Wow, we’ve made it to the end of this year!
I hope you are healthy and safe; fortunately at the writing of this letter, we and all of our family are healthy and we’re very grateful.
Where do we start with 2020? On the very first day of this year, we got engaged! Six weeks later, we were married in what turned out to be the last time most of us were in a group of over 10 people. Talk about timing.
As newlyweds during the outbreak of a global pandemic, we quickly got to know even more about each other. We spent every day teleworking at the same table in our one-bedroom apartment in DC. AJ only speaks fondly of trying to have his Zoom meetings while Jen was speaking either Haitian Kreyol or French, every day, across from him, for months in her online training for the Foreign Service. Though AJ did get to taste test the Haitian rum punch and pumpkin soup that Jen learned how to cook in her classes.
Fortunately in the summer we were able to see some family safely, and that continues to be a highlight of this year. We love and miss you all!
While the pandemic did delay some things, Jen was off to Haiti at the end of August, only about six weeks behind the original schedule. In October, AJ joined her on the US government compound, where we’ve moved up from our one-bedroom apartment to a full three-bedroom, two story house (and two balconies and a patio!). Thank you, US government!
Since August, Jen has been going into the US Embassy every day, where she sees American citizens who need new or emergency passports, or are passing along citizenship to a child that was born in Haiti. This means a lot of crying babies.
AJ is still at the Department of Commerce where he was first a contractor for many years and then became a federal employee this year. He was at the front lines of the Payroll Protection Program assistance that the government passed this summer, and has been helping foreign companies who operate in the US to support their American workers.
What a year. Given an engagement, wedding, new jobs, and moving to Haiti, we’ve gotten quite a few questions, so we’ve put together the following FAQ for you:
Frequently Asked Questions, Jen and AJ 2020 Edition:
On top of La Citadelle, the largest fort in the Western Hemisphere that Haiti built after it won its independence from France in 1804.
Are AJ and Jen both in Haiti?
Yes, right now AJ is in Haiti with Jen! He still has his same job at the Department of Commerce, and is teleworking - an easy transition since Haiti is in the same timezone as DC. He also brought his racing bike and has hooked it up to an indoor trainer, which almost makes up for not being able to ride around the DC trails this Fall.What are they doing in Haiti?
In January, Jen started a new job with the US State Department’s Foreign Service. This is a fancy name for the US diplomats that work in our embassies around the world, serving American citizens and promoting US policies. The Foreign Service assigned her to Haiti for her first two-year tour. She’ll live here until Fall 2022.
But you still have a DC address - why?
AJ may be called back into the office anytime in 2021, and we didn’t want to leave him homeless. He’s still renting in DC so he has a home base. Jen does have a Haiti address but it’s a weird diplomatic PO box. If you want it, please reach out!
Why doesn’t AJ move to Haiti full-time?
AJ has a great job and became a federal employee in January this year - a huge accomplishment! If he moved to Haiti, he would have to give up that job and just spend his days drinking Haitian rum by the compound pool…. Wait a minute….And what about COVID?
Haiti is doing pretty okay with COVID and because of the political unrest and insecurity, all US government workers already live on a compound, which has essentially become a COVID-free bubble. Jen is expected to get the COVID vaccine early in the new year through the Embassy, and everyone is required to wear masks in the office.How are you wrapping up 2020?
AJ will still be in Haiti through the holidays and we’ll be able to celebrate our first Christmas together! We’re missing all of our family and friends, but are so grateful for being able to stay in touch and we’re looking forward to hopefully seeing more people in the new year.
Thank you for being a part of our 2020. Have the happiest of holidays!
Love,
AJ & Jen