Haiti’s first impression
Beth Cole and I will be arriving in Haiti April 26h for a two week stay. We will be treating people there for pain and trauma, and hope to find a venue and the logistical framework to provide a training. We are traveling with over 30,000 needles along with other treatment supplies, manuals in English, French and Creole, and personal supplies like a tent, first aid kits, rain gear. We have been fortunate to receive help, guidance and support from friends, family, and colleagues all over the world.
In preparation, I have been reading and watching anything I can find about Haiti, a fascinating country with a rich history. There is an excellent overview of the earthquake’s aftermath and some of the history and evolution of how aid and interference have been applied here at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haiti/ . I’ve downloaded Creole lessons, with the somewhat fantastic idea of becoming conversational in this language to facilitate our work and training. I’ve also downloaded Mountains Beyond Mountains, about Paul Farmer who is the rock star of healthcare applications in Haiti.
When I was returning from Kenya and passing through Miami on my way to the NADA conference, I struck up a conversation with a woman in line behind us. She was just returning from Haiti, and was my first sign that life would soon be taking me in this direction. She spoke about the warmth and beauty of the Haitian people, who have surely suffered more than their fair share in recent and distant history. Her enthusiasm and dedication to her volunteer work at an orphanage there, and obvious love for the Haitian people, has been a common theme of those I’ve met who have been to Haiti, and I look forward to experiencing the reality of being there.