First Day At Home

It was great to get home yesterday. After spending the night in Montreal and getting my first hot shower, I was suprised that my body didn't enjoy the idea of hot water as much as my brain wanted. I ended up having a lukewarm shower which was still wonderful. I arrived in Vancouver around 11am yesterday to Alethea and the girls and felt so wonderful to have a great friend pick me up. Robin was happy to see Aunty and Meagan was full of smiles. After getting home, I decided to leave all my luggage outside. It is suprisingly cold here since I left and snow is in the forcast for the weekend. I was getting in the Christmas spirit before leaving but now, it seems so odd to be thinking of Christmas. I decided to unpack a few items and was saddened that the only piece that didn't survive the trip home was a beautiful soapstone vase I had packed in my carry-on. I think it got broken when the guys were packing the van. I'm going to try to crazy glue it back together today.

I talked to Wes, mom and Tammy on the phone and it was great to be at home and enjoying some comforts we take for granted. I had to go to bed early tonight as I was so cold, I couldn't get warm.

I fell asleep quickly last night and woke up at 4:30am. I think my body was waiting for the roosters crowing and I was suprised at the stillness and quite of it here. The "anchor" is still healing and is throbbing badly this morning so I will be heading to the emergency to get an xray today. I thought about getting up and going now, but I'm enjoying laying in my bed.

I'm missing my teammates quite badly today and thinking about Gail, Fiona, Bernice, all of the great people still in Haiti and wishing I was there. I am also thinking of Noel who took such good care of us, Cyril who hired an amazing driver that got us to Jacmel in the dark safely, Christoff who treated us very well in Jacmel and when I started to think of Nathalie, the little girl we visited in her home, the tears came fast and furious. I had a good cry this morning, and I'm expecting that over the coming days or weeks, this spontaneous emotion will likely occur.

I already want to start planning for my next trip, and I am feeling very grateful for the opportunity that I was given. I met so many amazing people during my time in Haiti and I will keep each of them in my thoughts!

I used this in a previous post, but it has a very different meaning to me now that I have returned and I hope to keep the simplicity of life in Haiti with me as I get back into my life in Canada.


Life is too short

to wake up in the morning with regrets. 

So love the people who treat you right,

forgive about the ones who don't

and believe that everything

happens for a reason.

If you get a chance, take it.

If it changes your life, let it.

Nobody said that it'd be easy,

they just promised

it would be worth it.

I had a chance, and I grabbed it with both hands this time, it has changed my life and I can't wait to do it all over again! Life your life, take a chance and experience the moments as they happen. I learned on this adventure that where there is pain and poverty there is also beauty and happiness, you just have to look a little harder.


Bon Bagay!