Finally I taken the time (and that is the key phrase...taking the time) to write on this site. I literally had to schedule time in my day today to sit down on the computer for this specific purpose! I have been back in America for a couple of weeks now. Rather then flying back to Anchorage where I have been going to school, I chose to remain in Sitka where I am originally from to stay with my family while writing up my five college reports that are do. These reports are all within the field of my degree, Cross-cultural Psychology and Human Development. I had quite the diversity of experiences in Haiti with which to write these five reports from.

The challenge I have had in the last two weeks has been planting my behind to a chair for 10-12 hours a day with my eyes glued to the computer screen typing away attempting to capture my experiences and combine them under the specific topic heading of the report, (i.e. Exploring Therapeutic Activities for Children, Cross Cultural Psychology, Cross Cultural Human Development, Voodooism and Haitian Religion and Leadership.) Having never written APA style before and aiming to write at minimum forty paged a piece per report, phew...! It has been a long last couple of weeks.

I leave to return to Anchorage on Monday and will be there for approximately a week before returning to Sitka for my summer job charter fishing part time and working in the lodge the other part of the time. www.islandviewcharters.com is the website you can view if you are interested to see where I will be working. Wonderful people and a beautiful location.

I am not certain of my winter plans yet. If I can find a way to make it work I will remain in Sitka for the winter and do correspondence studies through my school in Anchorage. I really value my own community and desire to invest in the people within my own hometown. The cultural diversity we have here is incredible. The options to work with people from all around the world are huge, even right here on this island of fourteen miles of road.

Since returning from Haiti it has been a challenge attempting to share about my time down there. Explaining things of that nature are nearly impossible. Things seen, tasted, touched, smelled, experienced, etc. are difficult to relay. Only by a person being there and experiencing it for themselves will they really get, "it." I do miss Haiti and the Haitian people.

Last night I went on a gallery walk downtown in Sitka. It was wonderful! Local artists showing their work, many abundantly rich spirited local residents of Sitka socializing from one art gallery to the next, sampling the many free appetizers and wines. This was an enlightening experience for me as having recently returned from Haiti, I am aware of my new eye for art.

I walked into my first gallery last night and did not walk out for over an hour. I was amazed at the feast it was for my eyes!! I saw art, paintings, sculptures, woodwork, in a new light, in a way I had never before seen it. Very captivating and exciting for me! I learned how to appreciate the Haitian art while in Haiti. The art there is so diversified that coming back here, I found myself to be very well rounded in viewing and admiring many different types of creations.

I am glad to be back in Alaska, though I very much miss the simplicity of the culture of Haiti. Someone asked me last night what the meant, "the simplicity of the culture of Haiti." Considering I was at the gallery walk, I simplified it by saying, " The Haitian culture is drinking, dancing and making art." I got some great laughs out of that!

Truth is that the Haitian culture is much, much more then that. It is centralized on family, on community, on creativity in all aspects of life and yes, art. I am very honored to have had the chance I did to explore the culture and peoples of Haiti. Now that I am back, I am excited to implement the many lessons learned, acknowledge cultural diversity on a deeper level and invest in sharing the excitement of learning about lives across cultures.