Healing Hands

The group that I will be going to Haiti with is called Healing Hands for Haiti. You can read about it here. Specifically, I am going with the Portland group, led by Gail, an acute rehab center nurse (who is tireless, by the way).

For those of you that do not know much about Haiti you can read this.

And for those of you not faint of heart or mind you can read about the plight of the children of Haiti here, but be warned, it is not a pretty picture.

It is my belief that with travel comes a greater appreciation and knowledge of culture, human experience, and the interdependence of all things. I do not go to be a passive observer, but to be an active learner. I don't think that we should shy away from places that are vastly different than our own, rather we should seek them out and continually question our own comfortable existence. The United States has greatly contributed to the problems that plague Haiti and the Haitian people and, although I do not deceive myself by thinking a two week trip can make a difference, hopefully my journey will influence my way of thinking, make me appreciate all the white, class privilege I have simply by the accident of my birth and allow me to share my stories with you.

It's not too late folks...

I have amazing friends.  Many of my friends have donated goods for me to take to Haiti.  I have a spare room filled with clothes, shoes, toys, bibs, blankets, and hats to take to the orphanages while I am there.

If any of you are still interested in sending or giving me items there is still plenty of time!  I don't leave for Haiti until February 11th.  Here is a list of the items that have been requested since Gail, our team leader when down to Haiti:

Children's Medicine:

Aspirin

Cold Medicine

Vitamins

Benadryl

Antacids

Vitamin C

Adult Multi Vitamins

Hand Sanitizer

One Touch Glucose Monitor Strips

Toothbrushes

Travel Sized Soaps, Shampoo

Latex Gloves of all sizes

Trust me, no amount is too small!

Have to start somewhere.

I have debated for many years as to whether or not to start a blog.  It seems like such brain vomit, egotistical to think that anyone would want to read what I have to say.  Seriously, I don't even like living in my head most of the time.  However, now that the opportunity has presented itself to go on a humanitarian trip to Haiti, I thought it would be easier to post a blog about what I'll be doing while I'm there than for me to send various emails to several people that I think/hope will want to know what I'm up to while I am there.  

And what will I be up to while I'm there?  We will be dividing our time between clinics and orphanages.  The team I'm going with consists of physical and occupational therapists, nurses, doctors, and 2 social workers.  We will all be teaching some sort of class, the other social worker and I will be teaching play and art therapy to care providers at one of the orphanages.  I'm going to have to brush up on my Creole (read:  actually learn Creole) in an effort to be able to communicate even the littlest bit with the folks we will be meeting there.  

We will also be going to Carnival in Jacmel for a few days.  I was hesitant to go on that excursion because really I wanted to be down there to hang out with kids and volunteer, but the group leader talked me into it.  I believe "It will be a great experience" was said more than once.  There will also be some beach time.  The weather has been in the high 80's/low 90's so it will be a welcome reprieve from the cold and rain in my beloved Portland.

My only concern:  shortly after arriving in Haiti we received an email from Gail, our team leader, describing a bug that was so big she couldn't kill it.  Hmmm...