Haitian Village

We woke up this morning in warm beds surrounded by the things we are accustom to. Yes, we were staying in Atlanta with people we had just met but it was still home, it was still the U.S. Monday was an adventure. So many things happened to each of us in one day that it is hard to tell in words the flood of emotions we experienced.

As I write this blog, I am sitting in a hot room with gnats swarming around my face. We are staying in one of the nicest homes in Haiti and yet there is no air conditioning, the generators allow only certain areas to have power at one time, and the only reprieve is the breeze coming in from the patio.

We arrived at the airport in Atlanta just after 7:30 EST this morning. As we were checking in we were told that due to an embargo only two bags per person would be allowed on the flight to Port au Prince. Liz had been told there was no embargo on the phone prior to the trip; so two of us were planning to pay extra for a third bag. After being told that was not possible we were left with the option of paying for extra weight and cramming the other bags or leaving valuable medication behind. The group quickly concluded leaving medication that could help Haitians was not an option. In the middle of the Atlanta airport we began to cram. We stuffed boxes of ibuprofin, creams, and antibiotics into the bags. After 20 minutes of stuffing and then sitting on the bags to get them closed we had succeeded. Nothing would be left behind except the two empty suitcases.

The flight to Miami was ontime and after a two hour layover we were ready to board our flight to Port au Prince. The flight was delayed a little more than an hour because of a meteorologist for NOAA that failed to board on time. The pilot told us we may not be able to go because there is a Twilight Curfew in Port au Prince. Finally, he informed us that they would be able to land and take-off again before sunset. We were ready for departure. The flight was completely full.

We arrived at the Port au Prince airport just after 4:00 CST. After gathering our belongings we were loaded on the bus to be taken to the main terminal... the only terminal. The temperature was in the 90's and felt like the Quad Cities in the middle of July. The humidity was intense. We waited to go through customs and then joined the hundreds of people trying to claim their bags. Liz found a Haitian who agreed to help us through customs named Pierre. He agreed to ensure that all of our medications would make it safely. After more than an hour we had our 16 bags in tact.

We walked out to find dozens to Haitians arguing over who would take our bags. We had carts so we attempted to tell them we were fine but they helped us anyway. Liz went off to locate our driver and rent our cars. We waited for her on a concrete slab. As soon as she left we were approached by two children. Although, they only spoke Creole they were able to tell us that they were 10 and 12. Our translator informed us that they are "street kids". This term means that they have no parents, have never been to school, and survive by begging people leaving the airport for money. The concrete slab we were sitting on was their bed. Creole resembles both French and Spanish and Shaney was able to speak Spanish to them enough to learn that one of the little boys had lost his mother in the earthquake and his father had left him. Amazingly, he still had a bright smile. His clothes were tattered and he wore female flip flops. It was the first time many of us had ever seen children like this, especially for Shaney, who helps children everyday, it was deeply saddening. For her, it reaffirmed her purpose.

When Liz returned with the trucks to take us to the residence we were scheduled to stay in there was an argument over money. Men who had helped us and men who surrounded us argued with Liz over proper payment. The sun was setting and we knew it was not safe to travel after dark in Port au Prince. We waited in the cars for Liz and Dustin to come to terms with the dozen or so men around them. When she got in the car everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The trip Tabarre took us through one of the most devestated parts of Port au Prince. We saw signs of revival and rebuilding but we also saw rubble and devistation. The U.N. has a huge presence here in Haiti. Their trucks passed by us several times and the compounds, equipped with several armed guards lined the road on which we traveled.

The potholes were so numerous I lost count and when we finally arrived at the compound several of us felt more than a little nauseous. We were welcomed and fed a delightful meal. We will sleep now and as soon as the sun rises we will begin our journey to Grand Bois.

Ouvere,

Rae Chelle