As I lay awake last night trying to fall asleep, I couldn't help but have a heavy heart as I listened to the rain pitter patter on my roof. This past week while I was in Haiti, the rainy season began. At first, it's a welcome relief to the stifling heat and humidity and then you realize how many thousands of families are lying in dirty puddles of rainwater and trash beneath their tarps in a tent city.
There are so many thoughts and images that I have to share with you all. I decided to create a blog post for each day that I was in Haiti, so today is day 1-the day that we landed in Port au Prince and met our medical team. I cannot say enough about our team...I was able to photograph, document and work with some of the most talented doctors, nurses and surgeons, ever. I didn't expect to come away with so much medical knowledge and I also didn't expect to come away with some amazing relationships. By day two, we all became fast friends and were in them midst of learning each others' life stories...because, well, that happens when you're out of your comfort zone in a third world country.
Several people have approached me asking how they can help in any way with Haiti...and the first thing that comes to my mind is TENTS! Haitians need tents. Most of the tent cities are composed of sticks in the ground with tarp or a bed sheet stretched across the top. The group I flew to Haiti with, New Reality International, is coordinating more trips to Haiti and they are more than happy to take as many tents as they can. Also, another quick thing you can do to help Haiti is to donate your old eye glasses. Feel free to contact me for my mailing address...just send them on. So many of us wear contacts and/or eye glasses and it seems like such a basic necessity...a basic necessity that most Haitians do not have. It's been exactly three months today since the earthquake and I can assure you that the Haitians are not receiving the care that they should be...so please consider asking for donations, such as tents, tylenol and basic humanitarian needs such as soap and toothpaste.
Over the next week, I plan on sharing about eight blog posts for each day, but I will have most of the images on my Haiti website in the next week, so be sure to check there as well for images not posted on my blog.
Thank you again for visiting-
Right after we landed in Port au Prince, we all scrambled for our medicine-laden suitcases...
Haitian police...you really don't want to mess with them!
A snapshot of a street vendor on our wild bus ride to Fonds Parisien
One of the first of several tent cities we saw between Port au Prince and Fonds Parisien
Haiti is a very beautiful country-a bit rough around the edges, but could really become a great caribbean tourist destination one day.
All this young man needed was to have someone to listen to his story. He was an Accounting student in college and his college was destroyed during the earthquake. He has such a passion for learning that I have never seen despite my infamous foray into several different majors. I was impressed with his fluency in English, French, Spanish and Creole and was brought to tears when he said to me, "Knowledge is power...I study everyday, I find something to read everyday."
Patrick was one of the Haitian doctors at the clinic...I think it's safe to say that he learned a lot from our North American medical team and we learned a lot from him...
I know that every single one of us is guilty for complaining about waiting to see a doctor while we're crunched for time during our lunch break or in between soccer practices...but can you imagine waking at 3am to walk two hours to the nearest clinic to then wait until 2-3pm in the afternoon to see a doctor? I used to think waiting rooms and doctors offices were so ugly and bland, but after seeing this, I've changed my mind.
It was not uncommon to see clothes and shoes strewn about yards and piles of rocks...
Please CLICK HERE for a quick slideshow...there are several more blog posts and slideshows to come.
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Comments
It is a sad situation, but I love how you have captured the beautiful spirit in the people of Haiti.
(04.12.10 @ 05:06 PM)Your slide show is absolutley beautiful.........thank you so much for the moving stories you are telling about the Haitian people through your blog.
(04.12.10 @ 07:10 PM)Excellent, powerful slideshow. Looking at these images helps me to process a rocky re-entry into our lives here in the US. It is hard to fathom that we all live on the same planet.
(04.12.10 @ 11:21 PM)what beautiful photography whitney! and your words are just as beautiful. looking forward to seeing more from the trip. such an experience. thank you for sharing.
(04.13.10 @ 05:15 AM)WOW! Beautiful photos Whitney!! I'm excited to follow your journey!
(04.13.10 @ 08:08 AM)As i'm concern about my Haiti. After an Heavy natural disaster It's become back dated. And bearing unmeasurable sufferings. Still now it's facing crisis from all sides, created from the Earth Quake as well as by nature. But It's time to change the day, So request all of you to come forward to make tha days ahead distinctly.
(10.27.10 @ 08:55 AM)I think at this moment HAITI really needs help to be rebuild.Outgoing Haitian President René Préval has set the presidential elections for Nov. 28, 2010.
According to ma justification,
In Election 2010 Haiti Presidentr Baker should be under consideration as a deserving personality,
who can supply the best support and leadership
Thank you.