everyone goes to haiti

it's amazing how many people i interact with that have some sort of connection to haiti. during my one couch surfing experience in may, the two sisters i stayed with had both been to haiti numerous times. i met ben welstead, a missionary that goes to haiti once a year and the guy who designed and screen printed the t-shirts for our fundraiser, the DAY i was needing to find a screenprinter. the week before i left i was trying to find Mountains Beyond Mountains at the bookstore and was swept into conversation with the girl next to me who had just finished the book and was preparing for haiti. this morning i bumped into a girl at the farmers market who had heard i went, and had been there herself in march and now we're going to practice kreyol together. everyone goes to haiti it'ssoooawesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

i am just not a blogging kind of gal and i've stuggled with keeping a journal basically my entire life, however! i have really been enjoying writing while in haiti, and now that i'm home it just feels good to continue.

transitioning back home will always be more difficult. i completely understand culture shock, but will always be from returning back to the states. lots of white people. lots of people upset that their food took too long to be served...lots of worrying about petty issues. lots of self analyzation. lots of alone time. lots of anxiety over how to talk about how haiti was. lots of iced coffee. lots of preparation for israel. lots of excitement yet lots discomfort with my beautifully decorated apartment. it's been decided, by me, that giving yourself some time to..relax.. after traveling to haiti before jumping back to your own reality is a good idea.

The e-mail i received yesterday from Samuel. Could anything have made me happier? There's no way:

for you laura

how are laura you arrived.Im happy many.

you see mother you Im happy.you sey mother you have one friend.

I always Go house oLes .Thank you for Tout Thing you Give Me.

Im Go to the beach with kres

friend you samuel


beautiful.