Etasunis

I made it home safe and sound with no problems in travel. New England is so beautiful and so green. Like right out of a crayola crayon box. This transition home seems easier than others. So good of course to see mike and my family and so grateful for all our blessings here. Hugs to all of the moms in our lives who inspire us to things greater than ourselves. Many thanks for continually lifting me up while I was away. A bit of final musing reflection:

When the Teacher is also the Student

We come to HAS eager to teach; eager to share what we know with the students of the Rehab Technician Training Program (RTTP). We think and discuss and come up with ideas of how best to get the material across. We talk about how to organize labs and schedule observations of patients in the clinic. We make games, organize diagrams, practice review questions and create discussion questions. We plan and prepare and want to do the very best to share with these precious students as much information as we can in the short time we spend with them. We want them to succeed, to learn the material and grow more confident in putting the knowledge into practice in real time.

And then we enter the classroom – and discover how much we have to learn. Over the month that we spend with these students they will teach us more than we could have imagined. We will give them our knowledge and skills, and they will teach us about the culture here and how better to teach and treat patients in the culture that they know best. They bring us their unique insight into the struggles and joys of living in Haiti. They lighten us with their humor to see the bright side of a life that often has few spots of joy, but many moments of peace. They invite us into their lives, and inquire after our own back wherever we came from. They patiently teach and practice Kreyol with us – delighting when we get it right, dissolving into infectious laughter when we come up with ridiculous attempts. They ask the hard questions about who will survive, and for how long. Who will take care of them. What will become of them. They teach us about the strength and beauty of their people, their cultures, beliefs and traditions and encourage our curiosity to learn more.

Our times moves quickly and before we know it or are ready, the days draw to a close. We realize that the tables have in fact been turned, that we have learned as much, if not more, than what we have taught. We leave behind bits of knowledge and tools for providing compassionate and family centered rehabilitation. We take with us a renewed appreciation for life and its simple joys in the midst of times of struggle. We are inspired by the stories that we have been fortunate to be a part of. We return vowing to be more patient, more compassionate, stronger, more humble. The grace of Haiti leaves its mark on each of us – taught by those who know it best, its students.

Last night

As I came back to the house tonight the generator switched off and for a few moments the sky was brilliant with all the stars. How amazing that we all look up at the same sky no matter where we are. It was a good last day. The students were in fine form. Finished their exam this afternoon with flying colors! We shared a celebration with cookies and a few small gifts for them which they were very pleased about. They sent me off with a farewell song written and preformed by them to thank me. It was very sweet and I'll try to upload the video to the blog when I get home. It is always a mixture of emotions to come home. Of course I cant wait to see mike and my family and the changes on the house but there is also a sweet sadness to the ending of this chapter. Edith and Susan are great and will continue to lead the students well but it is hard not to become attached. They are a very sweet bunch. There is also a simplicity to life here that will be hard to leave. It is just my quest to keep this open mind and heart no matter where I am. Not to take for granted even the little things. Thanks for all your prayers.

De mon pa fa n m kontre min de moun ka kontre.
Two mountains can't connect but two people can.

Mon

Edith and Susan have arrived from Canada and were ready to start their component of teaching today. We finished speech, swallowing and feeding yesterday and they all did well on their exams. Today I was able to go out with one of last year's tech students Ronel. He was hired by HAS and is currently assigned to the most rural dispensary, Bastien. We left campus at 7 for an hour ride up into the mountains and then headed off on foot. We walked from 8 until 2 stopping in to see 7 patients over the course of the day. A new twist on home care! I was so pleased to see how well Ronel is doing. It is hard, difficult work and very solitary with no one to problem solve. We went to see some of his tougher cases to see if I could help give him ideas. The prognosis is pretty hard out there. An hour walk from the dispensary where you can see a nurse. Another hour by car (if you have access to one) if you need to see a doctor. Ronel was doing a great job with the resources he had and had a good rapport with the community. It is often the only was to bring rehab to the people as they have no way of getting down into the towns, particularly if handicapped.

The roads to bastien

The path

School in the mountains

Practicing taking blood pressure

Ronel working with child as siblings chickens and pigs watch

Ronel working with 11 year old with leg paralysis