I haven't posted in a long time. I regret not doing so. Many things have came and gone in my life, and it's hard to put them all into words. Especially in the last two months in the Philippines. My second project with All Hands. A much different vibe compared to Haiti. The base is smaller, and much more intimate. You don't have a choice as to who you interact with on a daily basis. You live, work, and breath with every person on base. It has it's good and bad that come along with it, but overall this has been the best experience of my life(sorry Haiti friends). I was a fish in Haiti. I was just learning how to get myself comfortable with not being inside my bubble. Here, I am open to everything and anything. Experience everything and don't ever hold back. try new things and anytime I want to say no. I make sure I say yeah. I've met some of the greatest people here. The English contingent is strong. People from Haiti I had never talked to before are now some of my favorite people on this earth, and I will consider them friends forever. It's really an amazing thing, you don't get a chance to even speak to people in Haiti due to many different reasons. You come here, and you have that in common, and realize maybe you have a lot more in common, and just never got the chance to find out. Having a smaller group means getting to know everyone of the volunteers on a personal level, whether you like it or not.
The work is tough, but that's what brings us together. At the end of the day, we pick eachother up. We know who's hurting. We know who can handle the endurance of day in and day out hard labor. Who can handle the mud along with the pounding sun. We count of them to push us to the limit. They help me wake up in the morning and give it a shot. Obviously if you know me, you know I can't help but talk while we work, and sometimes it just turns into a full blown conversation as if we were chillen for twenty minutes at a time at a coffee shop, but I can't help it. The human element of getting to know people is too strong for me. I spent a lot of my work day talking to the local workers just as much as the internationals. They fascinate me. A good friend of mine made a really good point tonight. Time is running short on the project. I think I should devote the rest of my time to really getting to know the families and backgrounds of my favorites. Let them experience my experiences of the Philippines and vice versa. Show me what's good. I feel like I've done a good job of it so far, but I think I can dedicate even more time to it.
Anyway, over the next couple of days I'm going to take my written work, and put it onto this blog. I've taken a lot of notes about the experiences I've done through here. I feel like sharing them like I did in Haiti. I have so many people and things to write about from here....I don't ever want to lose those memories....
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, January 29, 2011
June 6th, 2010 Haiti Blog: Welcome Back!
Whattup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the lack of updates but the internet has been really spotty. I havent had alot of time to write in the mornings since being back, and also just general laziness. So, I got back last monday. I was supposed to take a two week break, but I just couldn't stay away from the most amazing people I've ever met in my life. I had to find out when my angels were leaving and I made sure I was there for it. Wow, what an amazing decision that was. When I got back to Haiti I was embraced like I have never felt before. It was simply magic. I got more hugs than I have ever had in my life combined. It's a pretty amazing feeling to know you're loved somewhere so far out of your comfort zone. It just made me even more sure of my decision to come back and finish my mission. Even when I was home, I talked to HODR people the majority of the time. Everytime I talk to my friend Alex, she would just make me want to go back more and more and more. She, along with many other amazing people here really inspire me to go for it and live this experience to the fullest and not let a single moment bother me. I have had my highs and lows here, but mainly because I have lost people I have grown to absolutely love. The main thing I have had to drill in my head is that it doesn't matter that I lost them. I am just blessed to have met them. It has been a true honor to have met all of you.
People here tell me I am amazing, but I would be zero without any of you. You each have a special place in my heart, and it's nice to have an angel on each shoulder:) You have seriously changed my life and make me want to become the best person I can be. When people show up in Leogane its a very intimidating and intense experience. I feel like it's my job to make sure they get comfortable and feel safe and at home. I don't know if I will ever fully succeed in my mission, but I do know I will give it everything I have. Everyone that shows up here deserves it. It doesn't matter if theyre here for a week or a year. They all have given up time to come here and become apart of an amazing experience and joined a beautiful family. Everyone here works their ass off, and they deserve every single compliment they get. I hope that anybody I have shared this experience with knows they have changed the lives of many Haitian people and they will never be forgotten by them as well. Nobody should leave with their head down, because we have all put alot of sweat and tears into this project.
Enough about the HODr people though, let me just tell you that the reception I received from the Haitian people was just as warm, if not even more touching. People I didn't even know knew my name were coming up to me telling me they missed me. It felt like I was gone for years. It felt like the most beautiful of reunions you could dream up in your head. On the third day I was back I finally got to see Jermaise and he literally jumped off a mototaxi to come and give me a giant bear hug. I felt like I had found my long lost brother. We sat and talked for awhile and caught up, and he told me how he had started volunteering with us and was having a ton of fun. It was truly magic to see him so happy to see one person. It made me feel pretty amazing.
As far as the work we have been doing, we have been kicking some serious ass. We are still working on our second school and just about finished the first one. The kids have seen the first finished school, and they were absolutely blown away. I believe it will be ready for operation in the upcomming weeks, and we will be having a big grand opening for it. I cannot WAIT! Other than that, we have been kicking each rubble sites ass as every day goes by. I can't say enough about our team leaders and the people who rubble everyday. It amazes me how fit they are and the stamina they possess. Everytime I go out of the office and work with them I am in complete awe of the work ethic I see there. I am starting to get out more and more and see first hand just how amazing these people are. The girls swing around sledge hammers as if they were yoyo's. They can just toss them around and break up walls with their will alone. I could sit here and write five pages about each person who goes out everyday and completely murders these sites until their is nothing left but a beautiful slab for the people of Haiti to rebuild on. Alot of people who rubble don't give themselves enough credit. So, I am here to tell you, you are the heart and soul of this project. The legs that keep the machine running.
So, thats pretty much whats been going on. Teams are giving up a week of their time to go live in a tent and build more schools for the kids. People are out busting their ass everyday rubbling. We are making alot of progress in the city of Leogane alone, and you can see it happening over time. I am healthy and doing everything I can to make this a better place. I miss everyone from home, and even more I miss everyone I have met here and had to go. Your work here will never be forgotten. I love every single one of you, or at least the ones I added on facebook:P haha.
MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!
LOVE
Dan
People here tell me I am amazing, but I would be zero without any of you. You each have a special place in my heart, and it's nice to have an angel on each shoulder:) You have seriously changed my life and make me want to become the best person I can be. When people show up in Leogane its a very intimidating and intense experience. I feel like it's my job to make sure they get comfortable and feel safe and at home. I don't know if I will ever fully succeed in my mission, but I do know I will give it everything I have. Everyone that shows up here deserves it. It doesn't matter if theyre here for a week or a year. They all have given up time to come here and become apart of an amazing experience and joined a beautiful family. Everyone here works their ass off, and they deserve every single compliment they get. I hope that anybody I have shared this experience with knows they have changed the lives of many Haitian people and they will never be forgotten by them as well. Nobody should leave with their head down, because we have all put alot of sweat and tears into this project.
Enough about the HODr people though, let me just tell you that the reception I received from the Haitian people was just as warm, if not even more touching. People I didn't even know knew my name were coming up to me telling me they missed me. It felt like I was gone for years. It felt like the most beautiful of reunions you could dream up in your head. On the third day I was back I finally got to see Jermaise and he literally jumped off a mototaxi to come and give me a giant bear hug. I felt like I had found my long lost brother. We sat and talked for awhile and caught up, and he told me how he had started volunteering with us and was having a ton of fun. It was truly magic to see him so happy to see one person. It made me feel pretty amazing.
As far as the work we have been doing, we have been kicking some serious ass. We are still working on our second school and just about finished the first one. The kids have seen the first finished school, and they were absolutely blown away. I believe it will be ready for operation in the upcomming weeks, and we will be having a big grand opening for it. I cannot WAIT! Other than that, we have been kicking each rubble sites ass as every day goes by. I can't say enough about our team leaders and the people who rubble everyday. It amazes me how fit they are and the stamina they possess. Everytime I go out of the office and work with them I am in complete awe of the work ethic I see there. I am starting to get out more and more and see first hand just how amazing these people are. The girls swing around sledge hammers as if they were yoyo's. They can just toss them around and break up walls with their will alone. I could sit here and write five pages about each person who goes out everyday and completely murders these sites until their is nothing left but a beautiful slab for the people of Haiti to rebuild on. Alot of people who rubble don't give themselves enough credit. So, I am here to tell you, you are the heart and soul of this project. The legs that keep the machine running.
So, thats pretty much whats been going on. Teams are giving up a week of their time to go live in a tent and build more schools for the kids. People are out busting their ass everyday rubbling. We are making alot of progress in the city of Leogane alone, and you can see it happening over time. I am healthy and doing everything I can to make this a better place. I miss everyone from home, and even more I miss everyone I have met here and had to go. Your work here will never be forgotten. I love every single one of you, or at least the ones I added on facebook:P haha.
MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!
LOVE
Dan
May 26th, 2010 Haiti Blog: Haiti is Home...
Today is the last day I wake up in Haiti. As I woke up around 5AM the standard rooster was already making enough noise to wake up a quarter of the people on base. I don’t want to leave, but I have to. This has been the most amazing experience of my life so far, and I don’t want it to ever end. The people I have met are absolutely amazing. From day one I have been surrounded by some of the most extraordinary people I have ever heard speak. Each person has their own little tale and it is amazing to hear how well traveled each person is. I have completely fallen in love with this program and the people involved in it. It is such an amazing experience to live with 100 other people you have never met before and watch them grow with you every step of the way.
I wouldn’t have made it without the first friends I made at HODR. I was on day three and in the hospital again and my best wonderful friend I have in here looked at me and said “You aren’t leaving Dan, we need you.” It’s like she could see inside my head, because I was seriously considering leaving at that point and calling it quits. Once she said that I knew I couldn’t go anywhere, and for that I will thank her for the rest of my life. I am going to miss every morning waking up and knowing Sarah would be the first person I conversed with in the office to get the internet up and running. I will miss having mangos with you and taking our walk to the beautiful egg sandwich lady, where I insist on making a fool of myself on a daily basis by attempting my awful creole accent. I’m gonna miss having you around as our personal local celebrity with all the children of Haiti screaming in their amazing accent “Sarah!!!!!” Most importantly, I am going to miss the fact that you were there for me every step of the way. When I needed a real friend, you were there. When I wanted to give up, you were there to walk me thru. I love you and I am gonna miss you more than I can express on a simple blog. I could cry right now just thinking about the memories I have produced in just the past month, and cry more from the excitement of what’s ahead of me.
After I became comfortable with some of the greatest people I have met in my life, even more great people came and went. About two or three weeks into my journey I decided I wanted to do a job that was called Save the Children. Basically, we got to drive around and grab supplies for the kids we were donating school supplies and first aid to. That alone was a satisfying feeling, but the person I got to work with completely dropped me to my knees. A red headed girl named Rachelle who was just absolutely one of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. I could not even bare to make eye contact with her by the time we were parting because I would have had to cry into her little arms. She stood maybe 5’4 at most but her heart was taller than myself. She was in her early twenties, but had the thirst for knowledge of how the world works as if she were planning on being the president one day, and she would have my vote. Before Haiti, she had spent time in Columbia living with IDP families. She not only did that once, but went back and lived there again because she had so much compassion for people in the world. Everyday, all the way up to the last day we spoke, she impressed me and made my jaw drop with every anecdote that fell from her beautiful mouth. Her quiet voice was the type you could listen to in order to fall asleep. Not only was she one of the coolest and sweetest people I have ever met. She was also the most beautiful red headed girl I have ever seen in my life. You have to understand, it is difficult to look good in Haiti, but she pulls it off. If I had to describe the word adorable, I would just tell you more about the angel we call Rachelle. It’s people like her that make this world a better place, and really gives me hope for the future. People that want to learn outside the walls of the US and point out the fact that our home land is far far from perfect. I would trust her with my life, and be honored if I ever saw her again. Something about her just made my heart melt every time I saw her. Never without a smile and always thinking positive. That’s how I will remember you. I love you friend. You inspire me to be a better person and realize that we as a country are far from perfect.
It would be hard to affect me the way Rachelle did, but like I said, these people are amazing. About two weeks into my journey a girl from Minnesota arrived. Reserved and quiet, yet a tower of power and beauty mixed into her little turtle shell. Megan was the definition of a workhorse who never complained and just went with the flow, with a wonderful smile to add to the equation. From the first day, she was too timid to even introduce herself to the group. I remember it, my friend Andi had to tell her to stand up and introduce herself. I didn’t realize at that point she was the shy phenomenon she is. It took her some time to come out of the shell, and my persistence also paid off. But once I got her to talk to me, I prayed she would never stop.. This girl is 5’10 and absolutely gorgeous. Her innocence amazes me. She has the build of a world class athlete and the heart of one as well. Everyday she would go out into the rubble and not complain, not once! The day I left, she was a team leader for the first time, and she was nervous, no matter how many times she told me she wasn’t. She is the type of leader who leads by example, not by words. Everyday, she looked like a hot version of the terminator. Bandana rapped around her head, and Oakley glasses firmly around it, waiting for the job to start so she could kick some serious ass and show the boys that girls are serious business. She could run a wheel barrow from Minnesota to Haiti if she had to, and wouldn’t complain once doing it. I wish her the absolute best, and pray to God I stay in contact with her, because she inspires me. Megan, I have more respect for you than you will ever comprehend. You are strong inside and out, and what guy doesn’t love a girl who loves to give people fist pounds…
These people don’t stop though. About three weeks into the program I became a base manager. People think it’s an easy job, but they really don’t know shit about shit. Jess US and Jess UK are some of the most underappreciated, amazing people I have ever met. Everyday they do their job with a smile, and don’t ask for any credit. They just do what they do. They are the people behind the scenes. They have taught me everything I know about HODR and how we operate. Without them, none of this is possible. They organize everything from the tap taps to the shuttles coming in and going out. They handle all the paperwork, as well as answering questions all day and night. The best part is, they are both great people as well. It is pretty amazing that we have two people with the same name and same job, and are just completely ridiculous at what they do. If you think it’s easy managing 100+ peoples questions, you have obviously never done so. Especially in a third world country disaster area, where questions are about as frequent as 100 degree weather. Aka, All day everyday. These two wonderful girls have been doing what they do for a long time now, and everyday I watch them they become more and more my hero’s. I can’t wait to get back and spend more time with them, and help them get a break in what they do, because they don’t get days off. They work around the clock. Everyone always has questions.
Before this trip, I had never gotten the opportunity to meet anyone from Europe. Holy shit, what a pleasure it is. I met an amazing couple by the name of Jim and Rebecca. Both of them are an absolute piss. They made me laugh from day one by calling me king, and introducing me to the proper English language. Teaching me about blokes and birds, and just generally being some of the most pleasant people I have ever encountered. Jim might be the funniest bloke I have ever met in my life, and his bird Rebecca is the tannest and most chipper person I have ever met from over the pond. Everytime you talk to the girl, she just makes you wanna smile and laugh with her upbeat attitude. Even when she is sick, she doesn’t want to let you know she’s hurting. She just wants you to be happy. I can’t wait to come out to Europe sometime this summer and have them show me what life is like over the pond. So far pretty much every euro I’ve met has been amazing.
This past month has been the absolute best month of my life. I could sit here and write fifty pages about each person I have met. I will never forget any of you. Even the people I never got a chance to speak to, you still have inspired me. The team leaders that rubble day in and day out have my complete respect. They do something I know I couldn’t, and without them none of this is possible either. Gage, Joa, English Sean, Geoff, Tim, Epic Ben, Clare, Steve, Ton, Bradley, Seido, Simon, and Dylan are all absolute beasts. I havent even spoken more than ten words to some of them, but they are all irreplaceable pieces to this awesome puzzle we are putting together.
More people I will miss that are gone now and will one day hopefully see again: Gina, Charlotte, AndI, Preeya, Fayth, Olly, Rueben, Nick T, Britt, Mary Kate and Scott, Jenny, Tom, Laura B and last but not least Carolyn. Everyone of you has helped me believe I am a good person and can accomplish what I am after. Thank you all so much for the support and hand holding of my first time out of the country.
And I can’t wait to come back and see my friends who are still there! I am not even a day away and I miss you all already. It just showed today more than ever how close we all do become. My friend Carolyn went out of her way when I had an eight hour layover in Miami to come pick me up and take me out to dinner. As we met up and talked we both agreed it felt like we had known each other for years. We had shared some of the most amazing experiences of our life. By the time we sat down for dinner, it took us about thirty minutes just to look at the menu before we stopped talking for thirty seconds. For the rest of my life I will have a connection with these friends that people from home just won’t be able to fully comprehend. From being sick together, to finishing jobs together, and seeing people who have nothing give us everything. It is really just a melting experience. Everything about what we are doing is beautiful. Also a special shout to my English friends I will be seeing in the near future! Becky, Sam, and Leah! Can’t wait to play some slam and have Leah teach me how to dance. HAHA!!!! I am just full of love, as I said at the most amazing dinner I have ever had tonight. You couldn’t slap the smile off my face.
I feel like I have finally done something in my life that meant something, and I feel like I have to see this to the end. I am going home for a small break and plan on coming back until the end of the project. I hope that as each week goes by I make more and more friends for life, and share these experiences with the new people that come and go. It doesn’t matter how long you come out to help for. All that matters is that you were there and worked hard while doing so. God bless you all, and I love you, you are my second family. I can’t wait to get back home…..To Leogane……
LOVE
Dan
I wouldn’t have made it without the first friends I made at HODR. I was on day three and in the hospital again and my best wonderful friend I have in here looked at me and said “You aren’t leaving Dan, we need you.” It’s like she could see inside my head, because I was seriously considering leaving at that point and calling it quits. Once she said that I knew I couldn’t go anywhere, and for that I will thank her for the rest of my life. I am going to miss every morning waking up and knowing Sarah would be the first person I conversed with in the office to get the internet up and running. I will miss having mangos with you and taking our walk to the beautiful egg sandwich lady, where I insist on making a fool of myself on a daily basis by attempting my awful creole accent. I’m gonna miss having you around as our personal local celebrity with all the children of Haiti screaming in their amazing accent “Sarah!!!!!” Most importantly, I am going to miss the fact that you were there for me every step of the way. When I needed a real friend, you were there. When I wanted to give up, you were there to walk me thru. I love you and I am gonna miss you more than I can express on a simple blog. I could cry right now just thinking about the memories I have produced in just the past month, and cry more from the excitement of what’s ahead of me.
After I became comfortable with some of the greatest people I have met in my life, even more great people came and went. About two or three weeks into my journey I decided I wanted to do a job that was called Save the Children. Basically, we got to drive around and grab supplies for the kids we were donating school supplies and first aid to. That alone was a satisfying feeling, but the person I got to work with completely dropped me to my knees. A red headed girl named Rachelle who was just absolutely one of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. I could not even bare to make eye contact with her by the time we were parting because I would have had to cry into her little arms. She stood maybe 5’4 at most but her heart was taller than myself. She was in her early twenties, but had the thirst for knowledge of how the world works as if she were planning on being the president one day, and she would have my vote. Before Haiti, she had spent time in Columbia living with IDP families. She not only did that once, but went back and lived there again because she had so much compassion for people in the world. Everyday, all the way up to the last day we spoke, she impressed me and made my jaw drop with every anecdote that fell from her beautiful mouth. Her quiet voice was the type you could listen to in order to fall asleep. Not only was she one of the coolest and sweetest people I have ever met. She was also the most beautiful red headed girl I have ever seen in my life. You have to understand, it is difficult to look good in Haiti, but she pulls it off. If I had to describe the word adorable, I would just tell you more about the angel we call Rachelle. It’s people like her that make this world a better place, and really gives me hope for the future. People that want to learn outside the walls of the US and point out the fact that our home land is far far from perfect. I would trust her with my life, and be honored if I ever saw her again. Something about her just made my heart melt every time I saw her. Never without a smile and always thinking positive. That’s how I will remember you. I love you friend. You inspire me to be a better person and realize that we as a country are far from perfect.
It would be hard to affect me the way Rachelle did, but like I said, these people are amazing. About two weeks into my journey a girl from Minnesota arrived. Reserved and quiet, yet a tower of power and beauty mixed into her little turtle shell. Megan was the definition of a workhorse who never complained and just went with the flow, with a wonderful smile to add to the equation. From the first day, she was too timid to even introduce herself to the group. I remember it, my friend Andi had to tell her to stand up and introduce herself. I didn’t realize at that point she was the shy phenomenon she is. It took her some time to come out of the shell, and my persistence also paid off. But once I got her to talk to me, I prayed she would never stop.. This girl is 5’10 and absolutely gorgeous. Her innocence amazes me. She has the build of a world class athlete and the heart of one as well. Everyday she would go out into the rubble and not complain, not once! The day I left, she was a team leader for the first time, and she was nervous, no matter how many times she told me she wasn’t. She is the type of leader who leads by example, not by words. Everyday, she looked like a hot version of the terminator. Bandana rapped around her head, and Oakley glasses firmly around it, waiting for the job to start so she could kick some serious ass and show the boys that girls are serious business. She could run a wheel barrow from Minnesota to Haiti if she had to, and wouldn’t complain once doing it. I wish her the absolute best, and pray to God I stay in contact with her, because she inspires me. Megan, I have more respect for you than you will ever comprehend. You are strong inside and out, and what guy doesn’t love a girl who loves to give people fist pounds…
Before this trip, I had never gotten the opportunity to meet anyone from Europe. Holy shit, what a pleasure it is. I met an amazing couple by the name of Jim and Rebecca. Both of them are an absolute piss. They made me laugh from day one by calling me king, and introducing me to the proper English language. Teaching me about blokes and birds, and just generally being some of the most pleasant people I have ever encountered. Jim might be the funniest bloke I have ever met in my life, and his bird Rebecca is the tannest and most chipper person I have ever met from over the pond. Everytime you talk to the girl, she just makes you wanna smile and laugh with her upbeat attitude. Even when she is sick, she doesn’t want to let you know she’s hurting. She just wants you to be happy. I can’t wait to come out to Europe sometime this summer and have them show me what life is like over the pond. So far pretty much every euro I’ve met has been amazing.
This past month has been the absolute best month of my life. I could sit here and write fifty pages about each person I have met. I will never forget any of you. Even the people I never got a chance to speak to, you still have inspired me. The team leaders that rubble day in and day out have my complete respect. They do something I know I couldn’t, and without them none of this is possible either. Gage, Joa, English Sean, Geoff, Tim, Epic Ben, Clare, Steve, Ton, Bradley, Seido, Simon, and Dylan are all absolute beasts. I havent even spoken more than ten words to some of them, but they are all irreplaceable pieces to this awesome puzzle we are putting together.
More people I will miss that are gone now and will one day hopefully see again: Gina, Charlotte, AndI, Preeya, Fayth, Olly, Rueben, Nick T, Britt, Mary Kate and Scott, Jenny, Tom, Laura B and last but not least Carolyn. Everyone of you has helped me believe I am a good person and can accomplish what I am after. Thank you all so much for the support and hand holding of my first time out of the country.
And I can’t wait to come back and see my friends who are still there! I am not even a day away and I miss you all already. It just showed today more than ever how close we all do become. My friend Carolyn went out of her way when I had an eight hour layover in Miami to come pick me up and take me out to dinner. As we met up and talked we both agreed it felt like we had known each other for years. We had shared some of the most amazing experiences of our life. By the time we sat down for dinner, it took us about thirty minutes just to look at the menu before we stopped talking for thirty seconds. For the rest of my life I will have a connection with these friends that people from home just won’t be able to fully comprehend. From being sick together, to finishing jobs together, and seeing people who have nothing give us everything. It is really just a melting experience. Everything about what we are doing is beautiful. Also a special shout to my English friends I will be seeing in the near future! Becky, Sam, and Leah! Can’t wait to play some slam and have Leah teach me how to dance. HAHA!!!! I am just full of love, as I said at the most amazing dinner I have ever had tonight. You couldn’t slap the smile off my face.
I feel like I have finally done something in my life that meant something, and I feel like I have to see this to the end. I am going home for a small break and plan on coming back until the end of the project. I hope that as each week goes by I make more and more friends for life, and share these experiences with the new people that come and go. It doesn’t matter how long you come out to help for. All that matters is that you were there and worked hard while doing so. God bless you all, and I love you, you are my second family. I can’t wait to get back home…..To Leogane……
LOVE
Dan
May 22nd, 2010, Haiti Blog: I Fell in love in Haiti...
If you know me, you know I love to love. I have completely fallen in love. I came out here alone not looking for love. I didn't know what I was looking for. I just knew I wanted to do something good. After enough weeks here though, you don't have a choice. You become close with people and eventually love is innevitable. Every morning I wake up I feel blessed just to know her. I am grateful for the fact that she has even given me a chance to get to know her. I love everything about her. Even on her bad days, their is still a deep inner beauty about her. Every single night I witness her doing something, and it just gives me the goosebumps. She is an amazing body of work from head to toe. When I need a hug, or feel home sick I know she is always there to support me. During the day we work together and it feels like magic. The beauty we create while were here is something I can't even put into words. Her brain is something I can't even comprehend. Each day something else blows my mind about her, and I start to understand a new component about her. Her talent and commitment to the project is like nothing I have ever seen before. She works so hard during the day that by the time night falls she doesn't mind a 10 o'clock curfew; because she is so spent, and just ready for the next day to take on the next challenge.
She makes me feel like I am apart of the team, even when I am drifting off in my own head. She is always there to talk to me, and make me laugh when I need it. I have never met anyone like this. When I feel alone, I know she will be there for me. She has the most broad spectrum of skills that everyday my mind is blown by suprise. Some nights I have trouble sleeping because I can't stop thinking about how beautiful she is. Her features start with the heart and the beauty doesn't stop from the inside out. Her name is Hands on Disaster Relief.
I am completely hooked. I think I have found something I want to do for a long time in my life. I wake up everyday just happy to be apart of such an amazing team of people. I live with a family of one hundred plus people now. My heart aches everytime someone I love leaves. At certain points during the day I wish Tuesday would never come, but I know I need this break to refresh my mind. 99% of the people here want to be here for the good of this suffering country. This country needs the love we are handing out. The smiles we get during the day are something that would make you melt at home. Their is something about this country that is infectious. Maybe it's the fact that you see smiles everywhere you go.
This country has been riddled with poverty for many years. Now it has been riddled with disaster and even more poverty. That doesn't stop the people of this country from feeling love. They have hope here, and you can see it everyday with every smile and every hug. They embrace us as one of their own. They speak to us as if we have been friends for years. They dedicate their time to helping us feel comfortable here as much as we dedicate out time to helping them recover. I thought I had a big heart before I came here. Compared to the people of Haiti I don't even have a pulse. I thought I had seen rock bottom in my life and than I came here. I won't even get into a total description of the destruction here, because I don't think I can do it justice without pictures. So, youll have to wait til I get home to hear about that element of this trip.
It melts your heart when people you don't know will give you everything when they have nothing to start with. This entire experience has been beautiful, and I have one last blog to write on Monday before I go home. I can tell you one thing though. I am in love.....
Can't wait to see you all. It makes me want to cry that I made it, and a bit more....
LOVE
Dan
She makes me feel like I am apart of the team, even when I am drifting off in my own head. She is always there to talk to me, and make me laugh when I need it. I have never met anyone like this. When I feel alone, I know she will be there for me. She has the most broad spectrum of skills that everyday my mind is blown by suprise. Some nights I have trouble sleeping because I can't stop thinking about how beautiful she is. Her features start with the heart and the beauty doesn't stop from the inside out. Her name is Hands on Disaster Relief.
I am completely hooked. I think I have found something I want to do for a long time in my life. I wake up everyday just happy to be apart of such an amazing team of people. I live with a family of one hundred plus people now. My heart aches everytime someone I love leaves. At certain points during the day I wish Tuesday would never come, but I know I need this break to refresh my mind. 99% of the people here want to be here for the good of this suffering country. This country needs the love we are handing out. The smiles we get during the day are something that would make you melt at home. Their is something about this country that is infectious. Maybe it's the fact that you see smiles everywhere you go.
This country has been riddled with poverty for many years. Now it has been riddled with disaster and even more poverty. That doesn't stop the people of this country from feeling love. They have hope here, and you can see it everyday with every smile and every hug. They embrace us as one of their own. They speak to us as if we have been friends for years. They dedicate their time to helping us feel comfortable here as much as we dedicate out time to helping them recover. I thought I had a big heart before I came here. Compared to the people of Haiti I don't even have a pulse. I thought I had seen rock bottom in my life and than I came here. I won't even get into a total description of the destruction here, because I don't think I can do it justice without pictures. So, youll have to wait til I get home to hear about that element of this trip.
It melts your heart when people you don't know will give you everything when they have nothing to start with. This entire experience has been beautiful, and I have one last blog to write on Monday before I go home. I can tell you one thing though. I am in love.....
Can't wait to see you all. It makes me want to cry that I made it, and a bit more....
LOVE
Dan
May 18th, 2010 Haiti Blog: HODR time, different than real time..
As each day goes by, our relationships grow by years here at HODR. If you don't know what that means, let me explain. WHen you are here, you build these relationships and they move at a rapid pace. Whether it be for the good or bad or the relationship, it moves at warp speed. Where else would you be discussing bowel movements within three days of knowing girls, guys, whatever. It's pretty funny how fast we all grow together. Just as fast as we grow together, we also learn more and more about people's personalities and can grow apart just as quickly. It's a shame, but it's reality. The rapid growing together though, is a thing of magic. I had really been close minded in my first couple of weeks here, and didn't expand my horizons fully due to the fear of not being accepted I guess? Everyone else here has already been fairly well world traveled and I am the straggler who has barely seen the walls outside of the US. Intimidation is the word I guess. As the days have gone by I realize that just as selfless these people are with helping the Haitian community. They are just as selfless at helping out our fellow family members. In the past few days I have hung out with people I thought disliked me in a big way. It turns out I am just a weirdo. No suprise to my people at home, but hey, I'm coming around...
A couple more really good people are leaving today. It gets really sad when some of your favorites leave. Like I said, if you have known someone here for three weeks, it literally feels like you've been life long friends. This experience has been the best of my life, and it is far far far from over. I will explain that in one of my last blogs before I go home on Tuesday!
It was strange to discuss some things with people, but it opened my eyes a bit. I got to hanging out with people that pretty much just rubble here and they feel like they are useless at times, and the work they do they didn't feel was gratifying enough. I explained to them that at one point I felt exactly the same way about NOT rubbling. We got to talking about it fairly deeply and came to the conclusion that HODR is an entire body of work. Each place has it's importance here, and without one the other would not be operating. It was shocking to hear that side of the sectrum because I would kill to be out in the field rubbling my face off. Although this week I am trying to get out of the office and do as much as I can in the field to take in the rest of this experience before MY BREAK...
A little update about my Haitian brother. He has been back and forth here for the past week, and I havent written anything about him because I was waiting to see what the deal was. He is finally coming in to live in Leogane, moving from Port au Prince to come work with HODR. I don't know if he will just be translating or working in the field as well, but I am super pumped for him, and I am so happy to have at least affected one persons life while I am here. I have made alot of local Haitian friends, but none of the others come up to hug me like they almost fainted without seeing me. Everytime I see Jermaise he tells me he had a dream about me, and misses me tons. It brings me to my knees once I get alone and think about it. People in America have their THINGS. People in Haiti have love. They have family. They have nothing else but hope. People in America, especially where I live replace their sadness with material things that really mean nothing in the big picture of things. To make up for peoples short comings at home, they think they need to buy a nice car to be accepted, or they need to goto the bar every night to show people how cool they are since they party with everyone. No, not here. Respect is the name of the game here. Show it and you shall receive it. Work hard and you will be noticed for what you are doing. Looks don't matter, our bodies are just shells. It's what's on the inside that makes the man(or woman :)). Thats what makes this place such a beautiful world. Not your bar tab. Not your car. Not your purse. I know it may sound redundant, but it just sinks in deeper with each day.
Some people here still don't understand that, but those are the people that form these small cliques and end up acting miserable for the time they're here. They goto bed early and wake up miserable anyway Enjoy yourself while you're here. This is the time of your life and you're pissed off? FUCK, that was me for a day or two but I snapped out of it. I have seen people progress into that miserable person I don't despise anymore. I just feel really bad for their souls. When I say go out and enjoy yourself too, I don't mean you have to go get drunk everynight like some people do. I just mean take in every single piece of beauty that your eyes catch in this wonderful country. Embrace the community and let them know that it is our honor to come help. Some of the people here are just absolute snobs, and think they are cool because they sit around and talk shit about the other volunteers, when in reality they are the ones who are being talked about. Because they come off as such pretentious assholes.
Enough about the assholes. Lets talk about the beauty. Monday night we all went out because we had off yesterday for Flag Day. After ten oclock curfew a bunch of us went onto the roof and just kicked it for awhile. Within a half hour of being up there a monsoon of rain poured down upon us. It was some of the best feelings I have ever experienced in my life. For the first time in Haiti, I was cold. The wind was blowing and the rain was falling. We all just sat and embraced it for a few minutes before we decided to crowd around underneath a tarp at someones tent. A group of about twelve of us just sat there and took in the rain. Laughing, talking, loving. It was just a scattered family of people embracing the beauty of this entire project. Where else does it rain and you are actualy fired up to be out in it? Everyone was so happy, and nothing was going to change that, for that minute. It was breathtaking.
Speaking of beautiful, as the days go by, you really see how much many people appreciate us. We walk the streets and just light up every persons smile with our broken creole and giant smiles. When we make purchases out here in the street, we are changing people's lives. Everything we do here feels good. Not for us, but for the people of Haiti. That's why we are here. For the people of Haiti. So, next time you are thinking about going out to get blackout drunk like some people do here on a daily basis. Think about the main reason you're here. Everytime you stumble out of the bar drunk you are just making a horrible example for the people on this island who just want a better life. Who cares about the fact you're making a fool of yourself. Think about the people....
I come home in five days and I can't wait to see the people I love. I don't know if it will be an embrace of hello, or just stopping in to say goodbye. Either way, I love and miss you all. You are the ones who make me want to be a better person for the world. Because I spent alot of time being that selfish asshole that only cared about what was going on with me. I am just thankful I found out at some point in my life that their is alot more to life than America.
LOVE
Dan
A couple more really good people are leaving today. It gets really sad when some of your favorites leave. Like I said, if you have known someone here for three weeks, it literally feels like you've been life long friends. This experience has been the best of my life, and it is far far far from over. I will explain that in one of my last blogs before I go home on Tuesday!
It was strange to discuss some things with people, but it opened my eyes a bit. I got to hanging out with people that pretty much just rubble here and they feel like they are useless at times, and the work they do they didn't feel was gratifying enough. I explained to them that at one point I felt exactly the same way about NOT rubbling. We got to talking about it fairly deeply and came to the conclusion that HODR is an entire body of work. Each place has it's importance here, and without one the other would not be operating. It was shocking to hear that side of the sectrum because I would kill to be out in the field rubbling my face off. Although this week I am trying to get out of the office and do as much as I can in the field to take in the rest of this experience before MY BREAK...
A little update about my Haitian brother. He has been back and forth here for the past week, and I havent written anything about him because I was waiting to see what the deal was. He is finally coming in to live in Leogane, moving from Port au Prince to come work with HODR. I don't know if he will just be translating or working in the field as well, but I am super pumped for him, and I am so happy to have at least affected one persons life while I am here. I have made alot of local Haitian friends, but none of the others come up to hug me like they almost fainted without seeing me. Everytime I see Jermaise he tells me he had a dream about me, and misses me tons. It brings me to my knees once I get alone and think about it. People in America have their THINGS. People in Haiti have love. They have family. They have nothing else but hope. People in America, especially where I live replace their sadness with material things that really mean nothing in the big picture of things. To make up for peoples short comings at home, they think they need to buy a nice car to be accepted, or they need to goto the bar every night to show people how cool they are since they party with everyone. No, not here. Respect is the name of the game here. Show it and you shall receive it. Work hard and you will be noticed for what you are doing. Looks don't matter, our bodies are just shells. It's what's on the inside that makes the man(or woman :)). Thats what makes this place such a beautiful world. Not your bar tab. Not your car. Not your purse. I know it may sound redundant, but it just sinks in deeper with each day.
Some people here still don't understand that, but those are the people that form these small cliques and end up acting miserable for the time they're here. They goto bed early and wake up miserable anyway Enjoy yourself while you're here. This is the time of your life and you're pissed off? FUCK, that was me for a day or two but I snapped out of it. I have seen people progress into that miserable person I don't despise anymore. I just feel really bad for their souls. When I say go out and enjoy yourself too, I don't mean you have to go get drunk everynight like some people do. I just mean take in every single piece of beauty that your eyes catch in this wonderful country. Embrace the community and let them know that it is our honor to come help. Some of the people here are just absolute snobs, and think they are cool because they sit around and talk shit about the other volunteers, when in reality they are the ones who are being talked about. Because they come off as such pretentious assholes.
Enough about the assholes. Lets talk about the beauty. Monday night we all went out because we had off yesterday for Flag Day. After ten oclock curfew a bunch of us went onto the roof and just kicked it for awhile. Within a half hour of being up there a monsoon of rain poured down upon us. It was some of the best feelings I have ever experienced in my life. For the first time in Haiti, I was cold. The wind was blowing and the rain was falling. We all just sat and embraced it for a few minutes before we decided to crowd around underneath a tarp at someones tent. A group of about twelve of us just sat there and took in the rain. Laughing, talking, loving. It was just a scattered family of people embracing the beauty of this entire project. Where else does it rain and you are actualy fired up to be out in it? Everyone was so happy, and nothing was going to change that, for that minute. It was breathtaking.
Speaking of beautiful, as the days go by, you really see how much many people appreciate us. We walk the streets and just light up every persons smile with our broken creole and giant smiles. When we make purchases out here in the street, we are changing people's lives. Everything we do here feels good. Not for us, but for the people of Haiti. That's why we are here. For the people of Haiti. So, next time you are thinking about going out to get blackout drunk like some people do here on a daily basis. Think about the main reason you're here. Everytime you stumble out of the bar drunk you are just making a horrible example for the people on this island who just want a better life. Who cares about the fact you're making a fool of yourself. Think about the people....
I come home in five days and I can't wait to see the people I love. I don't know if it will be an embrace of hello, or just stopping in to say goodbye. Either way, I love and miss you all. You are the ones who make me want to be a better person for the world. Because I spent alot of time being that selfish asshole that only cared about what was going on with me. I am just thankful I found out at some point in my life that their is alot more to life than America.
LOVE
Dan
May 17th, 2010 Haiti Blog: Winding down...
It has been quite the slow weekend. Yesterday literally was the longest day I have ever experienced. I couldn't goto the beach because of my leg and I had to stay on base for the day to give orientation for the new people coming in. I love doing it. I just also love getting out as much as I can and seeing what Leogane has to offer. Although, on Sunday everyone goes to Masaje, so I will probably never go there again on a sunday. Everyone is so cliche. Their are groups here that think they are cool, but they should realize we are here to help the people of Haiti, and not have a popularity competition. I wont allow myself to get caught up in it though. I am just going to enjoy the beauty of this place and the people I have grown to love.
Their are really so many amazing people on this base, and even more amazing Haitian people outside of this base. My new profile picture is of myself and my friend Dave who used to volunteer here for the local volunteers.
For my last week here before I take a break I am really going to focus on getting off the base as often as I can to just enjoy the culture of the markets here. Enjoy the people that want to make this country a better place, and make sure everyone I am with has the best experience of their life. It has been a long time here, and it has definitely worn on me, but it won't break me. Even though I have to work on the base during the day; I am going to make sure I get out there and soak in what is going on in this place. I have found a solid mix of people I love to spend time with and when I leave I know I will miss them more than I can imagine. I am just fortunate to even have this opportunity to have met such amazing people. I think the heat is one of the reasons I have been a bit grumpy lately. Yesterday it was so hot I really didn't know what I was gonna do. I finally took a bucket shower around 4PM and it changed my day around. It's amazing how the little things here can change everything.
THis has been quite the humbling experience. Mentally and physically. I have had many challenges during my stay here, and I feel like I have finally started to face them and conquer. Doing the duties of a base manager is tough because their is allllwaaayyyysss something that needs to be done. People are always asking questions, and you really don't get time off. Jess and Jess are some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. They always seem to keep a smile and just keep on moving forward. I might have to type that in every blog I write because I think they honestly deserve to hear that on a daily basis.
This week we will be finishing up building the school for the city, and it will be our first finished school here in Haiti since the beginning of the project. It's pretty cool to see things built from scratch into an operational school that the children are going to love. Also, we got in a huge container of clothing for the orphanage and their are some awesome things in there for them. We are thinking of going over there in the middle of the night with black masks and just dropping the clothes off in front of their tents so that they will all be suprised in the morning. It is really cool to have the means to do things like that. We have so many different amazing projects going on and finished that when I step back and really look at it. Its pretty amazing that HODR has accomplished all of these things. Itis really cool to be apart of this and the experience is one I will be taking with me for the rest of my life. As well as the friends I have made here. We have shared a bond together that most people can't even comprehend. Alot of us are all experiencing things for the first time in our lives and it is hard to even put it into words.
I have a bunch of written outlines I plan on writing about once I get home, but while I am here it is really tough to put everything that has happened into words. I really needa break and than I will be able to proccess the information much better and put it into a readable format.
I gotta run to a morning meeting, but I absolutely love you all at home. Only one week left until I can be reunited with the people I love, and a slightly cooler climate...
LOVE
Dan
Their are really so many amazing people on this base, and even more amazing Haitian people outside of this base. My new profile picture is of myself and my friend Dave who used to volunteer here for the local volunteers.
For my last week here before I take a break I am really going to focus on getting off the base as often as I can to just enjoy the culture of the markets here. Enjoy the people that want to make this country a better place, and make sure everyone I am with has the best experience of their life. It has been a long time here, and it has definitely worn on me, but it won't break me. Even though I have to work on the base during the day; I am going to make sure I get out there and soak in what is going on in this place. I have found a solid mix of people I love to spend time with and when I leave I know I will miss them more than I can imagine. I am just fortunate to even have this opportunity to have met such amazing people. I think the heat is one of the reasons I have been a bit grumpy lately. Yesterday it was so hot I really didn't know what I was gonna do. I finally took a bucket shower around 4PM and it changed my day around. It's amazing how the little things here can change everything.
THis has been quite the humbling experience. Mentally and physically. I have had many challenges during my stay here, and I feel like I have finally started to face them and conquer. Doing the duties of a base manager is tough because their is allllwaaayyyysss something that needs to be done. People are always asking questions, and you really don't get time off. Jess and Jess are some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. They always seem to keep a smile and just keep on moving forward. I might have to type that in every blog I write because I think they honestly deserve to hear that on a daily basis.
This week we will be finishing up building the school for the city, and it will be our first finished school here in Haiti since the beginning of the project. It's pretty cool to see things built from scratch into an operational school that the children are going to love. Also, we got in a huge container of clothing for the orphanage and their are some awesome things in there for them. We are thinking of going over there in the middle of the night with black masks and just dropping the clothes off in front of their tents so that they will all be suprised in the morning. It is really cool to have the means to do things like that. We have so many different amazing projects going on and finished that when I step back and really look at it. Its pretty amazing that HODR has accomplished all of these things. Itis really cool to be apart of this and the experience is one I will be taking with me for the rest of my life. As well as the friends I have made here. We have shared a bond together that most people can't even comprehend. Alot of us are all experiencing things for the first time in our lives and it is hard to even put it into words.
I have a bunch of written outlines I plan on writing about once I get home, but while I am here it is really tough to put everything that has happened into words. I really needa break and than I will be able to proccess the information much better and put it into a readable format.
I gotta run to a morning meeting, but I absolutely love you all at home. Only one week left until I can be reunited with the people I love, and a slightly cooler climate...
LOVE
Dan
May 15th, 2010 Haiti Blog: My body is falling apart. I feel like my mind is next.
As you know, since I have been here I have gone from injury to injury. I never get hurt at home. It's a whole new world here. You geta cut at home, and you can just wait a few days and it'll scab up and just go away. Not here. If you have a cut, you better fix and clean that shit twice a day. I ended up with this horrible infection that will most likely last until it's time for me to go home. It's tearing me apart inside. I try not to let it, but I can see it affect my friendships here. I find myself becomming one of the people I despise. This is one of the most intense environements I have ever found myself in. Mntally and physically. If it weren't for one of my friends here having my back the entire time, I never would have made it through this journey. I have nine more days left and I really want to try to make the absolute best of them. Tuesday is National flag day here and we have off. Their will be a giant parade and such so that should be a really good time. We have a half day today because we're having a barbeque in the afternoon with the locals.
I have just felt like such a letdown the past few days because I havent been able to do much off the base, but I have tried to do anything I could for the base. They made me one of the base managers, which means I am responsible for pretty much everything that happens here, including making sure people have rides to and from work and greeting all the new people who come in and giving them a house tour and making sure they undrstand all the rules. Marc, the ruler of our kingdom tries to tell me that what we do on the base is just as important, if not more than what we do outside the base. Because if our base wasn't running properly, than nothing on the outside would be running at all. But thats just like when you tell someone who thinks they are ugly that they are pretty. You could tell them a million times, but they just need to actually believe it themselves before it means anything to them.
I gotta run I have to escort someone out into the market to grab some items for the base I want to write more about whats goin on inside of the camp so I will be updating this afternoon as well
Love and miss you all
LOVE
Dan
I have just felt like such a letdown the past few days because I havent been able to do much off the base, but I have tried to do anything I could for the base. They made me one of the base managers, which means I am responsible for pretty much everything that happens here, including making sure people have rides to and from work and greeting all the new people who come in and giving them a house tour and making sure they undrstand all the rules. Marc, the ruler of our kingdom tries to tell me that what we do on the base is just as important, if not more than what we do outside the base. Because if our base wasn't running properly, than nothing on the outside would be running at all. But thats just like when you tell someone who thinks they are ugly that they are pretty. You could tell them a million times, but they just need to actually believe it themselves before it means anything to them.
I gotta run I have to escort someone out into the market to grab some items for the base I want to write more about whats goin on inside of the camp so I will be updating this afternoon as well
Love and miss you all
LOVE
Dan
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