In the reflection session after the trip, Jasmine mentioned the lack of sense of urgency in Dulac people. They move slowly. They don’t care how much things are done. But they smile all the time.
When I came back to Union College, the first thoughts popping up my head was “I have many things to do from now on!” I had to write a bunch of applications, work on my research for this trip, prepare for an interview, etc. I stress due to time passing my college life. I don’t have time to think of other people as much as the Houma in Dulac. In college, we always have deadlines, exams and assignments. Our lives move depending on the clock.

My interpretation about the different attitude toward time is that because Dulac people aren’t often busy, they have time to spend with family, friends and communities. Their lack of sense of urgency creats their strong sense of community.  And the connections among people give smiles on their faces, I think.

What it is to lose one of the most important parts of your life? When I saw the building in Dulac that was flooded by the Harricane Gustav, I couldn’t have any word to descrive my shock. The building has been used as a community center where children could play after school and where the neighbors gathered. For Houma Indians, in Dulac, families, communities and cultures that have grown in the area dominate their lives very much, because the Houma have lived there from generation to generation. They have built a strong community sense throughout their history. Their cultural identity and heritage live in the community and are tied deeply with who they are.

I thought about what the experience and feelings are like when a person almost lose a part of his or her identity. Talking about my experience, I have loved dancing and committed much time for it. Dancing dominates a big part of who I am now. Seeing the flooded community center made me think if I lost dancing from my life. I may not be able to have a way to enjoy my life. I may lose myself and become mentally ill. It is very hard, or impossible, to fully understand and describe the feelings of the Houma. They have experience what I have never encountered in my life. But today’s opportunity to see the building help me see the Houma people’s sadness.

Today, we helped to build a playground for an elementary school. Over 100 people came from the neighborhoods, out of state universities, highschools, volunteer organizations, etc. The entire playground became a totally different one after a five-hour work. The swing was built, the basketball courts were painted, the benches were constructed, and the ground was painted for hopscotch. It was amazing to see how many things could be done with the help of a lot of people. Only  five-hours of work made a better community where kids will grow up.

Also, volunteering is not only beneficial for other people but good for the volunteering person. Lots of people said thank you to us after doing the jobs, which always made us feel good.

Note from Jan, 12/7: Above are 2 pix of the school ‘before.’  Below are a few shots of the ‘after’:

Above, the almost finished playspace for young kids.  Below, the mural on the side of the preschool classroom trailer.

Below, the school logo, in the center of the asphalt yard:

and just a couple of  our students!  Don’t miss the comments below and other pics posted in the web albums to right:

The lives of Native Americans are often ignored in America. When talking about racial issues, people tend to focus on White VS. Black and forget other minority groups. In the case of New Orleans’ reconstruction, many complain the neglect toward African Americans, but not toward Native Americans. Most books, articles and movies deal with racial problems in the viewpoints of African Americans. Yet there ARE Native Americans who have lived in poor life conditions and are still affected by the aftermath of Katrina. I think it’s important to care more about people with other ethnicity in addition to African American people.