The kitchen at the CAFOJ (Centre d'Animation et Formation des Jeunes). Tata is one of the cooks and one of the happiest people there.






The president's palace. Yes, that's where the president lives. There are people dying because there is no clean water and this is how the president lives. I don't want to talk about it.






Joelle, a nurse from Switzerland who came to work at the clinic for two weeks. She's fantastic!







Liza, another nurse from Switzerland, originally from Memphis, so I had someone to speak English with! Hooray for her! I think everyone needs a Liza to carry around in their pockets.








One of the smiliest babies I ever met at the clinic. This is what a healthy baby looks like, it made me so incredibly happy. I want this for Haiti...fat and happy babies.

In my last post, I said that I had to choose between buying a house (which was a completely unrealistic idea, by the way, but it would have been an adventure in every sense of the word, that's for sure) or going back to Haiti to continue working in the clinic. The house thing didn't work out, so that is for the best, but that leaves the Haiti option. When talking with Doc Gordon, he agreed that we needed someone to stay at the clinic for long-term and he would like me to be there. I am ecstatic about it, it is just about my dream job, I think it is a perfect place for me right now in my life. But now another obstacle, the health insurance. Will figure all that out tomorrow, the next business day. I would love to just get this figure out so I know which adventure path to take. If Haiti isn't fated for me, I will be looking for a nursing job here in Portland, or New Mexico, or Alaska, or on the East Coast, maybe. Research is required, of course, before decisions are made. But that is where my adventures have led me.

And now about my Haiti experience, a few thoughts and words: I loved it, it was the hardest thing I have ever done, I learned more in those three months than I think I ever have before, never ever will I forget the clinic, nor will I neglect to continue to be involved. Yep, I think that about covers the main ideas. There's so much more to the clinic than I can verbalize...I am still rediscovering English prose after speaking it very little or very poorly for such a long time. I would be overjoyed if I got to go back, although I don't know how I would make it one year without my friends and family. Three months were hard. I think Skype would be my best, best friend. My lifeline, if you will. But I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Not much else to write here, I'm getting re-accustomed to the States, mostly staying out of shopping malls, admiring my favorite city and all its quirks, and cleaning up my crap-ola. Who knew that I had so much superfluous stuff? That is a topic for a psychologist, not for my blog, I suspect.

which adventure do I choose?

When you don't check your email for a week, it really piles up on you. And all at the same time. And when the rest of your life is just as hectic, it can become a bit overwhelming.

At the clinic, I am packing up my things, cooking Thanksgiving/birthday feast on Friday, getting ready to say goodbye to Carlos on Saturday, another goodbye party Sunday, leaving early Monday morning to head back to Memphis for a week. There is a possibility that I could come back here to the clinic as a head nurse, help to organize the clinic so there is not the threat of the doctors leaving, donations could be used better, personnel need to be managed, etc. Lots to do, I feel like I could do this with a bit of guidance and preparation. And I love the doctors who I have been working with for the past three months and I would love to come back and see them and work with them and help them and the clinic.

Then I learn that a house owned by a neighbor is up for sale, in Portland, and I could move back to Portland and find a great job and get a dog and start living a normal life. It is exactly what I wanted before I came to Haiti. Now, everything has changed and I just don't know what exactly I want anymore.

I'm trying to find a way to have both, the house in Portland and somehow help the clinic here in Haiti, but I think that is not possible. Next week, I will be talking with the director of the clinic, he lives in Memphis, and we will figure out exactly what ought to be done. Do I want to come back to Haiti, live here for probably another year, fix some of the problems in the clinic, work with the doctors and try to get a permanent nursing position here and get the clinic running optimally? Or do I want to return to my home, buy a wonderful house near wonderful people, get a job, and start living a normal life? One adventure or another?

p.s.: For those of you waiting for a really long post, I apologize. For those of you who want words of wisdom, here they are: read Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen.

p.s.s.: I will be coming back! Hooray! December 15th, my plane is coming in from Memphis to Chicago to Portland at 6:45pm! I cannot wait to see everyone! Just 13 days until I see your smiling faces!