What happens next

It's that time of year when I usually return to Haiti and pick up where I left off before my summer break at Chop Point.

This year's going to be different. A friend of mine and fellow staff member at camp has been diagnosed with bone cancer, so I have decided to stay in Maine and help with her care. I'm flying to Haiti tomorrow to say good-byes and gather some of my belongings and then I will return to Maine on September 4th where I will remain for an indefinite future.

It is going to be a difficult road. Walking with a friend through a terminal illness is challenge enough, but add to that the fact that I will be living in America for the first time in 6 years. That may not seem like anything to you, but it's a frighteningly strange concept to me. I'm sure there will be days when I wish fervently that I'd chosen Haiti over cancer, but for now, I'm focusing on the good side of it.

I'm going to see the seasons change and be able to walk down the street without being stared at. I'm going to attend church in English, I'm going to wear wool socks, and I'm going to drink milk. Most importantly, I will get to be with my friend at a time when she needs me, and hopefully I will be able to support my Chop Point community in the same way that they have supported me for so long.