Posted Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:18 PM
We are technically leaving for Haiti today. Very exciting. So exciting, in fact, that I can't sleep. Since it is very late at night, or very early in the morning depending on your perspective, I'll make my entry brief. The Haitians have many sayings, or so I have been told. There is one that I came across, in preparing for this trip, that comes to mind- Ou we sa ou genyen, ou pa konn sa ou rete (You know what you've got, you don't know what's waiting for you). That is exactly how I feel at this moment, knowing that whatever I have learned to this point, whatever experience I can bring with me, whatever good intentions I carry, whatever I have packed in my luggage- that is what I have right now. Will it be enough for what is waiting? I hope so, but I think not. I am slowly understanding that this is why I have come to JHU SON, for these moments and these opportunities. I've come here to work with exceptionally talented and passionate people. I am here to find out what is waiting. So, fellow nursing students, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers if you have a moment as we fly tomorrow. I have the feeling that this will be a very memorable trip.
Arrival
Posted Sunday, February 25, 2007 8:45 PM
I have never been a fan of the window seat; in fact I have been known to avoid it at all costs in favor of the aisle. As luck would have it, I've been assigned to the window on every flight so far. As we flew into Miami, I was mesmerized by all of the lights. It reminded me of an enormous motherboard, all the neatly divided sections, and the buildings that look like capacitors. The night in Miami was an adventure in itself...yay for HOJO (to be read as mild sarcasm) . The highlight of the night was waiting for the "free" shuttle at the terminal with 20 check-in bags and 10 carry-ons and at 11:52 pm, being told via phone that the shuttle is not due to arrive until midnight by the shuttle driver, who is was about 20 feet down the way, just waiting for the clock to strike 12...Comedy! When we flew into Haiti, I think what struck me most were the mountains. Anyone who has read Mr. Kidder's book will recognize the Haitian proverb - Mountains beyond mountains. I always took it to be somewhat metaphorical, like the mountains are the challenges we face in our lives or the hardships we endure and then overcome with hard work and perseverance. But when I saw the mountains, felt their commanding presence, I realized that these are real, tangible mountains that people do physically climb, every day. It sounds so obvious, but it is very daunting to see the mountains beyond when you have not yet climbed the first. Our arrival and not-so-rapid departure from Port-Au-Prince was a lot to process all at once. I am still in the process of processing...We are now at Betty's oasis. I feel like I am staying at the Swiss Family Robinson tree house. We have finally arrived.
Tuesday
Posted Tuesday, February 27, 2007 9:50 AM
It is early in the morning on Tuesday and the cocks are crowing, but that doesn't mean much since they literally crow at all hours of the day...and night. It's been a very powerful experience thus far. I find it hard to write sometimes because it is frustrating when you can't find a key on the keyboard to express Haiti. Yesterday, we got to see the Haitian Health Foundation in all of its glory. There is really good work being done here, and it provided a much-needed reassurance that things can change for the better- especially after our visit to the Sisters of Charity on Sunday. I had never held a baby suffering from Kwashiorkor's before, and I had never seen so many children bombard complete strangers begging to be held. And they were still smiling.
Yesterday was a long day, but very good. We attended the HHF orientation and then took a walk to the hospital proper. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced (like much of the trip thus far). The smell of illness was thick in the air as we wandered around the barley functioning wards. It did not feel like a place of hope and health and that was difficult for me since I have always known hospitals back home to be held to standards of quality and centers of healing. Even hospitals in disrepair that I have seen in America cannot compare to this- We talk of bed making procedures and blood pressure protocols and sterile dressing changes, but all of that seems like luxury here.
The day continued on with an hour long car ride on a roughly forged road through the mountains to a village where we would conduct our first Health education day. All fourteen of us were packed into a land rover, like sardines except probably a little tighter than that. The landscape was beautiful, that of a tropical paradise, with the Grand Anse River following our progress. Small shacks and towns lined the road as we passed. And throngs of children, being released from school, flooded to road with the bright colored uniforms. Each of the many schools had their own unique outfit, designed specially for their program. Haiti is a country of colors, all around, all very bold and bright. Lime greens and bright blues and yellow. Tons of kids, all walking to who knows where.
Ferme
Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2007 10:25 PM
We had been walking for about 20 minutes, up a very rocky road. I chanced a glance back and was met by a mob of little children. They had been let out for recess as we passed the state school along the road and had followed us in our journey to Ferme, all in their bright blue uniforms sure to keep a safe distance. They quieted each other, stifling giggles as they investigated the strange visitors to their remote home in the mountains. But smiles are contagious and pretty soon our silent entourage was transformed into a giddy following.
We walked a little farther and came to another school up the way. It was a private school, Protestant. The children there were also being released for recess and suddenly we were surrounded. So many beautiful, happy children. The school was a single room, a concrete building with wooden beams and very small. Dr. Katie informed us that this would serve as the site for her first interview, and our guides led us back to meet the school director. He was a 27 year old, well spoken Haitian man with very kind eyes. We observed that interview and several more before taking our leave and continuing on through the village.
We stopped next at a small house, a two room shack with a tin roof, and were welcomed by a man and his small son, who hid behind the doorway still sporting his school uniform. The small room was bare save a calendar on the wall and a chalk board. We conducted our third interview of the day, it was a resource assessment trying to determine the level of "buy in" towards a new clinic that Dr. Katie hopes to build on a plot of land known as Gatineau. She travels on foot to 17 remote villages in the mountains above Jeremie, speaking with members of the community about their health concerns and what may come. The clinic will be centered on curative care and promises to bring much needed medical services to 30-40,000 people otherwise cut-off from medical services. Rachel, EmG and I were able to accompany Dr. Katie as she conducted this slew of interviews.
When the interview was done, we were offered fresh coconut milk, straight from the coconut, and fresh boiled eggs. It was the most touching and meaningful show of hospitality I have ever received. I watched the man's son climb the tree and cut down the coconut. They shaved it with a machete and gave us each one to satiate our thirst. It was so refreshing.
We left Dr. Katie to her interviews and were shown around the rest of the village by our guide, Tijan. He pointed out the vegetables and flowers that were grown, the animals that were kept, and the market. We were greeted everywhere we went and did our share of greeting. Finally, we were led back down the road to the larger state school, a concrete and would structure divided into two rooms. The benches had been removed to allow for the large focus group/town meeting Dr. Katie would facilitate to engage the community and get them on board with the project. Children, throngs of children all wearing bright yellow uniforms, refused to leave the school even after dismissed. As we waited for Dr. Katie to arrive, we were invited to sit at the front of the room and ALL of the children sat in front of us, staring intently, waiting for something to happen. They were so cute, just staring at us as if we were aliens. It was a little unnerving.
In an attempt to break the ice, I stood up, pulled out my camera and took a picture. Then, I turned the digital LCD screen around so they could see...that most definitely broke they ice. I was mobbed by giggling, chatty, excited children all wanting to have their picture taken, all wanting to see the screen. It was incredible. Once that was done and we had a mutual understanding of good intentions, we returned to the familiar game of sit and stare, still waiting for Dr. Katie. So, Rachel and I did what any other reasonable aspiring nurses and lovers of the arts would do in a similar situation- we sang Frere Jacques (this song is specially dedicated to my dad!)! And the kids knew it!!! They sang for us, we sang for them, and then we all sang together and it was such a high! So much fun.
When we were done singing, as if on cue, Dr. Katie came walking down the path and everyone was excited because she is well known and seemed to be well liked among the community. The meeting went very well, everyone had insightful things to say and comments to add. One of the clearest messages that came through was the frustration over a legacy of broken promises. I hope, for the sake of all involved, that Dr. Katie and her team are successful with their clinic, because the people are in desperate need.