We knew the whole time change thing would be a problem. It was crazy in the spring when Daylight Saving time started. Haitians basically do sun time. When the sun comes up - or before- they get up, they do some stuff, stop when they get tired, and go to bed when it gets dark. After all, most don't have electricity. If you have an appointment it is likely at 8 or 9 am. When you arrive you find that everyone has the same appt. It really only means you have an appointment for that day- but you better get there as early as you can so you can be seen, as many times more appointments are scheduled (?) than time allows.
So, we started asking Sat. "Is the time changing tonight?"
"Time? Chang-a?" Furrowed brows & other confused looks. "Pa Ko Ne... I not Know". We got up & ready at the regular time Sunday a.m. & sure enuff same old/ same old. But-our computer had the new time on it! Somebody had an Haitel cell phone that changed, but our Digicel didn't. Sunday afternoon we visited some other missionaries- is Haiti changing time? nobody knew for sure. We decided they probably would eventually, after they heard if time changed in Port-au-Prince. Monday a.m. workers came at old time, except for 1 teacher. He convinced the others starting later would be better & they changed the clocks at the school & had the flag raising ceremony at the new time. That's the only thing in Haiti that happens according to schedule! Every school in the country has a flag- raising at 8 am ;) Today all the help came at the new time except for the laundry lady and my helper (those 2 jobs can always use a head-start). Time will always be a challenge in Haiti. Our big laugh of the day- when Rusty tried to explain to Pastor Gerce when he would pick our team up from the airport tomorrow- He finally just wrote 12:30. Pastor says.." AHHH! Nooon -thirty!"
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