Has anyone been to Haiti?

M

maycee

Well-known member
I've accepted a position with a non-profit here in Florida that supports the Haitian people with technology (such as a concrete recycler that takes cattle dung and as it compresses it creates power that can operate a small refrigerator and a light bulb as it produces an extremely rich fertilizer), medicine/health, education and other basic needs.

They will be sending the entire staff (all 7 of us) to Haiti for 4 days over Thanksgiving. I'm getting bits and pieces of information for those who have already been there but I'm getting the feeling they are holding back.

We will be staying at a guest house that was built for retired Catholic priests that decided they didn't want to move to the area. It has no hot water and intermittent electricity. Each room has it's own bathroom for cold showers, no air-conditioning but does have a ceiling fan. Each bed has a mosquito tent but you have to be sure you check the bed for things that crawl or slither. Can't drink the water and the milk comes fresh from the cow or goat.

Even though I'm a plugged-in kinda person(electric toothbrush, electric razor, hairdryer for the few remaining ones, bi-pap machine to keep me breathing at night) I'm looking forward to this trip.

Mosquitos love me so I'm sure I'll be returning with malaria which will be a new experience.

I'm getting no sympathy at all from Ed-"Mr. Peace Corps in Nigeria For Two Years" He seems to forget that that was over 50 years ago!

 
Wow! Congratulations, Michael. smileys/smile.gif How exciting!

Can you get anti-malarial shots before you go? Mosquitoes feast on me, too, so I'm sure I'd be a goner there...

Are you going to attempt a Thanksgiving dinner while there? smileys/wink.gif

 
Reminds me of my Caribbean home after the hurricane. It truly, truly, was dismal.

(being entirely alone didn't help either) One thing that helped a lot was a solar panel to run a tiny generator. It provided enough electricity to run a small fan to allow 3 hours of sleep a night. For only 4 days, I wouldn't buy one but if you have one or any solar-operated bits, that would help. There are lots of good battery-operated lights around now.

And you'll probably get malaria and tetanus shots??

Having water will be a huge bonus. A luxury.

That's the end of the hurricane season so no big action likely. But it can be very humid and almost clammy then but cooler. It will be an adventure but 4 days will be totally tolerable. Don't you love life's adventures?

 
WOW, Joe! I didn't know that about catnip and we have a planter full of it on the deck.

I was thinking about you and your goat for the concrete recycler.

 
Thanks, Erin. There is an excellent cook that puts out a lavish buffet for guests every night.

I will be doing Thanksgiving before I leave.

 
I won't be lonely! There are 6 exceptionally smart women on staff and I'm now the token male.

They said that after the heat and humidity, a cold shower is most welcoming.

 
I have 13 tablets of generic malarone left over from my trip to Cambodia

last January. The pharmacy gave me too much. It is quite expensive but worth it to prevent malaria. I would be more than happy to send it to you, I won't be needing it any time soon. I was advised to take one tablet a day for 3 days prior to departure, take it for the entire trip and also a week after.

Janet

PS. Battery powered toothbrushes are great.

 
Take my goats, PLEASE! (I hadn't heard about catnip either. I was checking out Vitamin smileys/cool.gif

 
My nephew tells of sleeping under bats in Ghana and eating unspeakable things from tribesmen...

At least you have indoor accommodations and a fan!! Almost the Hilton!!!
We will expect pics smileys/smile.gif

 
No, but I was in Thailand after the tsunami. My guidebook went to print a

month after the tsunami and the section for the islands on that coast was completely blank. My guest house was on the opposite side of the island so every day walking into town, I'd walk past piles of old matresses, abandoned toilets, etc. Because it was an island, everything was shipped in, but no one was willing to pay to make the massive amount of garbage leave. I suspect you'll see a lot of that as well.

It sounds like you have a handle on what to expect. If the citizens need to burn cow dung for energy, it sounds like conditions in Haiti are still rough.

I've traveled in several developing countries. Here are a few thoughts:

- Get your shots. (Start early. Some need to build up over time.)
- I bet portable packets of dehydrated Gatorade are available for hydration (dump it into a water bottle & shake.) I'd bring some.
- Will you need a water filtration system? Might be a good idea to bring one--just in case. Any camping store will have them.
- Bring sanitation wipes/baby wipes. Wipe down hands and surfaces regularly.
- Under those circumstances, a flashlight will probably come in handy. (If it's windy, candles blow out. Generators fail or shut off earlier than you might expect.)
- I'd expect rubble and mud (Isn't November hurricane season?). Pack your closed toed shoes.
- I never go barefoot--especially in the shower.
- Apparently there's an adapter for cameras that allow you to take Polaroid-style images--and it spits out a photo right there. In developing countries it's rare for people to get their picture taken and have a copy. Even if they did, they probably lost it in the quake. Taking photos like these & sharing them make for touching moments...and fast friends.
- Bring toilet paper. (I stick a whole roll in a plastic bag. Check your shoe boxes. If there's a packet of silica in there, toss it in with your toilet paper--it helps absorb moisture and will keep your TP dry.) There's never enough toilet paper(if they have it) and even if you don't use it in the bathroom, it's handy to wipe your face, wrap things in, etc.
- With no air conditioning, baby powder becomes vital. Use it liberally (everywhere) to stay cool and wick away moisture.
- Also with no AC, try to wean yourself off of it as much as possible before going. It's amazing how heat zaps your energy, but you can build up a tolerance for it. (I once spent a summer in Georgia with no AC. I couldn't tell you if it was 90 or 110. We just got used to the heat.)
- Bring a sewing kit. In the heat and humidity, clothes wear out much faster. (I once had to sew my shoe back together.)
- Get travel insurance. If you need to come back, at least you'll have the peace of mind knowing that you can.

 
Traca these comments are right on!!!

I would add a couple of extra memory cards and a supply of zip lock bags. The polaroid idea is fabulous -- I used to photograph folks in the villages of Guatemala and make another trip to deliver the 4x6 prints. I was always welcome in those villages. Having the prints on the spot would be great.

Hopefully, Michael, you will have some cross cultural training. Learn the signs people give in dangerous situations and always be aware of the moods around you. I have been reading how the various programs are behind in their progress and you may come across the disgruntled. Just be careful.

Start your malaria meds early and keep them up. Traca is so right - don't ever go barefoot. I would try to wear shoes and socks (take lots of cotton socks). Cotton underwear too!

Make copies of your passport and keep them in another place from the original. If you lose your papers the consulate will be happy to have the copy and you will get your replacement more quickly.

Congratulations on your adventure!!

 
Michael, can you not take anti Malaria drugs? I'm sure you've been alerted to the shots you need.

 
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