Leaving Haiti was really hard for me because I formed so many great relationships and saying goodbye was really emotional. It was hard for me to say goodbye to the children I formed relationships with all summer, especially those who we took care of on the medika mamba program. Watching the children grow on that program was a such a miracle to witness. I returned to Nazon last Wednesday to measure the current status of the baby who had been sick with a respiratory infection. I was so shocked to see her because of the amount she had grown in that one week was incredible. I think she gained a little more than 2lbs that week. Photos below. Later that day we visited another baby whom we found at one of the recent clinics we put on a couple of weeks ago. He weighed in at around 11lbs and is currently one years old. He was never breast fed as a baby because his mother gave him up to his father in the beginning which in turn resulted in the state he is in today. I really wish I could've stayed to watch him grow. I thought about this while sitting on the plane waiting for it to take flight. I thought about all the reasons why I wanted to stay and all the reasons why I didn't want to go home. I kept hoping something would go wrong with my plane before take off that would force me to stay grounded in Haiti longer. I'm usually excited about the experience of flying but this was the first time I dreaded it.
I sat in a window seat and stared out to try and catch the last glimpses of the land I grew so familiar with for the past three months. I saw Cite Soleil, one of the poorest slums in the Western hemisphere, and thought of the time Andrea, Peter, John and I drove through it while listening to Peters story about a life threatening experience he once had there. I could see in my mind the huge bullet holes on the cement buildings. I could see the tightly packed community in which the people there lived. I wondered about the children living there and became concerned about their health. Medika mamba crossed my mind.
We gained altitude and the plane turned toward the mountainous terrain. I thought about the weekend I had spent in the mountains working at the cholera house. There hasn't been a day where I haven't thought about that experience. I'll never forget it. I can't find the words to describe it all. I remembered all the Haitian staff working with me during those night shifts; Yanic, the one other Haitian nurse who shared half of the load those nights and taught me so much, Angela who followed me from patient to patient to help keep everything clean and helped me chart in creole, and finally Lisha who handed me a magic marker, head light, and pen at the beginning of my stay. I am so thankful for Lisha and her family allowing me to help with their organization, Real Hope For Haiti.
I then looked straight down and found national route one; the road we traveled everyday to everywhere. I spotted out Tree of Life, whom I had just said goodbye to earlier that day. I thought about Martine, the caregiver, Dukenz, Nieka, and all of the beautiful children there who had just sang for me before I finally left for the airport. I started crying and grabbed my camera to look at all the last photos I took with them just a few hours before. I wondered when I would be back and if they would all remember me. I will never forget them.
I was unable to spot the guesthouse in which I stayed but in hopes of finding it I recalled Tipap, Bonel, Seret, Deni, and Ginette; the Haitian staff whom I lived with all summer. I was thankful for everything they did for me and the interns and how welcome they made me feel in their country. We all had our good days and bad days but for the most part we were all working together to do great things this summer. I miss them already.
I followed the rest of national route one to what looked like Luly; the village where we swam with the children in the ocean after surveying, where we were invited into families homes to ask intimate questions about their lives, where we formed close relationships with each other and the translators, and where I had many of my firsts (honey berry, bagged water, voodoo, using a latrine...). I remembered how the children would follow us everywhere and at first called us blancs until they learned our names. I can remember them always coming up to me singing Justin Bieber and that song teach me how to douggie. I secretly wished they would approach me one day singing Lady Gaga after letting them listen to her on my ipod a few days in a row. I remembered Crystal, Alex, and Steph swimming with the children while Andrea and I lounged on the beach trying to communicate with the locals. I can remember Alex and Steven, a local soccer player, working together to make the soccer field more playable and clean. I remembered Derek in his lacoste polo and fedora walking around guiding us to homes to survey and Shaun having the worst job of all, measuring angry children for medika mamba. I recalled all of our scenic trips home from Luly in the back of the ranger viewing the Caribbean to our right, the mountains to our left, and the people and villages in between. One time it started pouring on us on the way home. We were all on a happy high getting soaked, taking photos, eating kenepe, until we passed a tap-tap that had flipped over from the wet roads. We turned the truck around to help. It's something I'll never forget.
I wondered if my friends I had just left looked up and saw my plane fly over them as I was looking down on them in Luly. Andrea crossed my mind. We started this journey together but didn't get to entirely finish it together. I remembered when I first met her and listened to her tell me how much she values relationships and how important she thought they were. I remember you telling me you didn't come to Haiti with a set of skills which was frustrating for you, but I witnessed you with your loving heart and open arms. I didn't understand the value of building relationships until the near end of my trip and that's when I realized Andrea came with the greatest skills of all. She didn't come as a nurse, carpenter, seamstress, or anything like that but she came knowing that relationships are what matters most. She came to Haiti in the right state of mind; loving, understanding, patient, all of the above. I'm thankful to have met such a great person. I learned so much from you. Thank you.
I don't want to leave out the other interns. Alex thank you for taking the time to explain bible verses and just hearing me out on matters of my own. You are very mature and your faith is so inspiring. I appreciated your desire to lead us throughout our time there too. I have never met anyone like you before and I mean that as a good thing. I know I'll be seeing you again...perhaps in the greatest city on earth :).
Crystal. I could relate to you on so many different levels. I think God put us together on this trip for a reason. I didn't think it was possible to meet someone who had the same life I did. I'm so glad to have met you. Your encouraging words and stories have helped me in returning to the States. I miss our runs and obsession for mangos. Thank you.
Stephanie. I feel like you have a great wealth of knowledge in relation to the bible and Jesus in general. I knew I could go to anyone for questions but you always knew what to say at the right time. You never gave up on me and I appreciate that. I admire your passion. I miss our morning runs and you forcing me to hug you.
This isn't farewell. I just wanted to let you all know how much I enjoyed spending my summer with you. Love you guys.
After losing sight of Haiti I turned back in my seat to relax and reminisce about my time there. I wanted to fall asleep and wake up back in Haiti, but I had trouble sleeping. I couldn't believe I was already on a plane back to the States. I've learned the older I get the faster life goes; life really is short. I feel I have gained a greater appreciation for people, places, and things after the experiences I had living in Haiti.
When we landed in Miami I headed toward baggage claim to retrieve my bag for the connecting flights ahead of me. During the walk there I came across a huge sign that read, "All You Need Is Love". I smiled at the sight of it and felt the warm feeling of being back in Haiti again. I had read what was the greatest discovery for me in Haiti this summer. Most people will walk by and not even see it while others will see it and think of the Beatles. I will walk by it and always remember Haiti.
Before Medika Mamba: Maxeline and her mother Rosene
After Medika Mamba. I can't stop smiling.
This is the little boy we found at clinic a couple of weeks ago. He just started the medika mamba program.
Andrea, Rachelle, Me
My boys! Bonel and Roberson
:)
Tree of Life. One last goodbye...
