Author: Melissa Schilling

الشمس لم تقل للأرض ابدا "أنت مدينةً لى". انظر ماذا حدث لمثل هذا الحب. لقد أضاء السماء كلها

Arriving in Port au Prince

Since we were unable to blog directly from Haiti, mainly because we decided against bringing a laptop with us, I'm going to back-post through a series of entries since there's so much that I want to share.

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Arrival in PAP: After a red-eye and short layover in Miami, we arrived in Port au Prince to warm weather and carribean music as we cruised through the airport, which I was somewhat surprised at how modern looking it was compared to what I expected – I had low expectations at this point. Customs and baggage went smoothly and we moved towards the doors with our total of 10 suitcases, each pair weighing no more than a combined 70 lbs. They were meticulously weighed to not exceed the strict Haiti-specific baggage rules and were packed full of art supplies.

I recall saying to each other, "it's not as bad as people say… right?" Well, that is until you exit the building. A sea of guys in plaid shirts and baseball caps, trying to help you, weasling their way to pushing your baggage cart or taking your suitcase. I searched frantically for a "Wings Over Haiti" sign. Next, all I heard was some commotion that sounded like confirmation someone had found us – Reginal. Reginal fought off several men and even got into an argument with someone all the way to the car. Five "blancs" or whites walking through the airport – a gold mine. We met 4 other guys: Adam, Widley, Jaclyn and Dieumaitre – names which took us several days to pronounce correctly and several more to remember who was who. I now understand fully, how people get Asians confused with each other (being Asian myself, I never could imagine how we could possibly all look alike). Anyways, these four guys would be our escorts for the rest of the trip.

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We boarded the tap-tap, imagine a pickup truck with a make-shift shell attached to the bed with a wood bench on each side for seating, and headed directly to the Wings Over Haiti school.

Lesson #1: However long you think it takes to get anywhere in Haiti – double it.

Most of the roads are dirt with huge sink holes. I compare it to 4-wheeling everywhere. Unfortunately, most vehicles in Haiti are not built for those roads. We quickly reached the school and saw our first glimpses of poverty and lack of sanitation. It was surreal that we were actually in Haiti now. After 3 months of planning, we were making good on this crazy idea. After a quick meet-and-greet at the school, we headed to Petionville to our hotel, Doux Sejours, an hour and a half drive from Croix des Bouquets where the school is located. We were pleasantly surprised by our brightly colored hotel surrounded by trees and tropical plants. We even had a veranda with lounge chairs where we spent each night winding down. A nice reprieve each evening.

Mandy

The Girl Who Loves Cake

I can't recall the last time I admired birds in flight, such freedom and splendor.   I wonder the last time she did the same.  It was brought to my attention just how trivial my woes are when I met a little girl diagnosed with a terminal disease at Project Medishare.  Her name was Miselene and she had no parents to speak of.  I can only speculate they were lost to the tranblemannt

Flying Hands Mural: Art is the Universal Language

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When you work with kids, to give them a voice in an environment that is particularly harsh, crushing and potentially foreshadowing of hardship to come. It is important, in my opinion, to foster flying when possible. To rise above the hurdles and let them not hinder dreams and goals.

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Our resident art teacher, Jenni Ward, brought down a large oiled drop cloth and paints. Teachers and Students alike decorated it with hand prints. Then the HOPE Art team doodled all kinds of things onto the mural, to inspire flying.

Our HOPE Art team doodled all kinds of things onto the mural, to inspire flying.

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Wings
Pegasus
Birds
Angels
Flying pigs
Dragons
you name it, we doodled it.

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We'll be hosting an art show this Summer to show off our mural. The finished product is beautiful, but the process to achieve it is even more so.

Mimi

Art in the time of cholera

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As an art teacher of 13 years, I knew that art could bring joy, yet I couldn't help but wonder, "could art bring joy in the time of cholera?"  At a time when the priorities of food, water, shelter and medicine are dire and when the future seems dismal does a week of whimsical art making, face painting and dance parties seem reasonable? The short answer: YES! 

The week was spent moving between the Wings over Haiti school, working with kids in neighboring tent cities, the Angels of Light orphanage and with pediatric patients at Medishare and they were thrilled when we arrived with our speaker system bumping and our bags bulging with art supplies.  From origami cranes that hung over the patients beds to sketch books filled with mini-masterpieces, every child enjoyed the much needed week of whimsy.  Parents, teachers and caregivers couldn't help but join in on the dancing and doodling too. In the end, we were completely convinced that it is not enough to just survive with the basic needs met, but it is vital to survive with culture, happiness and spirit intact. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are happy to report that our program was so well received that we were unable to meet all the requests from various programs.  So, we are already planning another trip in late summer 2011.  We hope to continue to share a creative outlet with as many children as possible. Thank you to all of you who made this first trip a reality. ART LIVES in Haiti!!!

Jenni