I knew as soon as I stepped out of the airport into the wave of appalling heat combined with the familiar stench of burning trash that I wasn’t going to be able to get Haiti out of my system on this trip. That was my goal – to visit for a short time, do a bit of volunteering with All Hands (the organisation I’ve worked with here on two other occasions) and hopefully put Haiti behind me and look forward to all of the amazing places I want to visit in Africa.
But it’s had the opposite effect. Not only have I been completely sucked back into the wonders of Haiti, I can also feel myself slowly being sucked back into chasing disasters around. I was chatting with the communications guy for All Hands and he mentioned they’d be hiring a communications/blogging type to liaise with him when he heads back to the US and suggested I consider it. I was immediately torn, even though I know how much I love being in Rwanda. Then I checked to see about volunteering with them in Japan, but it looks like there’s a huge waiting list which is sort of a relief because I’m sure I’d be making plans to go.
It’s slightly disconcerting because I really feel like I want to stay in one place and have a semi ‘normal’ existence… at least for a few more months! Rwanda doesn’t speak to me in quite the same way as Haiti, but I do love it a lot and it’s a lot more feasible a place to think about living in the long term. This project in Haiti should be coming to a close at the end of the year. So, while I’m almost 100% that I’ll head back to Rwanda and have a nice, quiet-ish life there for the next little while, it has thrown some familiar questions back in my face about what I really want. I wish I could be in about three places at once! Is that so much to ask?
But back to reality. I’m in Leogane and have been sledge hammering and shoveling rubble for the past couple of days. It feels so good to be physically active again after 3 weeks of eating crap in the UK and NYC and I’m loving the uncomfortable heat and sweat. There’s something so satisfying about being filthy and completely exhausted after a day of work and I love it.
I’m also making some pretty good leaps in my attempt to learn French. I’ve picked up the Michel Thomas tapes and they’re actually pretty amazing. Plus I have a lot of local Haitian friends who are here from Gonaives (where I volunteered in 2008/09) and plenty of new friends who are keep to chat. I find the French spoken here pretty easy to understand so here’s hoping I can improve a bit while I’m here.
And above all else, it’s been great to see some old friends. My Haitian friend Djemson is now working for All Hands in a fairly senior role which is so good to see. He’s a great guy and this paying role is something he deserves and he’s doing a great job. Some of my other friends are here as volunteers and it’s been really cool to see them taking on leadership roles and to see how much they’ve matured. Then there’s the occasional international volunteer kicking around who I’ve been lucky to get to catch up with.
So I’m on day two and it’s been just as good as I remembered it. I am, however, still very much looking forward to getting back ‘home’ to Rwanda. I’ve missed my friends there and I think I even miss the routine of life there. I like it and while I’m having a great time here, I suspect that by the end of this 6.5 week trip, I’ll be anxious to get back to Kigali. I’m already looking forward to my own bed… especially since my current bed is a super thin mattress on a piece of plywood with (gasp!) no pillow!
Ok time for bed. Every single bone in my body is screaming at me.
Neat… I don’t hear a lot about travelers going to Haiti. Especially for such a good cause.
I completely understand wanting to be in three places at once and loving each place. Also, I know what you mean about wanting to be still for a bit and have a semi-normal existence with friends and a community you’re invested in for more than a couple of months.
Haiti is not going away, so even though Hands On will be closing up its operations at the end of the year there will likely be other projects going on in Haiti for you to get involved with if you do want to return.
Enjoy getting back into the routine of a volunteer. You’re right, there’s something so satisfying ending the day exhausted from physical labor that you know is helping.
Great to hear this update from you. Even if it’s hard to leave behind one place or another, it’s certainly better than leaving and not caring at all.
I love hearing about your volunteering efforts in Haiti. It makes me want to do more to help the place that I visit. Thanks for inspiring me
Hi there…would be interested to hear what living conditions the volunteers have and if the millions of dollars donated after the quake have ever been put to use.
Kirsty – wasn’t the organization you helped out with before call HODR? Have they changed their name? Or is this another outfit?
Nevermind – a Google search answered it. Same folks.
Have they pushed your ebook at all? Seems like the time is right for that.
Which is better – shoveling out mud or carrying away debris? It would seem as though you work inside more than outside when removing mud. I guess it’s hot no matter what you’re up to. Keep up the good work. We’re looking forward to reports on Haiti progress.
i’m pretty amazed with your efford man..
keep it up!
Really interesting blog and in particular article – undertaking work like this must be very rewarding – well done
I just stumbled across your site – looks like I have a lot of catching up to do! How is Rwanda? I was supposed to go in January to volunteer but things fell through with that organization. I am excited to start reading your ebook!
~Jenn (www.jennstravelogueblog.blogspot.com)
Know how you feel mate, been trying to go back to lazing around the world again but can’t seem to leave All Hands behind! And Japan is exactly the same and yet utterly different at the same time. Its luxury though compared to past projects – so much variety in the food, carpets, flush toilets, shops, snacks … I could go on. You should come. I’ll save you a spot on the floor (somethings never change!) next to me.
Good with volunteers, but with a little hindsight, it’s been a little too many cooks involved, and with too little results in the end.