Sunday, February 24, 2013
Closing Statement- Jessica DiLorenzo
My third and final year being a part of the New Orleans Service Learning program ended yesterday. In all honesty I thought I would be much more sad. Maybe, it's the fact that it hasn't been a full 24 hours since I last saw everyone or the perhaps it's the fact that I'm trying to live in denial that a chapter that spanned three years of my life is finally coming to a close. In no way am I saying it was easy to wake up alone this morning, and I greatly miss eating my breakfast and dinner with 45 other people. But, a huge part of the reason I believe I am satisfied with leaving this program is because I have so many aspiring peers to leave this continuously growing and thriving program with. It's their time now to have some of the greatest experiences of their lives. As a coordinator of this program everything that happens regarding trip or fundraisers or anything means so much to me and if there is ever a flaw or something is done extremely well it is always taken to the heart by myself and all of the other coordinators. Everyone who was a part of this program played a key role. .
During this trip the topic of relationships was brought about a lot. The relationships that are built during this trip always surprise me. Every year it shocks me how such a diverse group and can come together and become great friends. This year I believe the group was the most solid that its ever been. I know personally I could walk up to anyone that was a part of this program and be able to talk to them about anything. I personally had an experience that was one of a kind and I had everyone there for me which was the best and made my trip better. You all are truly my family and it's important to know that just as you were all there for me I will always be there for ya'll. Along with all of my friends that were directly part of this trip I was able to make new friends too! Whether it be the comical and kind chaperones that we took on this year hoping that they'd love the experience, which they did in every way, or the team leads of the projects we worked on with United Saints I know that friendships were created or candles were lit. It was one of my own personal goals to create new friendships and further others and I believe that is exactly what I did. I lit as many candles as I could over this past week and I hope to continue this throughout the end of my senior year. After all, its the people and relationships in your life that make it worth while.
Being a second year coordinator I can easily say that this year went phenomenally. I wouldn't want to do a single thing differently. I have to thank all 46 people that helped make this program possible. I wish the best for the future coordinators and the program.
Moving Mountains With Spoons... Danielle Croteau
I've written this entry about five times now trying to search for the right words to say and I just seem to be at a loss. I have never been good with saying things right but I find if you search deep enough the answer is always in there somewhere. So here it goes...
People ask me all the time, why do you bother to go to New Orleans? This question always surprises me because, I can not imagine my life if I had not gone down there three years ago. New Orleans has a way of pulling you in and stealing your heart. There's no other way to explain it. I love that city for everything its worth; the good, the bad and the ugly. I've fallen in love with the feeling of making the smallest difference in someones life. Whether that be from painting a mural, removing mold, playing with a shelter dog. It may sound absurd but New Orleans has captivated me and in return I dedicated myself to helping it grow stronger and trying to improve the lives of the people there. I was told this week that what we do is like trying to move mountains with spoons. Well if that's the case I and 45 other people were also ready with their spoons. No hesitation at all, we all dove right in.
As I am graduating this year I feel sad because my journey is over. However I know I am on to bigger things and the lessons I have learned here will carry with my the rest of my life. New Orleans has made me who I am today and I think that is something to be proud of. So me and rest of the Seniors will graduate soon, leaving behind a legacy that I hope will carry on for many more years. Always improving and always flourishing. Thank you Mr. Kane for giving me this opportunity, you have handed me the world and said let's see what you can do. Most people wouldn't dare trust a teenager with the that responsibility but I like to think we all rose to the occasion.
People ask me all the time, why do you bother to go to New Orleans? This question always surprises me because, I can not imagine my life if I had not gone down there three years ago. New Orleans has a way of pulling you in and stealing your heart. There's no other way to explain it. I love that city for everything its worth; the good, the bad and the ugly. I've fallen in love with the feeling of making the smallest difference in someones life. Whether that be from painting a mural, removing mold, playing with a shelter dog. It may sound absurd but New Orleans has captivated me and in return I dedicated myself to helping it grow stronger and trying to improve the lives of the people there. I was told this week that what we do is like trying to move mountains with spoons. Well if that's the case I and 45 other people were also ready with their spoons. No hesitation at all, we all dove right in.
As I am graduating this year I feel sad because my journey is over. However I know I am on to bigger things and the lessons I have learned here will carry with my the rest of my life. New Orleans has made me who I am today and I think that is something to be proud of. So me and rest of the Seniors will graduate soon, leaving behind a legacy that I hope will carry on for many more years. Always improving and always flourishing. Thank you Mr. Kane for giving me this opportunity, you have handed me the world and said let's see what you can do. Most people wouldn't dare trust a teenager with the that responsibility but I like to think we all rose to the occasion.
Pressing The Reset Button
If you had told me a year ago that I would be returning to New Orleans for a 4th year, I would have thought you were crazy. However, it's now clear to me that often times the universe has surprising plans for us and that these plans include ups and downs. Luckily, you're never given anything you cannot handle.
When I graduated last year I was sad, but ready to leave NOLA behind. I had been a coordinator for two years and was the only sophomore my first year. I had learned a lot and felt ready to tackle college at the University at Pennsylvania. Then I found myself home on medical leave for the spring semester and feeling completely lost and confused for the first time in my life. I no longer knew who I was or what I wanted. In fact, when Kane told me a spot had opened up on the trip and that it needed to be filled, my first reaction was to say I didn't want to return to the city that held the most magical moments of my memory. Thankfully my support system (my mom, Sam, and Kane) knew what was best for me and I was finally convinced to say yes.
From that point on I began going to meetings sporadically and helping out at fundraisers. I felt like I was a stranger in my own home and it didn't help that my position in the group wasn't fully outlined. Was I a chaperon? A participant? It felt weird seeing the new chaperons that I had watched grow complete the roles I had done myself for years. It was even weirder not knowing half of the people in the group.
The day before we left I wasn't sure how I felt about going away.I was scared to be away from my lifelines that would be staying in Massachusetts, despite the fact that my mom and sister would be with me.I was scared that I would be too weak to work. I was scared that the trip would drain me so much emotionally that I would revert back to lost confusion that I had only very recently begun to escape.
I was scared up until the moment I stepped out of the airport into the cool, humid New Orleans air. At that moment the fear became relief. I was in New Orleans, far away from all of my demons, anxieties and responsibilities. I was in New Orleans and all I had to do was try to make a small difference.
Saturday was spent installing light bulbs through Project Green Light. I rode in my mom's van and awkwardly tried to laugh alongside a group of students I barely knew. However, I felt inspired again and holding a small puppy named Ted at one of the houses made it impossible not to smile. Then on Sunday I realized I was stronger than I thought. Not only did I pick up trash, unscrew what seemed like a million screws, scraped burnt tile off of a counter, and loaded scrap metal into a truck, but I also helped to blaze a trail. And I began to make connections that put cracks in the wall I had put up against other people over the Fall semester. Later that night a jazz church service helped me to answer a few questions about the nature of my faith, which I have been trying to define for years. On Monday I had a chance to think and reflect while working on a community garden. After loading a truck with mulch I spent the rest of the day replanting irises and thinking quietly to myself. Most importantly, I was on a work site without my mom, something I had sworn that I would not do just a week earlier. As I drove away from the garden with Mr. Morgan, listening to soft New Orleans Jazz, I realized how happy I had been all day. Tuesday I was back with my mom, but not because I felt I had to be. At Second Harvest I danced and sang along with all of the other students and I finally felt fully content just existing alongside my peers. Then after lunch we went to Hoffman Triangle and were told that we had to clear an overgrown abandoned lot. It was about an hour into the job (I had been loping down trees and raking up debris) that it hit me - I felt like myself again. I had found the reset button that I had so sorely needed. This feeling continued as I attended a reflection service at the Trinity Church that night and as I worked at LaPlace clearing mold and helped out at the Community Center at Saint Bernards. Spending time laughing and singing and gossiping with the other 45 students became something I looked forward to instead of avoiding. And most importantly, I was continuously happy.
On Friday I returned to Second Harvest and Hoffman Triangle. By this time, I had found two new sisters (DJ and Sam C.) and had become closer to my biological sister and best friend. As I worked alone in swampy portion of the field we were clearing I decided that this fourth trip was the best of them all because it meant the most to me. Not only did I complete good, meaningful service, but I gone from an isolated, worried, and negative person to a happy one and my fears were replaced by a belief that everything is a blessing. I have New Orleans to thank for that and all of the people I met - from friends like Robert, to Maria at the garden, Henry/Matt/Hadas/Chris from United Saints and all of the people at the community center. I am so thankful I had this trip and proud that I faced my fears and went. Otherwise, I don't know how long it would have been before I found a reset button.
After flying back to NYC on Saturday, I spent the night at my Grandmother's in NJ. When it came time to go to bed it seemed too quiet. I missed the sirens, the sound of seven other people breathing around me, and the New Orleans air. Yet, the feeling of the Crescent City was still with me. And I have faith that it always will be.
Casey Libonate
When I graduated last year I was sad, but ready to leave NOLA behind. I had been a coordinator for two years and was the only sophomore my first year. I had learned a lot and felt ready to tackle college at the University at Pennsylvania. Then I found myself home on medical leave for the spring semester and feeling completely lost and confused for the first time in my life. I no longer knew who I was or what I wanted. In fact, when Kane told me a spot had opened up on the trip and that it needed to be filled, my first reaction was to say I didn't want to return to the city that held the most magical moments of my memory. Thankfully my support system (my mom, Sam, and Kane) knew what was best for me and I was finally convinced to say yes.
From that point on I began going to meetings sporadically and helping out at fundraisers. I felt like I was a stranger in my own home and it didn't help that my position in the group wasn't fully outlined. Was I a chaperon? A participant? It felt weird seeing the new chaperons that I had watched grow complete the roles I had done myself for years. It was even weirder not knowing half of the people in the group.
The day before we left I wasn't sure how I felt about going away.I was scared to be away from my lifelines that would be staying in Massachusetts, despite the fact that my mom and sister would be with me.I was scared that I would be too weak to work. I was scared that the trip would drain me so much emotionally that I would revert back to lost confusion that I had only very recently begun to escape.
I was scared up until the moment I stepped out of the airport into the cool, humid New Orleans air. At that moment the fear became relief. I was in New Orleans, far away from all of my demons, anxieties and responsibilities. I was in New Orleans and all I had to do was try to make a small difference.
Saturday was spent installing light bulbs through Project Green Light. I rode in my mom's van and awkwardly tried to laugh alongside a group of students I barely knew. However, I felt inspired again and holding a small puppy named Ted at one of the houses made it impossible not to smile. Then on Sunday I realized I was stronger than I thought. Not only did I pick up trash, unscrew what seemed like a million screws, scraped burnt tile off of a counter, and loaded scrap metal into a truck, but I also helped to blaze a trail. And I began to make connections that put cracks in the wall I had put up against other people over the Fall semester. Later that night a jazz church service helped me to answer a few questions about the nature of my faith, which I have been trying to define for years. On Monday I had a chance to think and reflect while working on a community garden. After loading a truck with mulch I spent the rest of the day replanting irises and thinking quietly to myself. Most importantly, I was on a work site without my mom, something I had sworn that I would not do just a week earlier. As I drove away from the garden with Mr. Morgan, listening to soft New Orleans Jazz, I realized how happy I had been all day. Tuesday I was back with my mom, but not because I felt I had to be. At Second Harvest I danced and sang along with all of the other students and I finally felt fully content just existing alongside my peers. Then after lunch we went to Hoffman Triangle and were told that we had to clear an overgrown abandoned lot. It was about an hour into the job (I had been loping down trees and raking up debris) that it hit me - I felt like myself again. I had found the reset button that I had so sorely needed. This feeling continued as I attended a reflection service at the Trinity Church that night and as I worked at LaPlace clearing mold and helped out at the Community Center at Saint Bernards. Spending time laughing and singing and gossiping with the other 45 students became something I looked forward to instead of avoiding. And most importantly, I was continuously happy.
On Friday I returned to Second Harvest and Hoffman Triangle. By this time, I had found two new sisters (DJ and Sam C.) and had become closer to my biological sister and best friend. As I worked alone in swampy portion of the field we were clearing I decided that this fourth trip was the best of them all because it meant the most to me. Not only did I complete good, meaningful service, but I gone from an isolated, worried, and negative person to a happy one and my fears were replaced by a belief that everything is a blessing. I have New Orleans to thank for that and all of the people I met - from friends like Robert, to Maria at the garden, Henry/Matt/Hadas/Chris from United Saints and all of the people at the community center. I am so thankful I had this trip and proud that I faced my fears and went. Otherwise, I don't know how long it would have been before I found a reset button.
After flying back to NYC on Saturday, I spent the night at my Grandmother's in NJ. When it came time to go to bed it seemed too quiet. I missed the sirens, the sound of seven other people breathing around me, and the New Orleans air. Yet, the feeling of the Crescent City was still with me. And I have faith that it always will be.
Casey Libonate
Home Sweet Home (Anastasia)
After a long day of travel yesterday, I have to admit I was disappointed to wake up in my own bed. I missed waking up, laying in my bunk and turning to my roommates and the rest of the cave woman, to give them a quick hello before getting ready to start the work day.
I quickly grew accustomed to the new routine in New Orleans and found myself one of the first people awake in my house at 8AM, which was 7AM in New Orleans and breakfast time at United Saints. Even now I'm looking at the clock and thinking how we would all be eating dinner around the many tables in the Violet Jackson room in just 15 short minutes. For me I think that is part of the hardest parts of the trip, is adjusting back to life back in Massachusetts.
Mr. Kane stated what I (and i'm pretty sure all the NOLA members) are feeling now perfectly last night. He described it as us feeling maybe a little lost, along with us wondering what is the point in the all the work we are trying to catch up on before school tomorrow. We truly did just leave a Utopian enviornment I believe, we were able to just take a break from the daily grind of school, work, and the basic stresses of life to serve others. We had no worries other than to do the job we were asked to do, to the best of our ability. I had the week of a life time with all my friends, and my NOLA family working hard, and believe it or not relaxing, and just totally immersing myself in the work in New Orleans. Seeing all the snow falling now, as it has been all day just puts a finality that the trip really is over. I wish that this week could have stretched on for two weeks, a month, just more time. But, I've always heard that all good things must come to an end, so i'm no longer sitting on the balcony at United Saints, with the late night breeze in shorts and a t-shirt. I am sitting at my computer at home, writing this blog. I'm still having a hard time coming to grips with that since this was my second and final year on this trip because I will be graduating this spring.
To end this blog post I guess I just want to say how much I have enjoyed my time in this program, it was truly life changing in so many ways. I can't even begin to express how much this program and all the members mean to me. As I kinda do a last reflection on the trip, and flip through all the thousands of photos that are making their way onto Facebook...I am just so proud of our group and what we accomplished this week. I'm so grateful I was able to be a part of it, and I'm honestly crushed that the week is already over, but I will forever cherish all the memories made. From hard work on work sites, singing/rapping in the cars, or just playing some basketball at night with everyone I'm glad I was able to leave my mark in New Orleans, the same way it has left a mark with me in my heart and soul, forever.
I quickly grew accustomed to the new routine in New Orleans and found myself one of the first people awake in my house at 8AM, which was 7AM in New Orleans and breakfast time at United Saints. Even now I'm looking at the clock and thinking how we would all be eating dinner around the many tables in the Violet Jackson room in just 15 short minutes. For me I think that is part of the hardest parts of the trip, is adjusting back to life back in Massachusetts.
Mr. Kane stated what I (and i'm pretty sure all the NOLA members) are feeling now perfectly last night. He described it as us feeling maybe a little lost, along with us wondering what is the point in the all the work we are trying to catch up on before school tomorrow. We truly did just leave a Utopian enviornment I believe, we were able to just take a break from the daily grind of school, work, and the basic stresses of life to serve others. We had no worries other than to do the job we were asked to do, to the best of our ability. I had the week of a life time with all my friends, and my NOLA family working hard, and believe it or not relaxing, and just totally immersing myself in the work in New Orleans. Seeing all the snow falling now, as it has been all day just puts a finality that the trip really is over. I wish that this week could have stretched on for two weeks, a month, just more time. But, I've always heard that all good things must come to an end, so i'm no longer sitting on the balcony at United Saints, with the late night breeze in shorts and a t-shirt. I am sitting at my computer at home, writing this blog. I'm still having a hard time coming to grips with that since this was my second and final year on this trip because I will be graduating this spring.
To end this blog post I guess I just want to say how much I have enjoyed my time in this program, it was truly life changing in so many ways. I can't even begin to express how much this program and all the members mean to me. As I kinda do a last reflection on the trip, and flip through all the thousands of photos that are making their way onto Facebook...I am just so proud of our group and what we accomplished this week. I'm so grateful I was able to be a part of it, and I'm honestly crushed that the week is already over, but I will forever cherish all the memories made. From hard work on work sites, singing/rapping in the cars, or just playing some basketball at night with everyone I'm glad I was able to leave my mark in New Orleans, the same way it has left a mark with me in my heart and soul, forever.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Another year.... Mr. Kane
Another year has come and nearly gone, every ne is different in its own way. I am truly blessed to work with some of the most amazing students that are at North Middlesex. This program has been a labor of love for seven years and each year my students renew my faith in humanity. We fly out at 11:05am from New Orleans and start a long day of travel, ending in Townsed around 10:00pm. I find myself counting my blessings this evening as this experience comes to a close. What a great time, what great students, what amazing chaperones, what phenomenal coordinators and what a wonderful group of seniors this year! I loved it all! I love you all! As I conclude, I am reminded of the Louis Armstrong song "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?" as I prepare to leave what feels like my second home.
Stay tuned, we will have a few students doing a post-trip reflection on this blog by Sunday and/or Monday
Stay tuned, we will have a few students doing a post-trip reflection on this blog by Sunday and/or Monday
Brandon Donohoe Round 2
Today was the final full day of my adventure here with the United Saints of New Orleans. I loved the whole experience; from just hanging out with the group to the hard work that we did at all of the job sites throughout the week. The experience has changed me in ways that I am struggling to understand at the moment myself and I most certainly will not be able to explain any time soon. The level of comradery, companionship and love that I feel for every member of this group is second only to what I feel for my beloved family. Words cannot express how much I will miss every member of this group as we part and go our separate ways but I will rejoice in hoping (if not knowing) that I will be missed as much as I miss and that I have and will make as much of an impact on the members of this group as I feel they have made on me. I would not trade this experience for anything and I hope that I will be blessed enough to be able to take part in it again next year. I have made many new friends through this program and it has taught me many valuable life lessons that will forever guide me and teach me. Seeing these issues up close and personal made a world of a difference in the way I view service and it really showed me how much it is needed; everywhere, not just here in New Orleans. I will continue to learn from this past week for the rest of my life and I am so thankful to have been chosen to accompany my fellow NOLA members on this journey.
Jack Ritchie
The other day I went to Blair Grocery to help work on their farm/garden. When we showed up there was no one to tell us what to do or give us any instruction on what to do. We ended up talking and decided to instead of stand around do something useful and go to ARC. ARC is an organization that does things from run a garden, operate a soup kitchen to sorting beads that are donated to them after Mardi Gras and sell them back to people. When we showed up we were greeted by Margaret and showed us around the building. We meet many of the workers there but the one I spent most of my time with was Terence. Terence is a mentally disabled worker with the most likable and energetic attitude. Within the first ten minutes he was showing us how to do the Miley Cyrus dance and how to dance the Wobble. He was having so much fun and it was affecting everyone around us. Now sorting beads is most definitely not the most fun job you could have, it gets old real fast but when Terence was around he was a ball of fun and energy making even the most boring jobs bearable and a little fun. It wasn't till tonight that i really understood that its the people you work with and their attitude that make things enjoyable and this year the group of kids that are down here are making this the best and most memorable week of my entire life. This week has flown by faster than it should because i have been having so much fun, more fun than i ever could have had on a regular vacation so I'm really glad that I decided to join the group, it is the best decision of my life. The friends and memories i made this week i hope will stay with me forever.
The Last Night - Marina Scheid
This whole week I've had moments where I've been focusing on a project for a long period of time and I'll take a moment to look up from what I'm doing. When I do this I try to not focus on anything. I take in the sights and sounds of the situation as a whole.
The sights and sounds never fail to move me. I see our group as a smiling, hilarious, funky bunch of people working their butts off together.
Our group breaks barriers. We accomplish more work than anyone expects us too. We throw ourselves (sometimes literally) into a project and get it done to the best of our abilities.
Before NOLA I admit I wasn't a hard worker. I rarely put full effort into anything. On this trip that was not an option. But not because if I didn't work hard I would get " in trouble". My fellow classmates and teachers were all around me doing such a great job and always staying positive, and perservering. How could I not do the same?
We broke barriers as a group, but I have felt that each of us has broken barriers individually. I have watched the people around me evolve in their own way. I've seen the shy kids open up. I've seen the class clowns give truly inspiring insight into what we were learning by helping others. I myself have an easier time embracing every situation I'm faced with. I played frisbee and basketball for the first time, I was never brave enough before. I introduced myself to people and made connections with people I didn't know. Before I was afraid to do that.
Going home tomorrow, I'm bringing home a different Me. I feel empowered, less self absorbed, and inspired. Mr. David ( a man whose house we were rebuilding ) told me, " The Bible will always be true, in the Bible it says you will reap what you sow. If you give out nothing, you will receive nothing. I gave to people and I helped when I could. Now I know that God sent you to me, and I appreciate all you guys have done."
I will always hold Mr. David's words in my heart.
The sights and sounds never fail to move me. I see our group as a smiling, hilarious, funky bunch of people working their butts off together.
Our group breaks barriers. We accomplish more work than anyone expects us too. We throw ourselves (sometimes literally) into a project and get it done to the best of our abilities.
Before NOLA I admit I wasn't a hard worker. I rarely put full effort into anything. On this trip that was not an option. But not because if I didn't work hard I would get " in trouble". My fellow classmates and teachers were all around me doing such a great job and always staying positive, and perservering. How could I not do the same?
We broke barriers as a group, but I have felt that each of us has broken barriers individually. I have watched the people around me evolve in their own way. I've seen the shy kids open up. I've seen the class clowns give truly inspiring insight into what we were learning by helping others. I myself have an easier time embracing every situation I'm faced with. I played frisbee and basketball for the first time, I was never brave enough before. I introduced myself to people and made connections with people I didn't know. Before I was afraid to do that.
Going home tomorrow, I'm bringing home a different Me. I feel empowered, less self absorbed, and inspired. Mr. David ( a man whose house we were rebuilding ) told me, " The Bible will always be true, in the Bible it says you will reap what you sow. If you give out nothing, you will receive nothing. I gave to people and I helped when I could. Now I know that God sent you to me, and I appreciate all you guys have done."
I will always hold Mr. David's words in my heart.
Today's Work
Today's work schedule is as follows-
A group of 7 to La Place for more house gutting and mold remediation
A group of 14 to ARNO to work with the animals
A group of 7 to Mr. David's House to continue the building work
A group of 18 to Second Harvest in the morning and Hoffman triangle in the afternoon for more mural painting
A group of 7 to La Place for more house gutting and mold remediation
A group of 14 to ARNO to work with the animals
A group of 7 to Mr. David's House to continue the building work
A group of 18 to Second Harvest in the morning and Hoffman triangle in the afternoon for more mural painting
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Sam Costa
I have been thinking about what I wanted to write for a while. You know how everyone says doing things on your own builds character? Over the course of this trip, I have proven this quote to be incorrect in many ways. I feel that inside I have become a very different person and that was not because I did anything on my own. Yes, I left my family and I could even say my comfort zone but I was with 45 other people who helped me through it and who truly care about my well being. I have made so many friends it is remarkable. I love each and every one of the people I have met here in New Orleans, and I have learned that I have different friends for different reasons. I now can say that I have a group of friends who will sing and dance with me in the middle of a public place in front of many people and not care a bit about what people think. It truly has made me crack apart my shell and be more open. At first, I hesitated a little to sing out loud but now I don't think twice about belting out the words to thrift shop (the words that I know anyways) or dancing at a work site. I love that I can say that I have friends who won't roll their eyes when I do that and will fully embrace it with me.
Through this wonderful experience, I have also learned that I have taken a lot for granted especially time. There isn't much of it in a day and what I find I spend most of my time doing is rushing around trying to get as much done as possible. I never give myself time to reflect on how my day went and because of the fact that I got to do that here, I will start doing that more often. Everyday I get the opportunity to share my favorite part of the day here and it makes my day so much better, not to mention it ends it on a positive note. Another thing we do here is as Kane says "we put our three favorite things in a box and close the lid". This stuck with me for some reason. I think I love it so much because that is what I have a hard time doing back home. I never think about the real things in life that make me happy that are not just hockey or material objects. One of the things I put in my box is my sister. She means the world to me and I never have really grasped the fact that there are people who are so just truly grateful that their family are even still here. I met a man named Robert Green who witnessed his family wash away in the floods of Katrina. When he told us about that I realized that I couldn't imagine what I would do without her. As much as we argue I know that she will always be there for me.
Do I miss home? Well I can honestly say that while I do miss my family and my friends, I feel as if down here though, I have a whole new family who is always with me. I know that if I ever needed anything they would be there for me in a heart beat. So yes, while I do miss home there is still a part of me that never ever wants to leave this place or this family.
Overall, my experience here has been like no other and I wouldn't change it for the world. I have met people who are sincerely thankful for all that we have done and it puts things into a perspective I have never seen before. I can now say that I have seen the Bayou, touched the waters of the Mississippi, touched the top of a tiny jellyfish on an Indian reservation and so much more. I really want to thank Maria, Jess, Matt, Elizabeth and Nick for putting all of this together and coordinating our family all year long. I would also like to give a shout-out to Mr. Kane for being the man who fights for what he believes in and never backs down and never underestimates any person's capabilities. Also for staying awake while I write all this at 11 o'clock at night! Thank you all for this experience and I will keep these memories in my box forever.
Through this wonderful experience, I have also learned that I have taken a lot for granted especially time. There isn't much of it in a day and what I find I spend most of my time doing is rushing around trying to get as much done as possible. I never give myself time to reflect on how my day went and because of the fact that I got to do that here, I will start doing that more often. Everyday I get the opportunity to share my favorite part of the day here and it makes my day so much better, not to mention it ends it on a positive note. Another thing we do here is as Kane says "we put our three favorite things in a box and close the lid". This stuck with me for some reason. I think I love it so much because that is what I have a hard time doing back home. I never think about the real things in life that make me happy that are not just hockey or material objects. One of the things I put in my box is my sister. She means the world to me and I never have really grasped the fact that there are people who are so just truly grateful that their family are even still here. I met a man named Robert Green who witnessed his family wash away in the floods of Katrina. When he told us about that I realized that I couldn't imagine what I would do without her. As much as we argue I know that she will always be there for me.
Do I miss home? Well I can honestly say that while I do miss my family and my friends, I feel as if down here though, I have a whole new family who is always with me. I know that if I ever needed anything they would be there for me in a heart beat. So yes, while I do miss home there is still a part of me that never ever wants to leave this place or this family.
Overall, my experience here has been like no other and I wouldn't change it for the world. I have met people who are sincerely thankful for all that we have done and it puts things into a perspective I have never seen before. I can now say that I have seen the Bayou, touched the waters of the Mississippi, touched the top of a tiny jellyfish on an Indian reservation and so much more. I really want to thank Maria, Jess, Matt, Elizabeth and Nick for putting all of this together and coordinating our family all year long. I would also like to give a shout-out to Mr. Kane for being the man who fights for what he believes in and never backs down and never underestimates any person's capabilities. Also for staying awake while I write all this at 11 o'clock at night! Thank you all for this experience and I will keep these memories in my box forever.
Swallowed Up in the Belly of the Whale- Mike Simonich
"But the Lord provided a very large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights" Jonah 2.17
Over the past few days Mr. Kane has been giving us a bit of wisdom at reflection time, his most prevalent of which, was that we are here, in New Orleans, not to do what we want to do, not to get sucked up into the depths of tourist traps and sightseeing and all the materialistic bits of traveling, but to work for others. But there is a certain depth that comes with this work, we should not be working based on being with friends and because a job site is "more fun" than another, but because we came here to do the work that we were called upon to do, do it with an open mind and an open heart, and to do it without hesitation or question and no more than that.
This particularly resonated with me because over the past few days, for a little bit before I go to bed, I have been reading Moby Dick. Of course a book about whales would have a chapter about Jonah, but I happened to read it at just the perfect time. For those of you who don't know Jonah was one of God's bespoken prophets, and while he without hesitation preached the good word to cities he liked that resonated with his message, he was asked to go to a city called Nineveh, whom he felt deserved to be struck down by God. So instead of doing the job he was told to do he fled from the Lord and got onto a boat where he felt the Lord could not reach, however, things didn't quite work out and Jonah was punished and swallowed up into the belly of a great Leviathan.
This quote particularly stuck with me because I know very well how easy it is to be nice and kind to those who we feel deserve it, many times in a persons life will they go and do remarkable deeds for the fortunate and while that is not to people shouldn't help, its to say they are overlooking a whole different population. True compassion comes from helping the condemned, the outcasts, sinners and overlooked. You do not run away from something or someone because you feel they do not deserve the same love and compassion that is shown to us each and every day, because there are many, many people who may not see any. Every man, woman, child, human has a story, maybe the cover to that story is tattered and ragged, it still deserves to be read just as much as the brand new glistening book. This just really gave me a good perspective for the week and the rest of my time, I am not going to judge a job and scoff at it and look for the easy way out, I'm going to do my very best and then some, and when I finish go and ask for more because at the end of the day, it quite honestly is the least I could do for anyone.
Over the past few days Mr. Kane has been giving us a bit of wisdom at reflection time, his most prevalent of which, was that we are here, in New Orleans, not to do what we want to do, not to get sucked up into the depths of tourist traps and sightseeing and all the materialistic bits of traveling, but to work for others. But there is a certain depth that comes with this work, we should not be working based on being with friends and because a job site is "more fun" than another, but because we came here to do the work that we were called upon to do, do it with an open mind and an open heart, and to do it without hesitation or question and no more than that.
This particularly resonated with me because over the past few days, for a little bit before I go to bed, I have been reading Moby Dick. Of course a book about whales would have a chapter about Jonah, but I happened to read it at just the perfect time. For those of you who don't know Jonah was one of God's bespoken prophets, and while he without hesitation preached the good word to cities he liked that resonated with his message, he was asked to go to a city called Nineveh, whom he felt deserved to be struck down by God. So instead of doing the job he was told to do he fled from the Lord and got onto a boat where he felt the Lord could not reach, however, things didn't quite work out and Jonah was punished and swallowed up into the belly of a great Leviathan.
This quote particularly stuck with me because I know very well how easy it is to be nice and kind to those who we feel deserve it, many times in a persons life will they go and do remarkable deeds for the fortunate and while that is not to people shouldn't help, its to say they are overlooking a whole different population. True compassion comes from helping the condemned, the outcasts, sinners and overlooked. You do not run away from something or someone because you feel they do not deserve the same love and compassion that is shown to us each and every day, because there are many, many people who may not see any. Every man, woman, child, human has a story, maybe the cover to that story is tattered and ragged, it still deserves to be read just as much as the brand new glistening book. This just really gave me a good perspective for the week and the rest of my time, I am not going to judge a job and scoff at it and look for the easy way out, I'm going to do my very best and then some, and when I finish go and ask for more because at the end of the day, it quite honestly is the least I could do for anyone.
Crowbars and Cockroaches
To be completely and utterly honest, when I signed up for New Orleans earlier this year, I could not have told anyone why on earth I wanted to be part of the group. I had possessed a half-hearted attitude to the program for a number of years, thinking it was a clique, a group I'd never be a part of. Especially since the group seemed to be made entirely of selfless, energetic, organized extroverts (four traits I have never mastered). Honestly, part of this feeling persisted through the 10 months it took to get here. But once I arrived, the story really did change.
I never anticipated this group having much of an effect on who I am. My mother always told me how when she grew up, she was always the girl who wouldn't stand by while someone did something she didn't know how to do. If they could do it, she wanted to know how, too. I, on the other hand, can happily stand by and say, "I don't know how, and I don't particularly care". But, on my first day here, I watched a group of girls tramp through manure, carry huge logs around, and pick up cockroaches. Since then, for the first time in my life, I decided to make an effort to not be "that girl" who wouldn't do anything hard, gross, or simply unfamiliar.
Since then, I've used hammers, kicked down walls,used crow bars to rip molding off the ceiling, climbed a good 10 feet up a ladder (making headway in my fear of heights), and calmed down a mini anxiety attack I had in a stressful situation. And I saw these as stepping stones in my life only in retrospect because they came so naturally to me at the time. Thinking about it afterward made me realize that the people I've been working with have seeped their strength, their commitment, and their confidence into me in a way I never thought possible.
Today, this emotional transition culminated itself as I watched Maria Rios deal with a cockroach at the work site in La Place. Maria told the group a few days prior that she would not save a dying friend if they were covered in cockroaches due to the fact that she was so deathly terrified of them. But, she also mentioned she wanted to get over this fear. So, Nick Adami-Sampson grabbed a cockroach out of a bathrub, called Maria over, and talked her into putting it in her (gloved) hands. Though I did little but watch eagerly from the sidelines, I have never been more proud of a friend for finally getting the courage to hold her worst fear in her hands for a moment. And I vicariously felt her triumph.
In that moment and later, I know Maria holds this landmark close to her heart. What most probably don't know is, so do I. Because Nick and Maria showed me today that your fears have no power over you. That you can do anything you want and need to do by the sheer power of being yourself. That sometimes all you need is a word of confidence from a friend to do things you never thought you could do. That fear is only a verb if you let it be... And if there's one thing I learned this week, I know my fears will run my life no longer.
I never anticipated this group having much of an effect on who I am. My mother always told me how when she grew up, she was always the girl who wouldn't stand by while someone did something she didn't know how to do. If they could do it, she wanted to know how, too. I, on the other hand, can happily stand by and say, "I don't know how, and I don't particularly care". But, on my first day here, I watched a group of girls tramp through manure, carry huge logs around, and pick up cockroaches. Since then, for the first time in my life, I decided to make an effort to not be "that girl" who wouldn't do anything hard, gross, or simply unfamiliar.
Since then, I've used hammers, kicked down walls,used crow bars to rip molding off the ceiling, climbed a good 10 feet up a ladder (making headway in my fear of heights), and calmed down a mini anxiety attack I had in a stressful situation. And I saw these as stepping stones in my life only in retrospect because they came so naturally to me at the time. Thinking about it afterward made me realize that the people I've been working with have seeped their strength, their commitment, and their confidence into me in a way I never thought possible.
Today, this emotional transition culminated itself as I watched Maria Rios deal with a cockroach at the work site in La Place. Maria told the group a few days prior that she would not save a dying friend if they were covered in cockroaches due to the fact that she was so deathly terrified of them. But, she also mentioned she wanted to get over this fear. So, Nick Adami-Sampson grabbed a cockroach out of a bathrub, called Maria over, and talked her into putting it in her (gloved) hands. Though I did little but watch eagerly from the sidelines, I have never been more proud of a friend for finally getting the courage to hold her worst fear in her hands for a moment. And I vicariously felt her triumph.
In that moment and later, I know Maria holds this landmark close to her heart. What most probably don't know is, so do I. Because Nick and Maria showed me today that your fears have no power over you. That you can do anything you want and need to do by the sheer power of being yourself. That sometimes all you need is a word of confidence from a friend to do things you never thought you could do. That fear is only a verb if you let it be... And if there's one thing I learned this week, I know my fears will run my life no longer.
Realization - Benjamin Dauphinais-Szabady
This week has been one of the most eye-opening weeks that I've ever had. It seems that every corner I turn and every task that I complete, I find something new and unexpected. One thing that I've noticed over the course of the week is that I have been extremely happy. Happier than I have been in probably the past two years; before my mother died. Everything I do makes me happy, the people I'm with all the time make me happy and most of all; the realization that I'm helping so many people makes me happy. On the opposite side of that, this week has also been the most emotional week that I've had in a long time. Realizing that everything that we are working to fix was caused by these monumental forces... it's really humbling. It almost made me lose hope... Then I realized that this was exactly why groups like ours exist. Everything really came full circle and re-energized me. It gave me new hope that everything will work. Even though every action may seem really small and insignificant, all of the work will get done and there will be a difference before everyone is done with their part.
Working Hard
This week our students have worked at a variety of projects and in a variety of places. We keep track of hours everyday, we have even had a little time to journey into the French Quarter and tonight we are going out for frozen custard and crossing the 26 mile across Lake Pontchartrain. You may be interested to know numbers...
2/16- 188 volunteer hours
2/17- 276 volunteer hours
2/18- 322 volunteer hours
2/19- 315 volunteer hours
2/20- 315 volunteer hours
2/21- 315 volunteer hours
Equals as of Thursday (with one more day of service)- 1731 volunteer hours
2/16- 188 volunteer hours
2/17- 276 volunteer hours
2/18- 322 volunteer hours
2/19- 315 volunteer hours
2/20- 315 volunteer hours
2/21- 315 volunteer hours
Equals as of Thursday (with one more day of service)- 1731 volunteer hours
Andrew Shepherd
I was talking with a friend today on the car ride back from La Place (One of our work sites). It was about how regardless of the jobs we volunteered for or tasks we were assigned we loved what we did. No matter how monotonous, repetitive, or simplistically boring these tasks are. Here on the work site it was fun. The friend then mentioned how some one she knew was doing similar work as we were and completely not enjoying it but being paid for it.
The same work with two vastly different perceptions, lots of fun or boring as can be. Now let me tell you, it wasn't a complete epiphany but I remembered why I have come to love volunteering. No matter what I do as a volunteer, I feel rewarded. My work has meaning and I want to help. Yet when money becomes a factor of the equation I am no longer interested. I think this goes for most kids in our NOLA group and it is why we become such good friends. We are all bonded by our will and desire to help others, we need no money. This is one aspect I love about this trip. 46 peers bonded together by the will and desire to help in any way we can.
The same work with two vastly different perceptions, lots of fun or boring as can be. Now let me tell you, it wasn't a complete epiphany but I remembered why I have come to love volunteering. No matter what I do as a volunteer, I feel rewarded. My work has meaning and I want to help. Yet when money becomes a factor of the equation I am no longer interested. I think this goes for most kids in our NOLA group and it is why we become such good friends. We are all bonded by our will and desire to help others, we need no money. This is one aspect I love about this trip. 46 peers bonded together by the will and desire to help in any way we can.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Thursday's Work
We will send a group of 12 out to LaPlace. LA to continue mold remediation and gutting work
A group of 7 will be working again at Mr. David's house
A group of 21 will work with ARC in the morning and Second Harvest in the afternoon
A group of 7 will again be going to Community Center at St. Bernard
A group of 7 will be working again at Mr. David's house
A group of 21 will work with ARC in the morning and Second Harvest in the afternoon
A group of 7 will again be going to Community Center at St. Bernard
Eye-opening Experience - Maggie Kenney
I have never wondered what it is like to be hungry and nor have I not known where my next meal is coming from. Today while I worked in the Saint Bernards Community Center I saw firsthand what it was like to feel these things. Meg Hawkins and I spent the great majority of our afternoon inside the trailer of the woman who took care of giving away donated clothes. She was possibly one of the kindest people I have ever met. She began to tell Meg and I her story after Hurricane Katrina hit. She told us this whole area, including her house, was under six feet of water, which even after three years of experience down in New Orleans and seeing ample documentaries, I still cannot fathom. Their houses were gone and families were ripped apart from all that was normal, and yet she still sat in front of me, grateful and appreciative for the clothes on her back and the people she was with.
Later on, towards the end of the day, I helped a limping man carry his groceries to his truck outside of the center. He thanked me so many times I lost count and I could see how happy and grateful he was with me just simply being present and helping him with his bags.
I have been through a lot for just a seventeen year old. Enough that I am I aware I shouldn't take things for granted, but despite that, I do all the time. Seeing those people so happy and glad with the simple things, the clothes that had on their back and the food they needed for the week ahead, I really saw that I don't recognize how nice I have it. And despite all their suffering they still manage to smile and be so kind to complete strangers.
I am grateful for the expereicne I had today, for it was eyeopening, and really did remind of what is important in life, and that those things, that are so important, are also overlooked.
Later on, towards the end of the day, I helped a limping man carry his groceries to his truck outside of the center. He thanked me so many times I lost count and I could see how happy and grateful he was with me just simply being present and helping him with his bags.
I have been through a lot for just a seventeen year old. Enough that I am I aware I shouldn't take things for granted, but despite that, I do all the time. Seeing those people so happy and glad with the simple things, the clothes that had on their back and the food they needed for the week ahead, I really saw that I don't recognize how nice I have it. And despite all their suffering they still manage to smile and be so kind to complete strangers.
I am grateful for the expereicne I had today, for it was eyeopening, and really did remind of what is important in life, and that those things, that are so important, are also overlooked.
Simplicity- Laurel Haines
Today I went to work at Mr. David's house. Mr. David is over 80 and living in a house that probably has not been touched for years and years. There were cats living in his vents, his walls were crumbling from termite damage, and the inside of his house was covered in layers of dust. For most of the day, I worked on an outside wall in the back of the house. We had to remove all the rotten siding, tar paper, and damaged studs. Then we had to replace it all with fresh wood, studs, and paper. It was probably one of the best days I've had in a long time. Working hard, not thinking about anything else, using power tools, especially the power tools, made it an awesome day. It sounds simple, and it is, that's what is great about it. People say NOLA sounds like hard work, with some fun parts, but others mundane. To me, it is all fun, because there is only pure emotion, I only need to focus on one thing. There is not a million stressful things to remember like homework, tests, sports, and all that junk. The only thing I need is a task that helps another person and great people to do it with. Stripping away all the materialistic things that invade my life on a normal basis is beyond therapeutic. Working today on Mr. David's siding was so fun, so peaceful, and so insightful. Simplicity, friendship, and service are what I take out of my day. And I hope that when I get home, I can remember these things despite all the pressure from everything else.
Laurel
Laurel
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Spiritual Turmoil - Nicolas Adami-Sampson
I'm not a religious man. I would even go to say I'm not spiritual in any way shape or form. I've never believed in a higher power, or Deity. I've always held the fact that we are biological creatures in the forefront of my mind. I have always believed that we live, reproduce, and die. A simple cycle of life. In my philosophy, I've always been open to different faiths and belief systems, but always looked at them from the perspective of someone studying, and analyzing a subject. I've never really felt like their beliefs could have any effects on mine. On my solidarity in the scientific method.
New Orleans has the tendency to make me think about myself critically and force me to reevaluate the way I live. In the past couple days, I've felt more than ever the feelings I constantly have, of not being "good enough." Never having done enough in the day to make a difference. Not being the person, I am expected by family and friends, to be. Not being the son, friend, brother or leader that I should be. These stem from a variety of different things, but in the long term really aren't that important. Wresting with these feelings led me to the decision that I needed to try and solve my lack of self worth. I'm not the kind of person who can think about my feelings, and come to a discussion. I stew. Then I stew some more. I'll probably stew some more. In the end I need something to knock me out of it.
We had had gone to a church service, at Trinity Episcopal church, on Sunday evening which was jazz based. At that event we heard about a program that was scheduled for tonight which was a labyrinth to allow a person to think introspectively about ones own thoughts. I thought this would be a perfect situation to try and solve my problem. We arrived to something we weren't quite expecting. It was designed after the labyrinth in the cathedral at Chartres. A small compact twisty path in the shape of a circle right in front of the alter of the church, ending at the center. It seemed to be the perfect situation to end my inner struggles. I could, in a sense, give myself a personal motivational "pump up," something that someone else would not be able to persuade me about. I succeeded, I believe, in getting myself out of that hump that I was in and exited the maze feeling good about myself. But when I sat back down in the pew, that I had been sitting in before, I thought it would be appropriate to pray, seeing all the people around me doing the same.
I can honestly say - even when my mother was sick and dieing of skin cancer I had never prayed before.
I didn't prey for guidance or strength. I wanted to try and have a conversation with "god," if that was possible. I wasn't really looking for answers, just trying to figure out why religion could move so many people so much. I wanted to understand why, if we were created by a higher being, we have the immense ability to be greedy and lazy. I don't know what it was about that moment that made me continue out on that limb, but it made me question. It made me question the beliefs I've always believed. The thing that unnerves me most is the fact that I have absolutely no idea why I am questioning.
A part of me is telling me to stop being ridiculous. That we have evolved from homosapians who originated from earlier primates, and before that smaller mammals. But another part is piping up and saying that maybe it wishes that there is something out there looking after us. To be honest - it feels weak to want someone looking out for me. I've always grown up with the feeling I should always be able to handle myself. But more recently I've wanted someone to be a shoulder to lean on.
I know not where I will eventually fall. Whether I will become more spirtual, or stay the way I've always been. Only time will tell.
New Orleans has the tendency to make me think about myself critically and force me to reevaluate the way I live. In the past couple days, I've felt more than ever the feelings I constantly have, of not being "good enough." Never having done enough in the day to make a difference. Not being the person, I am expected by family and friends, to be. Not being the son, friend, brother or leader that I should be. These stem from a variety of different things, but in the long term really aren't that important. Wresting with these feelings led me to the decision that I needed to try and solve my lack of self worth. I'm not the kind of person who can think about my feelings, and come to a discussion. I stew. Then I stew some more. I'll probably stew some more. In the end I need something to knock me out of it.
We had had gone to a church service, at Trinity Episcopal church, on Sunday evening which was jazz based. At that event we heard about a program that was scheduled for tonight which was a labyrinth to allow a person to think introspectively about ones own thoughts. I thought this would be a perfect situation to try and solve my problem. We arrived to something we weren't quite expecting. It was designed after the labyrinth in the cathedral at Chartres. A small compact twisty path in the shape of a circle right in front of the alter of the church, ending at the center. It seemed to be the perfect situation to end my inner struggles. I could, in a sense, give myself a personal motivational "pump up," something that someone else would not be able to persuade me about. I succeeded, I believe, in getting myself out of that hump that I was in and exited the maze feeling good about myself. But when I sat back down in the pew, that I had been sitting in before, I thought it would be appropriate to pray, seeing all the people around me doing the same.
I can honestly say - even when my mother was sick and dieing of skin cancer I had never prayed before.
I didn't prey for guidance or strength. I wanted to try and have a conversation with "god," if that was possible. I wasn't really looking for answers, just trying to figure out why religion could move so many people so much. I wanted to understand why, if we were created by a higher being, we have the immense ability to be greedy and lazy. I don't know what it was about that moment that made me continue out on that limb, but it made me question. It made me question the beliefs I've always believed. The thing that unnerves me most is the fact that I have absolutely no idea why I am questioning.
A part of me is telling me to stop being ridiculous. That we have evolved from homosapians who originated from earlier primates, and before that smaller mammals. But another part is piping up and saying that maybe it wishes that there is something out there looking after us. To be honest - it feels weak to want someone looking out for me. I've always grown up with the feeling I should always be able to handle myself. But more recently I've wanted someone to be a shoulder to lean on.
I know not where I will eventually fall. Whether I will become more spirtual, or stay the way I've always been. Only time will tell.
An Ode to United Saints- Maria Rios
Being as young as I am, I have definitely not seen many adults who demonstrate true passion for what they dedicate themselves to. My parents and my teachers might like their job but sometimes you can tell that they are simply not passionate abut getting up every day to do what they do. Not until I met Mr. Kane did I first see someone who truly worked with this distinct commitment and passion that I had not seen in any of my other teachers before. Believe me, not everyone would take time out of their February vacation to bring 40 high school students on a nevertheless risky trip. And I truly admire this of Mr. Kane. I sincerely admire passionate people.
Thus, on our first day, when we sat at the debriefing meeting the permanent United Saints volunteers hold, the first thing that I noticed was how passionate every single one of them were. About the organization, their work, the city if New Orleans and its people. As I quietly sat today on the balcony of the Saints housing building, I could see the founder of the organization backing up his truck with his two dogs sitting on the bed of the truck, and I was amazed by this man.
After Katrina hit the city, Darryl came down for some temporary volunteer work. After he returned home, he realized that he couldn't just leave and not think about all the other people in the city who did not get the chance to receive his help. Thus, Darryl left everything he had in his home state of Minnesota to come here to New Orleans and create the United Saints. For years he has worked with permanent volunteers to slowly restore the city unlike any other organization around. The thing is, that, that special thing about United Saints is that they are not helping just other people and their outside community; volunteers at United Saints are helping to restore their own home. Everyone here in this organization considers New Orleans their home and after three years of coming here, I consider New Orleans my home too.
Of all the things that I would like to hold on to from this trip, I would like to hold on to that sense of community and passion that the volunteers at United Saints have demonstrated every day. I want t remember the cool, humid morning air that envelops you as you walk out of your room, and the smell and heat of the campfire we hold every night at reflection in the courtyard. As much as I want to hold on to all these things, I know that no matter what, United Saints will always be my home, if maybe just in that chamber in my heart that I reserve for those things special.
Wednesday's Projects
We will be working on 4 different projects on Wednesday
A group of 14 will be going to Our School at Blair Grocery
A group of 7 will be going to the Community Center at St. Bernard
A group of 14 will be going to Mr. David's house again
A group of 12 will be going to La Place to continue with mold remediation and gutting
In addition, the group will be heading over to enjoy the experiences of the French Quarter in the evening.
A group of 14 will be going to Our School at Blair Grocery
A group of 7 will be going to the Community Center at St. Bernard
A group of 14 will be going to Mr. David's house again
A group of 12 will be going to La Place to continue with mold remediation and gutting
In addition, the group will be heading over to enjoy the experiences of the French Quarter in the evening.
Day 5! (Anastasia)
Day number five in New Orleans has just ended, and I can't believe it. This experience is going by so fast, and is also so incredibly different from last year. I thought I knew what to expect coming down here again, and in some ways I did but in others I didn't. I knew what to expect when it came to our daily routine and the logistics, but I don't think anyone can really expect what we are going to get out of a certain work site on a certain day.
Today I went in the Kane-mobile, and we drove about an hour away to a community called La Place. There was a group that was there yesterday and they partially gutted the house, and our job today was to do Mold Remediation, which was something I have never ever done, yet alone heard of. All I knew was that we were going to be working with chemicals and needed to use respirators. When we arrived at the house we first finished up the last hour or so of gutting that needed to be done. I put on the white disposable respirator, goggles, and work gloves and started pulling insulation out of the wall. Once we finished all the gutting, we swept and cleaned up then had our lunch.
After lunch we started the part of the job needing the chemicals. We traded in the white respirators for the big, chunky plastic respirators with the huge filters attached to it, they basically reminded me of gas masks. Then we had one of three jobs in the Mold Remediation; using a wire brush to "wake up" the mold, spraying the chemical on the exposed boards, and sponging the chemical onto all of the exposed boards. I took the job of using the wire brush. We also had to use a spray paint system to let everyone know where we were in the removal process. If a board had a purple streak, it had been wire brushed. If a board had a white streak, the board had been sprayed with chemical and lastly if it had a gold streak, it had been sponged and completed.
As I worked brushing the wood, I looked around and just saw everyone else working just as hard at all their tasks. We all looked like aliens with the respirators on our faces, and we couldn't really talk to each other since we would have to yell to be heard, but we had this groove and understanding on when we needed to mark a board, or needed help finishing something. I realized I could never have expected how much fun I actually had on this work site doing all this hard labor for six hours today. I thought about it and came to the conclusion it wasn't because the work I was doing was fun, it was extremely hard it was because the people I was with made it so enjoyable. So far this week no matter where I have gone I have had a good time because of the people I am with, and never before have I felt like that. This is defiantly one of the best things that could of ever happened, and I couldn't of expected. I can easily say that each and every person on this trip is now a friend I will have for the rest of the school year, and for life.
Today I went in the Kane-mobile, and we drove about an hour away to a community called La Place. There was a group that was there yesterday and they partially gutted the house, and our job today was to do Mold Remediation, which was something I have never ever done, yet alone heard of. All I knew was that we were going to be working with chemicals and needed to use respirators. When we arrived at the house we first finished up the last hour or so of gutting that needed to be done. I put on the white disposable respirator, goggles, and work gloves and started pulling insulation out of the wall. Once we finished all the gutting, we swept and cleaned up then had our lunch.
After lunch we started the part of the job needing the chemicals. We traded in the white respirators for the big, chunky plastic respirators with the huge filters attached to it, they basically reminded me of gas masks. Then we had one of three jobs in the Mold Remediation; using a wire brush to "wake up" the mold, spraying the chemical on the exposed boards, and sponging the chemical onto all of the exposed boards. I took the job of using the wire brush. We also had to use a spray paint system to let everyone know where we were in the removal process. If a board had a purple streak, it had been wire brushed. If a board had a white streak, the board had been sprayed with chemical and lastly if it had a gold streak, it had been sponged and completed.
As I worked brushing the wood, I looked around and just saw everyone else working just as hard at all their tasks. We all looked like aliens with the respirators on our faces, and we couldn't really talk to each other since we would have to yell to be heard, but we had this groove and understanding on when we needed to mark a board, or needed help finishing something. I realized I could never have expected how much fun I actually had on this work site doing all this hard labor for six hours today. I thought about it and came to the conclusion it wasn't because the work I was doing was fun, it was extremely hard it was because the people I was with made it so enjoyable. So far this week no matter where I have gone I have had a good time because of the people I am with, and never before have I felt like that. This is defiantly one of the best things that could of ever happened, and I couldn't of expected. I can easily say that each and every person on this trip is now a friend I will have for the rest of the school year, and for life.
Grateful- Nathan Alexander
Today I went to a site where murals were being painted on the walls of various houses. Upon arrival, I and others in the group were warned that the neighborhood was not the best. Our project leader Chris told us not to touch any stray firearms, needles, and stray condoms, in fear that we may injure ourselves. It was especially important that we always walked with a partner and refrained from wandering from the group. This worried me greatly and I started to worry about our safety. We even had a man stand near our work site holding a machete to make sure that nothing would jeopardize our well-being. For the next hour I realized that I could actually be in danger. This concept was relatively foreign to me. I've lived in small towns with low crime rates my whole life and I never usually have to worry about shootings or crime.
However, I then began to look around me and focus on what I could see, rather than what I internally feared. All around me were volunteers from NOLA Service Learning, Habitats for Humanity, and United Saints working on various projects. Everyone was working hard to better this community. Everyone cared. A member of United Saints informed us that studies had been done to prove that work such as painting public murals and clearing vacant lots to make room for sculptures acted as a morale boost and significantly altered the attitude of the townspeople; even more so than increasing law enforcement. Henceforth I approached my work differently. I was no longer apprehensive of the setting, but excited to be making such a difference in the lives of these men, women, and children.
As we were driving from our work site at the end of the day, we were warned not to even make eye contact with people on the streets, because we were driving into a very bad part of town. We were told to not even look. But I found that that was impossible. It wasn't possible for me not to look back on the town that we had helped, not to see the newly painted mural and recently cleared lot and feel a little bit proud.
However, I then began to look around me and focus on what I could see, rather than what I internally feared. All around me were volunteers from NOLA Service Learning, Habitats for Humanity, and United Saints working on various projects. Everyone was working hard to better this community. Everyone cared. A member of United Saints informed us that studies had been done to prove that work such as painting public murals and clearing vacant lots to make room for sculptures acted as a morale boost and significantly altered the attitude of the townspeople; even more so than increasing law enforcement. Henceforth I approached my work differently. I was no longer apprehensive of the setting, but excited to be making such a difference in the lives of these men, women, and children.
As we were driving from our work site at the end of the day, we were warned not to even make eye contact with people on the streets, because we were driving into a very bad part of town. We were told to not even look. But I found that that was impossible. It wasn't possible for me not to look back on the town that we had helped, not to see the newly painted mural and recently cleared lot and feel a little bit proud.
Why I Volunteer
Today, I heard a beautiful organist play at the Trinity Episcopal Church. He told us that after Katrina hit, he took shelter in the church with his wife and child. In the days after, he would get up early each morning and play the organ barefoot. I was watching, mesmerized by the three level of keys and foot petals and buttons, and the ease at which he played. Musicians have a special talent in which they are able to create inspiring music out of nothing. Singers can sing songs that move people to tears. Artists can paint beuatiful and inspiring paintings that will be admired for millennium. Dancers can preform performances that take people's breath away. I have none of these talents. I cannot sing, dance, paint, or play an instrument. It was then that I figured out why I volunteer. I volunteer so I can give back something to the world that is also beautiful.
Monday and Tuesday Projects
Yesterday, the group went out to a handful of projects, both organized by our group and the United Saints. One group went to work at ARNO (Animal Rescue of New Orleans), another group went to work on a community garden called Parkway Place and the last group went to La Place to gut a house.
Today, our group has lots of projects to work on One group is going back to La Place to continue work on the house. One group is going to a neighborhood to work on a mural project while another group is going to Mr. David's home to complete some projects. A large group is going to Second Harvest in the morning then splitting up in the afternoon to join the two groups at the mural project and Mr. David's home. Lastly, a group is going to the Community Center at St. Bernard's to help out.
Today, our group has lots of projects to work on One group is going back to La Place to continue work on the house. One group is going to a neighborhood to work on a mural project while another group is going to Mr. David's home to complete some projects. A large group is going to Second Harvest in the morning then splitting up in the afternoon to join the two groups at the mural project and Mr. David's home. Lastly, a group is going to the Community Center at St. Bernard's to help out.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Miles Massidda
This is my second year in NOLA, but it feels like I've been a part of it for my entire life. It has had such a profound effect on who I am and who I aspire to be that I can't even remember who I was before I joined the group. The great thing about NOLA, and community service in general, is even with all the hard work you put in, you always get more out of it. Although traveling to New Orleans to perform backbreaking labor for a week doesn't sound like a vacation, I feel more relaxed now than I have in a while. My only true stress down here is to make sure I do a good job on the particular work site I'm on. I haven't had a single thought this week about school, sports, money, college, or any other worries that consume my life while I'm in Mass. The other truly great gift I've received from participating in NOLA is all the good friends that I've made. Before I joined, I really only knew 2 or 3 people in the group well. However, I now feel comfortable around all of them, and I think that's great because I probably wouldn't have had a chance to meet these people if I hadn't joined NOLA. Back in Mass, I really have nothing in common with a lot of the group, and I don't think I ever would have befriended them. In New Orleans, on the other hand, we are all a tight group dedicated to working hard and helping those who need it. NOLA is a great organization and I'm so happy that I joined it, because I wouldn't give up the experiences I've had through it for anything.
Brandon Donohoe
Today was the first day during the trip that I truly experienced first hand, the full extent of damage that the hurricanes have had on New Orleans and the surrounding areas. I had seen exterior damage to houses but today was different. There are the houses that obviously have damage and you could see it with a quick glance at the outside but I was surprised to see that in most areas these houses were relatively few. My first thought was that there had been an incredible amount of progress, (and there has) but not to the extent I had initially thought. Today I gutted a house and I was able to, for the first time, see the inside of a house in a normal neighborhood. The house, along with many others in the neighborhood, was rather nice and looked to have a minimal amount of damage. Upon entering, however, I could tell immediately that I was wrong. These were not living conditions. The amount of rot was overbearing. This started me thinking about all the other houses and wondering, despite the looks of the exterior, if all of the other houses were as bad off. I began to notice the orange "needs construction" signs on many of the surrounding houses. It was then that I realized that the extent of damage was much more widespread than I had anticipated at first glance and in preconceptions I had had. The people of New Orleans still need help and I want to be a part of it. There is much to do and we are only slowly chipping away at it but hey, every little bit helps.
Kellan Morgan
As a senior, I want to thank the New Orleans Program for giving me three great years of experiences. Although my time here is not quite yet over, I am painfully aware that it is coming to an end far too quickly. I remember my sister telling me after my first year on the trip that she was so glad I participated, because she had worried about me. She watched me enter high school as a typical teenage girl. She was afraid that I would fade into the background and not reach my full potential. In retrospect, I truly did not know who I was those first few years. When I went to NOLA in April of tenth grade, I truly rediscovered myself. I came out of my shell and made new friends. The trip has given me the opportunity not only to do service work and experience a new place, but also to create friendships that are irreplaceable. Without NOLA, Mr. Kane, reflection, countless hours of hard labor, and everything else that the program has given me; I honestly do not know where I would be. So thank you, to everyone who worked to give me and hundreds of other students the opportunity to rediscover ourselves.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
DeJanee Ashmore
The plane ride down was very exciting, and nerve racking. Reason being because we finally can say we are heading to Louisiana. When we landed, the air had a feeling of joy. Being my first year, and there's only a couple of sophmores, it was nerve racking but I got over my fear once we all got really comfortable with eachother. On saturday, drive through the New Orleans to get to the lower 9th ward, I was thinking how could this beautiful city be filled with water. Arriving at the lower 9th and seeing houses not touched since Katrina it gave me chills. Also seeing the Xs on the houses saying the number of deaths, and toxic water, and the date when it was checked out was sad. Getting to the empty house that Mr. Kane has been seeing since he first came down, walking in and seeing the ceiling fan blades curl in, like a dying flower was very touching to my heart, as I was walking out of the house I saw my friends reading a journel filled with love letters to a person, and the year being 1990. I felt that I was invading the person's privacy. I just didn't know what to do with myself. Just being in New Orleans I have been really quiet, but I am really thankful for being a part of this group, and sharing this experience with a group full of wonderful people.
Megan Hawkins
Being my first time down in New Orleans I could not fathom what I was going to see. When we first stepped out of the airport and into the hot Louisiana air I just felt an unexplainable amount of excitement. I was ready to step into the action, get to work and move towards making a change. Everyone was so excited and I just wanted to experience the feelings that they had. Our first morning in New Orleans when we were simply driving to the lower 9th and seeing one side of the road seeing this huge, beautiful Superdome and the other side this house that hadn't been touched since when Katrina hit 7 years ago I was astonished. I didn't really expect the destruction that is still existing within New Orleans and throughout Louisiana. Then when we were walking through the lower 9th and just hearing people say, "There was 15 feet of water here", I could not even begin to imagine how it was. Just my first day in New Orleans really started changing my perspectives on how I viewed the world and how the Hurricane really affected Louisiana.
Coming down to New Orleans I was close with my fellow sophomores and I talked to a select few people in the group. I felt included with everyone in the group but we were not close enough to share certain things with each other and some people I have not spoken one word too. When we arrived in Louisiana any walls between me and the other participants were broken down. I'm freely talking to everyone and we can all enjoy each others presence. It's only second day with this group and usually I'm the person in the group who is very shy and keeps to myself but I've became more outgoing and comfortable with everyone. I'm talking to people I would not necessarily talk to at school. I feel like I've finally found my place and I really belong here.
At reflection tonight around the fire I felt completely comfortable with everyone. Last night when we did reflection I only spoke once but tonight I was able to speak three times. It is not easy to speak in front of 46 people, well at least for me. So speaking three times it was a big deal for me. I love hearing everyone talk about their day and listen to their thoughts on the day. I also really love when someone in the group talks about our group dynamic. Everyone has said this is a great group this year and everything is working out so smoothly. It was awesome to hear a chaperon say they love, care, and respect everyone in this group after two days. It is amazing to be apart of group that has so much respect and love for each other and also that we are working towards one thing.
Coming down to New Orleans I was close with my fellow sophomores and I talked to a select few people in the group. I felt included with everyone in the group but we were not close enough to share certain things with each other and some people I have not spoken one word too. When we arrived in Louisiana any walls between me and the other participants were broken down. I'm freely talking to everyone and we can all enjoy each others presence. It's only second day with this group and usually I'm the person in the group who is very shy and keeps to myself but I've became more outgoing and comfortable with everyone. I'm talking to people I would not necessarily talk to at school. I feel like I've finally found my place and I really belong here.
At reflection tonight around the fire I felt completely comfortable with everyone. Last night when we did reflection I only spoke once but tonight I was able to speak three times. It is not easy to speak in front of 46 people, well at least for me. So speaking three times it was a big deal for me. I love hearing everyone talk about their day and listen to their thoughts on the day. I also really love when someone in the group talks about our group dynamic. Everyone has said this is a great group this year and everything is working out so smoothly. It was awesome to hear a chaperon say they love, care, and respect everyone in this group after two days. It is amazing to be apart of group that has so much respect and love for each other and also that we are working towards one thing.
Matt Desrosiers
Although this is my first year being a part of NOLA and I have only been here for two days so far, everything seems so perfect. Even though an enormous region of Louisiana had been struck by multiple hurricanes that destroyed the homes of many families, the progress that has been made in the past seven years is absolutely astonishing. This trip is in place of my February vacation but is no problem at all to me because the work doesn't feel like work at all in my opinion. Being with all of my friends doing different projects throughout the day in a happy environment is not considered work to me. Everyone is just so helpful and cheerful down in New Orleans which makes it easy to get things done. There is still close to a week to go and I can't wait to experience all of the things that are yet to come with my new family.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
From Holy Ground to the Goats -Mike Simonich
Today was my first full day in the city of New Orleans and I was not quite sure what to expect. This is my first year down with the group and really the day started with a lot of excitement. Our first main stop of the day after breakfast was into the lower ninth ward, the area reported to have had up to anywhere from 12 to 25 feet of water covering the land during Hurricane Katrina. Having never really seen the devastation that filled the city I had no idea what to expect. The first real haunting image I saw was a house boarded shut, so untouched after all these years the board was peeling out from the doorway, but spray painted on the board was the words "HOLY GROUND". This was so striking to me, even after all these years the people have left this board as a message, as to say, "This is our Holy Ground. The land beneath your feet is the land provided by God and come Hell of high water, Holy Ground it will remain. A slight ray of standing hope amidst all the devastation.
When we had finally arrived down into the lower 9th where the levy is I was struggling to wrap my mind around really how much water could have caused so much damage, especially standing up on the levy seeing as the water was on the horizon harmless and picturesque. But as we walked through the rebuilding community and the Brad Pitt houses, I couldn't help but feel a tad bit off. While clearly this area had seen some turbulent times to say the least, it didn't have a real community vibe, it still felt like people were isolated and recovering and it didn't help that the streets were seemingly barren on a albeit cold, but still sunny day. We were all lead to a man named Robert Greene's house who had become a main figure in the Lower 9th. He came outside and this was where the real vision of all of the damage struck me. Robert Greene had lost two of his family as they were trying to evacuate their house, swept away by a 15 foot wall of water where they clung to a tree branch and drowned just two blocks over. This was haunting because as a lifeguard all I look at all day is water, the deepest being 12 feet. to imagine even more than that, carrying waste and sweeping someone away was all I could picture, It really put into perspective that while water is a very fun thing it can also be one of the most dangerous forces of nature. While he very well could have moved away, gotten away, He chooses to live in the lower 9th, a daily reminder of the tragedy that the storm thrusted upon him. Yet, he wasn't angry, he thanked us over and over, and proceeded to tell us how full of joy he was that we were there helping, and that if he were to die today, he would be happy since there are people like us in the world helping and rebuilding still.Yet This was the single most humbling thing I have heard in my entire life, to see someone so happy that a bunch of teenagers could come down and help for a week.
When we were all done there I ended up at Blaire Grocery for my workshop for the day,and after the great experience of getting toured around and learning the history of the place, we set off to work. My first job was shrouded from me at the beginning, I was told "It's time to go feed the goats and chickens". So me and two others did just that, however what i didn't expect was next, we loaded in two wheelbarrows and pitchforks and were told, "time to clean the pen". So we did just that, so we dug deep shoveled out goat shit, and since the goats didn't want to eat, the gored us while we shoveled it all and were stuck in the smell which was rancid. While that may sound kinda bad and overall it was kinda bad it was eye opening. It was astounding to see that a bunch of people, get up early in the morning, set about this work that others really don't want to do, and don't complain and stick through it and work their hands down til they are calloused over and rough and work until the light fades, go to bed and do it all over again the next day. A rewarding life to be sure but a tough one none the less. For someone to choose that life was just baffling but I can understand it I think somewhere in me. Because it really isn't about you at that point and what job you are doing be it shoveling shit or picking weeds, It's about the fact what you are doing is providing for your community, your economy, your town, state, county and environment and our earth. You're such a tiny cog in the grand spinning machine, yet without them, the rest crumbles and rust and falls to ruin. A starkly different experience to gardening at North Middlesex. Looking back on it though, after it's all said and done I wouldn't change a thing about it.
When we had finally arrived down into the lower 9th where the levy is I was struggling to wrap my mind around really how much water could have caused so much damage, especially standing up on the levy seeing as the water was on the horizon harmless and picturesque. But as we walked through the rebuilding community and the Brad Pitt houses, I couldn't help but feel a tad bit off. While clearly this area had seen some turbulent times to say the least, it didn't have a real community vibe, it still felt like people were isolated and recovering and it didn't help that the streets were seemingly barren on a albeit cold, but still sunny day. We were all lead to a man named Robert Greene's house who had become a main figure in the Lower 9th. He came outside and this was where the real vision of all of the damage struck me. Robert Greene had lost two of his family as they were trying to evacuate their house, swept away by a 15 foot wall of water where they clung to a tree branch and drowned just two blocks over. This was haunting because as a lifeguard all I look at all day is water, the deepest being 12 feet. to imagine even more than that, carrying waste and sweeping someone away was all I could picture, It really put into perspective that while water is a very fun thing it can also be one of the most dangerous forces of nature. While he very well could have moved away, gotten away, He chooses to live in the lower 9th, a daily reminder of the tragedy that the storm thrusted upon him. Yet, he wasn't angry, he thanked us over and over, and proceeded to tell us how full of joy he was that we were there helping, and that if he were to die today, he would be happy since there are people like us in the world helping and rebuilding still.Yet This was the single most humbling thing I have heard in my entire life, to see someone so happy that a bunch of teenagers could come down and help for a week.
When we were all done there I ended up at Blaire Grocery for my workshop for the day,and after the great experience of getting toured around and learning the history of the place, we set off to work. My first job was shrouded from me at the beginning, I was told "It's time to go feed the goats and chickens". So me and two others did just that, however what i didn't expect was next, we loaded in two wheelbarrows and pitchforks and were told, "time to clean the pen". So we did just that, so we dug deep shoveled out goat shit, and since the goats didn't want to eat, the gored us while we shoveled it all and were stuck in the smell which was rancid. While that may sound kinda bad and overall it was kinda bad it was eye opening. It was astounding to see that a bunch of people, get up early in the morning, set about this work that others really don't want to do, and don't complain and stick through it and work their hands down til they are calloused over and rough and work until the light fades, go to bed and do it all over again the next day. A rewarding life to be sure but a tough one none the less. For someone to choose that life was just baffling but I can understand it I think somewhere in me. Because it really isn't about you at that point and what job you are doing be it shoveling shit or picking weeds, It's about the fact what you are doing is providing for your community, your economy, your town, state, county and environment and our earth. You're such a tiny cog in the grand spinning machine, yet without them, the rest crumbles and rust and falls to ruin. A starkly different experience to gardening at North Middlesex. Looking back on it though, after it's all said and done I wouldn't change a thing about it.
Therese Ritchie
My first thought after today's event was: 'I don't deserve this.' We landed in New Orleans last night and this is my first year on the service trip even though I am a senior now; I wish I have done this starting my sophomore year but whatever, better late than never! Anyways, when we landed it felt more like a school field trip than a working-travel-helping-others thing. I was hanging out with my friends, laughing, seeing New Orleans for the first time. Of course I knew about the devastation and disasters that hit this area but I never really KNEW, fully understood what exactly happened. Beneath the rubble and boarded houses is a community that is so strong and powerful that I am having some trouble understanding exactly why that is. I can walk down a random street in Boston and hear "Fuck You!" at least ten times but here... It's all "Thank You", "Have a nice day", and smiles. No one is a stranger and no one is judged negatively. I might as well be in another country like Switzerland or something.
Today, we visited the 9th ward to see the damage and progress that has taken over the district. We walked through this one house that hasn't even been touched yet even though the buildings around it are being developed. There was water damage, mold, and basically just the skeleton of a house that used to be a home. In the house was a diary that surprisingly was mostly intact despite of the condition of the house. No one died in it which is good but I had this strong feeling of something lost. There was something important missing in this building that was there before. It wasn't walls, windows, or a door but it felt more like... I can't describe it. I want to say love or a family but that wasn't it. It was just something. On the floor in one of the rooms was the diary and it held entries that were set up as letters to a man that was the object of the author's affection. The later the entries were dated the more apparent her feelings were for him. It was like something out of a Meg Ryan movie. I wanted to read it cover to cover but the water blurred some of the writings. That house is locked in that one unit of time and serves as a reminder. That's when I started to figure out why I was down here in the first place. To try to help others find that 'something missing' and maybe in turn I will find my 'something missing' too even if I never noticed that it was gone beforehand.
In the afternoon I was working at Blair Grocery feeding roses to goats and cutting down some plant that was very big and foreign with a machete. I haven't had this much fun in a while but as I was doing work! We were all working but we couldn't have been happier. I would look up from whatever I was doing and see smiling faces; all the while thinking that this was just too good to be true. This is a dream and I will wake up any second and have to slide into my car and go to school. I haven't woken up yet and I really really hope I don't. Not every house is fixed and not every issue is solved... yet. But I know that as long as people with open hearts who are willing to get to work still exists in this world then everything will be all right
Today, we visited the 9th ward to see the damage and progress that has taken over the district. We walked through this one house that hasn't even been touched yet even though the buildings around it are being developed. There was water damage, mold, and basically just the skeleton of a house that used to be a home. In the house was a diary that surprisingly was mostly intact despite of the condition of the house. No one died in it which is good but I had this strong feeling of something lost. There was something important missing in this building that was there before. It wasn't walls, windows, or a door but it felt more like... I can't describe it. I want to say love or a family but that wasn't it. It was just something. On the floor in one of the rooms was the diary and it held entries that were set up as letters to a man that was the object of the author's affection. The later the entries were dated the more apparent her feelings were for him. It was like something out of a Meg Ryan movie. I wanted to read it cover to cover but the water blurred some of the writings. That house is locked in that one unit of time and serves as a reminder. That's when I started to figure out why I was down here in the first place. To try to help others find that 'something missing' and maybe in turn I will find my 'something missing' too even if I never noticed that it was gone beforehand.
In the afternoon I was working at Blair Grocery feeding roses to goats and cutting down some plant that was very big and foreign with a machete. I haven't had this much fun in a while but as I was doing work! We were all working but we couldn't have been happier. I would look up from whatever I was doing and see smiling faces; all the while thinking that this was just too good to be true. This is a dream and I will wake up any second and have to slide into my car and go to school. I haven't woken up yet and I really really hope I don't. Not every house is fixed and not every issue is solved... yet. But I know that as long as people with open hearts who are willing to get to work still exists in this world then everything will be all right
Katie DeLeo- Robert Green
On our annual tour of the lower and upper ninth ward we went to see Robert Green's home. I had been there before and for those who do not know he lost his granddaughter and mother in the storm. He watched the two of them drown on a tree about one hundred feet from his home. This is a tree he sees everyday. He has a table in his front yard that contains a message he wrote when he was angry about how forgotten they felt after the storm. He began to read, but then stopped. He explained that he no longer says the words on the bottom half of the table because it simply "isn't important to be mad anymore". This moved me to tears because this poor man lost his house, possessions, and loved ones but does not have the capability to be angry about it. It made me think about the silly things that upset me on a daily basis and why on earth they upset me if this man who just about lost everything can be so content and love life.
Amber Kelley
Today is February 16th and it is our first full day in New Orleans!!! Yesterday was a REALLY long day of travel but everyone stayed really cooperative and in high spirits. After leaving the high school at 5:30am we drove to NYC, flew to Milwaukee, flew to New Orleans, and got to United Saints around 9:00pm, and got to bed at around 11:00pm after celebrating Bryan Croteau's birthday with some king cake. Our group is doing really well together. You could tell by the end of the day that everyone was tired and secretly cranky but absolutely EVERYONE put their best foot forward and I didn't hear anyone complain about all of the waiting we had to do, or being hungry, or being completely exhausted, or anything else.
This is my second time on the trip, so it feels kind of weird but really awesome to be back in New Orleans. It's weird because I feel like I never left...like we were just here a week ago. Since the trip last year I have grown so much, so being back in the same atmosphere but as a completely changed person is also a little strange, but wonderful. I feel like I can't even put into words how happy I am to be back here. There's something really special about a group of people going somewhere strictly for the purpose of doing good for others. That's what makes this trip so meaningful, and impactful, and fulfilling.
Right now we are eating breakfast and packing lunches for the workday. Soon we will be heading out to tour the Lower Ninth Ward, then we will be going to volunteer at Our School at Blair Grocery/Green Light, and then we will have dinner at CiCi's. It's beautiful out. Everyone is happy. And it's time for us to do what we do best - serve :)
This is my second time on the trip, so it feels kind of weird but really awesome to be back in New Orleans. It's weird because I feel like I never left...like we were just here a week ago. Since the trip last year I have grown so much, so being back in the same atmosphere but as a completely changed person is also a little strange, but wonderful. I feel like I can't even put into words how happy I am to be back here. There's something really special about a group of people going somewhere strictly for the purpose of doing good for others. That's what makes this trip so meaningful, and impactful, and fulfilling.
Right now we are eating breakfast and packing lunches for the workday. Soon we will be heading out to tour the Lower Ninth Ward, then we will be going to volunteer at Our School at Blair Grocery/Green Light, and then we will have dinner at CiCi's. It's beautiful out. Everyone is happy. And it's time for us to do what we do best - serve :)
Bittersweet- Danielle Croteau
As this is my third and last trip down to New Orleans with Mr. Kane I can not help but have bittersweet feelings. I'm excited to spend a week with about 40 other students who have quickly become close friends however I know this is my last and final trip with the group. I have no idea what to expect this week but after the first night of hitting my head on the ceiling getting out of my bunk bed I know its going to be full of surprises. I could not be more eager to get this week going and have the experiences that i have valued my entire high school career. The New Orleans trip has made me who I am today and i know without it i would be a completely different person. It'll be a bittersweet ending but right now I'm just happy to be where I call; home.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tradition
Here I go on my seventh journey down to New Orleans. Missing some of my past adult companions on the journey (Sue Hamel, Sheryl Newcomb, Cheryl Osowski, Lisa Harris, Adam Johnson, Meryl Higgins, Heather Lessard and more). This program is strong because of your great minds and compassionate hearts. New journey this year with an almost new adult group (Grace Doyle, Trish Nilan, Alexandra Horelik, and Bryan Deshler) but still have the trusty and ever hard-working Cedwyn Morgan who has been with our group the longest on this journey of service. Much love to all of these adults who have and continue to support our students in this most amazing endeavor.
10 Hours!!!! (Anastasia)
Tomorrow is the day we've all been looking forward to since the day we picked up our NOLA Applications last spring, the morning we (finally!) leave for New Orleans. This will be my second year going on the trip, and I have to say I think I am more excited this year to go down than I was last year. I've been ready and packed since Monday, anticipating our departure. I know what to expect this year and can't wait to forget about my normal routine, and get back to the relaxed atmosphere in New Orleans. I'm eager to get on the bus/plane tomorrow and finally arrive back "home" and spend a wonderful week with my big NOLA family.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Interesting article
Please see the following site for an interesting piece on New Orleans.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57567401/new-orleans-celebrates-super-bowl-but-lower-ninth-still-struggles/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57567401/new-orleans-celebrates-super-bowl-but-lower-ninth-still-struggles/
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