My name is Carolyn and I am a junior at Lawrence University. I traveled to Haiti in summer 2008 with Janet Anthony to teach at the two music camps in Leogane and Jacmel. I was there for a total of 7 weeks. It is difficult for me to adequately express how much my experience in Haiti has changed my life, but I will do my best.
I had only ever been out of the country once, four years ago when my high school theater department traveled to perform at the FRINGE Festival in Scotland. Including that trip I have only flown on two occasions. The thought of traveling to a third world country with such limited travel experience was a bit scary, but I was reassured when another student reminded that in the 12 or so years that Professor Anthony has been taking volunteers from Lawrence, everyone has come back safely. I didn’t know very much about Haiti at all before this opportunity presented itself. I didn’t even know where the country was, but I was attracted to the program by the amazing stories of other volunteers who had gone.
Professor Anthony’s Creole class third term was very helpful. I had taken French in high school but had forgotten most of it, so having a basic knowledge of Creole before arriving in Haiti was great. Then when I got there I was able to advance very quickly, practicing Creole with students and other volunteers. It is really a beautiful language, and everyone at the camps is so eager to help you learn.
That was one of the best things about both camps. The willingness of students and volunteers and professors to learn and try new things. I taught cello and music theory and I was daily amazed at my student’s eagerness. All of my free time was taken up with extra lessons or tutoring sessions because each student was so dedicated to the whole experience. It was tiring, but faced with such optimism and eagerness, I was more than happy to give that late night lesson on the basketball court.
It was so inspiring to be surrounded by people who really cared about music, really cared about learning. I had lost a lot of faith in these things over the years. Music had become a job, practicing a chore, and I had lost sight of my musical goals. I think it can be this way for many people in college. But after seeing students playing beat up instruments, walking hours just to come to school, all for the sheer love of music, that was inspiring. It made me really think about what I wanted to do with music, and made me believe in myself. At Lawrence I was a middle-rate cellist with (I used to think) nothing to offer. Not really outstanding in any sense, sort of just average. This always frustrated me, because no matter how much I tried, how much I practiced, I never felt accomplishment. Being in Haiti made me realize that this was not because I didn’t have anything to offer, but because I couldn’t look at my playing with an objective eye and say, okay, that part wasn’t so good, but look how much you improved at this part. This positive outlook is so important in Haiti, because the people there are surrounded by so much negative. The struggle of their daily lives, the hardships they are faced with, starvation, malnutrition, disease, deforestation, just to name a few. Yet you see people smiling even in the worst slums, and people take joy in the smallest things that we take for granted. I have realized what is important in life, what I need to be happy and what I can do for others to help make them happy. Suddenly all these questions and problems that had plagued me before became so simple and clear. Not living with our usual luxuries, running water, or power 24 hours a day, just simplifies things, lets you focus on the important stuff. Haiti is hot, dirty and loud and you sometimes get sick, but its illuminating. Too often we let material possessions determine our happiness, and seeing what its like to live without them is an invaluable learning experience.
I believe that volunteering is very important, especially for people in the arts. I think it is the responsibility of every artist to use their talents to effect positive social change. Too often people think that volunteering means giving something up, giving up time or money. I am not a wealthy person, I am pretty sure I’ll be paying off college loans till I’m 40, but Haiti has made me realize that I have so much to give. How wonderful is it that by doing what we love, we can help others. I believe this is what we are all meant to do, celebrate our strengths and differences and use them to do good. I know that may be naïve and idealistic, but if you ever volunteer with a program like this you will see what I mean.
I experienced so many other amazing things during my 7 weeks in Haiti. I got to work with volunteers from all over the world. Most memorably three luthiers from Luthiers Without Borders, who did thousands of dollars of repair work. I think Robert fixed about 60 bows. It was awesome. I got to go on excursions into the countryside and ride on the back of a motorcycle through the mountains. We went on walks to the market and saw some art galleries. I learned konpa dancing and how to play cazino, a great card game. I made it through a hurricane and a couple missed flights, but it all turned out okay. Coming home was hard, and it took me a few days to recover from the culture shock, but I am glad for everything that happened to me. I am so grateful for all of the lessons I’ve learned and want to encourage others to volunteer. I will never forget the kind faces of all of my students and their inspiring smiles. I plan to return to Haiti as much as I possibly can.
