We're happy to say we arrived to Restauracion without any security issues or lost luggage. Each of us were placed with a family within walking distance. It was a little bit of an adjustment not having internet or hot water, but overall we've felt very welcomed and almost at home here. Here in Restauracion, FIMRC coordinates many activities here and in Haiti every week. The mornings are usually divided between the hospital and the local clinic, except for the one day per week we go to Haiti. The afternoon usually focuses on educational activities at a local school, library, or by going door to door to educate the locals. In January we are focusing on HIV/AIDS education.
 |
| The view from the FIMRC office. |
Living in Restauracion: Life here is very different from what we are used to in the US. We have scheduled power outages every other day. Running water tends to alternate with the electricity. Oh, and we don't flush toilet paper! Every night there's music playing at various bars throughout the town. It is a bit humid here but none of us can complain when the temperature hovers around 80F.
 |
| Group discussion. |
Visiting Haiti was a very touching experience- the living conditions there are extremely bad. They still have cholera outbreaks. Their access to water and electricity is much more limited. Most houses resemble shacks and have dirt floors. Many Haitians try to escape poverty by crossing through the porous border into Dominican Republic only to face low wages, racism, extortion, and possible violence.
 |
| The group in Haiti. |
No comments:
Post a Comment