Our base was hit hard last week. I think in total there were 6 people who got malaria all at the same time. I guess looking back, I’ve been sick for the past 3 weeks. I was getting more head aches then usual and I had a sore throat, sinuses were hurtin’ but whatever I just sucked it up and kept going… until one day it just hit me and hit me HARD. It was a wednesday, I woke up feeling groggier then normal. At work I started getting the worst head ache ive ever gotten, seriously. Then the eye pain started. I figured this must be what a migraine feels like. I thought maybe I was dehydrated so I drank a bunch of water, hoping that would help but it relieved no pressure. I was trying everything to just tough it out. I didnt wanna be a wuss and go home. By 11am though I got up from my desk and almost fainted. I felt really dizzy and the eye pain was getting worst. So by 11:30 by boss told me he was driving me back to base. ugh. It ended up being perfect timing. I had just enough time to get to the medical room, take my temperature, oh look 100.2, that would explain something.. I grabbed a small garbage can to puke in, walked to my brother’s bungalow and there I remained for the next 4 days. 

My body became so weak I needed someone to hold me so I could throw up. Over the next 48 hours I was barely responsive. All I kept saying was “my eyes hurt” in a weak, faint voice. The pain in my head was the worst I’ve ever felt, but the pain in my eyes was even worse then that. Its like the entire eye muscle is being squeezed. Im pretty sure at one point I asked them to take my eyes out… They gave me morphine and that didn’t even fully take the pain away. They put in 3 different IV insertions and gave me 5 bags of solution. Once the chloroquine started taking affect my symptoms started to leave. First the fever was gone, then the head ache, and finally the eye pain. 

On saturday morning I just couldn’t take being in bed anymore and my head felt good enough to stand so I unhooked my IV from the makeshift chord holding it up and walked out for the first time. I felt like I was in a scene from 28 days later or the walking dead. The sun hurt at first, then my eyes adjusted. There was no one around as I walked through the base, IV still stuck in my arm.

I kept getting better and better as each day went by. It still took about a full week to recover and get my strength back. Even now my arms still hurt from the IVs. Im so thankful for Dr Linda and nurse Kosh. It would have been hell without their help. 

So now I’ve had a staph infection, Dengue fever and Malaria.., I think im good for the whole getting sick in a third world country thing. 

You cant live in Haiti without knowing the word ‘degaje’. You cant survive as an aid worker in Haiti without knowing how to use the word ‘degaje’.

‘DAY-ga-djAY’. It means to make due with what you’ve got- figure it out. Sometimes the tools you need for the job aren’t available (most of the time, actually). Sometimes your boss asks you to grab concrete mixers from your base and that means having to beg and grovel to the base manager who is already ticked off with your project for trying to get materials at the last minute. Sometimes it means figuring out how to do two different jobs at the same time because both have the same deadline. Sometimes it means needing to pick up lunch for 100+ workers AND go buy materials, and get that much needed equipment your boss cant go without, and oh ya, all your drivers are gone for the day. 

I love my job. I love the team I get to work with. I love the excitement (some might sub that word for stress) of problem solving out here. Its such a good challenge. Its like when all the elements are against you and the chances of you making it are pretty slim and you put all you’ve got into it and you get it done. Its the same thrill as reaching that summit, or topping out of a sweet climb. Its that same ‘YOU GOT THIS’ encouragement. The mental and physical challenge that drives us to push ourselves to the next bigger and harder challenge. 

Some days are better then others. Some days have more challenges then others. Most days are degaje days and you just have to figure it out. Like my brother says, “out here you gotta be a ‘get $#!* done kinda person’”. And thats just one of the MANY awesome words of wisdom I’ve been learning since starting my work here in Leogane. 

Today I got it done. I figured it out. Today was a challenging day, but I got through it. My team got through it. Not everything was resolved. Not everything was accomplished. I have a big ‘to-do’ list already prepared for tomorrow, and thats ok. One thing I’ve learned before coming to Haiti is that you just gotta take life one day at a time. Out here, you gotta take it one day at a time or else you wont be able to survive for very long. When you take it one day at a time, usually- for the most part- the good will outweigh the bad. And that makes all the difference. 

Its the weekend! It all started Friday at 5pm. I got back to our base and enjoyed a good hour of ‘warrior yoga’. It was so good. The best part of the entire hour is the end, when you’ve made your body do all sorts of crazy moves and now you get to reap all those benefits and just rest on the yoga mat and breath. 

That night we watched ‘October Sky’ (which btw is a great movie if you’ve never seen it!) in our outdoor theatre. yes, thats right, outdoor theatre! 

Saturday morning was casual. Woke up, enjoyed some ultra sugary breakfast cereal and sat under the gazebo for some coffee time with other SP staff. Journaled a bit, tried to understand the gospel of Mark then took a nap in a hammock under palm trees until lunch. 

After lunch, Nat and I went to the orphanage in Leogane (the Lamb Centre) to fix the pipe for their well that was broken again (the guys had just spent hours fixing it the day before). I had full intentions on going there to help my brother but once I got there all the kids came out to greet me and it was game over! 

It was SO good to see them all again :) I cant wait to spend more time there and really pour into the lives of those kids.  

When we got back Raija and I went for a float in the ocean. The sea was calm, the sun was shining, and the water couldnt have been a more perfect temperature. 

I got to try out the base’s makeshift canoe which surprisingly glides through the water better then I imagined a refurbished plastic water tank could do. I found a coral reef just off the shore from our base thats perfect for snorkelling. I cant wait to check it out!

Our evening fun involved a sweet slack lining sesh until we couldnt see any more cause it was so dark. A couple other NGOs came to our base for the night and we watched Sherlock Homes 2 and had a bon fire on the beach. 

Today I got to sleep in which was pretty sweet! Woke up, had some more sugary cereal (I really gotta start having more healthy breakfasts!) ate it on the beach and had some good solo time staring off into the ocean.

I wish I could describe to you what everything is like out here. It is absolutely beautiful. Our base has mountains behind us and the ocean in front. I mean like literally separated by a few hundred meters. After breakfast was some awesome coffee time on Raija’s ocean view porch swing with a few other staff.  

It was sibling rivalry at Iron Chef Haiti. The secret ingredient? BACON! Nat and I battled in kitchen stadium for the title of most awesomest cook… one judge (our construction site’s architectural engineer) noted while eating nat’s bacon cheddar pepperoni concoction that the smell of something else cooking made what he was eating tastier. Well after a comment like that, it goes without saying who won this round. 

We’ve been enjoying a chill sunday afternoon. Listening to some Coldplay and Ratatat and slacklining. I made fresh pineapple, mango smoothies for everyone and now im sitting under some shady palm trees writing to you all. I got my personal best on the slack line! Ive decided im gonna become a Yoga Slacker :D (http://www.yogaslackers.com/)!

Well im gonna go back and attempt some more sick moves. 

Ill be sure to post pictures soon. Till next time! Happy Sunday :)