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I made it to Haiti!

September 2nd, 2010 by Kerrie Balance

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 [...]

Posted in Haiti, Uncategorized

“You know it’s hot when a Haitian sweats”

September 2nd, 2010 by Courtney Kendall

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. [...]

Posted in Be The Change, Haiti, Uncategorized

Haiti Update #1

September 2nd, 2010 by Richard Kendall

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 [...]

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Feels like I’ve been here for yonks……….

September 2nd, 2010 by Theresa Gale-Mancer

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 [...]

Posted in Uncategorized, Vietnam Orphanage

I made it!

September 2nd, 2010 by Kate Montgomery

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 [...]

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Miami layovers…nice place to stay

September 1st, 2010 by Aliceyn Fokuhl

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. [...]

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FIN

August 31st, 2010 by Lucy Woodbridge

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 [...]

Posted in Haiti, Uncategorized

Good Morning Vietnam

August 30th, 2010 by Theresa Gale-Mancer

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 [...]

Posted in Uncategorized, Vietnam Orphanage

Off to Haiti

August 30th, 2010 by Courtney Kendall

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

Posted in Haiti, Uncategorized

HAITI JOURNAL – BARBARA LIVIERATOS

August 30th, 2010 by Barbara Livieratos

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Last day but not the end.

August 30th, 2010 by Robyn Rodger

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 [...]

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My week, in short.

August 30th, 2010 by Robyn Rodger

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 [...]

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Bags are packed!

August 29th, 2010 by Richard Kendall

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!!

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I am finally on my way to Haiti!

August 28th, 2010 by Kerrie Balance

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, [...]

Posted in Haiti, Uncategorized

Up and down

August 27th, 2010 by Lucy Woodbridge

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 [...]

Posted in Haiti, Uncategorized

Last day at work …………

August 26th, 2010 by Kate Montgomery

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 [...]

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August 25th, 2010 by Claire Morley

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

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Back on the ground

August 23rd, 2010 by Lucy Woodbridge

I’m back in Port-au-Prince, we caught a public for a very cheap price. The journey was about 3 hours through the hills. On the way towards the city we passed through the earthquakes epicentre. The town was on one flat staright road and every single house was either ripped apart or flat on the ground. Even the concrete tarmac had great rips through it. Its so disconcerting to see a building in that state, we feel so safe and secure in our big concrete boxes, its hard to imagine one coming down. But here they did, lots and lots of [...]

Posted in Haiti, Uncategorized

How many blancs can you fit in a taptap?

August 23rd, 2010 by Robyn Rodger

Saturday marked our first day of rest after a week’s work. Most of us decided to take a trip to Bassin Bleu, a waterfall in some nearby mountains. I should probably take some time to explain what exactly this meant, in terms of transportation. Vehicle is a loose term in Haiti. Basically descibes a piece of metal or plastic with wheels that runs sometimes. It does not have to have a roof, walls, seats, seatbelts, safety mechanisms, doors or any mechanism to absorb shock. Our “vehicle” of choice was a tap tap (a pick up truck used for public transportation). [...]

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First-aid, Haitian style.

August 23rd, 2010 by Robyn Rodger

I’ll do my best to continue where I left off the other day, discussing my Wednesday visit to Mayar.
My visit to Mayar finished with a conversation with Pierre , the community leader, about access to health care. Mayar is a ten minute motoride out of Jacmel and and for those able to make the trip, health care means waiting in line all day at the hospital to maybe get seen, or a visit to a Dr’s office, which many cannot afford. For this reason, we decided that it would be beneficial to teach some first-aid basics to those living in [...]

Posted in Haiti, Uncategorized

One week til departure…

August 22nd, 2010 by Johanna Hribal

So, only seven more days until I fly out to New Zealand to volunteer with Global Volunteer Network’s New Zealand Nature Program! I’m really excited and a teensy bit nervous, but I know that it will be a blast. I’ll be there for one month with about seven other volunteers from around the world doing environmental volunteer work like reforestation, coastal cleanup, and other projects that will help to protect and preserve New Zealand’s plant and animal species. We’ll be working five days a week with free weekends (yay!) during which we can travel around NZ. Some of the cities/things [...]

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Today is H-Day!

July 23rd, 2010 by Chris Fry

hay guys my first post of what I hope will be many, today is H-day for me for two reasons.  Firstly it marks the one week time frame until I leave for Haiti but also the day of mourning for my beautiful hair which has woefully been taken from me, in aid of charity. 6 years of biological perfection has been donated to a charity for cancer patients but t’was all in good fun- though im constantly cold now!
still managed to raise £250+ for the cause so its all good, cant wait to meet the guys on my rotation bring on friday!!!

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July 22nd, 2010 by Patricia Teal

The countdown has begun. We leave for Nairobi in a week and are  now trying to work out the best way to pack what we need for the project and what we need for us and stay within the weight limit.

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Many thanks…

July 18th, 2010 by Alison Wobschall

I’m back safe and sound after an absolutely incredible experience.  It’s taken me awhile to process how to even put it into words. First of all, I want to express my deep gratitude to you for helping me go to Haiti.  I was overwhelmed with the support that I received and greatly appreciate all of the letters and notes, emails, prayers, and gifts of support. God has blessed me with amazing people in my life and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to share that with the people in Haiti.  
The situation there was worse than I [...]

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Second to last Sunday before the big trip

July 10th, 2010 by Doozy

Its the end of the day. The second to last Sunday before my eye opening journey.
I just recently received my timetable for the duration of my experience and its hitting me, I am actually in this, I am doing this.
I have already contacted the majority of volunteers in which I will be working with and have made plans with two of them. We have discovered we are on the same fligths and have decided to meet in front of the gates. One of the volunteers in the same program have become a really good friend and we have shared our [...]

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testing the system!

July 10th, 2010 by Patricia Teal

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Safe and sound

July 1st, 2010 by Grim Waters

Hi everyone
Just a quick note to say that I have arrived safely.  On orientation at the moment.  All of the other volunteers are great.  We have just booked in a safari to do in 2 weeks at the Masai Mara, should be fun!
Heading to my permanent accommodation tomorrow where apparently there is another kiwi guy volunteer as well so I am happy that I will have company.
Will write again when I can.
xx

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Departure day has arrived.

June 24th, 2010 by Grim Waters

Hi everyone.
Departure day has arrived.  I am off this evening - only to Melbourne mind you for a fun weekend with the girls.  I am heading to Kenya on Tuesday night so I will update you all as soon as I can.
x

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The Simple Things

June 21st, 2010 by Carly McWhinnie

Sorry it has taken so long for me to write again. i have been very busy here painting the Centre with my brothers. It’s a big job but were almost done. It’s so funny how you can’t go to the Canadian Tire and grab all the necessary items to paint, instead you have to make everything by hand including long sticks to attach to brushes to paint high walls.
On the weekend I had the pleasure of taking the kids to the Giraffe Centre which is only just down the road from the slum. The shocking things is that the [...]

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Artest & Dominicana

June 18th, 2010 by Alison Wobschall

First of all, YEAH LAKERS! Last night a group of us went to this local bar in town called Optimum. They had a little TV that played the game so I got to see it! It was awesome. The bar was pretty much empty except for our group. There was loud music playing and a few people dancing. I had a delicious, cold 7UP that tasted amazing. Since Kobe didn’t have a great game, I will give a shout out to Artest. Dominicana was an adorable Haitian baby girl that was also at the bar. I can’t imagine [...]

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