14/5/10

Today is my first day in Haiti. I woke up at 4am at my sister's house, then a quick trip to the Miami airport, then a 2 hour flight to Port au Prince. Then the adventure really began. I thought that getting through customs was nerve racking, but the trip outside the airport to the gate was enough to cause anyone to have a nervous breakdown. There were people everywhere that wanted to "help" Unfortunately, each time someone "helped" you by touching your luggage you needed to tip them. Saying "No" did not mean anything. It was overwhelming and terrifying. BUt I made it through, not too much poorer.



We had an hour long drive from the airpot to the hospital. When I had heard the roads were not paved, I was expecting something that resembled a friends driveway. If only. What there was instead was cobblestones with raw sewage everywhere, dirty and wet. The cars were zooming in and out of traffic at speeds that aren't normally used in traffic that close. I doubt there are any traffic laws here. People dodge the cars with inches to spare, and if you want to go around the car in front of you, why make your own lane, or better yet, go into the oncoming traffic. Nonetheless, we arrived safely. But it was a ride I will not soon forget.