30564: Morse(comment) Trip to Jacmel (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

_oloffsonram@aol.com_ (mailto:oloffsonram@aol.com)

Drove to Jacmel recently with Corbett member Peter Kondrat. He was staying
at the Oloffson in the room next to the Greg Chamberlain room (which reminds
me,  we need a Bob Corbet room). It was nice meeting Peter and hashing out a 
few
 Haiti issues.

The trip to Jacmel was also enjoyable. I have an ipod now so I'm not forced
to listen to the Konpa/Hip Hop/Rap blend that dominates the Haitian  airwaves.
Personally I divide Haiti into two countries; the Republic of Haiti and the
Republic of Port-au-Prince. I consider Jacmel the capital of the Haiti part.
If  you haven't been to Jacmel, I hope you'll enjoy driving over the mountains
and  seeing all those gardens as much as I do. There are roadside stands that
sell  wonderful produce but if you don't have a good buyer with you you'll get
 nailed on the prices.

My evening was spent at Madame Nerva's peristyle. The drums have been
beating and people have been singing and dancing since her death.
Before she passed away, they did a "desunet". In that ceremony, her
spiritual self was separated from her physical self. This means that when she 
died it
was only her physical being that died.

I believe the "Veye" will be on Wednesday June 27. The Veye is an all night
pre-funeral affair where friends and relatives and anyone interested get
together for food, drinks and memories.
I suppose in Madame Nerva's case, there will be much singing and  dancing.