The Demise of the Rats and Roaches

Over the past week we saw what we (if we are optimistic) hope to be the beginning of the end of the rat and roach infestation that seems to plague this place. This could also be considered 'the year of the ant', as they seem to be everywhere as well! Anyway, last Thursday everybody was out of the house while some guys sprayed for roaches. All the babies, nannies and volunteers were out on the balcony from around 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Thankfully it wasn't too hot! Many of us had hoped that when we went back inside we would see the ugly reddish-brown bodies of thousands of dead roaches lying on their backs; however, apparently the stuff that was used was supposed to make the roaches thirsty and want to run away, thus limiting the amount of cleanup that would have to be done. We heard for those who were involved in the spraying that there were areas from which there was a great exodus of roaches. How i wish i could have see it!

This past Wednesday, the group of us volunteers (8 girls) cleaned out the entry way at the main house, as it had been discovered that rats had been nesting back in one of the corners. it was pretty gross in there, but the finished product was a great reward! especially because there is now nowhere for rats to hide! before we were able to get everything moved back into the room, the rain started pouring down, as it often does this time of year. after about 45 minutes it had let up enough for us to finish.

On Thursday morning, another volunteer and i cleaned out one of the cupboards in our kitchen at the toddler house, as cockroaches have inhabited that space for at least two years! i remember that last time when i was here, i would always knock on that door before opening it so that i wouldn't have to see the roaches that i knew lived there. anyway, we cleaned out all of the contents, sprayed Baygone, shut the door, and worked on washing everything that had been inside. some roaches tried to scurry away, and when they did, we were ready with flip flops and paper towels to squash any hope of escape. I must have squashed at least 20 cockroaches in the space of two hours! that cupboard is now beautiful and roach free....and Haiti has about 30 fewer roaches!!!

So, on top of having the priveladge of being in Haiti, loving and teaching these beautiful children, i also have had the opportunity to help clear out at least some of the spaces that catered to some of the lowest and nastiest members of creation. i know some people would defend them and say that they have a purpose, too, but i have a hard time believing it. if they do have some purpose, well, i think we've come to the point of too much of a good thing! lol.