My Travel Volunteer Experience in Haiti (Twice!)

I don’t know whose smile was bigger, Amy Fletcher’s (founder of PHOH) or the beautiful Haitian assistants and translators. This is my thought as I meet Amy and the Haitian crew for the first time in Haiti. She’s arrived with her husband, sister, and Kathy Fischer in tow, and we are all saying hello as we pack into the van for our first destination.

This is how my first trip to Haiti with Project House of Hope began. It was an absolutely beautiful January day in Haiti, and I immediately felt safe, happy and pleased that I’d come. Of course, for me, traveling to new foreign lands makes me feel so alive. This was my first trip to Haiti, and it was off to a great start.

With the beautiful kids of Project House of Hope!
Amy is bottom left, and Kathy is top right next to me. 

I’ll stop here and explain that I’ve actually traveled to Haiti twice now with PHOH. My first trip in January 2015 was so amazing, that I HAD to go back as soon as possible. So I found myself back in Haiti this past June 2015. For my first trip, I raised money for my flight and expenses. Everyone was so pleased to donate, as my mission to meet, help and even teach yoga to orphans in Haiti touched everyone’s heart. In about 3 months, I raised $2,300 dollars and then was off to Haiti. For my second trip, I had vowed to use my tax refund money to cover costs, and dip into my personal savings to cover the balance. It was so worth it to me to spend this money on going back to Haiti to see the orphans, and to meet the newest additions. After my first trip, and getting to know the darlings in the orphanages (they will win your heart without even trying), I couldn’t imagine not going right back! In addition to spending time with the kids, I had the pleasure of being involved in many other projects. For example, teaching yoga to the Women’s Empowerment Group that PHOH has started. What fun to teach these ladies who had never even HEARD of yoga or meditation. (When we were done, they wanted to know right away when the next class would be.) I assisted with Goats for Hope, and the health and wellness fun run for the kids in the village. I also assisted projects such as: teaching ladies how to make home-made mosquito repellent, and how to sew with sewing machines (Having no sewing skills, I babysat while the other volunteers taught the sewing classes). I also assisted the dance teachers as they taught the orphans how do to tap and ballet. I taught yoga to kids at a local school that is in desperate need of assistance. And, to top it off, all of the people I interacted with had a big smile and were so kind and as helpful as possible. I’m talking from the hotel staff, to the translators, to the leaders in the churches, and beyond.

Teaching yoga to the Women's Empowerment Group 

Admittedly, I’m well traveled and have been to several developing nations, so not much shocked me or was brand new to me. So, it took no time for me to fall into a rhythm each day. For a traveler new to developing nations, it may take a little more adjusting, but I know Amy and her whole crew do their very best to make new travelers feel comfortable.

I could go on and on about each of my trips, but I know blogs are supposed to be short enough to not lose people’s attention. Let me end with a few final points. What made me feel safe while I was in Haiti? First of all, Amy has been to Haiti countless times and speaks basic Creole to meet your needs around town, at the orphanage, and at the hotel. The translators that PHOH uses have incredible English & patience. They can assist you in any way you need from cell phone function to changing your airline tickets, and so much more. Everyone has a smile and is ready for a good laugh. This made me feel right at home early on. Amy is like a mother-hen; she has her eyes on you all of the time and wants you safe at all costs. You are connected with PHOH people from the moment you step out of the airport upon landing, until you return to the airport to head home. Most of the trips are busy and filled with going here and there for projects, events, service and visits all day. But on occasion you get to relax at the beach or the pool, and it’s quite nice. The coastal area of Montrious is quite beautiful and something to behold. Maybe you’ll even get to drink from a freshly cut coconut! 

Drinking freshly cut coconut water!

by Brooke Nisbet

E-RYT200, RYT500

Yoga Teacher | Yoga Teacher Trainer | Yoga Mentor | Wellness Guide

http://peaceloveyogahealth.wix.com/brookenisbet

You can also find this blog post on The Project House of Hope page here: http://www.projecthouseofhope.com/news

Hey...Where Did I Go?

(Just found the draft of this post that was written in 2013...thought I'd go ahead and post, even though it's nearly 3 years old.)

Each day I spend in my new town (Daphne, AL), I grow further and further away from my past. Well, "duh" you might say…but there's something different about this kind of distance. We all grow away from our past, in the literal sense, but it doesn't mean we change or transform. We just move forward into the future, chronologically. Now that I’m spending the majority of my time happily solo with my new life unfolding ever more each day, I realize that in changing from my recent past, I'm actually coming back to the best parts of the real me. 

After my divorce, like many newly single people, I turned over a new leaf & redefined myself. I was 39 and single and decided that, "No" was no longer a part of my vocabulary, that pink was my favorite color (hated it until that point), and discovered that when clothes fit right and were sexy, they could be fun to wear! This time in my life was very transformative.  I was in the space that was all about me, all of the time. If I wanted to move to a new home or town or country, or change jobs...I no longer had to consult with anyone! If I wanted to buy a convertible BMW, I could in a snap (and I did)! If I wanted to jet off to Bali for Winter Break...then I did just that. This freedom to be me 24/7 was incredible. I know that during those few years, I changed a lot and dated tons of guys for the first time in my life. All of it was fun, enjoyable, powerful and exactly what I needed at that time. 

At Gili Trawangan in the Gili Islands, off of Bali.

But this life of being a player finally began to dwindle and change, as all things do. (The only thing that stays the same, is change.) I started becoming tired of meaningless dates. I grew weary of the superficial dating life, of unintelligent but hot guys, of the power trips that came with getting any man in the bar that I wanted. I began to wonder if anyone would actually want me as a real girlfriend...an independent, successful woman actually gets less play. As the doubt began to rise in my mind, it made me vulnerable. And, inevitably THAT'S when I met that person that seemed head and shoulders above the rest. And even though I had some HUGE red flags going up all around me, I was so in need of what this new person was offering & saying to me. So, I ignored the red flags and dove in head first, lapping up the much needed attention being relentlessly poured upon me. And while I was wrapped up in the relationship that became serious much faster than was comfortable for me, it was hard to really see that I was losing my foundational self. Maybe that's just another sign that this person wasn't the right match for me. But, again, I ignored all signs. At one point, I was so deep into the relationship (he desperately wanted to marry me) that I felt too guilty to walk away and get back to me. The further away I got from me, the more isolated and discontented I felt. And I'm not saying it was my boyfriend that did anything to me (he was just being him), it's just how I related to him. His energy wrapped heavily around me and I allowed him to encompass me to the point of feeling suffocated and trapped (which is unusual for me). 

When you allow yourself to be drawn into a relationship that doesn't serve you, you begin to make subtle changes that can take you away from the true essence that is you. And there you are one day....far, far away from the foundation of you"ness" that you loved and that brought harmony to your soul.

Now, he and I are no longer together, and I am back to being just me. I have no more relationship expectations upon me, nor me putting any relationship expectations upon anyone else,  I am realizing just how much of me I had let go. The simple things that fed my soul and made me feel really good (traveling, night with the girls, time alone). I've missed those things! Talking a walk each morning or in the evening. Hopping up to do my yoga home practice at any time of the day. Eating my "crazy" healthy foods without worrying if anyone else is satisfied. Eating dinner at whatever time I want. Waking up late or early.  Putting on peaceful music rather than the blaring TV. Finding myself smiling for no reason other than because from my toes through the top of my head....I am feeling inner-peace and all is well.

Finding myself again is like returning to a long lost soul-mate. This reunion of self is a reminder to not ever let the soulful parts of me go again, no matter who I'm with. And for that matter, to unite with a partner that nourishes and supports my soul, not removes me from it (accidentally or on purpose). I need to remember to continue feeding my soul, even if my significant other doesn't understand it or would rather have me spend more time focused on him. I'm no good to anyone else, if I'm not first good to myself.

In 2011, when I was feeling extremely suffocated by that ex boyfriend, the documentary about Amelia Earhart came on TV. I remember one of her quotes on agreeing to get married really resonated with me. So much so that I had to write it down in my quote book, in order to keep it with me forever. "I may have to keep some place where I can go to be myself now and then, for I can not guarantee to endure all of the confinements of even an attractive cage." Amelia Earhart. 

by Brooke Nisbet

RYT

Yoga Teacher | Life Liver | Peace Seeker