I look like I have the chicken pox.  NO joke!  I have bites all on my legs and arms, but I would say it was worht it.  Yesterday, we spent the day in the Port Fourchon planting grass on an area of land that has been rebuilt.  I had war paint on my face and mud on my legs.  Hence how I got the chicken pox style bug bites.  It was a good time though and even though it was a long days works it made you think about the football field worth of land that is disappearing every 38 minutes. 

Today was a bit more boring. Sure we are helping a man and his wife rebuild their home, thier lives.  I spent the majority of my day sheet rocking a ceiling.  So far we have three rooms done and insulation around the house and in the ceiling were we have installed drywall.  In addition, the weather was quite interesting today.  In the morning it was humid and rainy and then there was a thunderstorm and then the sun came out for about an hour and then the same rain and humidity came again.  It was like the opposite of Floridian weather.  Either way I felt that I am making a difference in one person’s (family’s) life and even though that is something small it is a difference and someone else could be inspired from these two weeks that I have done.  Hopefully, this can incourage a Domino effect.

RACHEL

New Orleans.  What can I say?  First of all, it is a place I have never been.  A place that today is recognized by their undefeated Saints.  A place that can morph into a city by the help of it’s inhabitants.  All in all, a place that has been defined by a the tramatic event.  Hurricane Katrina!How do you change that definition?  How can you change it back to the BIG EASY with Jazz music and southern charm?  I think that the work that we are doing down here gives them a jump start, but ultimately, it is the past inhabitants that can bring back that southern charm.  Sure we can hang some drywall and paint trim, but this alone is not a way to face the change that should be made. Today was different.  I never really done construction in a location that is not familiar.  Sure I have gutted a kitchen and finished a basement, but it was my home and the fine craftmanship of my family.  Taking a stroll around the house in which I was working on was a great way to see the life after Katrina in the 5th ward.  Taking a stroll around my house would be boring, “to me”.  I ran into homes that were vacant and homes that were rebuilt.  Homes thatA few hours ago, I went food shopping with a group of people.  I was the GPS of the crew and was able to take in the views of the 2.7 mile drive.  The drive was my favorite part of the trip so far.  Of course I had an enjoyable time fixing up an old lady’s home, but the architecture and sights that were seen from the front of this huge, white, 15 person van was amazing.  House after house, were beautiful porches and trim work and Christmas lights.  A very classic design that felt timeless.  This area seemed to not be defined by that one event, but were defined on it’s own.  Maybe just the definition of survival; racial standing and economic standing that explain the location of these homes.  St. Charles Ave.  PERIOD.

Traveling!  One of the most frequently used words in the month of December.  “Where are you traveling to?” or “Are you traveling over the vacation?”  Those are just some of the phrases in which I hear the word used and the answers are normally, “Oh, to my hometown… to visit my family.” or “my family decided to go to…  for vacation.”  However, I don’t think I have every heard, “Well I am traveling down to New Orleans for a community service trip during my vacation break!”It is exciting hearing something different.  Doing something new over break.  Working in a city (state) I have never been.  Listening to people talk about their story of Hurricane Katrina.  Understandng about the architectural problems of the building in the Lower Ninth Ward.  Figuring out the flaws in the healthcare system prior to Hurricane Katrina.  Basically, learning something new!!!!Period.