I have been in Haiti for five days now, almost four months since I left and things have changed dramatically. For one, the birth center/clinic is now 100% a birth center, with many midwives, students and community volunteers who take care of the mamas giving birth, women waiting for prenatals/postnatals and well child checks for those 2 years old and younger. There are many more volunteers than I am used to which makes for an interesting time with all the personalities, agendas, passions, schedules etc. I love it. I think there is something fun and interesting about spending time in close quarters with people who you might not otherwise spend time with…kind of like when you are at the dentist and they are digging in your mouth causing you pain but you want to hold out on telling them it’s painful because you are hoping that it will go away soon…it’s a challenge I find myself striving to win but am also very thankful for my IPOD, my friends who live in other locations and my sense of humor. On the flip side, it has been amazing reconnecting with all my Haitian “family” again and I love all of them more than when I left. It has been a trying time for all living and working here at the birth center by shear virtue that we are combining different cultures, ethnicities, religions, personalities and lifestyles.
I had the opportunity to spend the weekend with a friend of mine who lives in Cap which I jumped at. Now I know most of you are thinking that I just got here and what do I need a mini vacation for but then I know that most of you know me well enough to know that I am a big proponent of taking care of yourself and making sure you enjoy every day to the fullest J We went to the beach, out to dinner, hung out by the pool and just had a great time. It was a nice way to start off my trip here, knowing there is so much work to do and that without my ability to be calm, decisive, and humorous I might end up being a very grumpy person…that is the last kind of personality we need around here that is for sure-haha. Anyway, I love to be able to enjoy the luxuries Haiti has to offer as we so often focus on the negatives; the poverty, the despair, the starvation, the illness and the horror that people have to live in situations that are so far beyond their control. I love Haiti and I love Haitians, they are so full of life and heart, I think it is a disservice to the country for me to simply focus on the negatives and the difficulties. I mean, I can make a list that would wrap around this island about the negatives in the US but I would rather remember that we have constant electricity, opportunities to become educated and help others, food, water, toilets, access to medical care (ok this is on both lists) and infrastructure (as corrupt or not as you believe it might be). Perhaps I am just justifying my weekend of play but I think it’s good for the soul and right now, I’m feeling happy, healthy and ready to spend the next six weeks working…well, with the intermittent fun day here and there…I mean, we all know all work and no play makes Zeenia very inefficient…and grumpy.
N’ap pita!
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| Belly Beach near Labadee, Haiti |
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