I have decided to make a blog of my trip to Haiti as suggested by Captain Beth from SEA. A big thanks goes out to Maggie for coming up with the name of the blog and winning the contest (your prize will be mailed to you in roughly a month). GREAT JOB!
I am travelling to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti for one month to research BioSand water filtration systems and how they are used in the home. Furthermore, I will be mapping the locations of the houses that use these systems and where they collect their water to use in the filter. I will see if people have been able to cut down on the amount of time needed to collect their water now that they have the BioSand water filter, thereby, not needing to collect filtered water. The plan is to map this information in a program called GIS when I return. This research will be used for my undergraduate thesis in the major of Global Health at Colorado College.
I have been packing and preparing for this trip for quite some time now. Here are a few things I needed to do before going:
1. I received all of my booster shots
2. I am now on Malaria medication
3. I had maps made of the country as it is very difficult to find detailed maps of PAP.
4. I have been taking Creole lessons ( I also speak French)
5. I recently learned about the triangle of life and the different methods of surviving an
earthquake.
6. I have iodine for purifying water
7. And rehydration salts in case I get terribly sick
Many of the above things will be incredibly useful during my trip. Moreover, what these things accomplish is peace of mind not only for myself but also for my parents. Do I expect to be in an earthquake or get terribly sick? No, but if they do happen I will be prepared. During my time in the backcountry and on the boat at SEA I have learned that being prepared for anything and being attentive to your surroundings is the best way to stay safe. Safety is the precursor to having fun and learning so now I am ready to do both!
I am staying with a family that works with the Vermont Haiti Project and I wil be travelling with two men who also work with VHP when we go to conduct interviews. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity and to have these people to stay with and travel with.
I will try to fill you in with updates about my travels and if you have any questions please feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer them!
If you would like to learn more about the Vermont Haiti Project, or to donate money to this great cause please visit:
www.vermonthaitiproject.org
Katie
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