Haiti Artventure Part 3 - What I Learned and Taught
What Haiti Taught Me
I need a servant. I see why wars have been fought over cheap labor. I don’t agree, but I understand. My friend had a laundry service included in her rent. Lordt, I want somebody handwashing my draws and prepping dinner while I’m at work.
I felt guilty when I came back to the United States. Guilty that I have so much, and too much. I've always known that I had more than enough compared to other women around the world. Being black, I always known that my freedom wasn't free. Others suffered and fought long and hard just so I drive about my city so freely, live where I choose, get educated, to vote, buy property, shop, etc. Still, obviously more progress to be made; but I am a free woman, sometimes daunted by so many choices. Even when buying something as mundane as soap: Do I want Dove with aloe, Dove for sensitive skin, pink Dove, or plain? Haiti made me inhabit the reality of what I already knew.
When I came back to the States, I was in a state of mild shock. Just adjusting to the simple act of understanding the Walgreen’s cashier, marveling that I comprehended language again and being able to read again. Whew! I can dial 1-800 numbers to call when infrastructure goes wrong. (We Americans love giving feedback about service!)
Later, my guilt was overshadowed by humble gratitude. Then knowing that I have no excuses. Why should I be afraid to open a business? At the very least, I know the language. I have the resources, and I know where to find them. Haiti gave me chutzpah. It chased away reluctance and fear.
Haiti gave me a new title. I’m now an art educator “in-ter-nat-tion-nayhl!” (in Good Times JJ voice and pose)
What I Taught
C’est moi avec mon étudiant! (That’s me with my student!)
I went over to teach perspective. This is drawing buildings and objects using a vanishing point and slanted lines to made the drawing appear three dimensional. I taught one, two, and three point perspective over the course of about three sessions.
My Haitian students were awesome. They were attentive, asked questions, and were able to add their creativity to perspective. When we lost power a few times and the room went dark, cell phone flashlights appeared, and they wordlessly kept on working. In contrast, when lights even flicker in my American classroom, a collective scream is echoed throughout the school and students send a flurry of texts to parents to come get them.
She’s practicing for the masterpiece she made below. I’m so impressed that she completed the most challenging perspective, which is 3 point!
Haitian student observing American student student samples
Student work
On our last session, one of my students, a fellow artist, broke out his guitar serenaded the class with a song. And he even ad-libbed some verses to me, singing that he hopes I come back again. Later I was even told that my students got extra points on a test for applying the perspective that they learned. Woot! Woot!
Will I go back? Maybe next year. I need time to recover. I’m honored I was invited to return.
(reposted from previous blog)