this is a long one...

Hey everyone!! so if u have been trying to get in touch with me at all and think i am avoiding u cuz i never answer my phone....that is not the case (well, except for u ash. i am just not answering your calls. JUUUUST KIIIDDDING!) my phone officially drowned in the wash the other day. I'm hoping to have a new one soon. By the way, A. Mary the Verizon store employee was very open about those track phones. She told me to go and buy one and explained the procedure. i didn't even have to ask about it. This is nice considering my alternative is pay 1-200 dollars. yuck. Sooo in due time, i will hopefully get to a walmart or something.

The past two nights my my team and another team (badger 6, which makes us Badger 11 together.) watched the documentary When the Levees Broke. i suggest people watch it. This is an eye opener. I really think every person can come out with a new piece of information after watching it. It's 4 hours, split in a4 acts, so get some popcorn and plan some bathroom breaks. or just split days watching it like we did. Since Watching this documentary was a great reminder of why I am here. and why this area is still in desperate need of help and support. Sometimes u lose sight of this when the focus everyday is on construction. it becomes more about the focus of the siding and roofing, etc. This video provides different perspectives of the disaster and it's effects on NOLA. There is honestly so much I was not aware of until now. I have SUCH a better understanding now from being here, from listening to others, and from this documentary.

As a team we are required to also participate in Service Learning. I may have explained this in an previous post. Beth and I run this aspect of the project for our team. We have organized some opportunities for the team to have a better understanding of what the communities here are struggling with. We're holding weekly meetings and discuss a new theme every week. the team came up with some stuff we wanted to look more into and so we created themes based on those issues or ideas. Housing, unemployment, gentrification, culture and history, etc., of NOLA. These meetings are bringing up some good discussions. It's been hard to find time and find a place to hold a complete meeting without distractions, though, since we are living at Camp Hope (an old middle school that was converted into a volunteer communal living place.)

Saturdays are great days when working with Habitat for Humanity. This is when many of the people who are buying homes through Habitat are able to put in some sweat equity. Since many of them work full time jobs, it is a challenge for them to find time to complete their 350 required hours of sweat equity. These hours that the volunteers put in are basically the downpayment of their house. It is great to work side by side with the house owners and get to know their story. During lunch time there are usually residents playing music in the area as well. That is an AWESOME benefit to working in the Musician's Village.

I have met some amazing people. We are welcomed so greatly by residents of New Orleans. Wherever we go in uniform, there is always someone saying thank you to us for being here. Oh and the PoBoys are sooooo good!!! hamburger one, or a fried shrimp. dressed (apparently that means with lettuce, tomato, etc. "the works.") Tried a LITTLE bite of a crawfish pie. not my thing yet. i think it could eventually be good. alot of people love it down here though! it's like a small version of lobster i guess. The meat pies are tastey though! mmm, oh and SnoBalls! my team has a small addiction to those. they are like a mix of a slushie and snow cone. but better than both of those. and u can get them stuffed! with ice cream. mmmmm. they have never ending flavors and little stands randomly throughout the area. unfortunately it's cash only and u know how often i carry cash on me. OKAY so now that i went on a shpeeel about food.... OH WAIT!!! THAT JUST REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING AWESOME!! this is a long message. i have so much to write about. Bored yet? ar u seriously still reading right now? Oh just Mom is.... yeah i figured. it's ok i understand. : )

PROJECT GREENLIGHT. Look into this as well!! We have to complete 80 hours of ISPs. (individual service projects) We find non-profits that interest us and volunteer our time on our days off to work for them. There are so many opporunities here in NOLA for ISPs. Festivals are a favorite ( like Jazz Fest coming up!!!). So Project Greenlight involves installing energy efficient lighting into houses and to educate people on how much they are saving with money, electricity, and what they can do to reduce carbon and other toxic emissions. Our job was to deliver this message and install the bulbs for a bunch of houses in the area. HANDS DOWN the best ISP we have done. We were able to meet some residents, spend some time with them in their homes, help them out, and at our first stop we even got fed!! haha.... seriously though. u guys know how i LOVE to try new things. haha hey Dioli's guess what, i tried something new down here. Sweet potato pie! This wonderful lady gave us each a little pie and chili dogs. i don't usually like sweet potatoes. this was so good. we were all raving about it days after. and here i am, still talking about it. The woman was so thankful at the last house we went to. She kept telling us how much she appreciates our help and that god will bless each of us when we have our own families. She hugged us all and was just so happy to have us there. Just an all around great experience.

Tomorrow is our last day of work until next Tuesday! We have a mini Spring Break!! and we all need it so bad. My team decided to get some cheap hotel rooms right in the French Quarter. Right now at Camp Hope we are about a half hour away from there. It will be fun to just be right by Frenchmen St. and such. We won't have to worry about what time to be in by or who is driving our van. u know, the important things in life. haha.... And on that note, i need to go pack since we are leaving right from work tomorrow!!! OHHH and i have a fun show to see tomorrow! RATATAT at the House of Blues!!! there are a few of us going to that show. it should be fun. MISS U ALL AND LOVE U! call me and if i don't answer then leave me messages!!! i really miss talking to people! when i get my phone i will be sure to make a better effort than i did this past month. : ) oh and if u email me or leave me ur address somewhere then maybe u will get a postcard ; )