The Last 6 Days Before Haiti

Finals week just so happens to be my last week before departing to Haiti for three months. I'm not so sure how smart this planning was on my part, but I'm trusting that it'll all be okay. I will be staying at and working for an organization in Port Au Prince, Haiti called Haiti Communitere and engaging in a lot of different kinds of work. I expect to be working with different orphanages that Haiti Communitere supports and is involved with, and also go back to New Life Children's Home, where I've always gone on my previous trips to Haiti. I spoke with the director a couple weeks ago and he talked about me potentially being able to work in a Tuberculosis Clinic for which I am excited, but also nervous about at the same time. My time in Haiti has revolved around the same kind of routine- I've gone down with a group from Florida State, we stay at New Life Children's Home, go out into the city and visit other orphanages, do service projects around New Life, as well as play with all the kids. These experiences have been beautiful and shaped me in so many ways, but I'm excited for new experiences to challenge me and encourage me to grow.

I don't have a specific title with Haiti Communitere at the moment, and I can't decide if I prefer that or if I'd rather a set job with set expectations. I've decided that the latter will inhibit me from learning and growing to the depths of my capability, regardless of my desire to know exactly what's going to happen every day I'm there. I fear the unknown. I also fear being useless and unwanted while I'm there. My specific skill set is very relational and interpersonal, while also very practical. I need to feel useful, but I also desire the closeness of relationships and discovering new depths about others and myself. I worry that this won't be recognized by my host organization, but I'm also aware in acknowledging these worries that I am limiting myself and my potential experience with so much fear. I can feel so deeply that this summer is going to be one of the most challenging experiences I've ever engaged in, but also one of the most beautiful.

Preparation for this trip has been relatively stressful, mainly because my trip is so long and there were minor miscommunications about budgeting that threw off planning for my trip a good bit. The biggest struggle in planning for this trip has been making sure I have enough money, and being financially responsible while I'm there. I'm also preparing emotionally to the best of my ability because I'm trying to prepare going on this trip alone. I'm venturing to an organization I've never been to before, working with people I've never met, and going for the first time without anyone by my side. As scary as these things feel to me, this is going to result in so much growth; I don't even think I'm fully aware of it.

I can't begin to express my gratitude and excitement for getting to be a part of The Global Scholars Program. I feel so privileged to get to serve this summer and explore more about myself, but also have such a wonderful group of people to share my thoughts and feelings with throughout this process.

Prepping for Peru!

¡Hola a todas!

My name is Tori Quaglia and in just over two weeks I will be in Cusco, Peru at The Healing House, ready to begin my journey as a creative and developmental intern. I feel so thankful for finding the FSU Global Scholars program which guided me to Omprakash and ultimately the Healing House. I am currently a freshman majoring in International Affairs with a focus on anthropology, a second major in sociology, and a minor in business.

Right now I am beginning finals, the move out process from the dorms, trying to keep up with the Omprakash training program online, and preparing for my work in Peru as well as my actual stay there. As stressful as it is, I am very excited to embark on this journey. My job description at the Healing House includes community and global outreach through marketing, teaching art, photography, and meditation, while also practicing Reiki healings. I will be using Spanish a majority of the time I will be working as well as exploring the community and its surroundings.

The neighborhood of San Blas in Cusco is known for its artisans and "hippies". This fits my personality perfectly and I am ready to be surprised by what the natives and other gringo travelers have to teach me along the way. Cusco is also known as the gateway to Machu Picchu, the great Inca ruins labeled as an UNESCO world heritage site. My goal by the end of the trip is to have meditated on site! Knowing that Cusco is also 1,500+ feet above sea level, altitude sickness is common and the climate is much different than that of Lima on the coast. I am prepared with a wardrobe to accommodate the 40º F nights and the occasional high of 65º F. It is also winter there, just after the rainy season where tourism hits a peak.

Within the next two weeks I need to visit the international travels department of the Wellness Center to make sure I have all of my medications and records together, I need to obtain a large number of disposable cameras to use in my photography classes, and work on my spanish meditations. I am most nervous about using my Spanish and my teaching skills, but it will all work out if I put my best effort forward and keep an open mind. This experience is meant to be an equal exchange of energy and learning; I am traveling to help this community with my specific skills, but I feel as if I will gain so much more creativity and consciousness from the community and the people at Healing House.

I will keep making lists, checking things off, and making more lists in the next two weeks to be sure I am representing Florida State in the best way possible and to be as ready as possible for this life changing experience! I'll post before my departure and expect pictures throughout!

Good vibes!

Pre-Departure!

April 23, 2013
Pre-departure

So this is my first of many blog posts that I will be writing all throughout my journey to India this summer! In exactly 5 weeks I'll be traveling way half-way across the globe to volunteer at Parijat Academy in Assam India. I'll be going with one of my best friends as well as classmate LeeAnne Steers. We have mostly everything finalized, besides a flight from Orlando to Chicago, which is where we are departing the country from. 

LeeAnne and I were fortunate enough to be awarded the Undergraduate Public Service Research Fellowship Grant from FSU, and we should be receiving our funds sometime next week. We'll use that money to purchase our final flight as well as our camera equipment for our photographic essay project we have planned. We've been working on lesson plans for the kids, and have come up with some great creative projects that we think will really help us connect with the kids. I also have began preparing my anthropological research I'll be conducting while I'm there. My mentor as well as current professor Dr. Amy Kowal has given me some great ideas for questions to ask the people of Parijat, and ways to analyze and adjust to the new culture I'll be submerged into. I plan on meeting with her at least one more time before I depart to run everything by her, and I hope we get the chance to stay in contact while I am over there. We have no idea what to expect when we get there, but we did speak with a previous volunteer there named Chantel who gave us a lot of very insightful tips and information about Parijat and India. She informed us of our living conditions, which luckily for us we actually have our own little house with a western-style bathroom and shower (it's cold, but at least I can bathe!). She gave us tips about safety, and told us all about the kids and staff so we will have an easier time becoming familiar with everyone. When we are over there, we are planning on traveling and exploring the surrounding area on our down time, so we'll probably sit down and plan that out too. We really want to try and see the Himalayas and ride some elephants!

So far all we have left to do before we leave is purchase our final plane ticket, buy our camera equipment and familiarize ourselves with it, purchase some travel items, finish our second round of vaccines (which I'm doing next Tuesday), and then just pack and go! Of course, we both have finals next week we need to get through…

I am just so incredible excited to start my journey. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m so happy and grateful that I am having the chance to be apart of something so big. I have to give a big shout out to everyone at Global Scholars, especially Latika Young and Joe O'Shea who have been so helpful and encouraging since day 1! I'll post another update right before I leave, and while I'm over there I'll probably try to post every 3 days or so. 

Let the five week count down begin! :)