The First Week

Haiti, Day VI: During these past days, something has been amiss since my March / April visit to Haiti beyond an outrageous lack of recovery progress. It finally dawned on me today; the smiling faces of children are now etched in stoic pain and friendly synergy between adults and responders has turned to simmering anger....

Upon reflection, this has been true at each of the nearly 15 sites visited. I see hunger, I see thirst, I see homelessness, I see torn and tattered tents as shelter; all of which is beyond levels witnessed two months ago.

With more than $3-billion in humanitarian aid spent since the 12 January 2010 earthquake, how can this be? Will this ever change?

Haiti, Day V: A very long day; about 17 hours; spent this wonderful 95-degree humid Thursday visiting seven disposal sites, a school as well as a beach-front restaurant. I was a very long day. However, many times over we were reminded of what a land of contradictions Haiti is as we surveyed shore-line dumping in one area then walked atop trash-free white beach sand along aqua blue ocean. Go figure.
As for debris and rubble; less than one-percent of the 25-million cubic yards of Haiti's broken homes and buildings has been disposed of. That's enough junk to fill about 5 Superdomes from top to bottom.

Haiti, Day IV: Mosquitoes getting way too friendly; air is altogether way too smelly, the Haitian recovery is painfully too slow to go! However, life on this island nation continues unabated. Taps Taps drive full and crazy, street markets dance with energy, young boys stroll while little girls with ribbons in their hair skip hand-in-hand off to school.

Haiti, Day III: Still tending to mundane housekeeping duties like getting ID's, getting electronically connected and finding after-hours food!
Visited three former project sites and sad to say any progress realized two months ago has been lost. So here we are, trying to jump start the process yet again.
This photo reminds us why we are here; to remember those who perrished and to help those alive reclaim some of what was lost.

Portland's other presence in Haiti, Mercy Corp's! If you wanted to make a donation and know its doing good, contact Mercy Corps at:

http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/haiti

Haiti, Day –I UPDATE: Way to go American League Honors All Stars in winning the District II Little League tournament Championship against your Gresham National League rivals. You are an awesome group of young men who have done exceptionally well - you are all excellent players who did yourselves, your team, your families, and this Old Coach ... PROUD!!!

GLL AL Honors Red Sox ROCK!!!

Haiti, Day II: Spent day basically facilitating housekeeping items like securing an Embassy ID, finding a desk to work at, & getting plugged in to the computer system.
Left Embassy compound once for a meeting at the UN Base at airport. Again, not much has changed; lots of crumbled houses, debris, and homeless remain. One thing that has ...changes is a willingness among the many stakeholders to play well together in the Haitian sandbox.

Haiti, Day I: Left Portland International 0830 today, swapped planes in Dallas (saw the new Dallas Cowboy's Stadium as I landed) then off to Miami and a "Fly By" of the Deep Water Horizon Oil Rig and its many miles of oil-septic mess - actually saw where surface oil is being burned. Way to go BP!!!
Landed in Miami about 2300 (9 p.m. ...) Leaving for Port au Prince 1230 Sunday for up to a 30 day stay. Mission is to locate, evaluate, and recommend debris processing and disposal sites. My thought is an artificial reef!!!

Haiti, Day -I: After nearly two weeks on hold, I finally receive orders to Haiti; 1543 (3:43 pm) Friday - Report to Port au Prince Sunday, 27 June. Wouldn't you know - I leave the day before the AL Minor Honor Tournament begins for my wonderful team of 12. Go Figure???

Go AL Honor's Red Sox - You ROCK!!!