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We are Far From Normal

Hotel Oloffson, Port au Prince, January 24, 2010.

Good morning. I’m exhausted. My body hurts. No end in site to any of this. It’s not a news story thats going to go away when journalists leave.

The drone of planes continues in the distance. No indication of what it all means.

We’re starting to rebuild one of the walls that came down, you know, practical stuff.

The flight to Orlando is free 4 American citizens. The shuttle to the regular Orlando airport is free; then you fly to your destination on your own.

Housing is going to be a serious issue here considering how many homes were destroyed. Jobs…an economy.

Lot of homes, buildings, schools went down around us but we seem to be ok. Hotel staff is OK, Band is OK. Grace a Dieu!

I believe US Military planes are flying US citizens out 2 Orlando. Wheelchairs, I’m told, are available. No hostess or snack drink service!

I’m still looking into food distribution. My band wants to volunteer. Have a meeting tomorrow AM. Will be looking for trucks soon, NGO logos help.

The droning of planes is filling the skies. Someone close to the ground told me that hunger will become a big issue if things don’t improve.

After tomorrow AM meeting with food people I’ll have a better idea of where we stand and what we need. If we can hook up.

Rooms at the Oloffson are first come first serve. You just have to show up. When things calm down,phones work etc, we’ll go back 2 the “reservation system”

I’m not sure where people should contribute yet. Will publish names as soon as I am.

I think I hear a bann a pye (band on foot) in the distance. There’s a food handout on Place Jeremie. Truck’s there, but distribution hasn’t started.

Gheskio should be strongly considered for people who want to make contributions to Post-EarthQuake Haiti. Long History of helping Haitian People.

I haven’t felt any aftershocks today, but I do hear a crowd singing in the distance … a big crowd.

I did take a nap…INSIDE!!! Bathed, INSIDE!!! Will sleep tonight, outside…

Sleep inside? In Kreol they say, Atansyon pa kapon. “Being careful is not cowardly.”

Axelle Liataud is fine. She is on a mission to save Haitian art in buildings that were damaged–a wonderful project!

I doubt theyre going to cancel Ash Wednesday, Lent, Good Friday or Easter. Will Carnival create work? Boost the economy? I don’t know.

There’s a website you can contact for supplies to orphans It might help. Bagaydwol.wordpress.com leave a comment & theyll get back to you.

FONKOZE is doing cash/wire transfers. They have 34 branches that are open around Haiti www.fonkoze.org. They pay out for CAM/MONEYGRAM etc.

RAM plans to do some food distribution and then hopefully we start to rehearse. First things first.

I want first RAM show in Haiti to be a free concert.

It’s a half moon tonight. Initial shock of the quake is dying down. Heard a car drive by as if it were a normal night. We’re far from normal.

Good night…Bon nuit.

RICHARD MORSE runs the Oloffson Hotel in Port-au-Prince Haiti and the leads the Haitian band RAM.