life in the big easy

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so... where to begin? this is our fourth day of actual volunteering and already so much has happened. we've had the opportunity to get to know an amazing couple, bill & alma, who have made such an impact on our trip and completely opened our eyes to the effects of the hurricane. we've seen the devastation nature can cause, and how much work still needs to be done. we finished bill and alma's house yesterday. wow. what a feeling of accomplishment. i realize now how important our task is while we are here. to be able to walk into their house when we were finished removing everything, it was incredible. the before and after pics will be something to see. walking through the house on our last day there, it was easy to see hope for rebuilding their home, a hope that during our initial visit , was hard to come by. there is just so much to say, but i cant seem to find the words.. and for someone like me, who cant stop talking, thats pretty rare. im trying to think of what else i say, but amybeth is snoring really loudly right next to me lol but i dont mind becuase at least she is getting some sleep. we are all pretty tired but fortunately, we have so much to motivate us, that somehow, we find the energy for work and play. speaking of which, we went to walmart yesterday. and how did we get there? we took a ferry. i know i know, a ferry? yes. a ferry.it sounds odd, but this is louisianna after all. we are surrounded by water here in new orleans. anyway, my pointis, the ferry ride is a mere ten minutes, and somewhere between re-enacting titanic with brittney, and falling off of the van, i realized the completely different world that we entered on the other side. no damage, no devastation, no katrina. across that ferry, was an entireley new place. we may as well have been in another state. no mention of the hurricane or anything. what a shock. where we are staying, katrina is everywhere and i mean everywhere. i would have expected something else, but no. this reminds me of home. because from here, it seems as if the world has forgotten. unfortunately there is so much that people need to know. i could not have predicted what it would be like to see the devastation but let me say, it is immense. people need to remember, and they need to stop ignoring the issue, its not going to disappear, even if they allow themselves to pretend that everything is back to normal. that everything is alright. but when your town has no grocery stores,the people have no jobs, and the lucky ones are living in fema trailers, life is anything but normal.. i cant wait to get back home to tell everyone what ive experienced. ive learned a lot about life, generosity, resilience and most of all the importance of doing whatever you can to help one another. today im going help out in the soup kitchen today, cause working in the humidity with asthma isnt always a good idea lol. so today i get to hang out with amybeth and hand out some food to people in need. i cant wait to meet them. there's a lot more to say and some fun stuff but ill save that for a blog later tonite. wow the suspense! lol

COURTNEY
aka bluey-greeny

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Comments

[Katie Michel]

Love ya!
Awww Courtney, you sound like you've gotten so much out of this, can't wait to hear about it...@ that time I know you'll have much to say!! Love ya, ~Katie