HAITI SHORT FILM PART 02

Here's the second half of the short films I made while shooting in Haiti. This video focuses on the children in a small community called Oranger, where they don't have a real school. A few people locally and from Port-Au-Prince have stepped in to help teach and coordinate classes for the kids, but there are hundreds of children still waiting to go to school. I'm so grateful to have access to an education, and this Thanksgiving I hope we are all reflecting on our many blessings. If you want to make this holiday season a little different this year, learn more about how you can help these kids here. 

HAITI SHORT FILM

I just wanted to share this short film I had the opportunity to shoot this Spring in Haiti. There are so many who live their lives with so little - many who struggle daily to have clean water, food or a place to sleep. Working in Haiti opened my eyes to a new kind of poverty, compounded with the devastation of an earthquake in 2010 the ongoing battle of economic recovery continues. I am grateful that we live in a world where the media can be used to inspire others to do good and influence the lives of people who live on the other side of the world. We have the power to change lives, and this is a great opporutunity to do just that. Make this holiday season a little different this year and sponsor a child at GoodNeighbors.org.

TASTY TUESDAY - LUNCHTIME IN HAITI

as the food was prepared and set, they sang us cheerful songs and danced their best moves.

they pet my hair, and i pet theirs - little puffy braids and fun barrettes and ribbons are 
enough to make my heart melt into a puddle. they shout, "AY-YOO!" and i return, "AY-YOO!"
with a big fat smile plastered to my face. the pasta makes its rounds and soon the chatter
is quieted as they fill their mouths with food and fight each other for the last noodle.
just like supper at my family's table growing up.

HAITIAN OBSERVATION

people told me beforehand, haiti is like africa. it felt like it, too - 

minus the cool safari animals and the fact that i've never been to africa
it does seem to be what i imagine it would be. the air is dry, and weather hot.
when it rains, it pours - and it lasts all through the night. haitians are go-getters,
do-it-yourself-ers, and don't-be-a-lazy-butt-ers. there is something about the
people - it's in their faces - their eyes - that just bores into your soul.
they stare with an incredible deepness, somewhere lost in thought.
it's intriguing and sad at the same time.

we took many long journeys in the land rover to several communities.

filming during the day, gallivanting with the little children - it felt like a dream. 
surrounded by knobby-haired kids with glowing white teeth, i smiled.
something i've always dreamt of doing had come true. we visited camps,
and with my camera equipment in tow sweat soaked through my shirt
and even gathered in places i didn't realize were capable of such sweat.

anxiety settled in as people continually didn't want to be filmed, waving us away,
covering their faces, yelling unknown foreign gestures, and even running at me 
with an unfriendly expression. all part of the job - the unexpected events that shoo our work,
yet at the same time make us want to push the limits. sometimes i feel selfish 
doing whatever it takes "to get the best shot," but in the end,
i'm a story teller - it's just what i do. i tell stories. and hopefully, if i'm lucky,
they're compelling enough to make just a little difference.

HAITI ON A HOT DAY

everything was so bright! painted in neons, i couldn't help but smile when i looked at them. these are the shelters where victims from the haiti earthquake have been relocated by the humanitarian organization i was filming for, good neighbors. these happy homes are filled with people who otherwise had nowhere to go and now live just feet away from a water pump and are safe and comfortable. what a true blessing it is! and quite a humbling sight to see.

kids ran freely, but very decidedly as when the temperatures rise so high they take care not to waste their energy. each takes its turn at the pump, and with an upward downward motion the littles bounce on their tip toes as they try to keep rhythm. they're curious beings, always staring into our foreign faces with questioning eyes. everywhere we went, a pack of children followed and we dropped pieces of candy to dusty hands and watched as they quickly unwrapped the taffy, popping it into their mouths in a matter of seconds.

HAITI

Destination: Port au Prince, Haiti / Location: Capvva, Haiti 

Capvva is a large community of tents for earthquake survivors who have lost their homes and since been relocated. This family of ten in particular lives in a contraption made of sheet metal and tarps tied together with string. I had the opportunity to visit with them (via a translator) and learn about their day-to-day life. It was heartbreaking to hear how they have little to nothing to eat and trek each day to fetch water that may or may not be sanitary. Siblings raise siblings and mother is left single and without a support system to raise the children - a common theme in Haiti's slums. My heart goes out to these people and their fire for life and surviving despite the given circumstances is incredibly inspiring. Haitians are strong willed and brave, and taught me more than they'll ever know about how to endure and how to fight.

HAITI

Kylie is coming home from Haiti tomorrow! She has emailed us some amazing stories already, and we can't wait to share them with you when she returns. Until then, here is her Spark notes version:

1. They eat mud cookies. Cookies made out of mud.

2. Everyone is super ripped. What on earth? Amazing genes.

3. Beautiful French...hard to understand.

4. I ran into a glass window. Couldn't see it at all. So funny.

5. Never felt so hot...ever.

6. Feeling so blessed, and so humbled - and definitely more now than ever.

P.S.

Thank you all for your votes in the Big Blog Exchange! We appreciate it and are so grateful for your support and enthusiasm for travel! We are sad to say, we were not one of the sixteen blogs selected. But, life goes on and we will never stop exploring. To those who won, good luck and have fun!

PREPPING FOR HAITI: HOW TO COVER YOUR BASES

Hey, guys! Good news! I'm flying out to Haiti tomorrow to film for a humanitarian organization called Good Neighbors. You might remember when I worked with them last summer in Guatemala. Well, here we go again but this time it's a whole new story and place. I'm so excited to share those adventures with you in the days to come! Until then, I thought I'd give you a peak into my hygiene bag when I travel light and am going somewhere with buggies! These are a few of my essentials.

First things first: vaccinated. Haiti has a lot of mosquitoes and malaria is rampant, so I went ahead and got a prescription for malaria pills and brought along some Cipro in case I get diarrhea or any other travel bugs that need some bacteria killing. I'm to date on typhoid and tetanus, so that's always a time saver. 

Second: bug protected. I have a few kinds of strong mosquito repellent I like to use when going to jungly or mosquito-ridden areas. OFF! Repel Sportsmen Max repellent lotion (lasts way longer than spray!), Jungle Juice (strong stuff!) and Insect Repellent Clothing and Gear spray. All of these products have plenty of Deet and can be purchased at your local REI. The Insect Repellent Clothing and Gear spray is amazing! You spray it on 4 outfits (which includes top, bottom and socks) and it lasts for up to 42 days or 6 washings. It works wonders to repel mosquitoes, triggers, ticks, and all kinds of pests and lasts a long time. The great thing about it is it's odorless and doesn't ruin your clothes. It's also awesome for backpacking trips or extended hikes/camping excursions. It's just so great for anything outdoors, and nothing beats not waving bugs off your entire body all day.

Third: hydrated & energized. If you're going somewhere hot and humid, grab some Mio Fit to hydrate while also adding flavor and electrolytes to your water bottles during the day. It's a great energy boost that I know I'll need when I start getting really floppy and hot in the heat. I also always pack protein bars in my day bags for those long stretches between meals where I know I'll be out and about and can't exactly stop to eat. 

Fourth: basic hygiene. Bring along all your essentials but keep it small! Packing light will make running around busy airports and wearing your gear on your back a whole lot easier. That's a wrap for your hygiene essentials! Keep it simple, keep it minimal - you'll be glad you did!

REMEMBERING TUVALU

i've been thinking a lot about tuvalu lately. 

do you remember when we went? 

it's an incredible place with incredible people, 

and an even more incredible story. 

watch our documentary above, 

and have a wonderful sun-filled day!