Haiti - Lessons Learned and Other Observations

Lessons Learned

1. One of the most common questions that I am asked is, "Would you do this trip over again, knowing what you know now?" The answer is a resounding "Yes". However, I would change one thing. I would go with much more confidence. I initially feared being the target of crime plus wondered if I had a tough enough stomach for the work stations. I feel pretty silly now looking back on these fears.

2. Proximity breeds empathy (i.e. You don't know what its like until you'vre walked a mile in his shoes).

3. We should do what it is we think the other guy should do.

4. The moment you get involved with someone in need, other expectations come.

5. Problems cannot be corrected merely by throwing money at it.

6. The true challange set before us is not the irradication of poverty, but of our own greed.

7. Never wear sandals or open toed shoes in Citie Soliel

8. We cannot fix all the problems in the world. Each of us just needs to work on a little piece of it.

9. A visit to a place like Haiti provided me with a new ruler to measure my life by. I hug my kids a little tighter than I used to. I can hear the voice of the needy just a little bit clearer. I have stopped participating in office squabbles...

10. I need to return to Haiti (or maybe go to Bosnia, the Gaza Strip, Calcutta, etc.) in a few years to ensure I don't forget these lessons learned.

Observations

1. Giving money to a Haitian is like feeding the bears at Smoky Mountain National Park. It is not what the bears really need and it just attracts more bears.

2. Devastating deforestation, illiteracy, malnutrition, corruption, water shortages and slums are not enough to conquer the remarkably resilient Haitian spirit.

3. Haitians don't make long range strategic goals for their lives. They are too busy with day to day survival. Literally, many Haitians are simply trying get acquire enough food to stay alive until tomorrow. When tomorrow comes, the process repeats itself.

4. Our city streets have the most beautiful curbs. They are smooth, clean, unbroken, have graceful curves and even have a break in them for entrances to businesses and residences. The more I think about it, our city roads are incredibility beautiful. They are smooth, clean...