I've been wanting to write, but I just haven't felt "inspired" so to say. However, with recent experiences and conversations many thoughts and feelings have seemed to awaken within my mind.
It seems appropriate that with a new season comes new changes and discoveries. Not only am I learning how to embrace and accept this colder, more internal season, but I am also learning to both accept and appreciate these changes and the newness that they bring. Doing anything with Beyond Borders helps one to learn quickly to accept change, as well ;)
With that said, plans...have changed (a bit). Instead of leaving the first or second week of January, my departure date is now February 7th. Yes, almost a month FARTHER away, but another month to be here with my friends and family, and raise more money. Election time in Haiti is also during January, which always lends itself to the chance of violence/chaos/etc. February 7th happens to be the day Jean Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) was ousted from Haiti and from power, which has been celebrated ever since 1986. This past Monday I was able to talk with three members of Beyond Borders, and Courtney, who will be my traveling partner and fellow ASLer. It was great to talk with them all, it made everything much more real. Courtney and I were able to find out where we will most likely be living. I say most likely because anything is subject to change, but for now it seems pretty solid that we will be living in a mountain-top village called Meno in south-east Haiti. Meno is about an hour from Jacmel, where I was this past January, and about two to two and a half hours from Gwo Jan, where I have stayed on each visit. There is no running water or electricity here, and it is rather far removed from anything, really. Jacmel, where the market, schools, beach, and other such things are, is about a four hour hike down the mountain.
Everything is quickly becoming the "last time" I will be doing something for a while...
I'm incredibly excited and ready for something completely new...but I'm sure that February 7th will come sooner than I think. For right now I need to appreciate this time and where I am, stopping to enjoy each moment.
