Haiti Mission: day one

Day1
Like it is so often the case, before I leave for a medical mission, all my patients wanted to have their babies before I got on my plane. As a result, I ended-up doing a full day of appointments and delivering 3 babies (the last one at 7:10 a.m. as I said I needed to leave at 7:00 for the airport) and have not slept at all. I am happy though that I got to be present for all my patients and I actually was able to change my seat and get a window on the plane so I will sleep.

At the airport, the clerk was nice enough not to mention anything nor overcharge me for my very heavy suitcases. In the waiting lounge, I am surprised to see that people from Haiti are sitting in one area remote from us, by choice but it still feels unnatural. I am reminded of the black woman who changed history by refusing to sit separately in the bus. Have things not changed since then?
Before landing in Haiti, I am inhabited by a sense of sadness by seeing all the devastation. Usually when you approach a city, you see the swimming pools from the air. Here what is apparent are the numerous blue tents next to most houses that are down in dust.

Haiti from air

At the airport, there is no customs formality whatsoever and immigration asks nobody questions. Then, the chaos starts: there are no carrousel for the luggage so a few bellboys are doing their best to find the screaming crowd’s suitcases and boxes. The luggage also comes very slowly and is often broken or dirty.
It gets even worst when we get outside as there is a screaming crowd and we have to work our way outside because the truck is stuck two streets away. I hold on tightly to my guides.

Haiti airport

After getting in the truck, we basically are stuck in traffic as there are no roads and no traffic lights. We finally get moving after an hour and get on a dirt road. We pass in front of hills that smell very bad. I am told this is the burial ground for the people who perished in the earthquake. My guide tells me that more than 200 000 people died. I am overwhelmed by a sense of loss this nation has suffered.
I set up my little tent and try to go to sleep but it is very hot and damp and my sleep is light.

My tent in Haiti