The Trip from Atlanta to Haiti

I returned from Haiti this past Saturday night. Here I am - days later - finally getting time to put down some thoughts. The trip was incredible in so many ways and there is so much I want to share. So, rather than just write for hours, I will break up my thoughts into bite-size morsels. It's easier for me to communicate that way, too, because - as I've been saying since I've been back - I don't exactly know what I'm going to do with the information I now have. This information - this experience - is being constantly replayed in my head and soul. As I try to make sense of it all, I'll just begin simply. That means I'll begin with the trip from Atlanta to Haiti.

We got up awfully early last Sunday - around 5:30 a.m. - to eat and then get the buses to the airport. Habitat was moving 400-plus people and everything was very methodical and well organized. It was just slow moving. With lots of waiting.  People were hauling their luggage and the tool bag, hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, reading materials etc. that Habitat supplied us. It was controlled chaos.

We had our own dedicated check-in agents at the airport for the charter flights.  Check-in went smoothly and then there was a long wait. At least two hours for those of us on the second flight out. (I think it was actually longer but it's all a blur right now.)

The volunteers were asked to wear our Habitat-issued blue T-shirts and Habitat armbands for easy identification in both Atlanta and Haiti. The gate at which we waited was a sea of blue T-shirts. I noticed people were looking tired and our trip had barely begun. Many people, myself included, said we hadn't sleep well the night before. Nervous anticipation and excitement kept us up but we all agreed we were glad the trip was finally underway.

Delta airlines was kind enough to donate the flights to Habitat. I love that they did that because it meant that not one dollar raised by volunteers (who raised over $1 million by the way!) was spent on transportation costs. Delta loaded us up on two 757s and took us down to Port au Prince. President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Rosalyn Carter flew on the first flight down. I learned that President Carter shook the hand of everyone on the plane. (He did the same coming back...and I was on his flight that time! But I digress...)

Delta also treated us like royalty. Everyone on both planes was served first-class meals. We also had snacks - cookies, candy, salty snacks, fruit - after lunch. Folks were encouraged to take a little extra because we had a two-hour bus trip after we landed in Haiti. I wasn't shy. We were also encouraged to take the complimentary blankets and pillows, unheard of during "normal" travel. Some people took Delta up on this offer but I declined. I'd rather lug snacks than an extra blanket and pillow!

It was about a two and a half hour flight from Atlanta to Haiti. As you can probably imagine, Atlanta and Port au Prince are worlds apart. But that is a story for another day.