Saturday, January 22, 2011

Home sweet Haiti

We are safe and sound on the ground in Limbe! The plane trip from Miami to Cap Haitian was smooth as can be. They hadn't loaded any luggage on the plane (that's right, ANY), so we waited at the airport for the next plane 45 minutes later. Thankfully everything was on it (it was the only other flight for the day), and we all piled into the van.

The road trip was very bumpy and quite a quick snapshot of the poverty that is around us. The earthquake didn't really affect this area - we are pretty far north and the epicenter was at Port au Prince on the southern half. But, the amount of crumbled buildings just from decay is still profound. We got to the hospital compound an hour later, unpacked, had some lunch (very yummy), took a tour of the hospital and then went for a walk through the market.

It was an extremely crowded circle of booths and vending stations selling, beans, tomatoes, underwear, soda, shrimp, dried fish, chicken feet, greens, soap, pharmacy mystery pills, water, oil, shirts, skirts and other necessities. We heard a lot of "blanc" as we walked through. Though we certainly stick out like a sore thumb, the market is very near the hospital compound, so the locals seem to know who we are and why we are here.

We will start work on Monday, though the cholera unit is running 24/7. The numbers are down right now (only 7 patients) and there is a full time MD from Canada covering that. For now, we are acclimating.

Love to you all! I am very well. For me, the only real worry was getting here. So, that is done! I will try to keep things up to date!

becca

3 comments:

dr. ansari said...

Hello honey! Everybody is cold but doing well back home. Cal is sporting a small fever but ok. We are getting ready to head to your parents for the sleepover. Looks like Jay and the Boz girls will be joining us for our first Roller Derby Bout! Good tour last night but had problems with the chiller. I now have the wrath of Mark from a improperly sent out email. Oh well. Is this the best way to communicate our are you getting emails?
We all love you and looking forward tom seeing you in a week!
Omar

spicydish said...

had the kids last night, naseem made lots of pizzas. woke up this morning with leo singing in his crib "the itsy bitsy spider.." cal complained of a headache and threw up but was fine afterwards.
tomorrow we will have family dinner at your house, i'll bring some chicken.
we think of you, stay healthy!

Unknown said...

Kids in bed. Cal beat me at Othello. Spencer gave Grandpa a run for his money in Battleship - I think it ended in a draw. Hope you get good sleep. Love