Archive for 2010

Hi Everybody!
I am so sorry it has taken e so long to update you and let you know how it is going in Haiti. I have learned a very important lesson so far which is: NOTHING is easy in Haiti. I am at an internet cafe, which is something in itself since my blackberry is not working for updating my journal. I only have a short time and there are many people watching over my shoulder waiting for their turn. Let me just let you no that my spelling and grammer will be horrific, but I will try [...]

Sitting at an internet cafe, drinking a Prestige and feeling a slight breeze from the fan in the corner, heaven.
Navigating the airport and our pick-up was intense.  We touched down after having very little sleep the night before and the humidity soaked us all immediately.  ”Us all” equals the rest of my team, which we met up with in Miami.  Kerri- a wonderful “mother hen” from Chicaaaago (apparently I share her accent, as the Haitians LOVE the way we say our town).  Becca- a student from San Diego, Jaya (the beauty of the team) who is in Finance in Dubai. [...]

So the biggest challange was getting out of the airport with all our luggage and donations! Met up with most of the team (2 were delayed in NYC). Completely surrounded by Haitians all trying to grab our bags from the hangar they were dumped in. Everyone was trying to make like they were a GVN rep and take us to transportation. Finally one of the team had an ATT international phone and we were able to call our contact who was waiting for us quite a distance from the hangar. We all made it in [...]

Today was my third day in Vietnam we had the pleasure of being tourists today as is was a public holiday. I started the day with an early morning walk down to the river managed to make my way there safely as there were not too many motorbikes on the road.
I did however see a few guards and many older generation out walking and doing their exercises. The highlight of my little river wander was having a Vietnamese boy come up to me and practice his English with me as I walked. Its an amazing feeling from within, being out and about [...]

Well I am finallý here in Rwanda, and am loving it so far.
ýesterdaý was spent in Kigali, having orientation. The citý is completelý different to what i expected. Verý dustý of course, people, bikes and cars all over the roads at aný one time, shantýs and little huts everýwhere. People stare at ýou because ýou are white and the kids shout mzungu, meaning white person or white ghost.
We visited the Kigali Geonocide Memorial Centre, and what an experience that was. Very moving, heartbreaking, the things that happened, the things that were seen and experienced by the survivors, just horrible, not [...]

OK!  Firstly my posts are gonna as often as I hoped as the internet is SHOCKING.  Once you use to broadband you can get very frustrated very quickly at slow computers.  Anyway!  Onto the more important stories ……………… On my last weekend in Queenstown I got the BEST SURPRISE PARTY EVER (all thanks to my lovely husband).  It was a great (messy) night had by all and thanks so much to all you awesome units in Queenstown for a Harrys Close house party to remember.  After a hungover Sunday we got me packed and headed out Monday morning.  It was [...]

Hello volunteers. I forgot to mention in my final post that if you have a layover in Miami and need a place to stay, I found a VERY nice bed and breakfast not far from the airport. If you arrive/depart outside of their working hours they will pick you up or drop you off at not cost. I spent 3 nights in Miami on my way out of Haiti (very strange experience). Their guest house is close to a bus route that will take you straight to the main bus terminal and from there you can hope on various buses. [...]

I’ll be leaving for Ecuador on September 6th.  I’ve got everything I need.  Now I just have to pack it which will be tricky.  Wish me luck!

The Island of Haiti and the Dominican Republic have been prone to earthquakes in the past. In 1751 Port-au-Prince suffered a similar quake to the one that hit this year, it also flattened the entire city. After this in 1842 Cap-Haitian and other towns on the island were destroyed by an earthquake. In 1946 A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Dominican and shook Haiti which caused a Tsunami killing 1,790 people and injuring many more. As well as this the Island is prone to cyclones, in 2008 it suffered 4 in one month killing 800 people and flooding parts of [...]

I am here in Da Nang safe and sound. Flights went really well slept most of the leg to Singapore the killer I guess was the 7 hour stop over, I had a few what the hell am I doing moments mainly just because of the long waiting game.
When I flew to Da Nang we stopped over in Cambodia for half an hour to drop people off and pick others up. The Cambodians were very hospitable it started to rain as we were about to board back onto the plane, they organsised a shuttle bus to take us the 200meters to [...]

I will check-in as frequently as possible! Stay tuned!!!

Before getting on to a more serious note… Happy Birthday (yesterday) Jackie!
All I know is that this is by no means the end of another travel experience to cross off my list. These 2 and a half weeks of Haiti have just been a brief introduction to a place I know I’ll need to return to. The media are long gone here now, as are many of the relief organizations who were so eager to leave their mark. “Haiti” isn’t a major headline anymore, or a volunteer hotspot. But the streets are still lined with tents. That is, where they can [...]

I just checked my last post and realized I haven’t written in a week. Not quite sure how that happened but I’ll do my best to highlight the basics of the last week in this one post. Monday and Tuesday did the usual medication and vitamin distribution for the orphange, as well as building more benches and running my little “clinic” out of the compound for the locals. There has been a lot of sickness here this week, mostly among the volunteers. Nobody can really name the illness but it’s knocked all but 2 volunteers out at some point. I’ve [...]

Donations allowed me to purchase the following items for Haiti. 24 pairs of black dress shoes for boys & girls, 26 whistles, 22 soccer balls various sizes (even a few pink ones for the girls), soccer cones, 2 pumps, 6 frisbees, & 4 large Gatorade Mixes all for just under $700!!!! Thanks to all who supported my trip!!

I arrived home last night. No glitches except my luggage was lost between Washington DC and Burlington but I was contacted today; it should arrive by Fedex tomorrow morning.
I’m happy to be back but I really, really, really miss Rwanda. I’m trying to figure out how/when to go back. There are many things I miss, like the people, the markets, the weekend trips, my fellow volunteers, my kids at PEFA etc. And there are things that I’m happy to have a break from, like the dust, the lack of infrastructure and being called a muzungu all the time.
The wealthy American [...]

Today is the day! In a few hours, I’ll be boarding the plane and onwards to Rwanda!
Just the other day, I found out which orphanage I will be in. It’s located in Gisenyi, which is on the border of the Congo and by Lake Kivu. The orphanage looks after both orphaned and abandoned children as well as handicapped people, so the ages range from 0-30.
I’ll be helping teach the children things like shapes, colours, English etc., feeding them, playing with them and helping keep the orphanage clean.
It’s slowly starting to sink in that I’m going, I’m sitting here surrounded by [...]

Well, my bags (3 an 1/2) are packed, and I am so ready to go! I really, really tried to condense and eliminate, but 2 huge duffles are filled to the max with donations (thank you) of clothes and shoes for the kids at the orphanage. Just 1 bag is mine, filled only with necessities of course. And well, okay, the 1/2 bag is crammed with snacks, candy, and oh most importantly, instant coffee packets. One must be prepared for anything right? Oh yeah, and there is one kinda smallish backpack as well, that has all my important documents, [...]

Packed suitcase, unpacked suitcase. Weighed suitcase unpacked suitcase shuffle stuff between suitcase and on board luggage. Heated discussion about what had to be left behind couple of tops and a pair of shoes. Weigh in again. Finally think I have it sorted it all. Locks on the bags well named and a funky pink strap to go around it. Last hit of facebook before I go.
One last dash to the chemist this morning.  Just the waiting game now till we head out to the airport. Sounds like I have a bit of a send off crowd which is totally awesome. [...]

T minus 9 weeks until I’m leaving Chicago to go to Haiti! Time is flying by but I’ve done some great progress over the past six weeks in preparation.

Plane tickets were booked and paid for.
I went to the local police station and got my police report (no felonies, YES!! ).
Went to the doctor and had me a physical. Doc says I’m in great shape and ready to go.
I sent in a check with the program fee. I hope it will arrive in New Zealand soon.
Fundraising has begun and is progressing very fine! I had sent out about 40 [...]

So its 4 days before I leave Haiti and I’m finding everything very tough. I can’t even describe how I feel any further from feeling happy to sad to ecstatic to verging on depression. I think the past month has taken its toll on myself and all of the other volunteers and its suddenly just piled up like a big muddle in my head. It seems like the only way I can work through it is by doing nothing, at all. Very low but hey, it comes with the package.
Other than being a bit of a wreck, I’ve had a [...]

Ok where to start? What a week…and I still have an awesome weekend ahead of me.
 
The orphanage was just great this week. I talked previously about gaining the trust of the mothers and how we are having alot of fun with them now. This week was no exception. Patrick and I continue to try and figure out what they are trying to say and vice versa. One thing was clear this week…..they all like to have alot of fun and joke with us. One day after we fed the kids they really started in on us.  The elder mothers started making [...]

Hi all!  SO this is the link you need to take to get my updates whilst away.  I will hopefully get to a computer a couple of times a week but apparently it’s on dial up and isn’t very reliable but I’ll do my very best to keep you all in the loop.  Last day at work today!  I must admit, it doesn’t feel likt it.  Have just been out for lunch though which was great, and am out for dinner as well.  Looks like there’s gonna be a few more as well before my departure on Monday.  Oh the [...]

6 days to go before Kenya, Africa…..can’t believe this is really happening!! will be logging on when i can to keep my diary up on our adventures! Here is to a wonderful journey!!! claire and nina

So it’s official. This time next week I will be far far from home, thrown into a completely new environment, probably overwhelmed, tired, and a teensy bit nervous. I can’t wait! After months of preparation and research, I am ready to start this adventure. My bags are not as packed as they should be, but I still have six days after all, right? Just a few last minute errands and a trek to find a mosquito net (of course one of the most important things I leave for the very end…) and I’ll be ready! Thank you to all the [...]

Only 4 more sleeps till I’m off to Vietnam. I am very excited and a little nervous. I am feeling as organised as can be. I have decided to take Saturday off work as I bet my nerves will be running a mile a minute and it will also be a good opportunity to catch up with family and friends one last time. I’m flying out Sunday evening from New Plymouth Airport and leave Auckland at midnight. Ekkkk the big flight I hope to sleep a good chunk of the journey.
I have semi organised piles taking over the dining room [...]