Day 4.
So the computers on site are located in the 'distribution' tent - the equivalent of a gigantic thrift store with clothing, food, toiletries etc.- free stuff available for people in the community. As I sit here, the tent is bustling with residents who are attempting to replace something, anything that they've lost since the storm.
I can't believe it's only Day 4 of this journey, seems like I have been here forever, as is often the case when you enter into a completely different situation. The past few days have been spent serving food, washing dishes, working in the distribution center, picking up donations and getting to know this amazing group of volunteers that have taken the time to give back. I've met people from as far as New Brunswick, Canada, others from Maine, California, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Washington, North Carolina...the list goes on. Some are staying for a few days, others a couple weeks, still others are able to stay for months at a time. This came as a surprise to me; I guess I didn't understand how willing, able and called people are to help, in whatever form they can. It's humbling and perhaps the real face of this country.
And as you can imagine, I keep hearing stories. There's Ryan, who rode out the storm on the North Shore but who had a house in St. Bernard Parish. He's been away for four months but had to come back. The first night he came back to Louisiana, he slept better than he has since he left. "This is my home" he said to me on the verge of tears. "The whole experience has changed my perspective on life. Money is no longer important to me. It's family and friends that count." Well said although I wonder if it had to take having everything taken away from you to learn that lesson. There's Bill who decided to stay in his house and had to break through his roof to escape the flooding, the water having risen 6 feet in 20 minutes. He's tired, though, unable to spend much time cleaning out his house.
I know I'll hear more stories and part of me, akin to my experience in Guatemala, can barely believe the resilience of these people. I went on a 'tour' of the disaster area and what's overwhelming is 'where do you start exactly?' It will take at least a decade for this area to rebuild but what other option do you have? And, in the meantime, where does all the waste go, the completely unsalvageable moldy toxic furniture, belongings, and appliances, the rubble from various structures in the neighborhood? Too many questions to answer...
I can't believe it's only Day 4 of this journey, seems like I have been here forever, as is often the case when you enter into a completely different situation. The past few days have been spent serving food, washing dishes, working in the distribution center, picking up donations and getting to know this amazing group of volunteers that have taken the time to give back. I've met people from as far as New Brunswick, Canada, others from Maine, California, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Washington, North Carolina...the list goes on. Some are staying for a few days, others a couple weeks, still others are able to stay for months at a time. This came as a surprise to me; I guess I didn't understand how willing, able and called people are to help, in whatever form they can. It's humbling and perhaps the real face of this country.
And as you can imagine, I keep hearing stories. There's Ryan, who rode out the storm on the North Shore but who had a house in St. Bernard Parish. He's been away for four months but had to come back. The first night he came back to Louisiana, he slept better than he has since he left. "This is my home" he said to me on the verge of tears. "The whole experience has changed my perspective on life. Money is no longer important to me. It's family and friends that count." Well said although I wonder if it had to take having everything taken away from you to learn that lesson. There's Bill who decided to stay in his house and had to break through his roof to escape the flooding, the water having risen 6 feet in 20 minutes. He's tired, though, unable to spend much time cleaning out his house.
I know I'll hear more stories and part of me, akin to my experience in Guatemala, can barely believe the resilience of these people. I went on a 'tour' of the disaster area and what's overwhelming is 'where do you start exactly?' It will take at least a decade for this area to rebuild but what other option do you have? And, in the meantime, where does all the waste go, the completely unsalvageable moldy toxic furniture, belongings, and appliances, the rubble from various structures in the neighborhood? Too many questions to answer...
posted by Kareen at
1:47 PM
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