Last Full Day In Haiti

Hello everyone. Well, it has been a crazy, good, bad, sad, unbelievable 10 days. Sometimes it feels like I got here yesterday and sometimes it feels like I have been here a year.

The emotional roller coaster is the hardest to deal with and it's essential that we keep our emotions in check. If you know me you know that keeping my emotions to myself is a tough one. BUT here I do it well. In one day we saw a birth, 3 deaths, an orphan come in, heard gunshots at night (don't worry I am fine on base), heard the wailing of a grieving parent and then the singing of children. It's up and down and up and down and I wouldn't want to be any where else.

It's hard sometimes to sit out in the "quad" with a cold soda and a cheeseburger having a good chat and knowing that less than 20 yards from you is an isolation tent with a dying patient and 40 yards away is the morgue. It's hard to see but necessary for the volunteers to relax and let off some steam. This is an important element of survival here and that is to bond with others around you.

To help me relax I hold the babies. I have fallen for one in particular. Will post her picture here.

Home soon, so many stories in my head and hope to get them out once back. WOW! Third time, can't believe it.

Hot hot hot today

Well, today was somewhat like sitting in a dry sauna for the entire day. BUT the group I am working with are so terrific and we do have a great time. AND the UN is here tonight to serve hamburgers and hot dogs, beer, soda, and chips. Would it be bad to have both a hamburger AND a hot dog??

So many things have changed around here. One thing I have noticed with each trip after January is the volunteer workers are more relaxed. A lot of parties on the nights that the UN comes to "town". Poker games and little groups of laughter, it's really nice. The only thing is there is no curfew so after 11 I get a little antsy with the noise. So far it's not too bad and it is nice to hear people laughing after seeing people crying in corners and taking a break to put their head down because they are sad. So laughter at night is good.

I went out to the living room area for the first time the other night. It's actually quite cozy. This place is reminding me more and more of a M*A*S*H episode every day.

Not much to report. I cannot believe it is already Wednesday. The time is really flying.

I'll get on tomorrow and try to come up with a story or two.

C

ICE CREAM!!!!!

Today is a hot one! We have been sweltering in the tent all day working on cleaning up and making new procedures, hanging out. Adina the wonderful went to the Quickshop across the road and came back with ICE CREAM! We all grabbed a spoon and enjoyed ourselves YUM!!

It's impossible to describe just how good the ice cream tasted. After 4 days of warm water, no cold anything to eat or drink....yummmmm.

Back in Haiti Day 2

Hello! To quickly catch you up I am back at camp. Lisa and I have our own Shelter Box which is great. Lots of room, we can stand up and move around, privacy....but no room service and no air conditioning.

Last night the wind blew and it was a very cool breeze so sleeping was a delight, esp. after not sleeping more than 3 hours two nights in a row.

I am working in the Logistics Tent which is really just chaos and papers, questions and phone calls. I am on death duty. If someone passes away I have to make sure all the papers are signed and filled out and then make sure the family member signs on the dotted line, then I gather transport, have them suit up and then go get the body. Fortunately I don't have to handle the body or anything just oversee the process. Got up before dawn this morning and stepped in to the Log Tent at 6:10. I was approached immediately regarding two infants that died in the night. Awful!

Not a great way to start the day at 6am or any other time.

After arriving here the last 2 times and the registration being a mess I took control. Registration for the new volunteers isn't really structured to get everyone in quickly and pain free so I put in place how I think it should go and we'll test it out tomorrow morning. Everything will work and it will be good. I just think after having to be in line at MIA at 4 in the morning and then waiting and then plane ride, and customs and the ride to camp that you need to arrive to some smiling people who have their act together. I will let you know how it goes.

Got to hold a preemie today named Vincent. He curled up on my chest, put his cheek on my shoulder and fell asleep.

So CUTE!!! I am going to go back in there tonight and hold him again. What a love!

Bye!

melt down in 5,4,3,2,1

I had a melt down. It took almost 2 weeks this time for me to lose it but it finally happened. After my first trip to Haiti the melt down happened within 24 hours of coming home, this time it it took longer but it was harder to process what went on in camp. I yelled and I screamed and Jim was sitting there listening to me. After I sobbed and sobbed and shook until I was done, I sat down and started working on what CAN be done and tried to table my thoughts on what ISN'T being done. I want to start a Foundation. Three other beautiful women and I have talked about it and we're going to do it! It is going to be a foundation that is an advocate for those in need, a foundation that will help others who want to volunteer to be able to afford to volunteer. I don't know if most people understand that to be a volunteer requires more than time it requires more than putting your life on hold it requires money and a lot of it. There are airline tickets, packing supplies, food supplies, transportation, it all adds up. We want to help and this is our way of being able to help.

Sunday 14 March
This afternoon I received a text message from Jordan (our Haitian interpreter and friend)and here's what it said:
"My dear friend Christine. I don't know which word to use in other to explain to you how do I feel since you left Haiti, apologize me for taking too long to write you. I don't know what happens to your e-mail, I can't find you. Please let me know if you find this message. I love you with all my breath. Jordan"

Who can resist this? I cry now writing this because this makes me feel like I made just a little difference in someones life. That's what going down to Haiti is all about, making things a little better for the people. It's what individuals can do - it's tangible.

I get up in the morning and I pull the covers over my head for a while and cuddle with the kitties, I make myself breakfast (after looking at all of my choices) then I choose what clothes to put on, I walk out and get in to my car and do my thing. BH (Before Haiti) I took these things for granted AH (After Haiti) I do not. I am thankful for every breath, for every morsel of food, for every hug from a friend. I think about how easy it seemed to ease in to life at the camp like I've done it all my life.

It was easy to suck it up there! Hot sun, sweaty, hungry, smelly porta-potties, the smell of wounds, and death and vomit. It is sad to see the nurses and doctors cry but good to know the compassion is there. I can't explain how the people and the children with their smiles and their thank you's just make my heart full.

I have spoken to people that I was with in Haiti and we all agree on one thing; Haiti changed us.
Working in Haiti made me a different person. Working in Haiti taught me that I can do anything and I mean anything! Like I said it's easy to just suck it up and do it or to quote my friend Michelle, "Haiti feeds me."

Bonswa! Komon ou ye?

Oh yes, I am trying to learn some Creole. While in Haiti I worked in the Wound Care Tent (are you tired of hearing that yet?) and I learned to say a few phrases so that I didn't need an interpreter for the easy stuff. I can say hello, where are your papers, are you OK, sit down over there, are you hungry, stay well, and good-bye.

For tonight's blog I want to start at the end of my journey to Haiti.
And I want to tell you about Jordon. Jordon was our interpreter for the WC Tent and he was great. The commute to work from his home takes 1 and a half hours each way. He worked 10-12 hours a day. He was on time every day, looked nice, was polite and worked hard. The first day he came to the camp not knowing if there would be a job for him but came any way because he wanted to work. He was hired that afternoon.

There are no days off when working in Haiti right now. It's a 7 day a week go as fast as you can kind of pace but we did get a "break" the Sunday I was there. Of the 22 people tick marked on our date list to come in only 11 showed up for care. We knew this was because it was Sunday and church day and we also knew we'd get slammed come Monday. So we took our rest when we could and were able to sit and spend some time really getting to know each other.

Jordon has a mom, sister and a daughter. Their house was badly damaged in the earthquake. They are living outside on their street in a lean-to which they share with the neighbors. They are able to store things in the house and go in to get them but only one at a time and there is always someone waiting and watching from the outside in case the house caves in even more. They need to find shelter before the rainy season. I asked him where they sleep and he said, On the ground. I ask what they do when it rains he said, We stand up.

Before the earthquake Jordon was a Science teacher and he taught computer classes. He hopes the schools will open soon, some how, some way.

That evening the WC team talked about how we wanted to help Jordon. We decided to give him everything we had left over from our own supplies. Chuck "the wound care guy" had a large empty suitcase and we all brought things and filled the suit case and more. Blankets, sleeping bags, food, water, t-shirts, toiletries, the list goes on.

The crew kept a list of what was given and I went to the Logistics tent and asked Tamara to write a letter on the camp letterhead so he could take everything out of camp passed the guards. Petty theft is a problem so we wanted to go through the right channels. Big Tom, a wonderful Dr. and man gave Jordon enough money to take a cab all the way home without transferring and walking with the suitcase and bag. The fear is he would get mugged for his goods.

Jordon was so happy he cried. He hugged each of us over and over and was shaking a bit when he talked. He was so grateful for a bar of soap and a blanket!

Most of our group was leaving on Monday night and all day long Jordon kept saying, I am just not sure how I am going to feel tomorrow when I come in to camp. We felt the same way about leaving.

That night when it was time for him to go he asked me if I would walk with him to the gate and passed the guards. Before we left the tent I asked him to tell me something he really needs besides the things in the suitcase. I told him I knew he needed a tent but what else? He looked at the suitcase full of things we all put in there and he started to cry. He was so happy that his family will have some basics for a while. Then he said, Do you think your tennis shoes will fit me? I took my shoes off and he tried them on and they fit! (I've never been happy about having big feet until that moment). I hope he is able to wear them and be comfortable or to give them to someone else who needs them.

I walked Jordon and Mario (that's us in the picture, me, Mario and Jordon on the right) to the gate. We showed the guard the letter, etc. I gave them both big hugs and said goodbye (my flight was leaving that night...but didn't, more later) and Jordon kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, You'll forever be in my heart. Needless to say I was once again glad for my big Jackie-O sunglasses! I cried walking back to my tent.

They need so much help there. They need tents and tarps and sheets and blankets. I am asking you readers to help me get those items or help with monetary donations and I will buy them myself. I will work on getting them there. I want to "adopt" Jordon's family. I want everyone who helps to know exactly where their donation is going. I will send updates and photos and follow his story. Please write me with ideas and thoughts.

Mesi,
Christine

I'm Baaaacccckkkk!

Hello everyone! I am back from Haiti and New York City. I have stories from each place and lots of pictures.

I had a great time in New York, met with some great people, went to a couple of seminars and visited an exhibit hall. I was able to spend a lot time with my friend's Peter and David. Thanks for the celebrity sighting boys!

New York was good but I have to admit that my heart and my mind are still in Haiti. I would like to go back again but will need some help financially so if anyone has ideas on churches, companies or groups that would like me to give a presentation on Haiti and how we can all help please let me know.

I am trying very hard to get some work. If anyone knows of anything in the meetings industry, on site operations, group travel, incentives, etc. let me know. I am working on a contract basis and hoping to fill up the calendar. Let me know any ideas you have or contacts I can call.

I am sorry if this sounds like a commercial for me getting work but it's important for me to make something of my company and make this dream of mine a reality. Going to Haiti has given me an even clearer picture of what I want Jett Events to become. More on that later.

I do hope to get back to Haiti and hope to talk Jim in to going with me.

Here are two pictures: one of Haiti and one of New York City...what a difference a day (and 1532 miles) makes.