It's like groundhog day...(stolen from Michele)

It is with sadness that I am writing the following sentence: "our trip to Haiti is postponed by a week".

After many discussions and a close eye on the trajectory of hurricane Tomas, it was decided that it was in the best interest of all involved that we should postpone our trip by a week.


I know for me this is an inconvenience (and disappointment) but I'm conscious of the safety of my team.  I am also very conscious of the fact that what is a disappointment for me, is minute in comparison to those living in tents and under tarps tied to sticks and sleeping on the ground who will be affected by hurricane Tomas.


My hopes of all hopes is that the hurricane takes a sharp turn to the left or south or east... anywhere but north...  The truth is that Haiti will be affected by this hurricane, let's just hope it's not a direct hit. 


The sleeps countdown is reset to 9 sleeps...


Kembe fem zanmi'm kembe fem!


 

We're on a holding pattern!

I must say, I really have a great team put together to go to Haiti.  We are officially on a holding pattern awaiting to see what Hurricane Tomas does.

We will literally only know hours leading up to our departure if the trip is on or not... We are keeping a close eye on the trajectory of Hurricane Tomas and Air Canada travel advisories.  So far, AC has not put up travel advisories for Haiti.

I was chatting with my friend Christophe in Jacmel this morning, and he says that people are already starting to panic.  Understandably so...for us, it's a mere inconvenience, for Haitians, it means yet another natural disaster to live through and when your home is a tent, and your bed is the ground...well, it scares and saddens me!

I WILL be going to Haiti, it's just a matter of when!

Fingers crossed and prayers to all of the gods that Tomas will fizzle out before approaching Haiti!

Kembe fem zanmi'm kembe fem!

Hurricane Tomas

You've GOT to be kidding me!!!! This being my first time leading a team to Haiti - I'm certainly being put to the test!!!

First was our missed opportunity to get Air Transat flights at $269... then there was the Cholera outbreak, followed by our wheelchairs and other equipment that we need for Ile-à-Vache being held hostage at Haiti airport... now just to make things exciting, Hurricane Tomas should be a category 2 just about when we're supposed to be landing in Port-au-Prince!!! LOL - seriously??? I mean come on!!!

How much can my old ticker take???  Not to mention Haitians SOOOOO not needing to have yet another disaster on their hands!!!


I'm hoping hoping hoping with every fiber of my being that the hurricane will decide to die down and it won't be a problem. 


I know things are as they're supposed to be - but it doesn't mean I have to like it!!!


As it stands now, things are still a go... fingers and everything else that can be crossed are crossed - praying to the vodoo gods and every other god isn't out of the question either...


In the meantime - I must try to pack!!!! Always a challenge!!!


Kembe fem!!!

This is Haiti!

This is Haiti (TIH) - my friend Gail's favorite saying... 

I must say I'm not really liking this part of the trip planning as much!  All of our equipment, wheelchairs, supplies have arrived safely in Haiti - as scheduled on Tuesday's flight.  Gail has now been to the airport 2 days in a row trying to get the said equipment, wheelchairs and supplies out of the airport. 

Unfortunately - Haitian bureaucracy is alive and well... a gazillion offices, people and papers signed, seen and gone to... even physically touching the stuff - and yet - the stuff remains at the airport.

Now there is question as to whether or not we will even get it before we leave for Ile-a-Vache.  Which is rather unfortunate, because a big portion of our work was going to be wheelchairs.

So - we wait and see what tomorrow brings - hopefully all the stars, moons and planets will align so that we are able to get our equipment and supplies out of there before we arrive so we can do our work.

5 sleeps - that's all that's left - 5 sleeps...Please Vodoo Gods - Please let us get our things so we can do our work!!!!

Stay tuned....

Bon Bagay!

Tough weekend for Haitians!

It was a tough weekend for Haitian living in the St. Marc area.  At least 250 people were killed by Cholera this weekend and thousands were infected.  Fortunately, many supplies were sent to the area along with workers to help distribute clean water, and provide treatment.  Hopefully this will help contain the situation.  It will not, however, fix the problem.  Fresh drinking water, sewage systems and real housing are needed for the problem to be fixed.  Haitians were sent text messages this weekend explaining what Cholera is and how it can be prevented.  Haitian cell phone system is amazing!

St. Marc is minutes from where we go for our R&R weekends at Club Indigo.  Here you can find one of the prettiest beaches and sunsets you will ever witness.

I got 500lbs of equipment and supplies shipped with AC Cargo yesterday!  Very happy that it will be there when we get there next week.  I'll be able to distribute hygiene kits and school supplies to kids and people in need.  

Got all the business cards & name tags done for my team, got my bags packed - I'm sure I'm over 50lbs per bag... will have to go through them again!

Next big challenge - MY personal packing!!! Give me strength!!! I'm the worst packer EVER!!! 

8 more sleeps!!!

Bon Bagay! 

Cholera Outbreak in Haiti

Unfortunately, 9 months after the horrible earthquake that occurred on January 12th, 2010, Haiti has been hit with a Cholera outbreak! This is one of the things we've been worried about since the earthquake with people living in tent cities, with no clean water, no place to put human waste.
As of noon today, 140 people had died and 1500 were infected.  Haiti did not need this!

Cholera is a waterborne disease, which if not treated can be deadly in a very short period of time.  Fortunately, the treatment is as simple as re-hydration salts and/or IV fluids to re-hydrate.  In Canada this isn't a huge deal, in a place like Haiti - where all of the infrastructure was destroyed during the earthquake, it means there are many deaths!

I started my Cholera vaccine today - yummy!  Although, the places where we stay all have filtered and bottled water and cook their food well.  It's all about hand hygiene... must stock up on Purell!

11 sleeps and we'll be in Haiti! I'm really looking forward to seeing all my friends again and making new friends.  I'm also looking forward to doing some work with the kiddos! 

Bon Bagay!

13 sleeps!!!

Two weeks from today we will be in Haiti and on our way to Ile-à-Vache to work at the Orphelinat St. François, another team heading off to Cap Haitien to work at the Justinien and one person staying in Port-au-Prince to work at St. Vincent's.  I'm very much looking forward to being there again!

This past weekend, I was in Pictou Nova Scotia to witness my Life Saver - Melissa - get married!  It was a beautiful wedding and she looked absolutely giddy with happiness.  She sure cleans up nice! (Us Haiti people are used to seeing each other in Haiti where we are constantly sweaty and dressed very casually).  Unfortunately since the girl was getting married, she won't be coming to Haiti this time! It'll be weird not to have my Life Saver with me!  Hopefully I won't need a lifesaver this year - the plan is to stay at least 5 feet away from the edge of cliffs when taking pictures.! :-)

I must say, being a Team Leader and organizing a trip to Haiti has been a really good experience!  A lot of work - but a really good experience!  I get to see the other side of what is involved with bringing a team down to Haiti.  I'm very grateful to have gotten this opportunity!

13 sleeps...wow... better get that 2nd bag packed and my snacks bought... I've got my anti-"everything" stocked up... at least that's done!  Now if only this cold would leave me for good!

Bon Bagay!

18 Days to go...

Seriously, where does the time go??? 18 days from now (not that I'm counting) we will be in Haiti.

We had our team teleconference on Wednesday and it was great to hear everyone's voices.  I think we have a really great team going down this November and I feel that much work will be accomplished.

I've got one 50lb hockey bag filled with educational toys and hygiene kits... my other 50lb bag will soon be full as well.  So many things to bring... wish I had more room!  One of our team members, Liz, was able to secure getting all of the wheelchairs and other equipment to Haiti via Air Canada Air Cargo.  This is very exciting, because it allows us to bring even more things in our checked bags that would've otherwise had to wait for another trip.

My friend Michele is having a fundraiser in White Rock BC tonight at the Slainte by the Pier at 7pm.  I'm hoping that it will be a success.  Fundraising is a lot of work and one always hopes that the efforts that have been put in to making such an event a success actually is.  Good luck Michele!

M'ap konten anpil we zanmi'm lor vini en Ayiti!!! (that was my Kreyol lesson yesterday)

Bon bagay!

October 2nd, 2010

Well, time is flying by!!! Where does it go?

A little over 4 weeks to go before we head down to Haiti.  Since my last post, lots has been happening... I am honored to say that TCHH has asked me to be a Member of the Board! It became official on October 27th. I hope I am able to perform my role well! I'm certainly excited and appreciative of being nominated.

Planning a trip is never without a few glitches!  Unfortunately, we were not able to get flights with Air Transat at the fabulous rate of  $279 return... so... back to the drawing board I went on Thursday.  We will be leaving on November 2nd and returning on November 16th. Which actually works out better, because we'll be able to get one more work day into the schedule!


One of my fellow teammates and Board Member Liz was able to organize to get all of the MANY wheelchairs to Haiti with Air Canada Cargo.  Hopefully this will go smoothly!  This also means that some much envied hockey bags have become available to bring other supplies.


Our team is looking great and I'm very excited about the upcoming trip.
One team will be going to Ile-a-Vache to work at Orphelinat St.François and Jacmel at Pazapa, 2 people will be going to Cap Haitien at a Rehab hospital, one person will stay in Port-au-Prince to work at St. Vincent at the school for the deaf and one person will be at Les Cayes working at the P&O shop. Part of the group will leave after the first week and one or 2 people will return to Port-au-Prince to work at Wings.


I think it will be a very productive two weeks!!!


Mwen ta remen manje banann peze e pikilz e acra!!! Can't wait!!!


Bon Bagay!