Yipee, we are back with Karen and the kids at HATS for a couple of months. And what a welcome we got with hugs and cheers to greet us as we got out of the van. Everyone has grown sooo much.
It feels right and good to be here.
I have probably flown in excess of 15,000,000 kilometers in my life. Yet the magic of air travel never ceases to amaze me. Last Friday we were skating on the Rideau Canal with our grandchildren. This morning we walked along the irrigation canal in Haiti. On Wednesday we got on an airplane in -25C snowy weather and 5 hours later we arrived in the meteorological paradise that is Haiti, balmy 28C daytime and 20C at night with no humidity. Of course the advantage to coming to Haiti is it feels like you have gone back in time at least 50 years too. The road is shared with loaded motorcyclists, donkeys, goats, the farmland is worked with manual labor, not tractors and at night it is dark, really dark. Not many houses have electricity or solar powered light
Joan and I have a pretty good system now of getting ready for our stints here at HATS. We seem to be collecting items throughout the year and storing in our basement. In the last month we get a needs list from Karen and this year from Jim and Dickie too. Then in the last couple of days the emergency requests come in from Karen,they all got filled including the last day request. Then a week before we leave all the loot comes into our dining room and kitchen area to be triaged and sorted.
Once again this year the Air Canada Foundation waived all excess baggage fees so we were able to bring 9 bags. Because we are Canadian of course our bags are hockey bags filled to the max of 23 kgs (50 lbs).
Our friend Brian drives us to the airport each and every time we go to HATS. That is his contribution to the effort. His new vehicle just barely fit the 9 hockey bags and our 2 suitcases. I think I moved those bags at least 10 times on travelling day; out to the driveway, into the van, out of the van, checking in, then to oversize luggage scanning, then off the carrousel in Port au Prince then into the van for the drive to HATS and then out of the van. That’s why my arms were aching. Thankfully the child labor laws allowed us to use the kids to schlep them up the stairs to our accommodations.
Checking bags is a novelty for Joan and I. We usually roll with just a carry-on bag, except to HATS. I was amazed to see all our bags and supplies arrive on time and intact. Joan sweet talked our way through customs without any bag inspection. Once unpacked the bags then return home empty with us and get reused again.
All except for this gem:
I received this bag 15 years ago at a Youth for Christ golf tournament. I have taken it to Panama about 6 times, Zimbabwe 4, Belize 6 and Haiti at least 10. After about 250,000 kms it’s time to retire the old girl. But in typical Haitian fashion, nothing is thrown out or wasted here. So it will continue life as storage for the HATS Christmas lights.
The first few days back at HATS are usually a blur. We have to adjust to the heat, the work, the kids and find everything all over again. I feel like I have about 10 things to do before I can even start on Karen’s to-do list. Some fun!
Stay tuned.
Keif
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