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
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