Photojournalist Emily Troutman Back in Haiti, Searching for Friends

DELMAS, Haiti (Jan. 21) -- Emily Troutman, a photojournalist and U.N. citizen ambassador, has produced two photo essays about Haiti for AOL News in the past week. The first described her trip to the country before the quake in December. The second was filed from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, where she was stuck on her way back to Haiti.

Late Wednesday, she posted this to Twitter: "I finally arrived in Haiti today, via helicopter. ... That was totally unexpected." What's next? "My first plans are to visit with friends," she said, "and spend a little time understanding what they've lived the past week."

Here are some of her first photos of her journey into the country, and the quake-ravaged nation she is now discovering. -- The Editors

Signs for help are typically in broken English, unusual for a Francophone country and indicative of who Haitians think will be providing aid in the coming weeks and months.

In Delmas, a pedestrian passes by an old painted sign, typical in many countries, with general advice on how not to spread infectious disease. The sign takes on new meaning now, as many residents are wearing face masks to protect themselves from the dust.

At the Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic, Haitians load a truck with water. Supplies have been donated and transported by both Haitians and Dominicans, a rare show of unity.

The airport in Port-au-Prince isn't exactly in chaos, but it is not heavily guarded, controlled or managed, despite many uniformed officials on the ground. Helicopters take off and land in any space available, and passengers must walk quickly with their eyes open for incoming aircraft.