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.