Real Life and Geoscience

In January of 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti and the effects were disastrous on the already poor nation. Since Haiti is so close to the Dominican Republic and my lesson will be teaching the kids about earthquakes and tsunamis , I decided to obtain my father’s perspective on life in Haiti after the disaster. My father went on a mission’s trip to Haiti this past summer.

What was the condition in Haiti while you were there?
Haiti was really bad. The effects of the disaster were still very much present. The buildings were still a heap of rubble and those intact still had major damage. No repairs had been made, only clean-up of the dead bodies.
The food donated to Haiti was in storage and with lack an organized way to distribute the food, it had not been given to the citizens yet.

What were the people’s living conditions like?
Many lived in tent-cities (land full of tents) or slept on top of their house for fear of another earthquake coming. They cooked their food on open fire (campfire) and washed their clothes in rivers and streams.

How did the people react?
Other than fear of another earthquake coming, the Haitians were very strong-willed. They were focused on moving forward and had resumed daily life. No sense of sadness was shown, they were just expecting God to bring them a miracle. The kids were cheerful but still concerned and hoping for assistance, they weren’t certain of their next meal.

It was amazing hearing the stories of the resilience of the Haitians despite the unfortunate circumstances they are experiencing. I really hope that their country will be restored. I cannot imagine having to live in a tent or sleeping on top of a roof for fear of another earthquake. I cannot even begin to imagine walking down the street everyday and seeing the damage or remembering the nightmarish event daily.

I hope that teaching the children at Caminante about earthquakes and tsunamis will teach them of the disaster they heard about in Haiti. I hope the lessons prepare them in case an earthquake or tsnumani hits them at home. I hope they will understand that earthquakes are no one’s fault and are not punishments. I’m glad we will be able to teach something so relatable to life that is sometimes misunderstood. Hopefully the trip to Dominican Republic will not only change the students and faculty’s lives but also open the children’s eyes to the world around them.