Hello
family and friends and welcome to our Haiti ABST (Alternative Break Service Trip)
experience! We are so excited to have you along on the journey. Spring
break may seem far off but we are working hard researching the Haitian culture,
growing as a group, and starting to learn Haitian Creole, the native
language. Gannon University's Center for Social Concerns has made this
great opportunity possible.
In
Haiti we will be partnering with Outreach to Haiti, an organization that
bridges the gap between the United States and Haiti. We will be doing service at
a variety of locations including a medical clinic and an orphanage for children
affected/effected by HIV/AIDS. We are all ready to form a relationship with the
Haitian people, make a difference, and have a life changing experience by
opening up to a whole new world.
My
name is Nicole and I would like to take a moment to introduce our Haiti Team
Members. I asked each member, “Tell me a little about yourself and why you
would like to go to Haiti?” The responses are displayed below! Along with Dr.
Bomburger, Father Michael Kesicki, Gannon University’s Associate Vice President
for Mission and Ministry will be accompanying the students on our trip to Haiti.
First, indulge me in some mama-gushing: I am the
mother of a vivacious 9 year old named Maya who loves to sing, dance and read.
She's a joy. She attends Erie Day School and so she makes the daily trek up
from Meadville with me. The commute is a lot less stressful now that I spend it
singing show tunes with Maya instead of composing an elaborate "to
do" list in my head. My husband, Pat Bywater, shares Maya's and my quirky
sense of humor. He is the editor of The Meadville Tribune, sharing
my passion for writing, community engagement, and travel. He was
the one bold enough to suggest that we move to Turkey for a year after I
finished my PhD. The thought had never crossed my mind to live abroad
until that time, but Turkey is an incredibly beautiful country and I am so glad
that I had that opportunity. It also deepened my love of international
travel.
I first started thinking in a more focused way about
Haiti by reading the works of the memoirist/novelist Edwidge Danticat, a
Haitian American who spent part of her youth growing up in Haiti and part of it
in New York. I love her work because she helps readers picture people in
a loving, good family who find themselves amidst political turmoil in Haiti and
the U.S. Her work spurred me to read some non-fiction works to better
understand the political and historical background to Haiti. So I’ve read a lot
about Haiti, but I’ve never been there. As an academic, I love reading about
things, but I also like doing. My classes often have experiential
learning in them to help connect what we read to action steps. For
instance, my students have created the http://greeneriepa.org site, a portal to
all things green in Erie County, PA. If students are going to spend time
writing pieces for me, I’d rather have those pieces have a positive use in the
real world than just being read by me. Similarly, my background in
African American literature has gotten me involved in the MLK committee and has
encouraged me to have students do oral histories to connect lived experience
with that in books.
Cristiana Sibley
Dr. Bomburger, Gannon University’s Honors Program
Director
Nicole Ray
Hi, my name is Nicole and I am currently a junior
Physician Assistant Major at Gannon University. Right now I am interested in
labor and delivery, but I am looking forward to doing rotations in many
different medical field areas to find what I like best. I am so excited to have
the opportunity to go to Haiti and do service with children in this country.
This will be my first ABST trip and I know that it will be an exceptional
learning experience by opening my eyes to other parts of the world. I cannot
wait to share this journey with the other members of our team!
Cristiana Sibley
Hello!
My name is Cristiana. I am an English major hoping to be accepted to a law
school. This semester I enjoyed expanding my love for photography. I also love
relaxing with friends and occasionally rocking to some karaoke. (Sometimes I
can't even tell the difference between my vocals and Taylor Swift!)
(Actually,
that last statement might be slightly exaggerated.)
(Actually,
it was probably verging on completely made up.)
I
do still really love music regardless.
I
graduate in May, and I could not think of a better way to end my career at
Gannon than to serve in a new culture. I am so excited to be blessed with this
opportunity.
Stay
tuned! I know my new friends and I are going to have stories to tell.
Leanna Gosser
My name is Leanna Gosser and I’m from Greenville,
PA. I am a third year PA student and am considering specializing in geriatrics
one day. I’ve always wanted to go on a trip like this and when a speaker came
in to my PA leadership seminar to talk about the ABST trips, it seemed like the
perfect opportunity! Through this experience, I hope to make new friends, learn
more about myself, and discover different ways I can serve others and
God. I am very grateful and excited to have the chance to travel to Haiti
and be a part of an ABST experience.
Tasha Antoine
Hello,
My name is Tasha Antoine, I am a freshman at Gannon
University in the legal studies program. I have always enjoyed learning about
other cultures and helping those in need. I feel like this trip to Haiti will
be a perfect learning experience as well as a reality check. I am half
Haitian and half White, I have never been to Haiti but have always wanted
to visit. I am excited to get those to every student in this group as well as
the people that we will be helping. I am so ready to start our exciting journey
to Port-au-prince.
Linden Lester
Hey everyone, my name is Linden Lester and I’d just
like to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a junior early childhood and
special education major here at Gannon. I have a passion for working with kids
and doing service and that is what has got me so involved in the ABST trips. I
went to Guatemala my freshmen year and Mexico last year. I love adventure and
experiencing new cultures so that is what intrigued me about Haiti. When
applying for the trip I really knew nothing about Haiti. I figured with this
experience not only would I be able to work with kids and do service, but I’d
also get to learn a lot and experience a completely new culture. I am very
excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to spend a week in Haiti.
Kaylee Achman
Hi guys! My name is Kaylee. I am currently a junior
physician assistant major, and that is part of the reason I want to go to
Haiti. In my future I want to be a physician assistant that specializes in
pediatrics. Going to Haiti we will be working with children affected the HIV
and AIDS. There is no better way to expand my horizons then going to Haiti.
Haiti will give me insight to other healthcare systems then those in the United
States. I will get to experience different cultures, learn from all
different interactions, and help to the best of my ability. I cannot wait
to interact and learn more about these children. Not only that, I am
excited to get to know the group of people I am traveling with
and create lifelong connections with them!
Tyler Beers
Hello everyone, my name is Tyler Beers and I am a
Junior Physician Assistant major. This will be my third ABST at Gannon, but my
first time leading one! I am very excited for the opportunity and feel very
blessed to have a wonderful co-leader in Patrice helping along the way. I
really am a person who loves to be busy, I am involved with a number of
activities in campus including clubs, organizations, and jobs. I am a
second-year RA in Finegan Hall and I just started a tutoring job with the Go
College! Program at Strong Vincent High School. On campus, I am involved with
Habitat for Humanity, Honors Student Advisory Board, P.A.T.C.H.E.S, and a
physician assistant club known as GUSPAS. In my free time, I really enjoy
running, playing racquetball, golfing, fishing, hunting, reading, and just
about anything outdoors. I have the unique situation of being able to return to
Haiti after I went there as a participant last year. It was a truly amazing
experience and so it was a no-brainer that I would apply to lead the trip this
year. The people I met there have had an amazing effect on my life and I am
very excited to have others share that same experience. I hope everyone will
continue to follow our blog as we prepare for this transformative experience!
Patrice Swick
I feel blessed to be participating in my fourth and
final ABST with such a dedicated and fun group of people! I am looking forward
to being immersed in the Haitian culture for as Pope Francis states
"culture embraces the totality of a people's life". As we learn
and eventually live this culture I know we will all come away with a better
understanding of how we are all connected and how that will influence
our daily lives.
Iziah Waugh
Hello Everyone!
Iziah Waugh
Hello Everyone!
My name is Iziah and I am a sophomore Chemistry major at
Gannon University. On campus I am involved in many clubs and organizations
including Student Government Association, Chemistry Club, Art Club, and Delta
Sigma Phi. I one day plan to work for the Government.
This will be my first ABST trip, I’ve always wanted to accept an opportunity
like this and give back to those in need. Accepting this trip to Haiti, I will
be able to learn about different cultures and help those in need and most
importantly have personal growth. I’m looking forward to this once in a
lifetime trip that I will for sure not regret twenty years down the road. I’m truly
blessed and ready to start this journey with this unique group of people!
Thank you all so much for you interest in our
service experience! Your support and prayers are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Nicole
