Time for school- Haiti on a Monday

Today I went back to school.  We were asked to come and meet the high schoolers and what we call middle schoolers at the local school.  The education system is quite different than in the States.  In Haiti a student only advances if they pass exams at the end of the year.  They are not grouped by chronological age for many do not know exactly how old they truly are.  They are grouped by exams they have completed.  Each student that advances to the equivalent of middle school has studied all of the subjects our students have in addition they have studied French, English and Spanish.  Yes, every student.  

While the medical folks went to the hospital to aid patients, the rest of us became teachers at the school. There were approximately 75 students that we met.  They practiced their English by asking questions. It became apparent quickly that they were very well educated. They asked difficult questions of us, "What is your hope for western universities, why is there racism in America, what is snow? We also tackled the subject of trust and how to trust in God.  These topics are extremely difficult under any circumstance but the language barrier only increased the difficulty.  One of our team had commented that music and math are universal. We decided to put that theory to the test.  We split up into 2 groups -one group put math problems of increasing difficulty on the black board for the other to solve.  First the American high schoolers wrote out a factoring problem complete with negative numbers, which the Haitian students solved without difficulty.  Then the Haitians responded with a calculus problem that stumped the Americans. The other group taught a worship song to the Haitians in English accompanied by our team member, Paula who had brought along her Ukulele.  The Haitians quickly learned the song and then one of the Haitian young men came up and learned to play the Ukulele also.  They were energetic and talented. 

This afternoon I was able to observe the surgery of a woman who was in need of a hysterectomy.  It was fascinating.  The added bonus was that the surgical suite is air conditioned! This morning our team delivered by C-Section beautiful baby twins! Because the hospital is so over crowded, all the surgery patients will heal in the one recovery room.  A room half the size of my bedroom at home occupied by 4 surgical patients, their family members, and 2 newborns. 

Tomorrow there are more surgeries.  More need to find space.

I can say this - I am blessed to have been born in America.