Not even two months to go…

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Except for immunisations (which my health insurance should mostly cover) and travel insurance most of the big budget posts have been paid for by now, although I’m sure I’ll keep thinking of stuff I have to buy (like a battery-operated fan and similar things to make my life in Haiti easier). But this means that, having taken care of myself (again – thank you, thank you, thank you to those of you that supported me in this!), I’m now thinking of how to help the Haitians.

Therefore, if you’ve wanted to donate to the earthquake victims but didn’t want to just send your money to an anonymous organisation – please consider contributing to my ‘help fund’. I will use this money to a) buy some supplies here in Switzerland and carry them in my luggage (apparently, vitamins are difficult to buy locally, for example) and b) help where I see it’s needed when I’m in the country (eg., I’ve heard of volunteers buying mattrasses for an orphanage).

Consider using the donate button in the sidebar or on the project website, making a note that it’s for the help fund, not my expenses, and I promise to do my best to make a difference where it matters!



Ausser den Impfungen (die eigentlich grösstenteils meine Krankenkasse zahlen sollte) und Reiseversicherung ist der Grossteil der grossen Budgetposten mittlerweile bezahlt, auch wenn mir sicher immer wieder Sachen für meine Einkaufsliste einfallen werden (wie einen batteriebetriebenen Ventilator und andere Dinge, die mein Leben in Haiti einfacher machen). Dies bedeutet, dass ich, jetzt wo ich selber versorgt bin (nochmals danke, danke, danke an euch alle, die mir dabei geholfen haben!), mir anfange, darüber Gedanken zu machen, wie ich den Haitianern helfen kann.

Vielleicht hättet ihr nach dem Erdbeben gerne gespendet, wolltet aber euer Geld nicht einfach einer anonymen Organisation geben – in dem Fall, überlegt euch doch, in mein ‘Hilfskonto’ einzuzahlen. Dieses Geld werde ich einerseits brauchen, um hier in der Schweiz Sachen zu kaufen, die in Haiti nur schwierig zu erhalten sind (anscheinend gibt es z.B. wenig Vitamine im Land), und andererseits, um direkt vor Ort helfen zu können, wo Hilfe am dringendsten benötigt wird (so haben u.a. Freiwillige Matratzen für ein Waisenhaus gekauft).

Überlegt euch doch, den Spendenknopf auf der linken Seite oder auf der Projekt-Webseite zu drücken, mit dem Vermerk, dass die Spende für das Hilfskonto bestimmt ist (nicht für meine Ausgaben), und ich verspreche, mein Bestes zu tun, damit das Geld konkrete Hilfe liefert.

A peek at my future

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In today’s GVN blog they shared a film by a young guy who went to Jacmel (where the GVN volunteers are located) and had a look at the situation there. Honestly, actually seeing the place and the people I’ll be spending two months with gave me goosebumps. Is it horribly shallow of me to admit that I’m especially happy the volunteer compound seems to be dry? 🙂

Explore22 – Episode 1 (Haiti) from Explore22 on Vimeo.

Im heutigen Blog von GVN (englisch) ging es um den Film eines jungen Mannes, der über seinen Besuch bei den GVN-Freiwilligen in Jacmel berichtet. Ganz ehrlich, ich hatte Gänsehaut, als ich zum ersten Mal das Land und die Leute sah, bei denen ich zwei Monate verbringen werde. Ist es furchtbar selbstsüchtig von mir, dass ich besonders glücklich bin, dass das Lager der Freiwilligen trocken scheint? 🙂

Starting to get ready

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Last week I sent in the payment for my two months in Haiti, so now it’s time to start putting together lists, making sure I’ll have everything I need. For someone who’s led such a pampered life, sleeping in a tent on concrete floor for two months, in the heat with mosquitoes and frequent rain, is going to be tough. Today I bought a proper air mattress and a mosquito net, but if anyone of you have more experience and can think of essential things to take, to make living more comfortable, let me know, please?

Naturally this all costs money… I have received a lot of support already, but if you could spare a little something, that’d be amazing. :)

Donation tracker

Letzte Woche hab ich die Gebühr für meine zwei Monate in Haiti eingezahlt, also kann ich jetzt anfangen, Listen zu machen, damit ich alles für meine Reise zusammenkriege. Für jemanden, der so ein beschütztes Leben geführt hat wie ich, wird es hart werden, zwei Monate auf dem Asphalt in einem Zelt zu schlafen, in der Hitze mit Moskitos und viel Regen. Heute hab ich schon mal eine anständige Luftmatratze und ein imprägniertes Moskitonetz gekauft, aber es wäre toll, wenn Leute mit mehr Erfahrung mir Tips geben können, was ich unbedingt mitnehmen soll, um das Leben angenehmer zu gestalten.

All das kostet natürlich… Ich hab schon soviel Unterstützung gekriegt – aber wenn ihr ein bisschen was erübrigen könntet, wäre das supertoll! :)

Spenden

Don’t forget Haiti!

On January 12, 2010, the earthquake devastated Port au Prince and surrounding areas of what was already one of the poorest country in the world. This week was the six month mark, and while international attention predictably waned in the past months, the ‘anniversary’ brought back some of the spotlight – and it’s much needed!

Here’s some of what I’ve been reading/listening to this week:

Haiti’s ‘phantom’ street children after the earthquake (BBC News, article)
Port-au-Prince, la difficile reconstruction (RFI Grand Reportage, radio)
Haiti – die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt (SF DRS International, radio)

Also, always updated are the blogs by GVN volunteers currently there, helping. They’re still looking for volunteers, as this is definitely a long-term project!

3 months to go

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Doesn’t feel long at all… I’ve been encountering a lot of support – thanks so much, guys! What’s pretty cool is that I’ve made contact with someone who’ll be in my volunteer group. That’s the beauty of Twitter… :) I’m sure as time gets closer, I’ll meet more of my team mates.

I’m also thinking about what to take to Haiti with me – not for myself, but for the people there. If anyone reading this (especially people who have already been) has any tips and recommendations what might be good things to take, I’d appreciate it!


3 Monate… Das scheint gar nicht lang hin… Ich hab schon viel Unterstützung bekommen – vielen, vielen Dank, ihr Lieben! Auch toll ist, dass ich jemanden aus meiner Gruppe kennengelernt habe. Schöne neue Twitter/Internet-Welt… :) Ich bin sicher, dass ich noch mehr Leute treffen werde, je näher die Zeit rückt.

Ich denke auch darüber nach, was ich mit nach Haiti nehmen möchte – nicht für mich selber, sondern für die Leute dort. Wenn jemand das hier liest (vor allem Leute, die schon dort waren) und Tips und Empfehlungen hat, wäre ich dankbar!

My ‘official’ GVN home

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My volunteer time in Haiti is still several months away (I’m signed up October 14 – December 14), but thanks to volunteer coordinator Kathryn for giving me my own blog here! :)

I’m currently in the process of hunting for the best flight – not a totally straightforward process, because I plan on taking a week’s vacation on the way back, probably in Florida, as Miami seems to be where all the flights go anyway. I might end up going to my fave travel agency here in Switzerland anyway, we’ll see.

I’m obviously also reading the blogs other Haiti volunteers are writing during their time there with great interest and more than a little nervousness. I keep telling myself that this is an adventure and that dealing with mental and physical discomfort is just part of it. :)

Don’t expect a lot of posts here for the time being – I mostly just wanted to check in.

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Bis zu meinem Einsatz in Haiti sind es noch Monate (ich hab mich für die Zeit vom 14. Oktober bis 14. Dezember angemeldet), aber dank unserer Koordinatorin Kathryn hab ich jetzt schon mein eigenes Blog hier. :)

Momentan bin ich gerade auf der Suche nach den günstigsten Flügen – nicht ganz einfach, weil ich auf dem Rückweg gerne eine Woche Ferien machen würde, wahrscheinlich in Florida, da die meisten Flüge eh via Miami zu gehen scheinen. Vielleicht geh ich schlussendlich doch ins Reisebüro hier in der Schweiz, mal sehen…

Mit grossem Interesse – und mehr als ein bisschen Nervosität – lese ich auch schon die (englisch-sprachigen) Blogs, die andere Haiti-Freiwillige von ihrem Einsatz aus schreiben. Ich halte mir einfach immer wieder vor Augen, dass das ein grosses Abenteuer ist und geistige und körperliche Unannehmlichkeiten einfach dazugehören. :)

Erwartet noch nicht viele Beiträge von mir hier in nächster Zeit – hauptsächlich wollte ich mich einfach mal melden.

Setting the date

Haiti has suddenly become much more real – I received the confirmation email from Global Volunteer Network that my placement will begin on October 15, 2010. Oh boy…

I would like to congratulate you on confirming your place in the Haiti Volunteer Program for 1 month starting 15th October 2010. You may now go ahead and book your flights!

As a volunteer in our Haiti program, you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of communities devastated by the January 12 earthquake. You will provide support, attention and assistance to the people of Haiti through our rebuilding and rehabilitation program.

Here at Global Volunteer Network we partner with local organizations who are best placed to identify their country’s greatest development needs. We will help you prepare for your placement and once you are in-country you will have the support of our local partner. By volunteering you will be a part of the GVN movement which takes action against poverty and you will gain experience and personal growth by doing so.

As you can see, I’m currently signed up for 1 month – but I’m still convinced that I should go at least for 6-8 weeks in order to be able to really make a difference. It all depends on my fundraising, which means I should get started on that, doesn’t it? 🙂

I am very nervous about the whole thing, as it’s quite clear volunteering will be taxing on both body and mind. But I really think this is what I’m supposed to do and hope and pray for the strength to really go for it!

Big news

For the past weeks I have been coming to a decision about what I will do once I leave my job here in Zurich – and when the news about the horrific earthquake in Haiti came, it struck me that, instead of trying to find another job, I could go and volunteer somewhere where it’s needed. Therefore I signed up with Global Volunteer Network and am planning to join one of their projects in Haiti next October.

However, volunteering doesn’t come cheap – and after some serious soul searching I have reached the conclusion that I need help. Yours, to be specific. So I have set up a website and will use this blog as well as a new Twitter account to keep you updated. Click on the banner below to find more information (and a donation button):

Evamaria goes to Haiti

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California 2007 photos

With my internet finally working at full speed again, I can share the photos I took since I left home, starting with the two weeks with Bronwyn in San Jose.

Click to access the photo album on Flickr:

www.flickr.com


The joys of modern technology

Just had my first overseas Skype conversation with my whole family – even my host sister Ale from Bolivia joined in at the end. Fun!

It’s really quite funny that they’re 12 hours behind in Switzerland – they had just sat down for Saturday dinner when I called, while I’m now going to eat Sunday breakfast in a moment. I’ve been up by 7am every day pretty much since I arrived, so if it stays like that, mornings might be a good time to do calls to Europe. Although I wouldn’t mind being able to sleep just a bit longer – I didn’t get to bed until 12.30 last night, having been out in a pub on Cuba Street with two German girls from my hostel room. They had a live band, which was pretty good, so we even got to dance!

Wellington is quite lively on a Saturday night I find. Lots of girls in skimpy dresses, apparently not minding the night cold (it’s always quite windy here) one bit – reminded me somewhat of nightlife in Britain in that respect, except with more people dressed in costumes. Apparently Kiwis and Aussies like using any excuse to dress, so there was a group of women in the pub, all dressed in clothes from the 1920s – probably a hen night (like a bachelor party, just for girls). Was definitely fun!

However, now I’m hungry, so until next time… 🙂