First week at UCCC

I have completed my first week of teaching ecology at Université Chrétienne de la Communauté de Caïman (UCCC). I teach 3 classes a week to the same class of first year agronomy students so that we can get in an entire 3 credit course in the 6 weeks that I am here.  Already the students have asked me if bats come from old mice, and the topic of zombies came up.  I lecture in English with my friend Diranot translating into Creole (though maybe the students want French?).  Handouts and tests are in French thanks to a French graduate student at the Univ. of Kansas and google translate.  There’s no power at the university so I hold up my computer so the class can see pictures – can’t teach about biomes without showing what a tundra or taiga looks like!  Next week is their first quiz, and an outdoor lab to learn forestry measurements.  

Wharf and ecotourism school

View of wharf from Ouanga Bay Beach Hotel.

Near Ouanga Bay Beach Hotel (review at previous post) in Cote des Arcadins is the wharf for boats to Ile de la Gonave, Haiti’s largest island.  Some men involved with the ecotourism school took us there before we headed across the street and up the hill to the ecotourism school.  The wharf was busy with passengers and products being loaded onto boats.  There were large sail boats and a motorized boat.  The road down to the wharf was lined with people selling food.

The ecotourism school offers a 6 month training in the service industry.  It is sponsored by the Brazilian group Viva Rio.  There are 4 new buildings featuring a restaurant kitchen and dining room and a hotel room.  The school also does some farming projects such as methane from pig manure and tilapia.  To reach both the wharf and the school you have to walk along Natl Rt #1, so watch for vehicles.  The walk up the hill to the school is a bit steep but it is not far.  Well worth the effort to see what is going on in Haiti.

Passengers waiting to go to Ile de la Gonave.

American rice waiting to be loaded on boats.

Methane piglets at ecotourism school.

Tilapia ponds at ecotourism school.

Ecotourism school buildings to the right.

Ouanga Bay Beach Hotel

 If you are looking for some easy snorkeling right outside your hotel room, try the Ouanga Bay Beach Hotel in Cote des Arcadins along Rt. Natl #1.  It is about a 2 hour drive from Port au Prince on the paved highway.  Look for the sign with the hummingbird, and the entrance has a metal seahorse on the gate post.  Ouanga occupies a long narrow strip of beach, with parking behind the hotel on the highway side.  There are two choices for rooms – regular rooms for $110 each room or bungalows with TV for $135 (Oct. 2014).  The bungalows are stand alone, while the regular rooms are in a row like regular hotel rooms.  We stayed in the regular rooms.

The room had A/C, hot water, and two beds.  There was no door on the bathroom, which might make for an awkward situation if you don’t know the people you travel with very well.  All the rooms have an ocean view.  The water is very clear!  The best snorkeling was right outside the regular rooms.  You have to go down a short flight of steps, walk to the far end of the beach and climb over come rocks to get on the beach.  This isn’t the main laying-out beach.  Wear water shoes since there are sea urchins.  We saw puffer fish, a sea snake, little colorful fish, and gobies that like to swim around your fingers.  There are also some chunks of coral to swim around.  Watch out for jelly fish the further out you go!  They were dispersed enough that you can avoid them, and looked beautiful swimming, but still gave us the willies and we went back closer to shore.  There is also a swimming pool at one end of the property.

The lounging/swimming beach is in front of the bungalows and next to the bar/restaurant that sits over the water.  It is a very relaxing place to hang out.  Except when the jetskiers decide to come to shore at the swimming beach!  We left a note of complaint about that.  Our dinner was very good, and relatively inexpensive for a beach hotel.  My friend had bbq chicken with fries ($12).  I asked for a vegetable plate of carrots, melotin (chayote squash) and avocado, with fries ($10).  We had cake for dessert ($5).  A great breakfast comes with the room price: omelet, fruit, juice, bread, and coffee.  They set the coffee out early so you can sit and enjoy the sunrise over the hills behind the hotel.

The people in the lobby were very friendly.  There is no store, but they do have little toothbrush kits if you forget yours.  There are steps to go down then up to get to the rooms.  There weren’t a lot of people there the Saturday night we stayed.  A three or four families, a couple foreigners.  More people showed up Sunday morning, perhaps to spend the day at the beach.

Over all Ouanga Bay is very enjoyable and relaxing.  See the next post about the wharf tour and ecotourism school that are within walking distance of the hotel.

  

Preparing to return through Global Scholars

Me with one of the UCCC biology profs.

This fall finds me in the US preparing for a condensed (6 week) semester in Haiti to teach ecology at Université de la Communauté Chrétienne de Caïman (UCCC).  Not only is this a volunteer position, I must provide all of the classroom materials!  Books, handouts, lab materials, etc.  The costs add up, and I could not continue teaching in Haiti without help.  But I have found an academic organization to partner with, Global Scholars, conveniently located 40 minutes from my US location.

Global Scholars sends professors to teach all over the world, providing the logistical support for fund raising, insurance, and other benefits that one typically does not have with an overseas teaching position.  Their mission is “Some day every university student in the world will have at least one professor who can articulate and demonstrate the love and Lordship of Jesus Christ.”  Which fits my goal of teaching about God through science and ecology, and busting harmful beliefs such as all snakes are the devil and must be killed, or environmental degradation is caused by evil and cannot be reversed.  I'll also teach at the local schools.

Please help me obtain the teaching supplies that will enable the Haitian students learn more about their natural environment (and help me live in Haiti for 6 weeks).  To make a tax-deductible donation look for my name at this Global Scholar link.  The students and I appreciate it!

Teaching at a new Haitian university - UCCC

In May I returned to the Central Plateau of Haiti for a week to guest lecture at a relatively new university, UNIVERSITÉ DE LA COMMUNAUTÉ CHRÉTIENNE DE CAÏMAN (UCCC) which is about 8 miles from Pignon.  UCCC is run by United Christians International which my friends JeanJean and Kristie run.  My first 5 years of going to Haiti were to teach ecology in the community around UCI.  Now they have a university!  Students major in agronomy, education, or theology.  

In addition to discussing with the university students about how ecology is important to these fields of study, I also taught in the UCI primary school and surrounding schools.  My bird guide Louiders joined me and took over teaching the primary school classes (see this post for his ecotours).  Kristen, Nate, and Kendon from my church joined me to teach first aid and Bible studies.

This fall I will return to UCCC to teach ecology.  I will be raising support through Global Scholars.  Stay tuned for a post about this academic organization that helps professors go overseas to teach.

Haiti ecotours by Louiders

If you are in Haiti's Central Plateau and would like to go on an ecotour, contact Louiders Alfred (509-3881-2985).  He works in Bohoc and Caiman along National Route 3 between Pignon and Hinche.  His specialty is birding and he knows most of the birds by sound.  He can also take you hiking or to caves, and to cultural activities such as the Bohoc market, a casava mill, a sugar cane mill, or to see how coffee is grown and processed.   

Louiders speaks English.  I trained him in 2009 when he didn't know much English.  Now he knows English and even helps me teach ecology in schools.  Contact him if you would like a program at your school or community group (in Creole or French) about Haiti birds and bats.   In Haiti call him at 509-3881-2985.  Or contact me by email and I will pass the message along naturesphoto at hotmail.com.

The Mustard Seed Auberge Hostel, Les Cayes Haiti

Relaxing on the balcony.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Les Cayes Haiti consider the Mustard Seed Auberge Hostel in the Charpentier neighborhood on the east end of Les Cayes.  I must preface this review with the fact that I lived there for 5 months and got to know the friendly Haitian family that lives on the ground floor and manages the hostel. 

The hostel is located in a residential area close to Les Cayes’ main road, National Route 2, so it is very easy to walk to the highway to find a motorcycle taxi, buy produce, or go to the businesses along the highway.  It takes about 7 minutes to walk to the Capital Coach Bus Line stop, and about 5 minutes to walk to the American University of the Caribbean.  The neighborhood is safe, but as in all of Haiti it would be unwise to walk alone at night. 

The 2nd floor living quarters are very breezy which makes it comfortable in the hot weather.  There is a balcony with hammocks, a great place to hang out and watch the neighborhood. 

Cots and fans in the bedrooms.

As typical with hostels, Auberge is very inexpensive, primarily because the beds are cots and guests are expected to share rooms if necessary.  There are fans to keep you cool and blankets to keep you warm in the cool winter nights, and each cot is under a mosquito net.  There is also a real full-sized bed with an extra charge for those who want this amenity.  There are 3 rooms and 2 bathrooms.  They can accommodate large groups on more cots and air mattresses in the the main quarters.

The prices while I was there for 2 weeks in January 2014 were $18/night, plus $7 for lunch or dinner.  They gave me a special monthly rate for a 5-month stay which did not include meals.  The kitchen is large with a propane stove, refrigerator, and some basic utensils and cookware.  If you want Haitian meals you can pay the family downstairs for meals.  While cooking on my own I missed Haitian cooking so paid for one meal a week from Madam Eli downstairs.  She also washes clothes for $5US a sac.

Looking in on the kitchen.

Internet is provided at no extra cost, and is rather reliable and fast for Haiti.  City electricity is backed up with batteries and an inverter.  Only once in my 5-month stay did we have an evening of no electricity.  Water is from a container on the roof that must be periodically refilled, so guests are advised to conserve water.  There is no hot water, and tap water cannot be used for brushing teeth or drinking.  Potable water is provided.

The Mustard Seed Auberge is a very clean and breezy place to stay!  Contact me and I’ll put you in touch with the proprietor.  Check out the rest of my blog for activities to do in the area.