It's SO hot!!!!!!!!!!

I know, I know, it's been a minute. You're probably wondering what I've been up to in Haiti and here it is: I've been sweating. I am so hot! All the time...so ridiculously hot...dripping sweat...being sweaty. And there you have it. 

My dad told me I'm not allowed to email him to complain about how hot it is, but he never said anything about blogging about it...but for the record, I am NOT complaining, I'm simply stating facts. Since January the temperature has been steadily climbing from 80 degrees and these days it's between 90 - 95. Facts, Dad, not complaints. 

You think I'm kidding?! I went home in April and my nephews and niece gave me sweat rags for my birthday present.
 

Baby Chasey understands me. 

Okay, let's be serious. I have actually been doing other things aside from sweating or talking to my roommates about how much I've been sweating. The farm has been keeping me super busy. As the troughs are slowly filling with crops, more and more pests come and try to eat them! We currently have green and red lettuce, sweet peppers, cucumber, kale, melons, tomatoes, cauliflower, zucchini and broccoli but are struggling with rats, aphids, caterpillars, nutrient deficiencies, heat and viruses. I yi yi! Just this week, Salomon, Andre and I planted an additional 650 seeds of a variety of peppers, more kale (our star player), eggplant, onion, and cilantro. In just over a month, we plan to double our current plant numbers, so yeah, we're busy! 

Another thing we're really looking forward to is our first fish harvest, which will happen at the end of this month! Hooray! I can tell the Grace Village staff is pretty excited because it's really the only question I get here, "when do we get to eat the fish?!" It's going to be quite a day harvesting 300 large tilapia, but I'm really looking forward to it, especially when it comes time to eat. The kids are going to be ecstatic! 

Now I'm going to distract with you some photos to make this blog look longer...

Fishes in tank 13 - YUM!

The farm

Look at the beautiful kale! Now, only if the kids liked it...

March 27 Red Lettuce, yo!

Sweet pepper coming in hot...but it's not really hot, it's sweet. Oh, and I pruned that leaf immediately after this photo was taken :)

Droopy eggplants - they've got spider mite :(

Did I mention the weather has been rather warm?! 

Jacmel, Celebrations & Home

Haiti is a great place to celebrate your birthday, especially when you're serving alongside some amazing ladies. Elisa, who works down at the guesthouse, organized a fun day trip to Jacmel with her sister, Caroline, who was in town visiting for the week, and Jean. I don't think I've written about Jean, but he's the head hancho down here - or technically, the engineer that over sees Healing Haiti on the Haiti end. Jean's also my salsa dance teacher, Haitian dad, and on this trip to his hometown, an awesome tour guide.

Jacmel is on the southern coast, approximately 3 hours from Port-au-Prince.

Our day in Jacmel started early, waking up at 5 in order to avoid Port-au-Prince traffic. (The night before Jean knocked on our door to tell Elisa and I we were up too late and needed to go to bed...like a true dad.) Elisa took care of us all by packing all the snacks, CDs, and blankets (it gets cold in the mountains). It was an amazing drive through the mountains, and yes, the blankets were used so we could still drive with the windows down and enjoy the fresh air. We stopped at Bassin-Bleu to go swimming under a waterfall. It was so gorgeous...the pictures don't do justice! The water was just the brightest blue I have ever seen.

One of the pools before the waterfall.

Elisa, Caroline and I hiking to the waterfall...Jean made us raise our arms for whatever reason.

Bassin-bleu! 75 feet deep!

As soon as we pulled over and got out of the truck to take this photo, 2 little kids came up to join us. Jean thought we should try to get a picture of all of us jumping...after several attempts, this is the best we got...

After the waterfall, Jean brought us to the ocean to do some more swimming! We had a great lunch on the beach: lobster, fish, fried plantains, and good ol' Prestige (the local brew). 

Ze beach!

Lobster, fish, plantains and pikliz (a spicy slaw made of cabbage, hot peppers, vinegar, carrots and spices - one of my favorites down here.)

Downtown Jacmel

Kind of has a New Orleans feel to it.

Cleaner than Port-au-Prince

On my actual birthday, I spent the day with family and friends via FaceTime, Skype, emails, texts, and Facebook. My roommates made me a delicious spaghetti dinner. I was so grateful for all the love and well wishes and I know 26 is going to be the best year yet.

Oh, but it doesn't stop there. I went home for two weeks in April and you better believe my mom continued the celebration with her famous homemade chicken and noodles! It's seriously the BEST meal and it was made even better by being able sharing it with the family. I had a wonderful couple weeks home! I ate some amazing food, took lots HOT showers, played in the snow, went to a Twin's game in 30 degree weather, got on the JUMBOTRON at said Twin's game, ate more amazing food, played with my adorable nephews and niece, slept in, and drove a car! All these things I miss...well not so much the snow part...but it truly was the best vacation I've ever had.

This is what I woke up the day after I flew in!

First day back, stopped off to surprise Theo (4) and Delaney (1.5)...look how excited they are to see their aunt!

Celebrating my birthday with my brother, Wade.

Theo!

Ladies and Gentlemen: Homemade Bacon Mac & Cheese Pie - made with brie, gruyere, and cheddar cheese. Be jealous.