Acclimating

As I step out of my hot shower, with acceptable water pressure, pass my window unit AC to go brush my teeth in the sink, where I can run the tap water right over my toothbrush, and rinse with water from the faucet, then climb into my comfortable bed without securing a bug net, check my iphone for any last emails and/or text messages and finally drift off to sleep in the safety and comfort of my college dorm on this safe college campus, it is hard to remember that these things that are so second nature to us, so many people go without. I think something that I have struggled with since being back, is the feeling of guilt. But oddly, probably not in the sense that you think I mean. There is a sense of guilt I have, for not feeling guiltier about the things I have, if that makes any sense. I still enjoy keeping in constant contact with my friends and family through the use of my phone and laptop, I still love the option of having a full closet of clothes I get to pick through each day when I decide what I want to wear; I don’t feel “disgusted” that I own a lot of things or have so much excess. Though I feel like I should feel that way after coming back from an eye opening experience in an impoverished country.

On the last night we were in Cap Haitian, during reflection, we were each told to think of one thing we took away from the trip that we could tell people when they asked. For me, it was that one of the greatest forms of aid anybody can give is through the transfer of knowledge. We know things that they don’t know, that would benefit them in the long run. If a plumber comes to install plumbing in a house as his service work- that is great, but what happens when it needs a repair? Instead of putting in manual effort, we shared our knowledge about business plans, lesson plans, and sexual education. These are things that we don’t need to physically be there for, for them to continue to use what we taught them. They can still use that knowledge when we are gone.

I look forward to our team’s “reorientation” process, to hear the thoughts and feelings of my teammates to see how they are dealing with the experience of coming back, hoping they can help provide some help and insight.

-Hannah