We had a team travel to Haiti July 23-29, 2010 and various team members wrote journal entries during the trip. Here is the first entry!
DAY 1- Friday
The team found each other at Gate E8 in Miami. Nibbling personal pan pizzas and roll-ups from the concourse kiosk, everyone introduced themselves, shook hands, or hugged. The descent into Haiti brought a hush over our group as we glided over the lacy trim of the coast and the lush green, mountainous interior of the island. Ryan, Anna, and Sarah replaced the awe with giddy excitement over being back which merely infected the rest of us with spirited anticipation.
Zachary greeted us at the airport, gathering our passports and disappearing into the immigration office, only to return and whisk us around the long lines and into the baggage area. Rolling our suitcases behind us, we followed our guide/chauffeur/interpreter to the 15 passenger van. With our luggage stacked and wrapped with tarp on the truck that followed close behind, we marveled at the tent cities, the destruction, the traffic, the hordes of people, the smiles, the waves, and the generally happy attitude of the Haitians.
By the time we pulled up to the Guest House, the sun had set and we marched straight through the house and down the back steps to dinner in the outdoor pavilion by the pool. Pork, fried plantains, achra (?), cucumbers, and broccoli left room only for the snack-sized Snickers that Melanie pulled out for dessert during our debriefing meeting. A visit from 10 month old Judson and his soon-to-be new mother and brother started our time together and primed the pump for our reflections on the day. After a sing-along with the Houston group’s grand finale night and a few run-throughs of our team song – thanks to Amanda and her guitar – we headed to bed. Submitted by Diana Parks
