We've been in New Orleans for almost two days now, and even though our week has just begun, it feels like much longer than that. Surviving a fourteen-hour road trip (and a stop at the not-so-wonderful Chester's Chicken) has definitely created a strong bond between the twelve of us. We've learned how much Taylor loves Chicago, we've heard Emily and Kyle's mad musicianship, and we've experienced Donia's incredibly delicious culinary creation. We're already close, and we'll only get closer as we experience more of this wonderful city.
Monday was our free day. We spent our time roaming the French Quarter and enjoying our freedom from the snowstorm that assaulted Missouri. New Orleans is a zany place; performers collecting tips on every corner and street, beautiful architecture, and authentic Cajun cuisine. (In case you were wondering, the contents of a Zatarain's box can't compete.) Our adventures also took us to the Louisiana State Museum for a somber lesson about what this city suffered from when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. The exhibit was very informative; we learned why the levees failed, what the Xs on the doors of ruined homes stood for, and how the lives of the citizens of New Orleans were forever changed.
Today, we volunteered with Love in Action Outreach distributing food to those in need and creating enticing displays for her thrift shop. This program is operated by the lovely Miss Gail, who kept us all enthralled with her stories of seeing her city underwater and pouring her heart (and wallet) into an organization to help her fellow Orlean-ians. The people we helped showed us what true Southern hospitality is like: "Hey, hi, how you doin?, "Thank you baaaaaby", and polite kisses on the cheek as thanks from those we served. Everyone we spoke to was incredibly friendly and willing to share their stories about post-Katrina life in the city. Miss Gail and her assistants showed us what it really looks like to channel love into action, something we will continue to do throughout the week.
After leaving Miss Gail and her store, we took a driving tour of the lower Ninth Ward, the area most affected by Katrina. The area has seen a lot of progress in the eight years since the storm, but there is still much work to be done. Brand new Habitat for Humanity houses stood right next door to bare foundations and stairways to nowhere; unkempt lawns that had grown into forests grew beside homes with state-of-the-art solar panels. Seeing the contrast between the hurricane's destruction and humanity's reconstruction was a profound experience. This was a drive that we will never forget.
Throughout these days, we've all been blown away by the resilient spirit of the people here. New Orleans was badly hurt by Katrina. These wounds are still painful, and will be for quite a long time. But the spirit of this city is a spirit of optimism, a spirit of hope, and a spirit of community. One quote from a video presentation at the end of the museum's Katrina exhibit does a fantastic job of describing this:
"Beyond the humidity, there is something in the air. It feels like soul."
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