After breakfast we went to City Soleil. This is the original headquarters for HOM. When we got off the tap-tap, we were swarmed by children of the community. Sadly, they were looking for water from us. Scott has his granola bar stolen and they yelled "chocolat! chocolat". They wanted hugs and to hold hands. I knew little of what they said, which was a little heart breaking. We got a tour of the church and the grounds. There was a kid drinking water from the ground. A few minutes later, he just pulled out his manhood and started peeing right next to us.
As we got back in the tap-tap, we asked the interpretor if he wanted some water. He is well dressed and looks good. He hesitated and said if he drank water, he couldn't eat lunch. Meaning that the water would fill him up and he wouldn't be able to eat as much lunch. (we were providing a lunch for him). At that point, I had finished my whole water bottle and was starving for lunch. I've never had to choose between water and food. He was smiling the whole time - as if it was no big deal.
Next we went to the tent cities. It was scary pulling up and realizing we were getting off there. These are the lowest of low in terms of housing. The children there were naked or 1/2 dressed, dirty. One male boy about 5 was just in a shirt. They children had orange tint to their hair and distended bellies - all signs of malnutirition. The tents are so small. I can't imagine living there. No running water or electricity. What did they do when the sun went down? I can't imagine being woman there. They were all sitting outside under shade. The children followed us around - holding our hands or asking to be picked up. The description of what I saw, I can't process. It's like something traumatic happneded and you don't want to talk about it after or think about it. I felt almost like I did when my grandmother passed away in November and I just got through it by trying to forget it was real or detaching that from my thoughts. It's hard to be unemotional here though.
We went to another HOM community. This is where they are building a new church to replace the one that fell, a new school, and a medical clinic.
When we got back, we had lunch. Forest, one of the HOM people, told us that not much has changed since the earthquake. That really shocked me because I coudln't imagine the earthquake not producing this type of living condition. If anything, he said that the trash and living conditions are better. Wow.
We played catchphrase when we got back and walked around Terre de Noire neighborhood. It's amazing what's around us. The houses are better, yet still just pieces of scrap metal put together. We walked around a market with raw meat and veggies just sitting there, with huge swarms of flies. Everyone we say said "bon soir" or "salut" and greated us with a smile. I keep telling myself not to think that they just think we are snobby Americans, gawking at their life. Nadesh, a woman who lives on the compound, told us that we need to think they thye feel so honored. We took time away from our jobs, our family, our life to come here and help serve. Selfless service. I don't know if I feel exactly selfless -- I mean I wanted to come for medical knowledge as well. The more I think about it though, the more I realize that most of my knowledge will be a reflection of myself and my life, rather than on pediatric doeses or diagnosing ear infections.
We asked our interpretor if he had children. He said his wife had miscarried. He said "God has a plan. " I think that's just my interpretation of "everything happens for a reason". It's faith that everything will work out for the best.
One thing that keeps popping up "Are we living the lives that we're expected of us, rather than the lives that make us feel whole".
One thing I'm glad about is that I didn't come looking for personal character change from Haiti. I wanted to come for the experience and to help by practicing medicine. Now that I'm here, I can already see that Haiti's changed me. I didn't have an epiphany and then go to Haiti. I didn't say "I need to be more grateful so I'll go to a 3rd world country". I had my epiphany when I was here.
The water truck drives around blasting music and sounds like an ice-cream truck. They continue to play Celine Dion "my heart will go on" and Christmas music. Makes me smile everytime.
Much love,
Britt
Thursday, May 19, 2011
3/13/11 9:20 am
Got up at 5:30 for church services. Had some breakfast. Church was interesting. All the Haitians were dressed so nice. Men in ties, full suits, all pressed. The women in heels and nice outfits. Their hair all up and with beautiful clips. Since these people come from the community, I wonder how they can have so little in so unsanitary ocnditions, but look so nice. One thing they don't lack is faith and love in God. They are all their raising their hands up and praising God. Makes me really think about faith and how we all find a way to connect to a higher power. One thing he said in English was "we are a church of the world. we will all meet in heaven - different races, languages, beliefs. we are all praising the same thing". Really made me wonder or question what I believe in and if I know what I believe in. How do I show my faith? Do I really need to show my faith to have faith?
One thing I read last night was about sacfricing true happiness to succeed to accomplish a goal. That's hard to think about because somethings, reaching my goals makes me happy...even though the journey may not always bring me happiness. Then again, isn't life mostly a journey? If that's a case, shouldn't the journey bring you happiness?
It also said, if you don't have it, you don't know what you're missing. Someone in our group asked how the haitians could live like this. But, if they don't know any different, they probably don't think they have it bad. They are alive, they have family, they have enough food, they have a shelter (no matter what it's constructed out of)...they have all the essentials - they are happy. It's good to be alive. Maybe our problem as Americans is we have too many choices. Choices lead to unhappiness or disappointment?
Love to my family,
Brit
One thing I read last night was about sacfricing true happiness to succeed to accomplish a goal. That's hard to think about because somethings, reaching my goals makes me happy...even though the journey may not always bring me happiness. Then again, isn't life mostly a journey? If that's a case, shouldn't the journey bring you happiness?
It also said, if you don't have it, you don't know what you're missing. Someone in our group asked how the haitians could live like this. But, if they don't know any different, they probably don't think they have it bad. They are alive, they have family, they have enough food, they have a shelter (no matter what it's constructed out of)...they have all the essentials - they are happy. It's good to be alive. Maybe our problem as Americans is we have too many choices. Choices lead to unhappiness or disappointment?
Love to my family,
Brit
3/12/11 830 pm
Just showered, laying in bed. Tonight for dinner, we had plantanes, rice and beans, and onions in a spicy red sauce. The plantanes were awesome as well as the rice. I could eat that most nights.
Our reflection mostly just talked about what we saw. We started to get ready for clinic. We separated the medicaitons by category. Larissa, Sarah and I are running the pharmacy the first 2 days then whiching to see patients. We had to rotate between either triage or pharmacy and then patient care. I will like doing pharmacy. I have to remember to go with the flow and be a little more open minded, instead of controlling. I feel a lot of the time, I know what I want to do, what makes sense to me, and I set my mind to that. Need to calm down the control and make sure everyone has the opportunity to put in their input. My way isn't always the best way and I know I forget that sometimes.
I've been thinking about the Haitians. They have so little except faith in God and each other. I kept seeign these people walking or waiting and I kept wondering where they were going or what they were doing. Who was buying their produce? I still can't process all I saw. A woman here said that Americans give so much money but instead of it going to organizations like HOM who have clinics and are constantly rebuilding, it goes to the Haitian gov't. I guess the Haitian gov't does whatever they want. It was nice to see the Haitians rebuilding. I often wonder where they get their resources or with what money. I saw a man rebuilding a wall with rocks. He was so patient. Patience is something I need more of and you can never not have enough. I'm so impatient - for school to end, to get a job, to move back to Chicago, to see Jon... I need to enjoy each day and be thankful for it.
I wonder how this will affect me in the future. I honestly hope that some of the things I've seen here change me for the better. Just to be a more grateful person in ALL aspects of life.
It rained a lot here tonight. It felt nice. Sometimes I focus so much on goals or countdowns. I want to try to put things in persepective. I think that's a reasonable goal.
Love to my family,
Britt
Our reflection mostly just talked about what we saw. We started to get ready for clinic. We separated the medicaitons by category. Larissa, Sarah and I are running the pharmacy the first 2 days then whiching to see patients. We had to rotate between either triage or pharmacy and then patient care. I will like doing pharmacy. I have to remember to go with the flow and be a little more open minded, instead of controlling. I feel a lot of the time, I know what I want to do, what makes sense to me, and I set my mind to that. Need to calm down the control and make sure everyone has the opportunity to put in their input. My way isn't always the best way and I know I forget that sometimes.
I've been thinking about the Haitians. They have so little except faith in God and each other. I kept seeign these people walking or waiting and I kept wondering where they were going or what they were doing. Who was buying their produce? I still can't process all I saw. A woman here said that Americans give so much money but instead of it going to organizations like HOM who have clinics and are constantly rebuilding, it goes to the Haitian gov't. I guess the Haitian gov't does whatever they want. It was nice to see the Haitians rebuilding. I often wonder where they get their resources or with what money. I saw a man rebuilding a wall with rocks. He was so patient. Patience is something I need more of and you can never not have enough. I'm so impatient - for school to end, to get a job, to move back to Chicago, to see Jon... I need to enjoy each day and be thankful for it.
I wonder how this will affect me in the future. I honestly hope that some of the things I've seen here change me for the better. Just to be a more grateful person in ALL aspects of life.
It rained a lot here tonight. It felt nice. Sometimes I focus so much on goals or countdowns. I want to try to put things in persepective. I think that's a reasonable goal.
Love to my family,
Britt
Reflection
"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world"
John Milton
John Milton
3/12/11 4:00 pm
Just returned from "sightseeing". Before we left, we decorated the classrooms with alphabet lettters for the first graders. We left in tap-taps to first see the fallen Cathedral in the heart of Haiti. Along the way, we passed through our neighborhood, Terre de Noire. Trash is piled everywhere. Goats running wild. The tents are everywhere. The roads are so bumpy, it's hard to hang on.
When we get to the Cathedral, there isn't much. Some pillars stand. Other pillars hanging there. There is still some stained glass in the wondows. Other pieces just lay in the rubble. Several people are digging through. Most ask us for money or food. One man is with his 2 children and asking for medical advice.
We head over and see the white house. You can still tell it was once a beautiful building even as it's half collapsed. Across the street there are the tent communities. Naked children on the street.
We then start up the mountain on these very steep hilly roads. Almost makes me think of when I had to go up the auto road when I worked on top of mt washington. These were by far, much worse. We constantly swear to avoid potholes or other oncoming cars. There are no speed limits, no dotted yellow lines. No rules at all. We did drive through a "nice" community. AFter a long drive, we reached the top. You can see all of Haiti and the coast. You can see the tents and houses built into the mountains. From teh top you can see Blanchard (our compound), City Soleil, the Cathedral, and the White House. Bought some souveniers for Brianna and Breally. Then we went to a lunch at a "safe" Haitian restaurant, Mission Valley Baptist. I had cheese pizza and Coca Cola. How American can I get? There was a group "Wings of Hope" who help mentally challenged kids. We sat next to 2 boys, Tony and Sam, both handicapped who love to smile and eat french frieds. They were adorable.
After lunch, we couldn't go to the orphanage so we went to stop to get Haitian ice cream. As we traveled home, you could see down power lines and frayed ends. Haitian ice cream (vanilla) tastes like cinnamin and is delicious. The women carry everything on their head - giant tubs full of pots and pans - even saw one man with a basket of chicken. When we got back, we took a tour of our compound. We saw the church where we are having our clinic. We have church tomorrow at 6am for 2 1/2 hours. They have people here who sew and make garments. They have a small gift shop. Tyring to still process my thoughts.
Much love to my family,
Brit
When we get to the Cathedral, there isn't much. Some pillars stand. Other pillars hanging there. There is still some stained glass in the wondows. Other pieces just lay in the rubble. Several people are digging through. Most ask us for money or food. One man is with his 2 children and asking for medical advice.
We head over and see the white house. You can still tell it was once a beautiful building even as it's half collapsed. Across the street there are the tent communities. Naked children on the street.
We then start up the mountain on these very steep hilly roads. Almost makes me think of when I had to go up the auto road when I worked on top of mt washington. These were by far, much worse. We constantly swear to avoid potholes or other oncoming cars. There are no speed limits, no dotted yellow lines. No rules at all. We did drive through a "nice" community. AFter a long drive, we reached the top. You can see all of Haiti and the coast. You can see the tents and houses built into the mountains. From teh top you can see Blanchard (our compound), City Soleil, the Cathedral, and the White House. Bought some souveniers for Brianna and Breally. Then we went to a lunch at a "safe" Haitian restaurant, Mission Valley Baptist. I had cheese pizza and Coca Cola. How American can I get? There was a group "Wings of Hope" who help mentally challenged kids. We sat next to 2 boys, Tony and Sam, both handicapped who love to smile and eat french frieds. They were adorable.
After lunch, we couldn't go to the orphanage so we went to stop to get Haitian ice cream. As we traveled home, you could see down power lines and frayed ends. Haitian ice cream (vanilla) tastes like cinnamin and is delicious. The women carry everything on their head - giant tubs full of pots and pans - even saw one man with a basket of chicken. When we got back, we took a tour of our compound. We saw the church where we are having our clinic. We have church tomorrow at 6am for 2 1/2 hours. They have people here who sew and make garments. They have a small gift shop. Tyring to still process my thoughts.
Much love to my family,
Brit
3/12/11 7:06 am
Woke up at 6 am. Didn't get much sleep. All night heard the church group singing -- how do they sing all night? At one point, I heard "Hallileuigh" and I thought it was time to wake up. Instead it was 3 am. When do they sleep? Don't get me started on the roosters. I know THEY don't sleep.
Showering was odd. The water was freezing cold but at least we have running water. For breakfast we had mangos and bananas. I've never tasted a mango like that - or had to actually cut it. Jessica had to show us how to properly cut a mango.
Looking over the edge of our wall (we eat on the roof) it's amazing to see how privledged we still are - meaning that even in Haiti, we have more than most. It's a hard thing to swallow. All the tings we take for granted or think we are ENTITLED to. These people know nothing else. Do they know how different life is for us? How easy we have it? Just one day here (it hasn't even been 24 hours) has been a life changing experience. I haven't even practiced medicine! My brain can't even comprehend all the emotions -- it's too much to process.
Love to my family,
Britt
Showering was odd. The water was freezing cold but at least we have running water. For breakfast we had mangos and bananas. I've never tasted a mango like that - or had to actually cut it. Jessica had to show us how to properly cut a mango.
Looking over the edge of our wall (we eat on the roof) it's amazing to see how privledged we still are - meaning that even in Haiti, we have more than most. It's a hard thing to swallow. All the tings we take for granted or think we are ENTITLED to. These people know nothing else. Do they know how different life is for us? How easy we have it? Just one day here (it hasn't even been 24 hours) has been a life changing experience. I haven't even practiced medicine! My brain can't even comprehend all the emotions -- it's too much to process.
Love to my family,
Britt
3/11/2011 9:00 pm
I'm sitting here at the compound Blanchard in Port au Prince, Haiti. A few of us are writing in journals under one light and the stars on the roof. Others are teaching how to play the game, Euchre. The sound from the compound walls is a group of Haitians singing hymns. I'm looking out on the roof to the mountains on both sides. Lights twinkling. With the palm trees, from the roof, it looks like paradise.
Arriving in Haiti, I was very anxious and nervous. With recent reports of unsafe travel and the inability to communicate with my family, made it difficult. The customs at Haiti airport was a jumbled mess of chaos. We were traveling with 9 students and 6 practioners. We had 27 bags and 500 lbs of donated medicine. AS we flew over, you could see the devestation ahead of time. Crammed along the coasts, tons of tents, fallen buildings. When we landed and got our bags, it was confusing because we had so many tubs and everyone just grabbed whatever they could. Several men harrassed us for money to help. When we finally got outside, it was muggy - about 86 degrees. Before our senses could even register, we were rushed to 3 tap-taps - their mode of transportation. Basically, it's like sitting on benches on the sides of a truck.
The streets were rough - mostly all unpaved with large pot holes. The air was thick. The smell overwhelms you and makes it difficult to breathe. It was thick, smelled like sewage, overcrowdedness (if that's a word or a smell) and pollution. It felt like there was a plastic bag over my face and I couldn't get clean, fresh air. Or even as if you stand in front of an exhaust of a car and just let it blow the smoke directly in your face over and over again.
It took 25 min to arrive at the compound. The ride there was something I'll never forget. Tents were lined up. A naked woman standing there just washing her body. People everwhere. Motocycles whizzing past. Children barefoot and waving. You could see the destruction. Houses empty - just the foundation stood - if that. Small huts with people looking on an open flame. Stray dogs, goats, chickens with piles of trash everywhere. Women carrying baskets or even suitcases filled with a variety of different things on their head. A little girl, younger than Breally, carrying a bucket of water on her head down the street.
We get to the compound. Dinner is pumpkin soup. Haitians eat this Jan 1st for Independence from slavery. Masters used to be the only ones that could have pumpkin soup - so that's why the Haitians eat it. It was very spicy. After we met the volunteers that run HOM and "unpacked". The women and men have separate bunk quarters. My bed is an air mattress (to prevent bed bugs). I'm on the low bunk. I have to sleep in a mosquito net.
I already can't believe how much of a humbling experience this is. Its 1030 and the church group is still singing. Right next to our compound, when we look down from the roof, are tents that people live in. I can't believe how priveledged I am. These people have themselves and God - and they're greatful for that. That's incredible to me -- certainly different from the American philosophy. Lights are out.
Love to my family,
Britt
Arriving in Haiti, I was very anxious and nervous. With recent reports of unsafe travel and the inability to communicate with my family, made it difficult. The customs at Haiti airport was a jumbled mess of chaos. We were traveling with 9 students and 6 practioners. We had 27 bags and 500 lbs of donated medicine. AS we flew over, you could see the devestation ahead of time. Crammed along the coasts, tons of tents, fallen buildings. When we landed and got our bags, it was confusing because we had so many tubs and everyone just grabbed whatever they could. Several men harrassed us for money to help. When we finally got outside, it was muggy - about 86 degrees. Before our senses could even register, we were rushed to 3 tap-taps - their mode of transportation. Basically, it's like sitting on benches on the sides of a truck.
The streets were rough - mostly all unpaved with large pot holes. The air was thick. The smell overwhelms you and makes it difficult to breathe. It was thick, smelled like sewage, overcrowdedness (if that's a word or a smell) and pollution. It felt like there was a plastic bag over my face and I couldn't get clean, fresh air. Or even as if you stand in front of an exhaust of a car and just let it blow the smoke directly in your face over and over again.
It took 25 min to arrive at the compound. The ride there was something I'll never forget. Tents were lined up. A naked woman standing there just washing her body. People everwhere. Motocycles whizzing past. Children barefoot and waving. You could see the destruction. Houses empty - just the foundation stood - if that. Small huts with people looking on an open flame. Stray dogs, goats, chickens with piles of trash everywhere. Women carrying baskets or even suitcases filled with a variety of different things on their head. A little girl, younger than Breally, carrying a bucket of water on her head down the street.
We get to the compound. Dinner is pumpkin soup. Haitians eat this Jan 1st for Independence from slavery. Masters used to be the only ones that could have pumpkin soup - so that's why the Haitians eat it. It was very spicy. After we met the volunteers that run HOM and "unpacked". The women and men have separate bunk quarters. My bed is an air mattress (to prevent bed bugs). I'm on the low bunk. I have to sleep in a mosquito net.
I already can't believe how much of a humbling experience this is. Its 1030 and the church group is still singing. Right next to our compound, when we look down from the roof, are tents that people live in. I can't believe how priveledged I am. These people have themselves and God - and they're greatful for that. That's incredible to me -- certainly different from the American philosophy. Lights are out.
Love to my family,
Britt
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