Why Haiti? Why Now...

Remember how The Nanny "had style, she had flair, she was THERE," and that's how she became The Nanny?

Well my story is kind of like that.

Except I had the availability, all my shots, and speak a little French. True story.

My parents took the news well. I guess after "I'm moving to Chicago;" "I'm moving to California;" "I'm moving to Paris;" "I'm going to Ireland for Thanksgiving;" "I'm going to backpack around Thailand and Cambodia for a while;" "I'm going to Kauai for Thanksgiving;" and "I'm quitting my jobs and going to Africa for 5 weeks;" they've reached a point of rolling with the punches when it comes to my announcements. One of my friends put it best (and this was several years ago) when she said, "We just know when you say you're thinking about doing something or want to do something that means you're going to do it."

But I had never really mentioned Haiti before. Sure immediately following the earthquake the breaking news buff in me would have jumped at the chance to jet down there. (And I got nerdy excited to find out I will be staying in the same hotel the 60 Minutes crew did during their month long stay following the quake.) Since then, my interest was only strongly piqued when I had to cover Anthony Bourdain's Haiti episode. He hung out with Sean Penn. They talked about the organization Sean works for, J/P HRO. I looked into that a little bit, but wasn't sure I was a good fit. Then I went to Africa and then I started volunteering around here and didn't give it much thought.

Until for some reason I did...and so I posted on FB and got responses, two of which connected to Global Orphan Project, which I saw as enough of a sign. I sent them a little note, basically saying: I was available for their next trip, I have all of the necessary shots to go and I know French. Which is apparently kinda like Creole. Which is apparently what they speak in Haiti. The lady emailed me back the next day and said "we'd love to have you." The day after that she had purchased me tickets. I would later say to my group leader that I really felt like they were being very trusting of me seeing as how they didn't/still really don't know that much about me. Apparently we all share a similar philosophy in that if you take things as they come, things happen as they should. (Which sounds passive, but in reality you're always taking the next step, until the next step doesn't work and you have to find a different path.)
As luck would have it, when I was exploring the GO network, I spotted one of my fellow Africa volunteers in one of their pictures. Signs, signs, everywhere signs.

So I'm gonna be hot, and sweaty, and might have to take cold showers (hot water is only avail when electricity is). But I'm also going to spend five days playing with kids who thrive on the love of strangers...who enjoy life despite their circumstances. This won't be my first third world country. Not even my first third world country post-disaster. But I'm preparing myself for it to be worse than anything I've ever seen, and better than anything I could imagine.

The (nearly) 5 days spent off the grid? A challenge I'm happy to take on.

So I'm Going to Haiti...And Here's How You Can Help! (for those not on FB)

Well, part of you can...like something you give me to give to the kids can...

Well, if you live in the Los Angeles area...sorry STL peeps...the rest of the group I'm going with is in Kansas City tho, so if folks there wanna pitch in, msg me and I can put you in touch...

Unlike when I went to Africa, we're actually asked to take stuff to the kids in Haiti...

Things like:

peanut butter
CROCS (Can be used...I'm asking about TOMS)
Medical things like Children's Motrin, Bandaids, etc.

Things the whole group can use:

books
coloring books/crayons
soccer balls
bubbles
sidewalk chalk

(you get the idea...nothing for each individual kid, all things for everyone to use)

I'm supposed to bring whatever I've collected *cough* at least 50 pounds in a huge duffel or military sack that I don't mind leaving there so if anyone has one of those that would be even awesome-er.

Since I'm leaving next Weds, I'd like to have everything by Tuesday (10/18). I live in Los Feliz, so if you live or work around here you could drop it off or msg me and we'll figure it out.

I know this is uber short notice so thanks in advance to anyone who can help out. No pressure.

I will also be blogging about this adventure that, even tho seems miniature in duration, I'm sure will have a profound effect on me. The thing is, I've made a promise to my team leader to go off the grid for the time we're in Haiti. I'll journal like crazy so that I can regurgitate here when I get back.

2 things.

A - I just looked up "regurgitate" to make sure I spelled it right and there's apparently a group of "Swedish grindcore assassins" using the word as a name. Awesome.

B - I just re-read my blog from Africa. What an awesome experience!

I have come to the realization in the 24 hours of knowing that I'm going to Haiti next week that the reason I'm so excited is because of how close it is. I fell in love with Africa and can't wait to go back, but it's really far away. Haiti is more realistic. It's closer. Added bonus: airfare was less than half of what I paid to go to Cape Town and that's with only 7 days notice.

So in seven sleeps, I'll be lusting in the wander once again. Stay tuned.