A room fit to heal

Yesterday, after a fresh morning swim at the nearby Villa Therese I walked home ahead of the rain clouds in time to make a little lunch for Erdem and I. As I entered through our big red gate Jemmes the security guard asked me where my car was. I tried to tell him in very broken French that I prefer my feet - he told me I need a car - I told him I like to swim. Truly a conversation that is lost in translation. But we communicated something that ended in smiles.

Walking down the bumpy path to my home I felt the first inklings of a pinched nerve in my neck. ignore. Begin to make a modified Waldorf salad without the walnuts and with grapefruit instead of lemon squeeze - each time I bend to relieve an ingredient from the fridge I feel my neck spasm...hmm.

Erdem arrives, I ask him to crack the ol' back. He does. I can't move. Literally my whole upper body in spasm. This hasn't happened since I was writing the last pages of my thesis nearly 10 years ago. Erdem calls his chiropractic genius who agrees to see me. I have to keep my elbows up in order to walk, I get in the jeep, and try to brace myself for every bump, crater, traffic jolt that comes our way. I felt like a bobble head - neck disconnected from body - I can no longer ignore the pain. 

The Haitian Chiro/acupunture/masuese man stuck needles in my neck and moved them around until I thought I might just pass out. I didn't, and in fact my neck began to move again.  He told me to sleep and breathe and I'd be okay. 

Then came driving to 4 different pharmacies to buy 2 pills. Two didn't have, one did but wouldn't give, and finally the last had and gave 10 pills! Go figure. I slept for hours on my back under the mosquito net. Erdem killed those that snuck in - so that they wouldn't eat me as I was too vulnerable too fight back. I slept with the rain.  And the nets that surround me like a protective vail.  Peaceful.  Again, sleep beckons...

Jurassic Garden

Friday I woke up with a burst of energy. I went out onto the balcony off the bedroom and this is what I saw. Sun pouring through the trees and basking the tips of the palm leaves. I was expecting Tarzan to come swinging through the branches! I then spotted two pretty little lizards taking in the sun side by side. I started snapping away photos when suddenly while focused on the green one (below) his "buddy" grabbed his neck and started swinging him about. A crazy sound came out of them and all I could do was stand in shock. My garden turned into Jurassic Park 4 within seconds.

Arrival

Bags were mostly packed, just a few last minute items to throw in. So I decided to head out with Zack and Andy for some drinks and dinner at Norms. Everything felt like the "last." I felt I was on overdrive taking in the last sites of Portland, and some last laughs with friends before my 3:15am bus ride on Concord Trailways to Boston for my early morning departure to Haiti.

I got home around 1am, took a shower, packed the rest of my stuff up, and decided to take a quick nap before calling the taxi. Alarm went off, I woke up, taxi guy came. Taxi guy decided to take an unusual route to the station... I told him to haul. We arrived at the station at 3:15 and CT cashier would NOT let me on the bus. I was told it is just like a plane, once the door is closed, they can't sell tickets. I begged to differ that a bus is like a plane. But id did not help. So I watched as the bus backed up with TWO passengers! I called up Zack - on the second try he woke up and even agreed to driving me to Boston. Zack is a winner! We both fought to keep our eyes open by eating fresh donuts from seven eleven. I made it to Boston.

Then Miami. A little background. Flight AA803 to Haiti is notorious for having big issues. Last time I flew it, we got on the plane and then had to get off and sleep in Miami for the night and then leave on a delayed flight in the morning. So, I had been praying for weeks that the plane would fly. There were mechanical errors. But, this time they were able to fix it, the Pilot took it for a test run, and then after 6 hours of being delayed he came back for us, we boarded, and actually got to Haiti Saturday night. I was happy that Erdem was there and that finally, I was in Haiti.

Monday was a holiday, Flag Day. So we headed to the beach with some friends on Sunday and enjoyed the long weekend. The days were filled with swimming (where I got a mild jelly fish sting); squash ball (where every time the ball went over the wall we'd have to search for it in a lot with several cows, a bull, and muddy puddles); volleyball amongst the palm trees; and finished with rum sours. And about every 20 minutes of every day I am found spraying OFF on my arms and legs. That seems to be the magic application to keep the bites in the dozens.

I have already lost track of time. It is easy here. It is hot, with light breezes, sporadic showers, chirping of insects whether it be morning or night. Last night while playing cards with several international workers, one who works for Oxfam mentioned a position that would be opening soon. First, I really want to get the hang of just having time off - not vacation - but time.

Age of reason; ray of sun

When I was seven years old, I bent down to "peg" (tightly roll) my lavender corduroy pant leg probably for the 5th time that day. A hard trend to keep up with. At that very moment, I felt a ray of sun beaming on me. I looked up and with the sun shining on my face, I remember hearing a voice that said "we are all one."
These words continue to fill me and fill my life as my path continues to share through expressions of love, tragedy, discovery, diversity, language, dance, food, exhaustion, joy and celebration the beauty of human connection.

At the age of 19, I heard that voice, again. Okay, "Rachel," you are thinking "voices?"
Stay with me, I promise, I'm not crazy! So, this time all I heard was "Guatemala." A year later I ended up in the highlands of Guatemala working with young single mothers and helping them start up their own small businesses. Within days my eyes were opened. Opened so wide in fact, that I knew this was no longer a 6 month field study I was there for, but a life study that would evolve and bring me back again and again. The deepening of friendships came as the Spanish lessons progressed each week and we began to understand each other. Understand that despite our many differences we were also so similar. Each seeking approval, love, laughter, peace.

When I came upon the Guatemala City dump and saw a complete violation of the human spirit as children and families scavenged in the dump for all they could to survive, I stopped. It wasn't so much the fact that they were working in the garbage dump - it was -that there was no social net, no other opportunity to choose something else, no resources for health, education, and basic necessities. I stayed and joined forces with Hanley Denning, the founder, of Safe Passage. The mission: to provide opportunities through education to the children and families living in Guatemala City's garbage dump.

I have been with Safe Passage for over eight years. I lived in Guatemala for years and saw things that still make me shudder. Images that haunt me and fuel me to make a difference every day. Two years ago the unimaginable happened - Hanley was killed in a car accident in Guatemala City. We lost a beautiful soul that day. Hanley had a vision and focus like no other - her daily mantra was "for the children." There were mountains of challenges yet she kept on and in doing so created an organization that is supported by thousands from all around the world. In the past 2 years we did everything to make sure that Safe Passage continues and thrives. And it is. I have been breathing and living Safe Passage for the last eight years... and now. And now.
In one week I am leaving. I'll be joining the board of directors. However first, I am taking time.

And that time will be taken in Haiti. The journey continues...