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?