So, how was Haiti?
During the last seven days I enjoyed conversations that opened doors, and at night I watched the gates to the guest house lock a part of Haiti out in order to keep us safely inside.
From inside the walls of the guest houses I could hear the loud music, animated discussion and constant backdrop of horns honking and dogs barking. I wondered where the people I met earlier in the day were and what they were doing, and while it was well advised to stay behind the barrier, it served as yet another reminder that I’m still far removed from many of the realities of life here.
It was a good trip. But good doesn’t mean easy, and this is the first time I’ve decided to write about Haiti while everything is still so close. I’ve rewritten this post at least 10 times now and the only piece that remains intact (read: undeleted) is this:
In order to stay involved in Haiti, it’s going to mean weathering the moments of frustration and alienation in order to continue to realize more moments of exchange and growth, holding out for each opportunity to begin new relationships and strengthen old ones.
Thank you to all of the people who shared some of their time with us over this last week, because there in lies the real value of this trip, and my motivation to keep sharing moving forward. N ap pale byento.
by Erin Nguyen on January 16, 2015