to better understand education and literacy?

This is my God-son-of-my-heart. He goes to school and he can talk on phones and he likes the same picture books I did. (Although no mention of munsch, I may have to send him some)

Certainly, I will send him and his mom both letters. Just as soon as I write my grandpa and aunties and mentors and children in Haiti. I think I will need to start drinking more coffee!