In February of 2009, I learned several things about my life, through a trip to Haiti. First and foremost, Haiti is a poor country. Over 80% of the people are unemployed, and have no way to get a job, or provide for their families. I learned that I had won the “lottery of life,” according to my Physics teacher. Out of the 6.7 billion people on this earth, there’s a 0.5% chance I’d be living in the
Honorable Mention 2009 FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship
I was astounded when I first stepped into
My grandparents, father, and I stayed at an orphanage in Les Cayes, sponsored by the ESPWA foundation. It was a much nicer facility than what the many people of
I spent my days in the free ‘Klinik’, and helped my grandparents. My grandparents, both doctors, would see patients one after the other, and teach me to recognize some of the signs of third-world diseases.
The entire trip brought a lot of confusion, guilt, and helplessness. We were only in Haiti for 2 weeks. 2 weeks out of a lifetime. How did anything we do in Haiti make any sort of difference? Sure, a few people will sleep a little more comfortably at night without scabies itching under their skin, but they still live in complete poverty. They starve, and have little access to education or resources. I felt such confusion that things like this go on in the world, outside my quiet suburban town. I felt helpless, because I knew that I hadn’t made any sort of impact in my 2-week trip. The people of Haiti are still starving and sick, and I’m back in Massachusetts, my biggest worry being the writing of a college essay.
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