In my time working in Haiti as a part of Konbit Shelter, one of the nicest, hardest working and responsible people I met was Duckens Sanon. He was the soft-spoken bilingual mastermind behind a lot of Konbit Shelter’s success. We would often talk of trying to set up a larger version of Konbit Shelter in Haiti, run by and for Haitians, and Duckens was our pick to head this theoretical project. So it has been very upsetting that I just learned that he was killed in a motorcycle accident with a bus this past weekend. My heart goes out to his family, especially his brothers (one who is still in intensive care from the accident) and father, who also were a huge part of Konbit Shelter. Rest in peace Duckens, your smile will be missed.

—Tod

Moses, Craig, and myself left Haiti about a week and a half ago. The final week there was so frantic and felt so successful that when it was time to go catch our flights, none of us were ready. We were no longer needed essentially, but the dome had become our baby. It was hard to let go. We woke up early as usual on that final day, and drove to the dome to say our farewells.

Ducken had already talked with us the day before and knew everything that he and the others needed to accomplish in our absence, but we tarried at the site a while longer anyway. We took some final photos, looking one more time at the beautiful wind scoops, the stone steps, the intricately carved doors, the windows and awnings. Had we stayed much longer our flight would have left without us, so we shook hands and gave hugs with the people who had influenced us so deeply. Then we drove away.

By now Monique and the kids are living in the house and the builders have moved on to their normal occupations.

I have tried to write this blog post every day since leaving. After confronting Miami International Airport and then my home city (San Francisco), I come up short on words to describe the whole experience. There were such beautiful moments; so many incredible people thriving in a culture that welds friend to family. I had arrived with the intention of teaching and sharing my skills, and now return to find that I know nothing about living. I had known nothing about living, but Barrier Jeudi, Dufort, Ducken, Jean-Gardie, Guypson, and everyone on the Konbit Shelter team helped to enlighten me to the vast possibilities in life.

Please share your interest in Konbit Shelter with the world around you so that we may all learn more about what Haiti has to offer.

—James

Craig says “oui” in the most tired voice when I ask him wassup.

We went to Jacmel today and met with a guy who wants to do an eco resort out of earthbags. He asked us to stay for three more months. We said “No, thank you.”

The cistern is done, with a working pump and covered in concrete. Got a guy landscaping to cover the pipe. It’s sweet.

Jean Gardie keeps trying to hook me up with ladies.

The internet connection is sooooo slow. So very slow.

Mosey’s leg got better. Woo! Triumph for Cipro.

We finished the steps up to the shmig. Um, the uhm, the loft. Yeah that’s what it’s called.

Spent three hours and seven sheets of paper figuring out the moneys for this week and next. We’re leaving Duycken in charge (as if he wasn’t already)

Carpenter Frantz finished all the stuff. We had the hardest time explaining to him why a curved door won’t open in an arch. But he figured it out.

Plaster is done on the outside. These people got skillzzz. They work so so hard. We can hardly keep up.

I learned two new words “enfam” (it’s good) and, well I guess I only learned that one. Oh yeah, and “korem” (respect). Larcol says something to me every day. He refuses to stop smiling.

I’m Zoblod everywhere now. They shout it at me all day. ZOBLOD!!

—James

The finish line is in sight. Craig Maldonado is not only a gifted architect, he is also an inspired site leader. He has kept the crew, Moses, and myself on track and ahead of schedule with cool rapport. We have completed the dome structure and removed the forms from the wind scoops. A leap in progress that has allowed Dyucken’s crew to get a ‘scratch coat’ of plaster on the entire building. Tomorrow we will begin to ‘finish coat’ from the top down.

Our carpenter Franz and his assistant have installed awnings above ground level windows (The door frame is in, as is the last awning. Do you dig the picture of us flattening metal with the truck. Yeah- … yeah), while the painter Lakol follows close behind accentuating the detailed carvings that adorn them. Callie’s and KT’s designs are present in every facet of the mud smeared dome.

SOMEBODY ATE OUR BREAD!!! We’re low on snacks again, but who cares, right?

Everyone loves to shout “Zoblod” at me on the site. It’s cool. I speak creole. The people at the Western Union place were shocked. Jean Gardie is awesome. Titin is awesome. Paul, awesome— It’s all good in Du Fort, Haiti.

We project to be on the final leg of the dome by the end of next week. Keep reading.

—James

The end of day shmiggeties have made me weary, but that doesn’t mean that the during day shmiggeties weren’t awesome.

Franz finished building the awnings and the door frame. We installed the door frame at the end of the day today. It’s pretty. Awnings will be hung tomorrow.

Craig oversaw the installation of plaster inside and with the help of Gypson, Vixon, and others it’s really looking great. They’ve nearly finished sculpting in the windows, being sure to keep the wood clean. All the lines look sweet. Sweeet.

I have been working with Dyucken and two others to complete the barrel vaults. Would have finished today if not for lack of sewn bags. I taught them how to say squinches. They talked politics all day with some plaster guys lower down on the dome. Taught me how to say “Mwen ta renlem pale creole” (I wanna speak creole!) That progress feels really good.

Moses finished the roof!!!! (sort of.) It’s been making him insane, but his meticulousness is paying off. It will look awesome and keep people dry and not fall apart - ever. We’re going to haul up the generator tomorrow so that he can cut metal more precisely and nicely with the zip discs on the grinder.

Some guys cleared out a lot of trees and shrubs behind the house. Don’t know what that’s all about, but they didn’t clear-cut, just thinned out. Now I know what voodoo rock you were talking about Callie.

I took off a lot of the plywood that kept the windows in their shapes. The windows let in a lot of light now, and I have a feeling that when it’s painted it will be a bright home. Everyone is getting along, and someone finally put a titty in that baby’s mouth. The crying has been minimal.

Peanut butter is still cute. Cookie monster is barking again, and there is a cow in the back yard who wants something.

—James

Cookie Monster barked all night last night, again. Moses adopted four kids. Tod left. Craig bought food and sheet metal and found a place where cement was 50 gourd cheaper. We also got paint, a broom, and hinges for windows.

Got toilet paper. Nobody has the shits.

The windows are in. The first coat of plaster is finished on the inside. Lakol is painting windows, and they look great.

Moses has figured out the roof on the back room. Tomorrow he’ll finish it.

I’m finishing the upper dome with the translator Robinson, Duycken, Gybson and others. Robinson rocks. He works harder, translates better, and is cool. He can have a conversation in English.
A-mazing.

Jean Gaudy is our driver again. He hit somebody in Port au Prince today. Started three fights. We love him.

Craig found pastrami in Port au Prince and brought me honey nut cheerios. We have no Coca-Cola. NO COLA! But there is coffee.

Rode on the back of a motorcycle twice today. It’s fun, don’t do it unless you’re done living. Things could end badly.

We went to the river today and scored some flat rocks for the steps to the loft. They’re not so big, but several laid out per step should look good. Gonna save that project for a Sunday after the inside is coated and painted. Still have to install the cistern at the community center.

Out of builder bars.
Meh. Life goes on and things are good.

—James