Haiti opportunity...

[ann_totusek]

I was just asked to go to Haiti to help a medical team. I would have to pay my own airfare, which I can't afford right now. I am thinking of taking donations to a Paypal account to see if I can raise the money to go. I'd like opinions from my LJ friends on whether raising support like this is acceptable or in bad taste.

Comments

[erikvolson]

Can I throw AA miles at it? I don't think AA flies to Port-au-prince, but I can easily get you to Miami.

[erikvolson]

Wait, turns out PAP is actually flown by AA metal. This is now easy.

What dates?

[ann_totusek]

Details are still being worked out, and fortunately we'd actually be traveling on AA, and I'm already a member of their scheme, so miles could be donated. I'll post more info as it becomes available. My other big concern would be working out care for Mom while I was gone, but I think it could be done. I talked to someone tonight about it who is considering it, and on Monday I will call the daycare that we're planning on getting her to 2 days a week for a week of full time while I was in Haiti. Right now I'm still kind of in the research phase ensuring that if I do it, I can do it without unduly burdening my family.

[erikvolson]

Can't help with Mom, but I have 212K miles available on AA and really not much use for them -- between the SWUs and the unlimited upgrades on domestics, I just don't use miles much anymore on myself. So , when you get dates, let me know, I can book the flight -- and call the EXP desk is availability is an issue. Between status and "getting medico to Haiti", I don't expect any problems.

[ann_totusek]

212K? Geez- you could get me most of the way to the moon.

[johnridley]

ditto, this is certainly acceptable, IMO.

[davidschroth]

Acceptable.

How much *is* a round trip ticket to Haiti, with an open return, anyway?

[rmeidaking]

Absolutely acceptable. I'm kind of surprised that the medical team doesn't have some airline donating the flights, though.

[ann_totusek]

I think it's because the team is being put together by a local doctor who has connections with the Israelis who are providing medical support. He gets the group together, and we go down and work there for a week. Yes, assuming that we can pull this off, I'm going to Haiti with Israeli military (possibly Mossad) protection. I have zero worries about my personal safety as long as I stay in the area that we're working and living in. These guys take Psalm 23 seriously- "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I shall fear no evil, for I am the meanest son of a bitch in the valley."