Busy as a Bumblebee

This weekend is Easter weekend, and sadly the first thing that came to mind was "Thank goodness for the extra days off! I can get so much done!" Those two days hold so much in the palms of their hands; math homework, practicing music, job shadowing, ISU projects, sleeping, family and studying. Is it such a good thing that life is so full that it is bursting at the seams? Is it healthy that people never ever slow down unless they have to?

I think North American society has forgotten and underestimated the value of being able to take a break and breathe. Due dates and To-do lists are so important in production and getting the job done is crucial to success. No one has time to think about themselves anymore because they are so focused on producing, perfecting and moving on to the next project. Time is money, or so they say, and time needs to be used in a productive manner which does not include chilling on your deck or taking the dog for a walk. Those things don't make money and therefore are no longer important to us.
But is money really that important when your relationships with people fall apart because you are too exhausted to put any effort into them? Or when you are too busy to put the proper time into a job so that it is well done? What about when you no longer have time for those who are important to you? I think at that point you are no longer productive and everything you have worked for has gone down the drain.

There was one lesson I learned about life in Haiti, and that was that humans come first, work comes second. The most important aspect in life for those people is relationships. Who cares if a job doesn't get done when in the process you made a new life long friend? Yes Haitians work incredibly hard, and having a job is necessary in life, but when work consumes you to the point of never being home, not being able to leave your cellphone off, and losing friends, it just isn't worth it anymore. Humans naturally crave relationships and thrive in them, so why write those same relationships off as miniscule and trivial?
Staying even just a week in Haiti was eye opening to the idea that a slow lifestyle that follows a steady routine is productive, but at the same time is relaxing and not stressful. There isn't a constant competition to produce the best or to make the most money, and its a refreshing perspective that more people need to experience.
It is well said by the artist Brad Paisley;
"It was time well wasted, and there's no way I'd trade a few more things that I could've crossed off my list for a day that I'll never forget. No I didn't get a thing done, but I sure soaked up every minute of a memory we were making and I count it all as time well wasted."

So the next time you are looking at a full calender and wondering how on earth you will ever get everything done, I challenge you to pause and breathe. I challenge you to see if you can book a day in your crazy life to just relax and enjoy the spring weather. Go for a walk with someone you haven't talked to in a while, or read a book out in your backyard! You can't be productive if you are worn out mentally, physically and emotionally. Believe me, if you work hard and make relationships a top priority in life, then that mountain of tasks that are looming ahead will be cut down to size.

A Special Smile

So I was asked a question today, and the question was "What is something that you experienced in Haiti that is still affecting you?". Wow what a massive, difficult question. But as I thought about it for a few minutes, I recalled one conversation I had with Dr. Manno. He explained something to me that has changed the way I view every single person every day. Dr. Manno's personal underlying mission as a doctor is to treat every patient, every person he meets with dignity and respect. He makes a full out effort to make full eye contact, to pull out a smile, and acknowledge everyone he meets. His goal is to give the silent message of 'you are special' and 'you are worth my time and attention'. He said it makes such a difference in the lives of people that don't usually recieve that kind of respect and love.
It got me thinking, because that is such a simple thing, to look someone in the eye and smile, why can't I do it? But it is an incredibly hard thing to do. Do you know how many people I've tried to smile at on the street to say hi to? TONS! How many have ever responded? Maybe five, if that. People in North America have taken the 'Stranger Danger' lesson to heart. They can't seem to look at anyone they don't know. Why is it so hard? I think it is because the eye is an incredibly open and vulnerable place, and people are guarded. When you look someone in the eye, you are looking through 'the window to the soul'. It makes people uncomfortable, therefore they avoid it.
But despite people avoiding my eyes, I still live each and every day now, trying to let each person that I see know that I care. Let them know that I see them, and realize that they matter. My hope is that they are left with the feeling that they are special, because they are special.
It's all done with a special smile.

The start of something new.

So my name is Amelia, and I recently was able to visit the country of Haiti for a week, in the city of Haute Limbe. This blog is a way for friends, family and those who are curious, to read about my experiences, my struggles and differences in perspective with my everyday life now, and to keep tabs on my progress in trying to work my way back to Haiti for an extended visit.

Haiti is a place where I saw the most beautiful sights I have ever seen, but the beauty lay in the most unexpected places. It was in the tin shacks proudly called home, the makeshift fences of cacti and barbwire, and in the collection of potholes called a road. But the most beautiful sights were always in the people. The Haitians have something my heart yearns for, what North America despite being so blessed, is missing out on. What they have is so much more precious than Facebook, texting, X-box or the Wii. They have a strength in their souls I have never ever seen before, despite the blows life has dealt them over the years in poverty and tradgety. They have a love for those around them regardless of if they even know you. I mean walking down the street, everyone asks you how you are in Haiti, but in Toronto or Boston I don't think I have ever even made eye contact with someone on the street.
So these are just two of the reasons I fell in love with Haiti, and why I want to go back.

Before I even left on this trip, I was curious as to how I would be able to go back. I am hoping to become a nurse, and wanted to see if I could somehow help in Haiti as a nurse. So after some researching I discovered that there is one university that allows their 4th year university nursing students to study and work abroad for part of their final year. When I came back, I knew I needed to look further into this option, so I did. I emailed the director of their nursing school, and she replied to say that yes they do allow that but some criteria needed to be met. First I have to study in a country deemed safe by the Government of Canada, I need to study under a registered nurse, and I need internet access to complete 2 online classes while in a 3rd world country. So now the question is, does that nurse need to be certified by Canadian standards or can I study under the registered nurse provided by the Haitian government?