Spectator Sports

KEITH

Spectator sports are great. I love watching hockey and golf. They each draw big crowds of like-minded fans to cheer on their favorite teams and pass comments on the players and their skills or lack thereof.

But in Haiti there are some strange spectator sports that draw an interesting and diverse fan base. Last week I was finishing up replacing the light fixture at the Girls home. I went to get a broom to sweep up my mess and that drew a crowd. I am not completely sure what all the house mothers were saying but I am not convinced that they were impressed with my sweeping skills or maybe it was just an oddity that a white guy was sweeping at all.

Same thing happened when I was hanging pictures at the big house. Last fall I had taken an individual picture of each or the children as well as an updated one of Karen with the kids in a circle. I had them framed and was hanging them in the main room. Same thing – a crowd gathered. First Jocelyn – “Did you measure where the pictures are going?” Then Karen – “I think Markenson and Dickieson should be in this row.” Then Magalie followed my Germaine and Roselene. “Oh me nerves.” Hanging pictures should not draw a crowd. A tough crowd at that.

Anytime the tools come out little kids come to see what all the noise is about. But those guys just want to help and learn.

Last month Team Texas was here and Brain was building cabinets. I had the privilege of working with and learning from this gentleman; a free 3 day cabinet making seminar! Despite the fact Brian is quiet and likes to work alone he too has a huge fan base.

I guess I am guilty of being a spectator and an interested fan as well with some of the activities outside the HATS compound. On several mornings I was fascinated to watch 2 men cut up a huge tree and saw it into planks to sell at market. Hard hard work and I was happy to just watch.

I am also content to just watch as the local farmers seed, weed, and work the fields; all by hand, no machinery and usually alone. It is brutal back breaking work in the Haitian heat. Every morning 40-50 men and women gather at the Pont Deschapelle Bridge hoping to get hired for a days’ work

I also like watching the kids being creative with the bits of wood let over from the cuttings. Markenson and Anne made cell phones on their scraps of wood…now that is creative…..