We are blessed here at Be Like Brit to have some of the most dedicated and passionate volunteers we know! Indeed, Continuing the Compassion of Britney Gengel through volunteer service, we are able to do so much more than we otherwise could. We have a lot going on for an organization of this size, and our volunteers - our Britsionarys - make so much of what we do possible. We've been so grateful to have had Caroline with us over the course of the past month, and hope you enjoy her reflection on her time here in Haiti!
Here's what Caroline had to say!
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As I sit down to write this blog post, I am overcome with sadness at the thought of leaving Haiti on Saturday. But I am also shocked that in the span of one year, traveling to Haiti has impacted my life so severely. After my first Britsionary trip this past January, I fell in love with everything about Haiti, the people, the beauty, and most importantly, the spirit. My trip was a huge wake up call as to how blessed I am to receive certain privileges like clean drinking water, free education, and parents who love me, that not everyone is as fortunate to have. As I was dragged back to the airport, not wanting to leave, I decided right then and there that I would come back. I decided to apply to be a long term Britsionary because I wanted to give back to this organization that means so much to me. Coming to Haiti has taught me so much about what's really important in life, loving one another, living life joyously, and keeping one's faith alive and strong. Everyday as our bus climbed the hill back up to BLB I was overcome with a sense of that coming home feeling. Everyone in that B shaped orphanage is a family, and I have loved every second of my time here.
Through my long term program, I have helped to implement a reading program as part of the kid's summer curriculum. I would work with different groups of kids during the mornings and we would read together. The older kids took pride in reading books in French, Creole, or English to me, I would love cuddling and reading with the little ones, and everyone enjoyed practicing our colors, letters, and numbers in English and Creole. As the daughter of a Librarian media specialist, reading is a huge part of my life and was an absolutely immense part of my childhood. I am a firm believer that reading makes you smarter and I wanted the kids to hone their reading skills during these summer months so they could readily excel in the classroom come September! Sharing my love of reading with them was the best way to start off our mornings and possibly the only thing that can get me out of bed before 10 am!
The second part of my program consisted of going to Taino beach everyday with the kids (tough life, right?) to teach swimming lessons. All the kids varied in skill level but were divided by age groups and I was completely shocked by their sense of comfort in the water, especially with the young ones. The bath water temperature definitely helps!! The kid's immense love of the water made swimming lessons not only easy but enjoyable. I would demonstrate a skill and a group of kids would then imitate me with surprising accuracy. We worked on bubbles, putting our faces in and under the water, kicking, floats, glides, working on the techniques of freestyle, and just having fun in the water! It was a complete joy to watch the kids confidence grow with swimming and I will miss hearing them yell, “Kay-lahn, mi gade!” (Caroline, watch me!) One of my proudest moments was having Whenly go from wearing a life vest and refusing to put his face in the water to swimming freestyle a short distance to me, sans life jacket. In fact, figge dlo (face, water) became one our inside jokes and we would often say it to each other in passing and laugh. Swimming has always been a passion of mine, I swam competitively for many years and getting to help teach the kids to become stronger and more confidant swimmers everyday was so fulfilling. From Peterson dancing and singing on the bus, swimming in that beautiful turquoise water, and having kids falling asleep all over me on the ride home will be moments I'll miss but memories I'll cherish forever.
As my month here comes to a close, I'm so grateful for this amazing experience. I'm thankful for all of the love I've received during my time here: (shout out to the two groups I joined- Teams Sweaty Spaghetti and Zamni Loray- I adore each and every one of you), the amazing support of Jonathan and Amanda, all of the caretakers and workers that I've bonded with, and the 66 kids who have opened their hearts to me and whom I will be missing so much. To Cherlyann and Len, who I FINALLY got to meet (along with Bernie and Melissa!), thank you for having me! It's been an honor to be apart of this organization this past month and it is truly inspiring to continuously meet people who share my passion of living a life for others. The solace I find in leaving is Cherlyann's reminder that BLB is a family and once you're in, you can't get out. So I leave Haiti a more tanner, happier, and fulfilled person but will most definitely be leaving behind 66 pieces of my heart in Grand Goave.
