1 JUST ANOTHER DAY A hillside community built on the hills above Port-au-Prince 2009
Wismond Exantus Port-au-Prince Haiti January 12 2010 4 50 p m Wismond reached across the counter and handed change to the women The 24-year-old had been standing for several hours behind the counter at the small grocery store in the Napoli Hotel in Port-au-Prince He helped customers with their purchases as they passed through his line Thank you he said with a smile before wishing the customer a good day Bon jounen In Haiti a good job was a precious thing Wismond did not have to go far to find people in desperate situations brought on by poverty The streets were full of people trying to sell anything that might bring them a little money plastic water bottles refilled with juice used baby clothes and fruit People walked among the traffic wiping down vehicles as they passed hoping the drivers might hand over a little money for the work He smiled at the next customer in line as she set her canned goods on the counter Bonswa he said using the Haitian Creole word for good evening
Rosemary Pierre Port-au-Prince Haiti January 12 2010 4 50 p m The bell rang as Rosemary her boyfriend Romules and her 21-year-old cousin Stephanie neared the André Malraux School They felt privileged to be students They looked at attending classes as the doorway to a better life For example Stephanie’s goal was to study medicine and become a doctor Rosemary had no doubt her cousin could achieve this one day After Stephanie’s aunt passed away she moved in with Rosemary’s family Stephanie’s quiet humor brightened the already joyful household and the two cousins quickly became as close as sisters Rosemary and Romules paused at the gate hoping they might settle their argument before Rosemary went into the school Hurry we still have a few minutes to study with the others Stephanie called to them as she rushed toward the front door of the two-story schoolhouse You’ll make
yourself late standing out here to bicker National college entrance exams were coming soon and many students gathered in a classroom before regular classes to take advantage of every spare moment of study time I’ll be right in Rosemary replied It should only take a minute to convince this stubborn boy why I am right and he is wrong Or I’ll pretend to agree quickly so you can get to class Romules huffed Stephanie paused at the door and looked back at them both I’m not sure which of you is more stubborn she said smiling and shaking her head Then she turned and hurried into the school
