Haiti

we made it to haiti at last! we walked out of the plane to be greeted with the humid heat of haiti and a crowd of porters aggressively attempting to take our bags from our carts and "help" in order to get a tip. We survived the mob and then walked over to our bus with the hospital staff that came to greet us.
It was about an hour ride to the hospital because of all the traffic. My first impression of the town was that it reminded me of other 3rd world countries that I had visited. The blatant poverty on the streets, the smells of street vendors cooking near the remains of the dead animals that they were roasting, the tin shacks, people crammed into tap tap's and vans to the limit - and not one street signal. The rubble from the earthquake is still there, it looks like the ruins havent been touched since the event - haitians have set up shop in the remaining cover of dilapidated buildings or on top of the rubble. In that hour I only saw 3 sites that people were cleaning up debris and one construction site. The majority of the population are housed in tent cities - their address spray painted on the outside. When we finally arrived to the hospital it seemed relatively calm. THe cardiologist that came in our group was immediately pulled out of our "orientation" time and called to the floor- apparently they had lined up the cases for him. We were shown our sleeping area where we found two PT's from UVMC. It was such a nice welcome to see them here! Melanie the PT updated us on what their plan was for us. Apparently the previous MedSurg nurses had made big striedes in wound care and their were high expectations that we would fill their shoes.
Inside the hospital people can be found laying on cots in rooms or in hallways. patient privacy is not a concern here. A few of us RN's started helping the PT's with wound care. I was sweating pretty much like a pig The patients were extremely grateful for their care and they try and help you as best they can. It is so rewarding to see them laugh and give you a big smile. I already feel appreciated and I have only been here for 9 hours.
After a while I started to feel light headed and nausea's I think the heat and some anxiety as well as malaria pills were the culprits I tried to play it off as i listened to the doc rounding on the patients but I had to run to the bathroom thinking that I was about to puke.. thankfully after i splashed some water all over me, sat in the a/c breakroom I felt a little better.

luckily the weather is cooler now because there is a thunderstorm and its bringing wind and cool rain. it feels amazing.

ok well i have people lining up to use my computer. bon swah (?) or goodnight.