Wheels

The streets of Port-au-Prince just got a whole lot more dangerous. A roaming menace has hit the streets and threatens every driver, passenger and passer-by. His car is old and decrepit and his tires are bald. He rolls with the windows down because his a/c is busted. Discordant sounds emanate from the interior’s worn-out stereo. He scans the streets with his beady eyes searching for his way among the mass of humanity and machines and changes directions erratically, a drunken sailor in an ocean of people. In the early morning and at dusk, beware Port-au-Prince ! Max is on your streets.

That’s right, I am now the not-so-proud owner of what was once a 1993 Isuzu Rodeo, or so I am told. To see how this purchase fits into the evolution of my life, please refer to the chart below:

But it is great to have some measure of freedom once again. And the streets of Port-au-Prince are actually a blast to drive, what with no traffic laws in effect whatsoever. You jostle for position with UN troop carriers, try to dodge pedestrians, stray dogs and potholes the size of craters and overtake pick-ups loaded with dozens of passengers. So far I have seen one working stoplight, which seemed to fulfill its purpose by stopping drivers through sheer curiosity more than respect for the traffic code.

Of course buying a car was no simple procedure. While finding a car to purchase is not too hard, that is only the start of a process now on its third week. And I’m still not technically the legal owner. Or acknowledged user. As far as I can tell I’m more of a formal borrower. That is until I obtain a Haitian driver’s license. But first I must be granted a fiscal ID number, which can only be granted after receiving a valid residency card, a document whose delivery must be preceded by notarized attestations from the Embassy, my employer and the Ministry of Immigration. I fully expect to be a legal driver in the spring of 2009.

The other big news is that I will be moving to an apartment this Friday (the move was delayed for five days) so that by this weekend I will be fully settled in. Pictures will definitely follow.

‘til next time,

Max