Google+ WTN Haiti Partnership: February 2013

Nov 2013 - St. Vincent's Trip

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

"Woodley 1&2. Making Beds" - Shruti's Reflection pt. 4

So. I have both been extremely busy and extremely lazy since I came back from Port au Prince two weeks ago. I've been traveling a lot for interviews and when I'm not traveling, I'm watching A LOT of TV or reading Count of Monte Cristo (it's massive and a great read!). Carmen SanDiego meets the Sloth equals Shruti.


Hope you enjoy my last installment!

LAST DAY


I'll risk being cliche with this statement, but my last day was bittersweet. On the one hand, I was ready for hot showers, being able to brush my teeth with tap water, personal space and to see my family. On the other hand, I felt like I was just getting to know the children and the people on the trip I had befriended.

"A lot to process" - Shruti's Reflection pt. 3


THE WEEKEND EDITION

Before I start, I just wanted to thank you all for the amazing emails I received about your reactions to reading about the kids. There is a lot more I want to say about working with the underserved, but I'll save that for my next message. This message is going to be about another side of Haiti, a side that highlights the country's potential and the people that are coming to help push it towards realizing that potential.

"Treatable and Not Treatable" - Shruti Reflection pt. 2


So, when I asked Dr. Nelson if I could join the trip, the only questions I asked her were 1. Will my being a vegetarian be a problem? 2. May I wear scrubs? 3. Will I be able to do laundry? (Yes, be proud, I packed for 6 days with a messenger bag...and I wore Chacos...on a plane.)

"So. I'm in Port au Prince" - Shruti's Reflection pt. 1


So. I'm in Port au Prince, Haiti.

HOW
Two weeks ago UTCOM's Dean of Students sent an email about a clinical opportunity in Haiti. I typically delete any email I receive through my UT account, but for some reason I decided to open this one. A UT faculty member, Dr. Susan Nelson, runs an organization known as the West Tennessee Haiti Partnership. A trip leaving after Thanksgiving had two people drop out, so Dr. Nelson had an email sent out among the med students to see if anyone could join the trip last minute. The dates of the trip were November 28th-December 4th. The last interview of my November tour was November 26th. My next trip wasn't until December 6th. I immediately emailed Dr. Nelson and after a phone conversation with her (and my anxious mum in India), my trip to Haiti was set.