O'Kap!!!

Hello, at last, from Cap Haitien. Internet is incredibly slow, so hopefully this will post. Went to National Red Cross lab! More when I can. All is well.

Safe in Port au Prince!

The Executive Director and I have arrived safely in Haiti, and are being showered with hospitality. A pediatrician who used to work at the hospital we work with in Cap Haitien was on our flight. The welcome he and his family have shown us is almost embarrassing, because it is so wonderful, complete, and over the top.

It is 7:30 pm here, and I am almost ready to sleep after a delicious home-cooked meal (with ripe avocado so rich and sweet it was like dessert), blanketed by this steamy warmth, in a spacious home. So cozy and luxurious. I even have my own bathroom! It definitely is apparent that we are in the home of three successful doctors...

The pediatrician was stuck in the airport along with us for six hours, and I was able to interview him ad nauseum re: blood transfusion at "our" hospital. So work has been done already!

My professional acquaintance from Boston was on our plane from Miami. Our gracious host knew more than seven of our fellow passengers. One of them was his cousin. The world has definitely never felt so small.

The roads are as they say; big holes, three vehicles squeezing through one lane, taptaps (all brightly painted and boasting proclamations about Jesus) overflowing with passengers. There is a curious order to it all, nonetheless. Any time a driver makes a precarious move, he or she honks repeatedly until the move has been carried out. The other cars, mopeds and taptaps all miraculously compensate. I am glad that I am to mostly walk and not ride for the rest of my trip, though.

There is a possibility that I will get to see the central blood testing facility thanks to our extended time in PaP! Tomorrow we shall see.

There is not much power in Cap Haitien, but I will post and/or call when I can.

I hope you all are well.

Love,
B

Miami

Safely in Miami, met up with the director of my org. Off to Port Au Prince in the a.m.!

And I am Haiti-bound(?)

So I am to leave for Haiti this morning, at long last. Unfortunately, my traveling companion (the Executive Director for the organization I'm working with) was pulled off his plane because they needed his seat. Now I am in limbo, as I can't get on my flight, because I clearly can't travel to Port Au Prince solo. We shall see how this sorts itself out.

My nerves have been uncharacteristically calm leading up to today. I am nervous, as any sane and informed person should be, but to a very healthy extent. I even got sleep and everything.

I have avoided sending out a mass plea for financial help with this trip (which, aside from the generous $400 contribution from the Ken James Fund, is almost entirely self-funded).

I will be in Cap Haitien from (hopefully) September 29 until October 18. I will update this blog from there if electricity and internet access allow.

I'm so excited!