Louisville, Ky.----My name is Rebecca Bloemer and I am the graduate assistant volleyball coach at Wingate University. Recently, I was given the opportunity to go to Port-au-Prince, Haiti with a group of coaches to run volleyball clinics to teach coaches and players about the sport. The organization Child-In Hand allowed for four coaches to share their volleyball knowledge with many Haitians. The team included Tom Hogan (head coach at the University of Colorado and assistant coach during the 2008 Olympics), Tracy Stalls (who helped the USA earn a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics and is currently on the USA National volleyball team), Scott (a high-level club team coach in Texas) and myself.

While preparing for the trip, I didn't know what quite to expect. I knew I would see people living in poverty, but even though I'd seen pictures, I'd never seen it first hand and especially not in the least developed country in the western hemisphere. I expected to spend many hours on a volleyball court instructing a group excited to learn the sport, and I expected to learn from them as well. In addition, I expected to see some damage caused from the earthquake and see people suffering from its effects. While I did experience many of my expectations, the trip was different than I imagined.

It was truly a life changing experience. When people ask me "How was Haiti?" I find myself struggling with the answer. At first I always answered "good" but that never settled well with my true emotions. Seeing a country of people suffering from the effects of a devastating earthquake, living in poverty, and not even knowing where their next meal is coming from is by no means good. But on the other hand, seeing the true meaning of joy without a basis in material goods, feeling like you brought someone happiness, knowing that the people of Haiti have truly touched your heart, and meeting other people who are just as excited about helping others and who ARE making a huge difference in Haiti are "good." With this being said, life changing is one of the few words that I can actually use to accurately describe what the trip was to me. It is a trip that I find hard to express in words because no adjective is strong enough or accurate enough to explain what I saw or did.

From the moment I stepped off the plane I started to experience the Haitian culture. The airport seemed almost unfinished as there were so many signs directing you in which way to go. I simply started following the crowd hoping that I was going to the right spot. Customs with a lack of lines and people pushing in every direction was a breeze in comparison to baggage claim. There was one conveyor belt and people were picking up luggage and throwing it everywhere. There was almost no order and no method to where everything was being put. Luckily this is where I met up with some of our other team members and our security team who helped me fight for my luggage.

When we finally made it to the vans I thought everything would calm down for our ride to our hotel, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. We pulled out into the crowded streets into what seemed like rush hour traffic, but without any traffic rules. Cutting people off and using any lane is considered normal and the time between hearing a car horn is minimal. The many street vendors and people walking down the sidewalks didn't seem to be as surprised by the traffic as I was. But what really caught my eye was the number of young boys swarming our car. Some would wash our windows in hope of a small tip, but others were just walking with our car, peering into the windows while attempting to open the doors and windows so that we would give them food or money. By the time we reached our hotel, I realized that my world of plenty of food a day and a stable income are not things that everyone is the world even comes close to experiencing. After settling into the hotel and a quick trip to the grocery store for bottled water and snacks, the team had dinner together and turned in early in preparation for our first day.

After breakfast in the lobby the next morning, we battled traffic again in order to make it to the volleyball court. It was in the middle of the city, but once we stepped foot on the outdoor sport court the group of 60 smiling and eager Haitians made me forget about the hardships that were taking place on the other side of the cement wall surrounding the facility. The heat index was above 100 with lots of humidity, but that did not stop anyone from working hard and having a great time. The first session was from 9am-12pm. We taught passing, setting, and hitting, and had fun drills in between teaching the skills. After this we took an hour break to grab some lunch and catch a break from the sun.

When we returned, we didn’t waste any time and got right back into volleyball. We went over serving and serve receive. Then it was time to put all the skills together for some team play and competitions. Watching the competitions was one of my favorite parts of the volleyball clinics. They were working together, cheering each other on, and celebrating successes; something that they all need, especially after the earthquake.

At the end of the day we gave each participant a USA hat and bag that was donated from the USA Olympic Committee. By their amount of excitement, you would have thought that we had given them each a new car. We took group photos and many of them asked the coaches to sign their hats. I have never signed so many autographs in my life! After that we said our good byes and all of the Haitians thanked us so many times for coming. Then all of the coaches headed back to the hotel tired but excited about another day of volleyball to come in the morning.

Day two of the clinic was similar to day one, but many of the participants had more volleyball experience than the day before. We were able to teach blocking and more advanced drills. We continued teaching more advanced skills on day three and in the afternoon they did tons of 4v4 and 5v5 team competitions. We even did a 4v4 USA vs. Haiti game which left everyone smiling and cheering for their country. When day three concluded, it was sad to think that we would not be playing volleyball with the Haitians the next morning. The six hours that we all spent together on the court each day was a chance for them to forget all the trouble and hardships that they have been experiencing. They were happy and proud not only of themselves, but in each other and in the fact that they were Haitians. One of the Haitians told Tom that this clinic was the best experience of his life. This put many things into perspective for me. Not only have these people been through so much that one day at a volleyball clinic is their favorite memory, but also that teaching a sport is about so much more then the skills learned. It is about showing them that you care and that you are believe in them; something everyone deserves to feel.

While in Haiti we were also given the opportunity to visit four different orphanages that participate in the Child-In-hand program. This was the first time that I had ever been to an orphanage, and I will never forget this experience. At the first orphanage, the kids were crowded into a room making bracelets. These bracelets are sold at different USA Volleyball events which then allows the orphanages a way to buy food and clothing. Shortly after we got there, all the kids lined up outside for us to give them each a USA hat and bag. I do not know if I have ever seen a group of 40 kids smiling so large and so thankful for such a small gift. We also gave them a few volleyballs and gave them a quick lesson on how to play. The volleyballs that we gave out at the orphanages were the only toys that I saw. They have nothing to play with besides each other and whatever stones/sticks they can find in the yard.

We then told the kids that we brought shoes for each of them. We started fitting each child for a pair of shoes. The girls would run to the bag and pull out a pair hoping that that pair would fit. Even if you had to reach into the bag and pull out a completely different style, they were just as ecstatic about that pair as they were the first pair. It wasn’t about the colors or style that mattered, but the gift of their own pair of shoes and that someone cared enough to bring them. Once we started fitting the kids, we realized that we did not have large enough sizes to fit the older half of the orphanage. They were lined up waiting for the shoes we promised them, yet we did not have any that we could give them. Telling them this broke my heart. I could not stand the thought of breaking a promise we just made to kids that have almost no promises kept to them. Luckily the Child-In-Hand organization makes frequent trips to Haiti and will bring shoes from the older kids on their next trip.

We saw orphanages that ranged from around 40 to almost 60 kids in each home. The houses were very small and barely gave the children enough room to run around. The bed rooms were plain room with multiple bunk beds in each room. Their bunks were three beds high, unlike the bunks that many of us are used to seeing. Yet the smiles are the children’s faces did not seem to match the environment that they were living in.

Many of the orphanages greeted us with songs and allowed us to clap or sing along with them. We were always greeted with smiles. I felt very welcomed at every orphanage even though I have never met any of them and our only conversations were in broken English. The kids jumped at the opportunity to pass a volleyball and even just to give you a high five! The happiness and love that I felt from these orphanages was greater than anywhere I have ever been, yet they had the least. It shows that true joy is not caused by material goods and having everything you desire but by acts of love and kindness.

I could continue writing about the highlights from the clinics and from the orphanages, but I would never know where to stop. There are so many highlights from Haiti that are still bringing a smile to my face everyday. The trip changed my outlooks in so many ways. I would love to be able to go back to Haiti and interact with the people again, for it isn’t about the words spoken (whether through the translator or though broken English/Creole), but about the actions. While Haiti may be a poor country in economic terms, I did not feel that they were poor in love or in spirit. For in these measurements, those we met were truly rich. I also gained a new outlook on volleyball. Not only is it a past time and one of my favorite hobbies, but it is also a way to bring routine, happiness, success, and identity back to those who have lost so much. Haiti was truly life changing, and I wish that everyone could experience the amazing amount of joy that the Haitians have to offer.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a comprehensive university with more than 2,300 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. The university offers 32 undergraduate majors, 36 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.

Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 39 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 48 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.