Port au Prince-- getting my bearings?

I feel completely overwhelmed by the enormity of this tragedy. I also feel completely inspired by the way people have rallied to respond and come together in this difficult yet crucial moment. I won't waste time complaining about why it took so long.

First I must say how much better I feel now that I am here. All I could do for the first day was hold everyone so close.

I'm living at one of the Ananda Marga schools in an area called Boudon. The physical building is in good shape, but there is concern for flooding due to its proximity to a stream and lots of broken dams. Most of the Haitians sleep on the ground, away from buildings. Last night we felt some grumbling tremors, totally unnerving since I'm already sleeping very lightly. I'm situated in a tent on the roof where we can get nice breeze.

The other school where we had professional development workshops in the summer has now been converted to a logistics base for AMURT. The schoolyard has become a tented refuge for neighbors that have lost their homes.

Helicopters and airplanes are constantly flying overhead, and we hear that supplies are being delivered in huge quantities. But, there are still so many people without food and water. The large agencies are unable to swiftly distribute the supplies and work with the local community leadership to do it efficiently and sensitively. The doctors that I came with have been seeing as many patients as possible and using the supplies that were donated.

Today I attended two meetings to learn about the scope of educational initiatives and strategies for the short and long term. The first meeting was at UNESCO, and the Ministry of Education came together with several large organizations to begin a conversation about what small on-the-ground NGOs can do. Save the Children and UNICEF have a wealth of resources and are looking to partner with the NGOs that have experience working in Haiti. AMURT has a key role in this since it has a long history of partnering with Haitian communities and developing grassroots projects.

The second meeting was at the United Nations compound for Child Psychosocial Services. We will be receiving coordinated information from several cluster meetings (Education, Child Protection, and Health) to learn how we might write proposals for funding to create nurturing, holistic educational opportunities for children who have lost their homes and families.

Lots of learning going on here.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Chester Bowles, the former US ambassador to India, told a cohort of Peace Corps volunteers during their orientation that they should strive for three things. First and foremost, they should learn a lot from their experience in India--about culture, language, politics, and much more. Second, they should expect to foster greater understanding between peoples of different cultures by exchanging openly and respectfully. After spending two years in India, how could any Peace Corps volunteer not learn and build relationships. Bowles continued with the third possible outcome of a PCV's experience--they might also contribute to the good of humanity. This would be the most challenging.

I am about to return to Haiti, and although I may have grand hopes and plans of meaningfully helping and serving in some small way, I am also keenly aware that I will most likely learn more than I could ever possibly contribute.

I anxiously await touching down on the island, albeit first landing in Dominican Republic, to feel one step closer to Haiti. I can't wait to wrap my arms around my dearest partner, Dharma, and hold my new friends close. I stand in awe and respect of the strength, courage and determination of the people of Haiti and this current test is an opportunity for hopefully a brighter future.

In about 20 minutes, I will land in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where I will meet up with a group of AMURT board members/doctors. Once everyone arrives, we will most likely be taking a 10-hour drive on a truck to the border of Haiti. We will camp the night and get a couple of hours of rest until the border patrol opens at 7am Sunday morning. A tap-tap (the quintessential Haitian mode of transportation) will then transport us and all of our luggage to Port au Prince. (How many people can fit in a tap-tap? "One more!" --Haitian joke) We are all bringing heavy suitcases full of medical supplies, tents, tarps and other equipment to contribute to necessary relief efforts. I must thank the Friends Select School community for donating so many supplies! If all goes well, we will enter Port au Prince by Sunday midday.

Getting Ready

Last Tuesday, a wicked 7.0 earthquake shook Haiti, causing unimaginable loss of life and massive destruction in and around Port au Prince.

I had just returned from a two-week trip to Haiti on January 2nd feeling inspired by, in love of and indebted to a people and land of immense beauty, strength, warmth and diversity.

I first visited Haiti to work on an education project. Last year, a colleague approached me while I was begrudgingly grading Regents exams at International High School (Queens, NY). She had just visited Haiti and wanted to develop a professional training partnership with Haitian teachers. Immediately, I asked, "Can I join you?" The rest is history...

Tonight, after a long week of waiting, worrying, and working, I finally have definitive plans to travel back to Haiti on Saturday. I am starting to prepare myself intellectually, spiritually and physically for this upcoming journey.

I look forward to sharing my experiences, photos and video with you in the coming weeks...