Brother Mike McCarthy's Summer Vacation Reflections
July 22, 2010
Summer vacation has arrived at Maison Fortune!! How does one know, besides looking at the school calendar? Well, to begin with, soccer and basketball games begin before 6:00 a.m., trying to beat the morning and afternoon heat. This means that a good number of the boys are up shortly after the sun rises at 5:00. (It’s really hard to sleep late at MF!!) Breakfasts are later; uniforms are absent; game room is open more frequently and the kids do stay up later at night. There’s also that intangible summer freedom---no homework, no daily classes and increased leisure time to play, take an afternoon nap or just play more!! Occasional afternoon downpours gift the garden with water, but also provide a great layer of slippery mud on the soccer field for an exciting game in the rain, delighting the players who just wait to slip and enjoy a full-body mud bath!! Great summer fun!
This week, under the direction of Met Frenel, teams of boys have been volunteering on the weekends at Mother Theresa’s center in town. The older boys assist in the men’s section, shaving, cutting nails and shaving heads—the coiffeur of choice for many Haitian males. The middle school boys gravitate to the second floor to help entertain the more than 90 babies who are there to get their health back so they can return home. Our boys play the tanbou, dance with the little folks and help the sisters keep them entertained for a couple of hours. It’s been a goal of the orphanage for some time, sending our boys out to give to others some of the joy, knowledge and skills they have acquired here on campus. This summer Met Frenel also hopes to organize teams who would assist at the hospital and other places in town.
My English class, twice a week, attracted 15-20 of the high school young men; the elementary students are clamoring for class as well, but will have to wait until August.
Summer is also a great time for visitors!!! Mike and Shelby McGeehin organized a trip to MF that has gathered 10 people, including Father Fred Byrne, OSB—the founder of Penn State’s Haitian connection. His brother Patrick joined the group, and Mike’s dad as well, Tom; as did Cecilia Marquette an art teacher from New York, who along with her friend Stephanie Martinez, conducted an art/photography workshop for about 45 of the students. It’s been a pleasure to see the products of their creativity—some are master shots exhibiting all the nuances of composition, lighting, texture, etc. Such activities added a new expression for our many, natural artists. On Sunday Father Fred celebrated Mass for the community under the famous mango tree. He was very brave, practicing his Kreyòl, teaching us a new song in English and congratulating the community for its full participation.
However, all good things must come to an end!! We’d say that in the states when the primary teachers will come in August for a month of ‘reinforcement’ for all the elementary students. But here at MF the students have the opposite reaction; they rejoice in the two hours of review they’ll have every day. They hunger for learning and I guess the novelty of all this extra free time wears off quickly!!
Report cards were a big topic the second week of July. As usual, many boys and girls rejoiced in getting those ‘passing’ grades. However, there were some boys who were most disappointed in knowing that they will have to ‘double’ next year---Haitian for repeating the year. For the older boys at St. Martin de Porres High School, it was particularly difficult, seeing their friends advance and realizing that it will now take an extra year for them to complete the 13 year program of studies required by the Haitian education system.
The boys have not been able to take advantage of the beach that they helped build last summer because the river water has been too dirty, but they’re hoping…….. Yes, summer is filled with new activities and new hopes and new opportunities to study, play and serve.
Brother Mike McCarthy is an Xaverian Brother who has lived at the orphanage since 2007 and serves as volunteer staff.