BigAl
Gone But Not Forgotten
I'm not really sure where to post this . I have told Doc I would try to keep a running diary of my trip to Haiti when I leave and post pictures as I can so other members can see what is happening there. I guess this is to be my first entry .
It appears the group I am going in with is HODR which stands for Hands On Diaster Relief. They seem like a very caring organization . They definately get their hands dirty .
I am being looked at by a couple other groups but this one is the first to respond with Dates . I may switch to a Housing Construction Manager position at a later date if it becomes avalible .
I have just filled out my final HODR request form with a departing date of 6/1/2010 and I hope that is acceptable .I have informed them that I will stay as long as needed .My departure date could be changed as they will have the final decision .
The relief team will start by building a base of operations to work from Leogane which I understand has about 90% of the buildings destroyed .. Right now we have been told to bring a tent to sleep in as there is no where else to stay during reconstruction . Deconstruction teams will start as soon as a base of operations is set up, it appears . This will take awhile and they have close to 3000 volunteers who have applied to help . The base will handle 100 Volunteers at a time . After a hell of a lot of "Gut Wrenching" and questioning myself I have decided to go in after the base is set up and deconstruction is well established
. My expertise is in Reconstruction / Engineering and that is where I feel they can use me the most now.
I still wonder if I am doing what is best for the people of Haiti. I want to go now ,but without meaning to sound conceited ,my talents I think are better used in the reconstructing phase .
So I plan to stay very busy until then . I have decided to leave for Panama on 3/1 ,spend some time at the house and to build a locally owned "off the grid" Chicken ranch to supply fresh Chickens for the local population on the island where we live . I will be turning the entire operation over to a local "Bugle" Indian, I have worked with in the past , when I leave in May for Haiti .
. We will process 300 chickens at a time plus have an egg laying production too . This was arranged last year with the locals and appears to be a big hit .He already has pre orders for our full production each month and we have not even opened the doors yet . I just hope we can keep the Boa snakes away from the chickens !!
So , It looks like you all will have to put up with me for about 3 more weeks and then I will be off .
So hopefully the internet system will be up and running where I will be able to sit in Haiti , after the work day is over and post some pictures of progress .
It appears the group I am going in with is HODR which stands for Hands On Diaster Relief. They seem like a very caring organization . They definately get their hands dirty .
I am being looked at by a couple other groups but this one is the first to respond with Dates . I may switch to a Housing Construction Manager position at a later date if it becomes avalible .
I have just filled out my final HODR request form with a departing date of 6/1/2010 and I hope that is acceptable .I have informed them that I will stay as long as needed .My departure date could be changed as they will have the final decision .
The relief team will start by building a base of operations to work from Leogane which I understand has about 90% of the buildings destroyed .. Right now we have been told to bring a tent to sleep in as there is no where else to stay during reconstruction . Deconstruction teams will start as soon as a base of operations is set up, it appears . This will take awhile and they have close to 3000 volunteers who have applied to help . The base will handle 100 Volunteers at a time . After a hell of a lot of "Gut Wrenching" and questioning myself I have decided to go in after the base is set up and deconstruction is well established
. My expertise is in Reconstruction / Engineering and that is where I feel they can use me the most now. I still wonder if I am doing what is best for the people of Haiti
. I want to go now ,but without meaning to sound conceited ,my talents I think are better used in the reconstructing phase . So I plan to stay very busy until then . I have decided to leave for Panama on 3/1 ,spend some time at the house and to build a locally owned "off the grid" Chicken ranch to supply fresh Chickens for the local population on the island where we live . I will be turning the entire operation over to a local "Bugle" Indian, I have worked with in the past , when I leave in May for Haiti .
. We will process 300 chickens at a time plus have an egg laying production too . This was arranged last year with the locals and appears to be a big hit .He already has pre orders for our full production each month and we have not even opened the doors yet . I just hope we can keep the Boa snakes away from the chickens !!
So , It looks like you all will have to put up with me for about 3 more weeks and then I will be off .
So hopefully the internet system will be up and running where I will be able to sit in Haiti , after the work day is over and post some pictures of progress .
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Its official . I received my marching orders today by Email. They are leaving it basically up to me as to when I will go . I will stay with my 6/1/2010 time frame for going into Haiti . The camp has moved and they now appear to have internet connection . If I can plan this right , as I return from Panama to the states at Miami I will grab another flight back to Haiti while my wife heads on the Calif until it is safe to join me . I hope that I can be given a special project setting up Fresh Water Collection Systems in some of the out areas of Haiti . They are still pretty much untouched with help so far. 
. I have made friends with one old guy (70) who is also going in . We seem to be the two old farts . 
