I’ve always wanted to travel. The idea of entering exotic locales, interacting with different people and engaging in new experiences gets my imagination running. I’m sure many can identify with that desire. To get the opportunity to travel fills me with a wild excitement.

Now that we are here, words fail me as I try to describe what I am experiencing. I was very excited today, as we ventured off the hotel compound the team is staying at and down to the orphanage. We got to amble through the streets, with the sights and sounds engulfing our senses. It was satisfying to look around, to see the palm trees and mango trees, to see the farm animals and the stray dogs, to see the hot sun and feel the cool breeze as we walked back this evening.

But it is a whole other thing to talk about the people. There was a language barrier that felt like I was in a fish bowl knocking on the glass. There was just no way to communicate as I had pictured myself doing. I love to get to know people, and when my only word is “Bonjou” (Hello in Creole), it’s kind of limited. But the kids at the orphanage spoke some English, and we all spoke the language of play, and of hugs, and of just sitting together hanging out. So, today was a good day.

For curious readers, our travel to Haiti went smoothly. After 18 hours of travel time, two flights, one long drive through the Haiti countryside and not one piece of lost lugggage, we arrived safely at our hotel in Mirebalais late Thursday afternoon.