February 3, 2001 Day 1 in Haiti
Today was a day of great change and transition. It started off as a very early morning at a snow covered JFK airport. Then a quiet sleepy flight with a surprising breakfast service. Once in Haiti, the airport was a loud confusing scene as porters scrambled over each other to assist arriving passengers. The luggage carousel as somewhat chaotic as the luggage belt delivered bags to porters desperate to help travelers.
The hot almost 90 degree temperature was a stark change from cold New York. The vehicle that took us to the guest house was called a tap tap truck. The two lane road moved slowly pass vendors selling their goods, funeral homes, and local shops. Drivers showed great imagination as they improvised and used the sidewalk as a passing lane. We passed by posters of presidential candidates and local vendors lined the route. The beautiful mountains shined in the distance as the Haitian people ate their lunches smiling, showing great pride for their country The day ended with a great dinner, a brief orientation and a group reflection on the day. The New York winter seems far removed from the setting we now find ourselves. We have stepped into a much different climate, culture and surroundings. We will sleep in our cozy rooms and prepare for our early journey to Petit Groave and a visit to the work site
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