Mountains Beyond Mountains- Ayiti

After 5 weeks in Haiti, I have learned so much about myself, opened my eyes up, learned a little bit of Creole (and even practiced at the airport J).  Before I came here, I thought I would be the one to teach the Haitian people about English, about the states, and really anything they wanted to know. It really worked the opposite. They taught me more than they realize. As an American, you seem to feel that “We need to go help ‘them’ and provide education for ‘them’”. However, this is so untrue. Education and learning is a two way street. Every single person you meet teaches you something no matter what their education level or status is. Every person or student I talked to (in English, Broken French or Creole) I learned something from. Although, in Haiti, I was the one who was taught the most.  

I have learned how much optimism there still is in the world. The Haitians only have optimistic outlooks. Some American people tend to lack optimism and it is amazing to see people, who by the US standards are very poor, are happy to be alive, walk in every day with the biggest smiles on their faces and ready to learn. The enjoyment for life and kindness this country is incredible and incomparable to any other country I have ever been to.  Haitians help each other out so much and even help out foreigners who barely speak their language and are completely patient when they made speaking errors! That would never happen in the States! I am completely impressed with all the kindness and how giving this entire country is and never expects anything in return.

Over the weekend, we went to Cap Haitian. This city was amazing and right on the ocean, which was absolutely stunning! This city is probably one of the richer cities in Haiti and you can certainly tell the difference. Haiti is not everything we as Americans see on the news. There is so much life and beauty in the country that is never displayed. The Haitian coast is by far one of the most stunning I have ever seen. One night we met a ‘Blan’ Haitian who came from a wealthy family. We were talking and I told him that we all lived in Croix-des-Bouquets and the first thing he said was “It’s rough out there! That’s not a great place.” Of course I immediately got defensive because Croix-des-Bouquets is my home and has been for the last month. It may not be the most fancy, but it is home and it is so beautiful.  Often times you find comfort in areas that are very different than what you are use to. Living like the people in the Croix-des-Bouquets community made me feel alive.

As my final hours draw closer I keep thinking how much has happened and how much I have opened up and seen the world. It is only now that I feel like I am seeing the world for its true colors and how vast the difference is between certain countries. It is very humbling to know how much of a world there is and really how little I know about anything.  Over the past week, I have realized that my journey with Haiti is not ending, but rather beginning. I will be back for these people and the people I have grown to love and respect. I look up to them so much and want to learn from them more than anything. I see how amazing they are and how much potential they possess. I love this country and I look forward to continue and grow with this country. Haiti has shown me a different way of viewing the world and in return has changed my view of people and the world. I will remember what I have seen and hold it very close to my heart, because there I know I will be able to hold the memories of the people I quickly fell in love with and I will never forget them.  This is just the beginning of my journey and relationship with Haiti…

Asthma in Haiti- Oppression

All of my experiences in Haiti have not been what I had initially thought they would be. Actually, I had not anticipated or expected anything when I came here. I figured going in without any expectations would be the best was for me to be satisfied with my experience. My experience has exceeded everything that I had or not anticipated except one.....

The topic of Asthma in Haiti

Being that this is my master's topic, I am taking it very seriously and have thought day and night of how to bring health education to HAC the same way that St. Christopher's for Children brought asthma education and awareness to their asthma patients. I figured giving educational sessions on how to properly use medication, supply an understanding of the science behind asthma, how a child may have asthma, and even home remedies to help reduce asthma attacks such as hypoallergenic pillow case covers or not sleeping with the family dog or cat. However, a one size solution does not exist. What works for education in the United States WILL NOT work in Haiti or at HAC. Living here for the past month, I have not realized this fact until NOW! Isn't this what I have been in school for the past 10 months! Didn't they teach that in Public Health 101!?!?! Must have not been there that day! ;) And now it had to hit me square in the face! Right in my face for me to understand the issue with bringing health education and medicine to developing countries and how bringing the western view of medicine to a non-western country will never work.

The director's father of HAC has asthma. I was able to give him a very brief one-on-one interview with him this morning after our run (I run with him most days in the morning!)

I was most curious about how or when he knew he has asthma and when he got diagnosed. This was the story I got...

When his mother was in labor about to give birth to him, her neighbor came to tell her that he had killed her goat because it was roaming around in his crops. His mother was very upset and gave birth to him after learning this news. The emotion that she got when the goat was killed gave him asthma.

And any sort of emotion causes his asthma. Also, a change in weather, dust and rain will sometimes also flare up his asthma. He stops his asthma attack through coconut oil and sometimes avocado oil. He has never been formally diagnosed and has never gone to the ER to help his asthma. He also said it was much worse when he was younger. He also said his asthma was better in Brooklyn (where he lived in the States) because of the cold weather. Very interesting! Some doctors think chronic diseases do not exist in developing countries, especially non industrialized countries. Based off of what I have noticed in this country, I have a hard time agreeing with such statements. It is way to easy to say 'This is a developed countries problem' (It's only noticeable in the States and other western countries because there are doctors and statistics surrounding the problem in developed countries because of healthcare advantages)

Hearing a Haitian talk about asthma like this was not what I had anticipated. Knowing these facts and understanding his understanding makes me re-think all medical and public health studies and practices in developing countries. There are so many religious undertones associated with health knowledge and medicine in Haiti. For foreigners to Haiti, such as myself, it is difficult to fully understand the dynamics of health understanding in Haiti, but it is a crucial step in the process to be successful.

This morning, I left like an American with the label of 'The idiot American'. I cannot believe it has taken me this long to understand the dynamics of asthma in this country. Implementing an educational intervention at HAC will take more knowledge on my part to understand the cultural dynamics of asthma in this country.

My eyes continue to be opened everyday and more aware of differences in understanding especially around health.

"Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also love of Humanity." - Hippocrates

Here is the few videos you can watch. Just click on the link and you will find them!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200893728763959

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTUOw_V5ue0

I will be blogging again soon!