Sarah Irvin, a junior and Elementary Education major, went on the alternative spring break trip to Haiti.
1) What was your favorite part of the trip?
My favorite part was visiting the preschoolers. We came and visited, and brought crayons and coloring paper, and they sang us a song. It was really fun.
2) How long did it take to get there?
We left Hood around 3 a.m. Saturday to get to BWI and then we got to Haiti around noon Saturday. It was a two hour drive to get to Borgne, Haiti, where the group stayed at most of the time.
3) What did you learn while you were there?
I learned about their health care and how they take care of themselves. We stayed at a hospital area the whole time. When we were on a tour they showed us around the hospital. They are updating the rooms of the hospital so that pregnant women can have C-sections. One of the biggest problems in Haiti is people not being able to make it to the hospital in time if they are pregnant or if they are ill. I also learned about the urban areas where they don’t have a lot of supplies and people can’t get to them; those areas are the ones that need the most help. We got to help with the mobile clinic, where the doctors go every Wednesday to help the people of the community because the people can’t get to the hospital.
4) What activities did you do?
We went to the library, which is now officially open because they have now received enough books to open it. They are still taking donations, but we got to see the opening of that and we got to help out at the school, and we had two people from our group, Margareta and Nick, teach the teachers about the water cycle. The rest of the group got to hang out with the children and we had coloring, pipe cleaners, and a parachute activity. We got to play with the kids while the teachers were getting taught things and that was cool. Murals were painted in the school: one about the water cycle, a multiplication table one, and the alphabet for the little kids, where the mural has the letter and an image that relates to the letter.
5) Any additional trip information you would like to add?
The area where we were was right near the beach, so it was way more calm compared to the city. Where we were was fast paced, but was more relaxing. We went and visited a lady named Rosie one day and we’ve been visiting her for a while, and she owns a farm near one of the secluded areas. Rosie showed what she was doing on the farm. Two dentists came and they do dental work so that the children can have clean teeth when they grow up.
6) What sights did you see?
We went to a cave one day and we went on a lot of hikes. You have to be very physically fit to go on these trips. The hills are really steep. One of the last days we were there, we went to the citadel where it is a really steep incline and it’s paved, but it’s like when you get there vendors flock you because they want to sell things to make money, and take you on tours.
7) Any advice you want to offer?
I would recommend this trip because it’s an eye opening experience that allows you to see different cultures and how people live, and you are able to help others who you would not be able to help from home. You can donate, of course, but seeing and helping firsthand makes it better. If I went again, I would try to learn Creole or French because it is hard to communicate.
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