Ports. Ships. People

Our volunteer cruise continues….

by Little Cruise Buzz

My second sea day was spent learning, planning, and promoting.

At our first session, Eva Dehart, the founder of For Haiti with Love, spoke to us about her program. Nancy Schretter, from Family Travel Network, talked about voluntourisim and what a difference we were making.

We also sorted all of the donations brought for the trip and packaged it. The group started planning the logistics for our benefit concert. After dinner, I went to the hot tub that overlooks the ocean. It was full of peace and beauty.

To promote the benefit concert, Lady DaDa danced in the streets, and his Grand Promenade window, with the whole kooky Cruise4Haiti gang during Dancing in the Streets. We partied the night away, and I think tons of people are going to come to the benefit concert. To finish the night, we relaxed at a piano lounge, excited for our visit to our first orphanage.

Day 5:

St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles is a beautiful city. When we arrived at the I Can Foundation’s orphanage, we were greeted with excited children. They were all so adorable and happy to have visitors. After a tour and time to play with the children off all ages, we started to hand out the gift bags.

To see the smile and joy on their faces was heartwarming, I do not think I will experience that kind of feeling for a long time. They opened up their bags to find toothbrushes, hair brushes, stuffed animals, jewelry, and toys.  The kids were so excited to receive things that we take for granted every day, and I hope we all realize that not everyone is as privalaged as us, that we should all give back sometimes.