8 Days, 7 Nights in LA HEAT...
Posted by a volunteer who participated in our July volunteer
trip in New Orleans.
Well since we lacked internet all week and didn’t get to write about each day as it happened I’m going to take it upon myself to summarize the trip. And because I’m hardly going to make the effort to write a novella (or even a novelette for that matter) here is 8 days in NOLA in digest form.
* Note to readers: this is entirely based on my personal experience and week old memories (as I wrote down very little during the week)…I just call it as I see it.
Day 1:
a) People aren’t lying, New Orleans is actually hot, hot, and more hot…in fact some may call it La Heat…with a lot of humidity mixed in
b) The Bywater church (our abode for the week) comes complete with cockroaches and mosquito friends
c) When someone says 1 block over, 7 blocks up…it really means 3 blocks over and 14 blocks up…i.e. Walgreens is NOT that close to the Bywater
d) The drunk guy we passed on the way to the Walgreens does not want Lee to walk him home…everyone else however, he’s open to
e) Don’t mess with NOPD
f) Don’t let other people order stuff for you…it’ll cost you…
g) Ask for “tap” water…bottled water costs $2…not to mention creates waste
h) It may be only 7pm in Seattle, but the next thing you know it’ll be 3am on Bourbon Street
i) Somebody has a man crush on Obama...that's B.A. Barack to you
j) Only one key among 9 people = lame
Day 2:
a) New Orleans functions on Italian time (i.e. 9am means 1pm-ish)...it's Sunday...church say amen”
b) Food does taste better in the South…especially when it’s home cooked…mmm ham and mashed potatoes…thanks to Brother Jones and Sister Joanna.
c) Wandering the French Quarter and, for some, a trip to Wal-Mart with Ray
d) mmm…beignets…a lot (if I could underline that twice I would) of powdered sugar
e) Tammy likes Zydeco music and can play a mean washboard
f) We adopt Ali (from San Francisco) into our Seattle Works group…she does not know the awesomeness she is in for...that is awesomeness spelled F-U-N
g) At dinner, Ray is impressed that I can fit the large turkey sandwich into my mouth as well as eat the entire thing…as he should be, I’m impressive like that
h) Orientation to Katrina Corps IS better when done down by the river
Day 3:
a) Going for a run at 7am is not early enough…it’s already la HOT
b) Work at Colton Middle School = painting next to the trim with a stiff brush (might as well have been using a tough depressor…). It’s hard to see the progress when tasks are detail oriented.
c) Recycling in New Orleans is a rarity...the environmentalist in me died just a smidge each time I had to throw a plastic bottle into the trash
d) Bayou Tour…alligators are cute, and they like marshmallows
e) The group finally splits, but don’t worry, it was only for a few hours…there were no rumbles between gangs a la West Side Story…some people wanted dinner first, others wanted a shower first…in Lee’s case, he wanted a shower first and then two dinners
f) People give strange directions in New Orleans…and by strange I mean the really, really long way…in the end though we discovered some pretty awesome sights (e.g. Jesus statue...it was a lot more exciting than it sounds) and stores by going the long way
Day 4:
a) The bugs are eating me (us) up!!! The label may say apply only once a day, but apparently that’s only if you want to get eaten up…Eleni disregarded that warning and now sweats Deet
b) Ali and I trade jobs. Tearing up flooring is much better than painting. In fact, I actually liked tearing up flooring! (…all 6 hours of it.) However, I did not appreciate the flooring flying everywhere…shockingly enough, getting hit by a 6” x 6” piece of press board does hurt and causes blood to flow…I heart Neosporin
c) IMAX Hurricane on the Bayou…instead of just blaming the levee break and talking conspiracy theory let’s actually look at the human impact on the environment and how decreasing wetlands means less natural protection from hurricanes…think about it…there’s a bigger picture out there…and it’s called the IMAX
d) Spaghetti and meatballs in mushroom sauce a la Brother Jones…damn good garlic bread!
e) Zydeco music and blackened alligator…the gater was pretty tasty
Day 5:
a) And then there were only 2…more tearing up flooring…my ass was actually a little sore from the day before
b) Lower 9th Ward tour given by Marshall...the statistics were a bit skewed (thanks to Sarah for actually trying to present the flip side), but the reality is there are plenty of empty lots now and still many homes and buildings that remain untouched since Katrina
c) It is a chilling experience to be standing in an attic of a gutted home and know that the water line is above your head
d) Spicy fried chicken provided by Brother Jones and Co is some of the best friend chicken ever!
e) Ms. Antoinette and the Mother-in-Law Lounge is a trip…one that all should go on
f) Army with harmony…karaoke, karaoke, karaoke…hilarious…rahrrr!
Day 6:
a) More tearing up flooring with a little pulling up of nails and staples…finally done with room #1!
b) 6 people tearing up flooring in a room #2 (instead of only 2…Sarah was awesome to work with!) makes the process go a whole lot faster
c) Not going to lie…a dust pan makes for a nice cushion when sitting on a floor covered in staples
d) mmm…West African food
e) Experiencing Preservation Hall IS actually experiencing Preservation Hall a la the 1960s…no air conditioning, small space, good music…just close your eyes and you are there
Day 7:
a) A broom makes for an even nicer cushion when sitting on a floor covered in staples
b) It’s somewhat unfulfilling to not be able to finish pulling up the floors in room #2 (we were soooo close to being done) because it’s decided that it’s Friday and therefore only a half day of work
c) Nawlins Flava…mmm…fried chicken and mac & cheese…although, pretty sure it was Velveeta…and who could forget our server (and magician) Ramone…dot.com…not going to lie…he was pretty cute
d) Listening to reggae in the French Quarter
e) Burning the candle at both ends = making it an early night by Friday
Day 8:
a) That’s a whole lot of grits! But once again, another good meal provided by Brother Jones and family
b) Go Fish! Lee does not know how to protect his cards from a 6-year-old...that’s just sad
c) Last minute souvenir shopping…Rebecca’s leadership/herding skills kick in…someone needs to get the woman some bright orange flags or something
d) Goodbye to Tara, Ali, Ray, and Marshall…good people, good times…
There you have it, done and done…8 days, 7 nights in LA HEAT.
- Stephanie