Wow. I’ve been bad with my updates from Haiti even though I know there are a lot of people interested in what’s going on here. Sorry! It’s easy for the days blur into each other and I can’t believe I’ve been here a month. It’s crazy how fast time is flying by.
When I think back to what I’ve done in the past month I think of rubble. Shoveling, wheelbarrowing and sledge hammering endless amounts of rubble. The different sites I’ve worked on blend into one dusty, sweaty, dangerous mess of tangled rebar, toppled walls and smashed up cinder blocks. I wish I could explain how physically demanding the work we do here actually is but it’s impossible. Entire concrete roofs need to be sledge hammered piece by piece. Slabs where houses once stood will be shoveled clear of rubble piled higher than our heads. Then it needs to be put into a wheelbarrow and pushed over rough terrain and up mountains of more rubble over and over again.
The heat is unbearable and there’s no shade or clouds in the sky. People here work harder than any I’ve seen through some pretty gory injuries that never seem to heal and who knows what kind of scary dusty shit we’re breathing in. Ahh… but it’s so great.
I remember how apprehensive I was about returning to Haiti after such a massive disaster. Maybe I was afraid I would find a city without hope, I don’t know. What I have seen is completely the opposite… at least from an outsider with severely limited Creole speaking abilities. One thing I am sure of is how receptive Leogane has been to the work we’ve been doing. People stop me to tell me how appreciative they are and plenty of other volunteers have relayed stories of locals saying thanks with tears in their eyes.
I harp on and on about my experiences volunteering with HODR and especially in Haiti. Today I read a post on their website from a volunteer named Bruce which gives a different sort of take on what volunteering here has meant to him. I wanted to share his thoughts on volunteering in Haiti because he’s really speaking from his heart and I love what he has to say.
I’m having a fantastic time and even though I am due to take my 30-day break, I’m not cranky like I usually am. I’m learning more and more Creole each day and making friends in the community. We even have the guy who wrote the Lonely Planet for Haiti volunteering with us at the moment (follow him on Twitter) so it’ll be great to see what his experience is like and to pick his brain about Haiti.
One more thing! If anyone lives in or around London and wants to meet some great people and support Haiti at the same time, check out HODR’s Cocktails, Canapes and Concert event in Soho.
That’s all from me. I should be spending three days next week on holiday somewhere, hopefully with a net connection, hamburgers and icey cocktails. I will catch up on updates and speak to you all again soon.
Awesome work your doing! Totally understand why you can’t update much. It’s great when hard work can be rewarding and enjoyable too. Enjoy your holiday.
Good for you, Kirsty. I can’t imagine what the people there must be going through. Keep up the good work and enjoy some time off.
: )) Great update Kristy. All the volunteers in the photograph look happy, i think thats the most important thing!
Good to see you are doing well, Looks like you guys are making a huge impact keep up the good work…
when yesterday they could care less about haiti, but disasters do bring about political opportunities and agendas, i’m only interested in just helping them, not demonizing them like pat robertson, not liberating them like george w. bush, The red cross would be a good place to donate, but make sure the funds are designated for the haitian relief fund, watch for scams.
it is awesome what you are doing! if could live from my online earnings I would also go around and help..
It must be very rewarding to get thanks directly from some of the people you are helping. I’m sure many other want to thank you, but just cannot put it into words. You really do a great job of putting others ahead of yourself with all your hard work and sacrifice.
It is remarkable you volunteer your time and still try to blog! Also, it is refreshing to hear someone tell you of the hope in Haiti. Rather than just being negative, you are doing something about it, very admirable.
A major bravo for what you are doing.
Just found your blog for the first time. How admirable that you have been helping with the relief efforts in Haiti. That sounds like really hard work, but kudos to you for stepping up to the challenge!
Kirsty, that’s really great that you’ve been able to help the people out in Haiti, we need more people like you in this world thats for sure. There just aren’t enough to go around, with all the greed in the world, and selfishness.
I am so thrilled that you and the other bloggers have found this way to give. It really touches my heart!
Do you have any idea when you will be ready to move in on the ground level and get started with surveying the state of the reefs? As a Divermaster who worked on RC Transect Lines in the MPA around Cayos Cochinos, Honduras, I would love to help out again in Haiti. Please let me know when I can sign up!
How admirable that you have been helping with the relief efforts in Haiti.
What is even more troubling is the fact that rebuilding will not restore Haiti to its pre-earthquake state. It will be reconstructed according to plans drawn up by these shady multinationals with connections to US govt., IMF and world bank. What happened after the asian tsunami in south asia will happen again in Haiti. The biggest losers would be the average Haitians.