First Month Reflection

Yesterday marks one month since I arrived at Be Like Brit, and tomorrow marks one month since I officially began working here.  First months in a new position at a new place, are both simultaneously challenging and easy. Challenging because there is so much to learn, and easy because people are patient since the new person has much to learn. 

It seems to me that nearly every experience I have had in my entire life is somehow helping me in this current situation.  Every day I recall concepts from my teaching experience and ideas I was exposed to when studying for my undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education.  This helps tremendously because I am responsible for overseeing the program for eight of our children who attend the Be Like Brit Academy because their educational needs were not being adequately addressed in local schools.  Recently I was recalling a memory from when I worked at an overnight camp one summer when I was in college, and thought about how living at an orphanage is a little like that, except that these kids are here for many years instead of a few weeks.  I am grateful that I participated in various volunteer experiences when I was young, and lived and worked with lay volunteers for many years, as I interact with volunteers in my position here (here someone who is volunteering for only one month is considered a long-term volunteer, that differs from my previous experience.)  We are planning a transitional program for some of the oldest children who will need to be preparing for adulthood outside the walls of BLB; my experience of working at Covenant House in New Orleans and at Drueding Center (transitional housing for women and children experiencing homelessness) in Philadelphia provides me with a few ideas that can be adapted to assist us with the planning and implementation of a transitional program here.  My clinical social work experience comes in handy as I supervise social workers and a psychologist.  General Social Work theory and values inform all aspects of my work.  Obviously, my previous experiences in Haiti help a great deal.  If I had not learned the language I don't think I could be effective in this position. 

It amazes me how our life experiences build upon each other and one experience may be preparing a person for a later experience in life that the person would not even be able to imagine until it arrives.  I am grateful for all of the experience in my life, the people who have taught, supported and challenged me and for my current experience and all of those  I encounter, learn from and collaborate with each day.   

On my day off, I get to enjoy the beach. Fortunately, I learned to enjoy the beach during my childhood in the Ocean State!

Have a good week.  Many blessings! 

Third week: Books, Video and a Hammock!

Thanks to my parents and grandmother, we now have a library of over 200 books for the children in their own language!  The teachers are already making good use of the books to encourage reading and teach Science topics to the children.  Last night a couple of the evening time staff members read with and to the children using the new books.  Some children have stopped by my office to read the books.  I'm not sure which I enjoy more, reading to the children or listening to them read to me; either way, I'm delighted.  We are going to organize a library space and create a system so that we can keep track of the books and allow the children to borrow them.  Thank you, Mom and Dad and Grandma!  Mèsi anpil! 
 

For the first time in the eight years that I have been blogging, I am uploading a video.  Last week, I was interviewed about my new position.  It speaks for itself.  Enjoy!       

When I was attending a therapy training conference several years ago, we were directed to imagine ourselves in a safe and peaceful place.  In my imagination, I was in a comfortable hammock by the sea, where the weather was warm and a gentle breeze blew.  I could hear the gentle waves on the sand and smell the salty air.  I thought about that on my day off this week, because I actually spent my day in a such a place!  Of course, I did not stay in the hammock the entire day, after all, there was a beach to walk and beautiful water for swimming.  It was a peaceful, restful and wonderful day for which I was very grateful.       



I am doing well and hope that you are well too.  Thank you for taking the time to read my update.  Many blessings! 

Reflections on Recent Events: From Serious and Sentimental to Somewhat Silly

A few months from now, it will be hard to remember that there was ever a time when I did not know the names of each of the children or their caregivers.  Eventually, in addition to names, children's individual personalities and preferences will be revealed and known to me.  Certainly, some of the faces I'm still struggling to recall names for will be etched in my memory and carried forever in my heart. While working with children will always have an element of unpredictability and adventure,  soon I will have a sense of daily and weekly rhythms and routines.   Some of what seemed so new and mysterious early last week will be normal and natural by the end of next week.  As I write these words, I realize that certain aspects of my experience of starting in this new position as the program administrator of Brit's Home are likely a shared September experience that may resonate with educators and others everywhere.  

The first days here have been full.  Full of activity, but also of wonder, amazement, surprise, welcome and of love.  Among other activities, I have been meeting with each of the members of the program staff so that I can get to know them and understand what they do and how they view their work. I am feeling fortunate to be among so many professional people who truly care for and love the children.   

Today I took my first day off.  I was able to go to Tabarre for the goodbye celebration of a sister who is returning to the United States after serving in Haiti for 16 years.  She was very supportive of me especially during my first experience in Haiti.  I was grateful that I had to opportunity to attend today's gathering.  While there I stopped by  Kay St. Anne to visit some of the employees who knew well eight years ago when I worked at Kay St. Anne (if you have no idea what I am talking about because you started reading my blog in recent years, click see my blog entries written between late August of 2010 and October of 2011.)  Today, too, I was able to encounter two children who lived there when I worked there, both have beautiful smiles and great spirits, each happens to have a developmental disability and holds a very special place in my heart.        

 

Chapel at St. Damien's in Tabarre today

      

I had thought I had the bedroom here all to myself, but I was wrong.  There was actually a family of mice nesting underneath the bookcase in my room, where I suspect at least the momma mouse lived before I moved in.  When I first saw a mouse enter my room from under the door, and run and hide under the bookcase. I was not alarmed.   After all, (if you did read my old blog entries you know) eight years ago, at NPH where I  lived in a tent for the first month, a rat would regularly come into the tent at night and I would hear it under my cot. (here is the link to the entry with the rat story ) A mouse under a wooden shelf is nothing compared to rats under the bed.  I spotted the mouse several times and figured it would leave since I did not have any food out.  One night while trying to do a short bedtime yoga routine, I admit I got a bit skittish when I could hear mice noises and realized that while I could not see a mouse my head was close to the wooden shelf and imagined one running on me while I lay on the yoga mat with my eyes closed.  I did not finish the yoga video that night.  Soon after that, I saw a little mouse climbing over my shoe, fortunately, not the ones that were on my feet.  Yesterday three maintenance men worked very hard to evict the mice.  I had hoped that they would be able to do so without causing any mouse injuries or death, but I knew that my wish was not really realistic.  The men I believe had worked especially hard to trap the mother mouse and so they smiled with pride when showing me its remains.   To the best of my knowledge, I now have my own bedroom.      

     

Thanks for taking the time to read my update. Many blessings!