Ashleigh and Katie, kicking it in Haiti: Roots to Scalp

Ashleigh and I have known about this day for awhile. Let me preface the day for you. It was a week again, when I saw in my peripherals a couple of caregivers messing around with their beautiful, thick, Haitian braided hair and to my surprise I picked out the word "hair" in their conversation, thank you french teachers. I capitalized on that. Well, I have been trying to make nice with these caregivers because they are like the cool kids in high school. Very exclusion. They aren't very welcoming to the volunteers, rightfully so, because they are living in these conditions, taking bucket showers, manually flushing toilets, and getting spit on daily, and all we do is come for a period of time and are in and out of their lives. I can understand, besides the point, I capitalized on the word "hair" and hopped in on the conversation. I told one lady that I loved her hair and took her braids and put them on my head saying beautiful in French. Well, that was the extent of my capability of holding a conversation in Creole. So, we all kinda looked at each other awkwardly, and I all of a sudden I had to be "somewhere." I felt like I was never going to be cool enough. Shoot. Well the next day, during lunch, the lady (her name is Madame Monte) who I made her hair my wig brought re-enforcements (Clement) and they started jabbering off in Creole in my direction touching her hair. Clement then brought the last lifeline, John John. Well John John became the translator and he started off, "So you like her hair?" I said, "Yes, yes, I think it is beautiful." He then said, "they can get someone to do it for you?" Ashleigh heard this is on board! We were on our way to becoming natives. That brings us to today. 7 am couldn't come soon enough and we met Fabiola, our hairstylist, and she went to work. So you would assume that being a beautician, you would come with supplies, not in Haiti. Ashleigh and I had to find string for her to tie little bows at the end of my hair, and bobby pins and the hairbrush. No biggie we got it covered. KC also said she had little ties that we could use once she got back. Well, while having my hair done, I played catch with Tigga, was read to and shown pictures from the National Geographic by Ashleigh and David, and tried to nap. It was the worst attempt at a nap ever. My tush also fell asleep because I tried to give Fabiola some relief so she could sit her pregnant body down. I sat on the cold, hard porch floor. My bum fell asleep in every position I maneuvered body in. Have to ever tried to nap while someone is tugging on small surface area of your head and then seeing "fly-aways" and deciding they weren't necessary so ripping them out? Well Ash and I have. Not very pleasant . After 4 and a half hours of this pain from my head. I had the grid map of Fort Collins on my head, so symmetrical and square like. During this entire time, the ladies would lean over the balcony and wave so happily. Well, I got to get up and relieve myself. Ashleigh's turn. During the entire time my hair was being done, we joked about how it would only take half the time for her thin hair and it would give Fabiola a break. So Ashleigh sat down in the chair and Fabiola went to work. An hour into Fabiola's work, Ashleigh mentioned that she hoped Fabiola could cover her bald spot and wouldn't be alarmed by it. We laughed and joked about it until it came closer and closer. We kept talking about it and told KC about it and KC said, non-nonchalantly, "Well, I could ask her." we were lucky KC was there and problem solved. Did I mention that a group of male visitors were due to arrive at anytime today. Well, they arrived during "beauty shop" so Ashleigh introduced herself while her hair was being yanked. Great first impression. Well, the other great thing about having visitors is that they get special food and we get their leftovers! Oh happy day! So Ashleigh was done at a record speed of 3 and 1/2 hours. We then went to show off our road map heads to the ladies. We showed the ladies and they kept saying beautiful and I pulled out my camera to take pictures with them and they then became interested in the camera and how they wanted their our "glamour shots." The photo shoot lasted for about 30 minutes and then we later went to the fabulous dinner consisting of shelled macaroni and cheese, chicken, and SALAD!!!! We gorged ourselves and looked like rabid dogs that had never had meat before. We all had our fair share of food and did the dishes in return for the great food. Don't you worry, I ate enough to store up for 3 months. But, we get to eat like this until Wednesday! Let me also forewarn you, Ashleigh and I imagined ourselves totally different. We saw thick, gorgeousness strands of braids. Wishing this would bring us to our Haitian roots. Well, it really brought us to our scalps and that is about it. You are warned. Beware of the glare while looking at photos.

PS I think Ashleigh and I are in the "in" group with the ladies.