Monkey Brain Musings

Last week I returned to Portland for a couple of days. I had a wonderful visit with my folks and had dinner with some of the amazing people I went to Haiti with. My parents and I also had lunch with Joe and Linda, the founders of Haiti Foundation of Hope, which was also wonderful. I had another meeting with Jamie, at MTI, which always gets me excited for my next trip and nostalgic for my last one. The framework for my Honduras trip has started, as far as the dates, but the trip itself is still in the making. So far, Jamie is thinking I will go to two separate healthcare facilities for training and assessments. I'm also set to return to Haiti next February, with many of the people who were on my last trip! I HAVE SO MUCH TO FIGURE OUT!!! I have to put together formal Training Curriculum, get a better handle on how to perform Assessments, and I only have 24 hours in the day...which is lame. In the mean time, I am very involved with the MSUB Foundation and our big annual fundraiser is

I'm still sorting through photos, thinking of all of the things miss about Haiti. I have written before about how much I love the drive to and from Terre Blanche. It's about 4 to 5 hours of stop and go driving, through crowded towns, past rice fields, along the main paved road, as well as a few sketchy side roads. It's incredible. There is an amazing contrast between the stark poverty and the abundance, the dark, rich skin of the Haitians and the bright colors of the clothes, produce, and buildings. It's a feast for the eyes and soul. It pulls at my heart every time I look over the photographs. I am fascinated with the various street vendors and their wares, It's hard not to admire the ingenuity of the proprietors, even if it stems from desperation. It's just another reason why I dream of going back. I am going to Portland next week, to visit my folks, my friends (new and old), and meet with my volunteer coordinator at MTI...a chance to rehash my trip to Haiti a