Props to Tom & Michelle who are getting me a newer, functional, lightweight head lamp! Thanks! Props to Amanda, who's currently with a group from Kaiser in New Orleans helping to clean up houses, build playgrounds and baseball diamonds, and set up clinics. It's been great to read your emails, and you're inspiring me to stay motivated for my trip to Haiti! Lastly, I'm so excited that SMU DPT grads Kathy & Bryan will be going to Haiti in September to volunteer with AdvantageHaiti! Hopefully I can give you some good, practical advice when I get back!
I had an interesting conversation the other day about my trip. I had just met these folks (a chiropractor and a massage therapist), and they were both genuinely excited that I was going to Haiti, but both of them didn't even know if anyone in their professions were on the ground there nor did they have any idea who they would contact to see if they could volunteer. Now, I'm going to be completely upfront...I'm a big supporter and believer in professional organizations. I'm a proud member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and I'm actively involved. And this trip is one tiny example of why.
I found AdvantageHaiti through the APTA. That's right. Only a few days after the earthquake, the APTA already had a page up with groups supported by or run by members who were working to provide physical therapy. In January, when the earthquake happened, I wasn't able to get out of work and other professional obligations, and thought it was nice of them to serve as a clearinghouse of information for people who could volunteer. Once I realized my summer load would allow me to volunteer, I returned to that same information page on the APTA's website, and started my search for a program to volunteer with, and was happy to see the page had been periodically updated. Right there, my association dues at work!
I wonder how many other needed volunteers have had trouble accessing the information they need to make an informed decision about how and when and with whom to volunteer because they aren't connected with their professional association, didn't think to use their professional association, or their associations don't provide this type of member service? It also made me both proud and glad to be a member of my own professional association. Well done, APTA.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
No Travel Delays, This Time
Props to Kristin (got the 4 pairs of scrubs, and they fit!) and Lorraine (for 3.33 days at the guesthouse)! Also, thanks to Nikki for helping to collect and organize the Samuel Merritt University DPT Class of 2011 drive to collect requested items to bring! You guys are amazing, so thanks.
Back safe and sound from a week in sunny, relaxing Mazatlan. Which, while not a true miracle, was not what a lot of other travellers experienced this last week. Between the ash cloud airplane delays all over Europe, to the protests in Thailand, I thought more than once on this trip that half of travel not just picking the "right" place to visit, but actually arriving there. I've got my fair share of travel delays (who doesn't, these days), a story of an aborted flight on take-off due to a bird strike knocking out an engine (complete with the dump of jet fuel and landing on the runway with the Fire Brigade out in force), and experienced lost bags (with the one time occurring just after an ice storm in Toronto and requiring shopping 2 days before Christmas). Heck, my purse got nicked in Italy (darn #1 bus stop in Turino). But, as a wise friend told me after my purse was stolen, "Someday this will just be a hilarious story you can tell people." And here I am, telling you.
But it does make one think, just being alive is dangerous, and travel (honestly) adds to that danger. It's up to you to plan, be prepared, make the most of the strange occurrences travel (and life) throw at you. Danger be damned. But it's no excuse for a lack of preparation. 77 days until I leave for Haiti, what to do first?
Back safe and sound from a week in sunny, relaxing Mazatlan. Which, while not a true miracle, was not what a lot of other travellers experienced this last week. Between the ash cloud airplane delays all over Europe, to the protests in Thailand, I thought more than once on this trip that half of travel not just picking the "right" place to visit, but actually arriving there. I've got my fair share of travel delays (who doesn't, these days), a story of an aborted flight on take-off due to a bird strike knocking out an engine (complete with the dump of jet fuel and landing on the runway with the Fire Brigade out in force), and experienced lost bags (with the one time occurring just after an ice storm in Toronto and requiring shopping 2 days before Christmas). Heck, my purse got nicked in Italy (darn #1 bus stop in Turino). But, as a wise friend told me after my purse was stolen, "Someday this will just be a hilarious story you can tell people." And here I am, telling you.
But it does make one think, just being alive is dangerous, and travel (honestly) adds to that danger. It's up to you to plan, be prepared, make the most of the strange occurrences travel (and life) throw at you. Danger be damned. But it's no excuse for a lack of preparation. 77 days until I leave for Haiti, what to do first?
Friday, April 16, 2010
Going, just when the going gets good
[Please note: now accepting your generous support of donations via PayPal. Link is to the right.]
Props to Reuben for sending me an email today reminding me I'm NOT insane for doing this. Because I have moments. I tend to be the type of person who mulls over an idea for a while, and then suddenly decides to jump in head first. It's not really as impulsive as it may look to outsiders, the mulling is pretty substantial and prolonged, but when I jump I'm all in. This was one of those decisions.
I do have concerns or doubts, even with the excessive amount of positive support and adrenaline this plan has sparked. From this silly and self-centered (Malarone will be required, and it gives me funky dreams after about 10 days), to the serious and scary (the Frontline on Haiti 6 weeks after the quake was an eye opener). But fluctuating feelings is a by-product of being human, and only because I'm so excited and emotionally invested is this even the case.
Funny enough, on what probably sounds like an unrelated note, I found this piece about Mt. St. Mary's College in LA to give me pause. I've always tried to volunteer (with all those years in Girls Scouts when I was younger, followed by Semper Comites in high school), but I wonder how much of a different person I might be if I hadn't stepped out of the box and done the unexpected and attended the Mount? Would I be the kind of person planning for a "Haiti Birthday?"* Would I be doing this, now? Would I even be considering it? I'd like to think I would, but honestly I can't say with certainty if that would be the case.
Well, on other fronts...I'll be away for the next week. I know, bad planning. Start this up, just to ditch ship for a week. Oh well, life isn't always what you plan, sometimes it's just what happens. I'm off for what I hope is a well deserved vacation in sunny Mazatlan.** I'll be sure to bring back some stories of that trip to post here, as well as some photo updates. Have a great week, and thanks in advance for your support!
*tm Andy (I told you I was stealing that, just too hilarious!)
** which is in Mexico, in case you didn't know (and yes, I'm looking at you, Jim)
Props to Reuben for sending me an email today reminding me I'm NOT insane for doing this. Because I have moments. I tend to be the type of person who mulls over an idea for a while, and then suddenly decides to jump in head first. It's not really as impulsive as it may look to outsiders, the mulling is pretty substantial and prolonged, but when I jump I'm all in. This was one of those decisions.
I do have concerns or doubts, even with the excessive amount of positive support and adrenaline this plan has sparked. From this silly and self-centered (Malarone will be required, and it gives me funky dreams after about 10 days), to the serious and scary (the Frontline on Haiti 6 weeks after the quake was an eye opener). But fluctuating feelings is a by-product of being human, and only because I'm so excited and emotionally invested is this even the case.
Funny enough, on what probably sounds like an unrelated note, I found this piece about Mt. St. Mary's College in LA to give me pause. I've always tried to volunteer (with all those years in Girls Scouts when I was younger, followed by Semper Comites in high school), but I wonder how much of a different person I might be if I hadn't stepped out of the box and done the unexpected and attended the Mount? Would I be the kind of person planning for a "Haiti Birthday?"* Would I be doing this, now? Would I even be considering it? I'd like to think I would, but honestly I can't say with certainty if that would be the case.
Well, on other fronts...I'll be away for the next week. I know, bad planning. Start this up, just to ditch ship for a week. Oh well, life isn't always what you plan, sometimes it's just what happens. I'm off for what I hope is a well deserved vacation in sunny Mazatlan.** I'll be sure to bring back some stories of that trip to post here, as well as some photo updates. Have a great week, and thanks in advance for your support!
*tm Andy (I told you I was stealing that, just too hilarious!)
** which is in Mexico, in case you didn't know (and yes, I'm looking at you, Jim)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Ask and you shall receive...who knew?
OMG. You guys! Who knew asking could go so well?
So far, not 5 hours after the shameless pandering and pulling of heart strings began...
So far, not 5 hours after the shameless pandering and pulling of heart strings began...
- Andy's got me covered on the $100 iPhone solar charger. And a promise of sticks and tweezers to deal with parasites (ha!).
- Reuben has stepped up to cover both the overnight Miami hotel AND my taxi transfers in Port-au-Prince. Awesome!
- An LJ friend, Lo, is going to coordinate a fanfic-athon over on LJ. That's right. Some fanfic authors will donate their fic-creating genius at your request for a donation! How great is that?
Shameless Shilling Begins
That's right. I'm asking for your help. This three week adventure to Haiti won't pay for itself, so I'm...well, for lack of a better word...begging.
How to help:
When* I get donations, I'll be adding a sponsor blogroll. That's right, see your name on the Interwebs!
Read long version, for all the juicy details (including where to send any donations). I'll be crossing items off this list as they are funded.
And thanks in advance!
*I'm such a negative nelly. The first incarnation of this had "If I get donations..." Edited to reflect my lame attempt at staying positive.
How to help:
- Donate some money to me directly to help pay for my room and board, taxi fare to shuttle between airports in Port-au-Prince, help me buy a solar charger for my iPhone, or help cover the overnight stay I need in Miami. Any donation, no matter how small, will be treasured.
- Donate to the Advantage Program (secure online donations, or print a form), the group I'm volunteering with.
When* I get donations, I'll be adding a sponsor blogroll. That's right, see your name on the Interwebs!
Read long version, for all the juicy details (including where to send any donations). I'll be crossing items off this list as they are funded.
And thanks in advance!
*I'm such a negative nelly. The first incarnation of this had "If I get donations..." Edited to reflect my lame attempt at staying positive.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Because who doesn't dream of a 40th birthday bash in Haiti?
New adventure, new blog. This one's all about travel. Why, where, when, and sometimes how.
What inspired yet another foray into the ridiculously overcrowded blogosphere*? I'm going to Haiti in slightly less than 3 months. Yes, you heard that right...Haiti. I've decided that without grad school to blame, I had no valid excuse for not getting off my backside and doing something I've been tossing around in my head for awhile, namely voluteer overseas as a physical therapist.
I leave on July 10th, and plan on returning on July 31st. So my 40th birthday will be spent in Les Cayes, Haiti.
I'll post more details, include shilling for donations and taking you up help to make this happen, in the upcoming days and weeks. But I wanted to get in the groove. I'll also probably migrate some good travel posts from other locations, and update my flickr feed with more recent trip photos.
In the mean time, welcome and enjoy.
*And in case you were wondering, it did feel just as stupid to type blogosphere as it feels to say it. The more you know.
What inspired yet another foray into the ridiculously overcrowded blogosphere*? I'm going to Haiti in slightly less than 3 months. Yes, you heard that right...Haiti. I've decided that without grad school to blame, I had no valid excuse for not getting off my backside and doing something I've been tossing around in my head for awhile, namely voluteer overseas as a physical therapist.
I leave on July 10th, and plan on returning on July 31st. So my 40th birthday will be spent in Les Cayes, Haiti.
I'll post more details, include shilling for donations and taking you up help to make this happen, in the upcoming days and weeks. But I wanted to get in the groove. I'll also probably migrate some good travel posts from other locations, and update my flickr feed with more recent trip photos.
In the mean time, welcome and enjoy.
*And in case you were wondering, it did feel just as stupid to type blogosphere as it feels to say it. The more you know.