Post Haiti

 

One Week Ago I was on a plane heading from Port Au Prince, Haiti to Ft. Larderdale, Florida. Although not feeling 100% I wasn't ready to leave, at all. I wanted to stay I wanted to do more! I know at least two others felt this way while a few other couldn't wait to be back home for various reasons.

I feel like I could talk about my time in Haiti for hours, although I do find it hard to talk to most of my friends and family about it. Something is just missing when I talk to them about it. I feel almost as if they don't fully understand. (But they do all seem to listen)

This past week I've had such a hard time focusing on just about anything I try to concentrate on, especially during classes. My mind has been on Haiti, and my Heart has been is in Haiti. I've been brainstorming on additional ways to help the community, and BLB. I've been talking with my family about going back for Christmas. (I'm just honoring my dad's wish of waiting a month before I commit) I've been thinking about ways to fundraiser for additional trip. I've even began talking to friends who I KNOW would love Haiti and working on a time when we could possibly go together as a Britsionary group. 

In addition to Haiti I miss my people from my group!

Most would agree that I am typically passionate about almost everything I do. So I understand where people like my dad are coming from when he said wait a month and see if the feeling is still this strong before you give yourself for Christmas. I completely understand where he is coming from. I'm passionate about everywhere that I volunteer for. I love the shelters in Thailand, and I have said that I do want to go back. That is still true, however I have never seen myself making a life out of living in Thailand forever, maybe a month, but not forever. Purrs N' Pup-  I do still see myself with them forever, regardless of how distant I've been forced to become over the past year, PNP will always be my Rescue. Even if  move away and can't foster for them, PNP is still my rescue, and where I grew up, It's a group I'll always promote and help when I can. 

And now Haiti and Be Like Brit. Although this, this time I feel different. Not it a bad way, but in a better way. I've always struggled with a sense of who I am and what makes me different than my sisters. What makes me stand out. And most of all finding where I'll get what I want in my life. Haiti, man, Haiti showed me all of this in ways I can't describe. In ways that I don't even think I fully understand. I feel different about my trip to Haiti and volunteering with Be Like Brit. I loved it more than words can describe, and it feels so different to me than anywhere or anything else. Strangely I felt HOME, not "at home" but HOME. In a land that I had never been, with a language that I knew 3 phases in, with people who I had never met before, acting in situations I had never been put in before, witnessing things that one would never imagine, helping those who I never even saw or heard about before beginning to build, truly laughing with people I don't speak the same language, crying with those I had seen but never had a full conversation with before Haiti, and loving and being loved by those I just met. Haiti is a place where I never thought to feel at home. A place where I never thought I'd leave my entire heart in, a place where there is so much hope, love and laughter regardless of what little they have or will ever have. 

Since the Earthquake in 2010 I have wanted to volunteer in Haiti but never found the right opportunity. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have gone last week. I'm upset it took so long for me to get there, but I'm beyond excited I had it. I want to go back, I want to WORK, AID, and make Haiti a part of me everyday. I'm not quite sure how or where to stat, but I truly wish to make it happen. I will however take Jonathan's advise and experience working in Orphanages in other places as well, but I really believe Haiti will always be number one.