Why we should help Haiti (insert Africa here)

So today we were discussing social issues in my English classes. During this conversation, the crisis in Haiti was brought up. One of my students asked (without malice) why we (the U.S.) should help when there are so many hurting here. It made for a healthy class discussion. It got me thinking. Now, before I continue writing this (and more importantly before you continue reading this!)I start with a disclaimer: I would never discourage people from helping those who are hurting on their doorstep. One thing that we must realize though, is that everyone is different…which means that everyone is going to be passionate about a different cause. Whether it is right outside your door or world’s apart. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think it is quite beautiful…If we all felt compelled to contribute to one area of the world, then the rest would not know compassion….the rest would fall apart.

To answer my student’s question in a P.C. manner…it is essential that we help out in our community. However, that begs the question: what is community? Especially in this technological age. According to Mark Wrathall, a contributor to U2 and Pop Philosophy, “As economies and societies become intertwined through the technologization and globalization of world culture, a sense of…responsibility for the poverty and suffering of far distant people increases…There is a sense in which our responsibility grows along with the globalization of the economy.” I, personally, find this to be true. As technology and global relations become more aligned between cultures, I find the gap to be closing. So where does that leave community? In my definition, everywhere.

Yes, I feel that the people that are hurting in Haiti are a part of our community. Yes, I feel that we should help those in our community. While many feel that it is against human nature to help those that we do not know, I think that one of the BEST things about human nature is that we can and do help those we do not know.

This last part I could not bring up in a class setting …but I believe these two stories best illustrate this extraordinary part of human nature…they are a couple of my favorite stories. Not that I am going to drag too much religion into this thought…but one of these stories is located in the bible. It is a short one: “Jesus wept.” These two words have different theories, which is cool. Some say that Jesus wept because he was sad that his friend (Lazarus) died. Others say that he wept because he was saddened by the lack of faith around him (people not believing that he would provide a miracle). Yet another group says that he wept at the sight of everyone’s pain. That he felt their pain. This last theory happens to be my favorite.

The second story is told by Shane Claiborne, who went to work with Momma T (Mother Theresa) in Calcutta. He says, “One of the beggars in Calcutta approached me one day, and I had no money on me, but I felt a piece of gum in my pocket, so I handed it to her. I have no idea how long it had been since she had chewed gum, or if she had ever even had the chance. She looked at it and smiled with delight. Then she tore it into three pieces and handed one to me and one to my friend so we could share the excitement.”

While these two stories are exploring the two different emotions of joy and pain, they are so related. The idea that we are connected by our emotion. The idea that as humans LIVING IN COMMUNITY, their joy should be our joy. Their pain should be our pain. We should want to help those in our community because it should hurt to see them hurt. That, in my opinion, is why we should be included in the gift that is cross-cultural community. Otherwise, we miss on the chance to see something so beautiful and so human.

"Change the World" playlist (inspiration)

As many of you know…I am a sucker for themes. I theme everything. From peeptinis on Easter to dressing as a pilgrim and Indian on Thanksgiving.

Well.

You should also know that everything comes with a theme cd…because anything awesome needs theme music. Therefore, I am to create a “Change the World” playlist for my Africa adventures. The list is as follows:



One day by Matisyahu feat. Akon

Revolution by The Beatles

Mission Responsible by Michael Tolcher

Fix You by Coldplay

My Own Two Hands by Ben Harper

Make you Crazy by Brett Dennen

Change the World by Anberlin

Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayer

Good People by Jack Johnson

One by U2

Better Way by Ben Harper

Change the World by Eric Clapton

Blowin in the Wind Bob Dylan

Imagine by John Lennon

What’s Goin On by Marvin Gaye

Where is the Love by Black Eyed Peas

Tears of the Saints by Leeland

For What it’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield

Ain’t it Funny by Dave Matthews

What Kind of World Do You Want by Five for Fighting

One Love by Bob Marley



That’s the list as of right now…if there are any that you feel should be added let me know! :O)


Cheers,


Jenni P!

I got my location…IDP camp, here I come!

About Pabo
Pabbo Secondary School was founded in 1980 by the Ugandan government and was displaced because of the war in 1996. In 1998, Pabbo’s 561 students and 23 staff members were able to return to the original site. Regrettably, there have been student abduc...tions since the school was opened. The largest IDP camp in northern Uganda, Pabbo IDP camp, is near the school and is home to 64,000 people. All of Pabbo’s students live in that camp and walk two miles to class daily. Prior to the conflict, Pabbo was a boarding school but now the school is unable to allow students to live on campus. Many of the students are formerly abducted LRA soldiers, orphans, child mothers, and several suffer from HIV/ skin diseases. AIDS. The average class size is 65, yet the existing classrooms are only built to hold 44. Malaria is growing more and more common among Pabbo students and many already have it.

For its 561 students, Pabbo had only seven classrooms, all of which were in ill repair with one borehole and three latrines. We have been able to construct three furnished dual classroom blocks with rainwater harvesting systems integrated into the roof structures. A new six-stance latrine for the female students has been completed, along with hand washing facilities. As Pabbo is not on the national power grid, we added a generator that powers every building on the campus.

We have supplied a limited quantity of core texts in the main compulsory subjects and are pleased to continue to assist in teacher training and support by providing leadership, school development planning, monitoring and evaluation, psychosocial support, financial management and planning, record keeping, and computer literacy trainings.

Plans for the near future include a fully furnished laboratory block. Due to the large financial commitment, this project will be phased using Round III money to complete the core structure of the building and pending Round IV funds to complete and furnish it. We plan to break ground soon, completing Phase 1 before the end of the year. Pabbo will also continue to benefit from the support of teacher training, supply of scholastic materials and sport equipment and the new emotional literacy program being implemented on a pilot basis in select S4S partner schools.

You shot me! You shot me in the arm!

So. Preparations for this trip involves a lot of new experiences. So are good. Some…not so much. Like shots. Just an FYI…I. Hate. Needles. Some may argue that I have tattoos so it can’t be too bad…no. Let me tell you that it doesn’t count. First of all…I hated every second of that experience. Exhibit A:


Second of all, for some odd reason, I don’t see a needle puncturing the skin…so it makes it better…but not by much. Thirdly, and most importantly, there are no live viruses inside a tattoo gun…but more on that later.

Anyways….I had to get these vaccinations…Yellow Fever, Polio, Typhoid, Hep A, and a Malaria treatment. I called my doctor to set up an appointment for said shots. Apparently these vaccinations are not in high demand here in the states, so I was redirected to a travel clinic in Jacksonville. I psyched myself to get this thing done during spring break…I was ready, so I called the clinic…only to be told that these items are in limited quantity (whaaaaat?!), therefore I would have to wait until May. Ugh. I have to reflect (and dread) this experience longer????
It’s finally May…I set up my appointment on an early release Wednesday since I have to drive to Jacksonville to do this thing. Already stressed, I was driving along…and it happened. I got lost.

Guess that gives the doctor more time to sharpen their best needle:



When I got there…the room was decorated like Africa. The nurse spoke with me for over an hour…Any food is going to make me sick unless it’s steaming. The water will make me sick. The kids will make me sick. O. M. G. I’m going to freakin’ die! So we are talking about the shots…Apparently, Typhoid is offered as a pill instead of a shot (yes please)…She hands me a pamphlet with a smiling pill on it. “Vaccination in a Capsule.” No needle? I’m smiling too!
…but then I find out that the Yellow Fever and Typhoid are live virus vaccinations. Here’s the issue with that. I have not been able to get many vaccinations (live virus) because I went deaf in one ear from one. Crap. I’m not worried about the needle anymore.
So the nurse goes behind the curtains to prepare the shots. I asked her…so what happens if you don’t get the vaccinations and cannot present the papers? She comes back around the curtain and explains that the other vaccinations are strongly recommended…but yellow fever isn’t really cured. Even here. They will give you one (probably with a reused needle) at the border, which we don’t want to do.
So I finally get my shots…then she hands me a prescription for the malaria pills. She explains them. Start taking them two days before you leave…the whole time you are there…and seven days after you return. They give vivid dreams (score! Can I start taking them now?) . So now all I have left is taking the live virus typhoid (every other night four times…can’t have anything for hours before and hours after…maybe I should have manned up and gotten the shot).
So. I have been a wreck…worrying about needles. Worrying about losing my hearing completely. But. Shots are done (except for Hep A)…and I am jamming out to music as I write this…so. The worst of the preparations are over. Next hurdle? Being ready. I have no idea what/how to pack.