Transitioning

Written by Sara in the Miami airport

So, we're sitting in the airport waiting to return to Denver after more than a week in Haiti. This is our time to decompress and adjust to American culture again. I have been to Haiti a few times, and this, for me, is always the hardest part of the trip. While you are in Haiti, you are so focused on taking in all of the sights, trying to make sense of all of the cultural nuances, and basically trying not to be the stupid "blanc" through all of the various faux pas you could potentially make. Now, while listening to the subtle Musak a-la- South Florida playing at the gate, you try to consolidate all of your experiences and prepare yourself for life after the Haiti trip.

While in Haiti, you are are "Go" mode; you feel as if you don't want to miss a single moment of the experience. And there is so much to the experience. Even after a few trips, I find myself exposed to new things and learning even more about this incredible country - "Why do they use their horns so much?", "How is is possible that Haitians do not seem to get as many mosquito bites?", "How do Haitians manage to survive given the crushing poverty they experience - with joy?"

But there is always more, leaving you to silently commit to that second, or third, or 50th trip. You always want to learn more about Haiti for one simple reason: the people are simply amazing. You promise the people you meet along the way that you will not forget them and that you will see them again, and you try to be true to your word. You don't want to forget them.

The final challenging leg of this journey involves sharing our experiences with friends and loved ones. We will try to share stories of memorable events and recall interesting people we met along the way. But no matter how hard we try, it can never properly convey *everything*. There is just too much - too much beauty, too much pain, and too much joy for words. So, forgive us if we fail to accurately describe what you want to hear - it's not for lack of material - it's for lack of words.