Michelle May

Not so fast- that is not really an AMerican Airline’s flight- it is a plane that Project Medishare chartered between Miami & Port au Prince.   Commercial flights were cancelled (up until limited service to the Dominican Republic which re-opened today) so the only way to Haiti was on private plane- mainly for aid workers, or a military flight.  Here we are at 2AM boarding a chartered (rented) AA plane- check in was more civilized than current commercial flights- we just showed up, when our name was called we filled out a few papers- showed them out passport, gave them our bag- and then got on a bus to take us to our plane.  THere was no security at all- but all that has changed now.   Volunteer American Airlines workers helped us find seats, and fit as much luggage into the overtops as we could- there was a spirit of togetherness- something you rarely feel these days on a commercial flight! I sat next to a man who works the AA tower at JFK- a Hatian man who was coming down to Port au Prince for 2 hours only- to bring his wife’s family some much needed food, supplies, and cash.

above:  you’ll never see me this happy on an American Airlines plane at 2AM.

The sun rose as we took the 2 hour flight to Port au Prince.  Flight staff encouraged us to take all the blankets and pillows we wanted once on the ground.  As we taxied on the runway we went by massive amounts of aid stacked high, helicopters, tents displaying flags from such places as Portugal and Qatar, and friendly military dude’s smiling.  I have never been in such a situation before.  We took a lorrie about a half mile to the Project Medishare/University of Miami base camp… took about 10 minute to drop our things off (find an empty cot to take over), use the toilet & then we went right to work…

the tent we slept in- comfy cots atop of hay- with about 300 other folks- it was actually no problem at all to catch Zs here.

…and here’s the “toilet”…