Time For Me to Fly

With Christmas arriving in a few days and less than a week left before I leave for Haiti, my house is a strange mix of typhoid pills and frosted cookies. And while the trip is approaching fast, it really feels like I've got at least another month or so left for all the packing and preparing I still have left to do.

There is, however, finally some clear indication of what we will be doing during our 17 days in Port-au-Prince. Our time will be spent working with an organization called Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH). NPH has what they call their 'compound' that includes their hospital, therapy center, special needs school, an orphanage, and the cholera treatment center. Originally, the plan was to spend much of our time with the children of the orphanage. However, after the outbreak of cholera (longer post on this to come), we decided that we will be more useful if we assist with the care for the patients at NPH's cholera treatment center.

This means that many days will consist of waking up early, putting on some scrubs, and heading off to the cholera treatment center for the day to clean up after the real doctors, and assisting in anyway possible. On other days, we will also have some time to spend with the orphans at NPH, which should be rather awesome.

Upon arrival in Port-au-Prince Airport, NPH will have a representative picking us up and taking us straight to the 'compound.' Due to the current political environment, we will not be leaving the NPH campus unless accompanied by an experienced member of their staff. This is probably for the best, as the recent weeks have produced protests and riots over the highly controversial presidential elections. There may be some sketchy moments near where we are staying, but I don't anticipate being in the middle of a tear gas battle with UN officials unless I turn very radical in my views in the next three weeks.

The closer I get to leaving, the more the excitement grows. Until then, I will enjoy myself some eggnog and Christmas cookies to wash down the newly started regiment of malaria pills.

Merry Christmas to All!