Home again

After a day of traveling, we are home and a bit tired. I awoke this morning to a cool breeze.... something I have not felt in awhile. It was very warm and humid in the mornings in Haiti, but it was nice to wake up to the sounds of roosters crowing instead of highway traffic. I went to the store today, and thought of how I can get in my own car and drive to a supermarket and get almost anything I want (except, of course, wonderful flavorful ripe mangoes). It's clear that we take many things in our lives for granted. But if I bring one thing home from this trip, it is that during the past week, I lived with purpose. Every moment was significant. It can be easy to miss the significant moments in our normal lives. As a teacher and therapist, those wonderful moments when you can affect someone's life are significant. Each moment in Haiti was significant. We nurtured relationships, opened doors of communication and understanding, and shared insights. We were welcomed with warmth, our hosts shared their experiences and their love for their people with us. It was a little bitter sweet to leave, but I know I'll be going back.

Final day at Kings Hospital

Everyone slept really well after yesterday's experiences. This morning I think we began to realize that our trip is coming to an end, but we didn't have time to really think about it much. After breakfast, we went to work with the nursing staff. Our goal was to have them use the symbols and graphic language they had learned, and make t-shirts with these symbols on them as a reminder of why they are in their chosen profession. We got off to a late start because of an emergency surgery, but soon the room filled with people in uniform doing artwork. M. Jn. Baptiste, one of the doctors, brought a patient in to the group, and Gaelynn began an art assessment with her, but it was a short-lived assessment and she needed to return to her room to rest. We spent a good deal of time talking with the doctor about what the patients circumstance was, and Gaelynn shared her insights based on her experience working in the medical field. As people finished their shirts, they modeled them and we took photos. They shared their symbols with the group. It was interesting to see the similarities across the culture and profession. We ended the week by repeating a legend about light, and each person was given two glow-in-the-dark bracelets and given the instruction to keep one, and then give someone else the other while telling them one of the strengths they notice. Everyone joined and and shared affirmations happily. It was a little bitter-sweet. It will be sad to say good-bye, even if it is just for now. We let the children work on mandala drawings, which was a nice way to end the week. They drew them, and some gave them to us as gifts. As they finished they went of to play on the swings and basketball area. A couple of boys picked up a handmade hexagonal kite made with clear plastic sheeting and long fringe. As it took off, it reminded me of how jelly-fish swim through the ocean. It was really good to see them having a good time and enjoying themselves. We all relaxed until it was time to leave. One of our students shared that she felt more like she was living in the present moment than ever before. There is no real sense of day or time. Our senses have all be heightened with all the sights, sounds and smells. I think we will all experience a little culture shock when we return home. It may actually be good that we arrive in the middle of the night. The darkess may filter some of the typical things we'd experience so that we can ease back into western culture. Tomorrow we will be preparing to come home. Undoubtedly we will be bringing some fun things back, but the best thing we will be coming home with is our memories and the warm feelings we have shared with everyone here.