
Blog Post - HI Trip Day 1 by Rich Harrison, 01/15/17
Rich Harrison - Jan 15th, 2017
Airport experiences often provide for some of my most favorite memories. The hustle and bustle of so many different people coming and going to so many different places. It always amazes me that no one ever really runs into each other.
This idea took on a whole new level at the Port-au-Prince International Airport. As if our 8 person group carting 15-50lbs bags of brand new Adidas Football for Hope gear through customs was challenging enough (another story), it’s what was waiting for us beyond that was beautifully synchronized chaos.
It’s incredible that anyone can pass through the disordered parking lot, but somehow everyone manages to…. over time. This is when the real adventure begins. Driving to Nicole's Place, our guest house, was so damn exciting. See, there are no traffic signals or stop signs in this city. But again, somehow no one ever really runs into each other. Speeding down narrow pot hole riddled streets with kids running aside knocking on our windows through busy uncontrolled intersections, missing motorcycles on the right, then the left and somehow not one every runs into each.
Tim Reppe - January 15th, 2017
I'm hoping to make an impact on this trip but not quite sure how yet. I've seen pictures & read news about devastation, disease, and poverty on a massive scale. I could get a sense of it on the ride from the airport to Nicole's place seeing infrastructure mostly in a state of disrepair. I see people who are in need (but don't want to rush to judge on their condition).