The Rehab Technician Training students have carried on several routines established by previous teachers. One is opening the day with Tai Chi, which was done by their first teacher when their program started in January. I find this to be such a nice way to start the day that I might just continue it at home!
Another routine was started by Beth and Janet, who were teaching last time I was here in February, in which they decided to supply a “booster” in the form of a snack or treat to the students whenever they had an exam. Naturally, they wanted to make this a tradition, too! Their motto (which they say in English) is “No booster, no exam!” We have been working on Balance and Coordination, which would be tested with separate short exams on the same day, so they teased me and said they needed two boosters for two exams. While they really didn’t require two treats, I still needed to think of something to do.
Last time I was here, the cook would make a cake for a special occasion if a resident asked, so I asked our cook, Edith, if she could make one for the students. She made a lovely yellow cake with chocolate frosting. When I got to class, I asked the students if they wanted to have the booster before or after the exams, and they decided to have it before. But when I unveiled it, they were thunderstruck, and said, “ah, après, après!” They wanted to savor it afterwards. Happily, in planning for the children at the orphanage that I will visit at the end of my stay, I had brought a 5-pound bag of bite-sized chocolate candy bars. I decided to divert some of this stash to my students, so I gave them each three of these before their tests. They were very happy, and I am certain the chocolates will make another appearance this week.
After they had taken their tests (which they all passed handily), we cut and served the cake. We had plates, forks, and napkins from our house, and made quite a party of it. They said something about singing to me before we moved on to other things. Later, they said they had decided to change their motto to (writing in English on the chalkboard) “More boosters, more exams!” That was a very unexpected validation of my (really Edith’s) efforts! Still, I replied verbally in French, “I thought you were going to say,” (writing on the chalkboard with an arrow from “More boosters”) “plus chansons” (more songs), to which they burst out laughing. How fun it is to make a group laugh, even if you thought it would only be mildly funny!
At the end of the day, Frantzo and Suze wrote words on a chalkboard that I first thought was just a little “thank you for the cake” message, but Frantzo had composed the words to fit the song “I Have a Dream” by Abba (which is probably familiar to you - look it up). My students were so happy with the cake that they wrote and sang a song for me! Frantzo proceeded to conduct the group in a beautiful, heartfelt rendition of this song!
Nous vous disons un grand Merçi
Pour le gâteau au chocolat
Avec un coeur sincère
Nous voulons chanter
Et que ce doux moment soit pour vous
L’un des plus radieux!
(encore)
Words on paper and the English translation do not do justice to the beauty of this song, sung with lovely voices and heartfelt spirit!
We say to you a big Thank You
For the chocolate cake
With a sincere heart
We want to sing
And may this sweet moment
Be one of the most radiant for you!
With misty eyes, I assured them that it was not only the best moment I’ve had in Haiti, but was also one of the sweetest moments of my life, to have people compose and sing a beautiful song for me!
