I was at a rural clinic… beautiful, beautiful day. But, clinic was small and slow so I went outside to take photos of the animals. Naturally, a few schoolgirls saw me and wanted me to take their photos. And then a young woman (20-25??) came by with a GIGANTIC bucket of CORN COBS that she carried on her head and wanted me to photograph her. She really enjoyed herself… ended up laughing in several shots. And then told me she had to go, walked off, and I kept shooting. She turned around and smiled again. Just having the experience was a gift, let alone getting some good images. And then, right after, the clinic jeep pulled up and I had to get in to return to the orphanage. It was all so serendipitous… which I find happens on trips like this. Things just seem to fall into place.
Ronel, the jeep driver, is absolutely exuberant. I was riding in front today and the three midwives were in the cab. Gladias (my translator) and a Haitian doctor were in the very back outside part so I didn’t have a translator. Ronel just talked and talked and the Haitian midwives were laughing and laughing. Ronel would beep and honk at passersby and give a thumbs up or a wave because he has a lot of friends on this route. Well, and the midwives’ jeep is bright pink… unmistakable. We crossed five small rivers to get out to the clinic and then again back into town. The road is rocky, rutted, and has occasional puddles (reminded me of Mongolia). It was all very pleasant and downright jolly.
I put my hands underneath the basket and lifted upwards. ASTONISHING how HEAVY her load is! Fortunately, it is common for women to wrap a cloth around to cushion the tops of their heads.
I hope to write a short blog about the things I’ve seen women carry on their heads. Today, I saw one woman carrying two chairs, another carrying one chair with a basket of stuff on top, one with a basket of coiled ropes, and another with a large bucket of fruit. Sometimes, I’ll see a woman carrying something on her head in addition to having a rooster dangling in her grasp.