Monday, February 28, 2011
Iowans Know How to Work
Today we showed some good old Iowa work ethic. I don't know if things are different down here or what or if there they just have lower expectations of us college kids. Not that I'm an Iowan farmboy or anything close to that, but our workday started at about 10:00. I was expecting a little bit more of an earlier start than that.
Getting to the tree farm at 10, we started planting about 400 trees that will eventually be transplanted once they have grown a little bit. Only an hour into the job, we took a water break. It wasn't that we were tired, but rather that the guy in charge more or less told us to take a water break. None of us were really tired just yet, and I personally felt like we had just started.
We took a rather lengthy break and then worked for another half an hour and were asked if we had gotten our second wind yet. I believe Curt had the best response of "still on my first". The whole job took a little bit less than two ours of work time. We were done so early that we had so much free time that we had time to go looking for Mycala's alligator and then eat lunch back at our house.
Common Ground didn't even have anything planned for us to do. Eventually we had some landscaping around the house to do. Here's where the real Iowan hard work came in to play. Before Katrina, there was an art sculpture out by our house. what was left was the footing in the ground- which needed to pulled out. The men of the group (Curt, Craig, Chad, Bill, and myself.) put together our strong backs and strong minds and devised a lever out of a chain and piece of wood to pry out the footing from the former sculpture. Not only did we find a way to pull out the footing faster than they expected, but we pulled out MORE of the footing than was expected.
I don't want to say that we have a better work ethic or work harder than some of the people here in New Orleans, nor do I want to brag, but I'm proud of the work that we did here. We did it well, we did it fast, and we did it the Iowa way.
first experiences
Where to begin.......
Wont touch on the ride too much, but I do have to say the group that I am fortunate enoug to travel with is both fun and considerate. Not "too" many struggles on the way down. :p
Saturday night we got to our house, and I know the first thing that ran through my head when we were driving through the 9th Ward to get to the Common Ground house that we were staying at I immediately saw how bare the place was. Even in he dark you knew something was missing. Then the next morning we went on a drive tour around the 9th Ward on our way to church and thats when the little drive last night came into perspective. The empty lots, which seeing pictures back before the hurricane were portrayed as being full and lively with culture, were empty and full of uncut grass. The majority of the houses, other than the Brad Pitt houses, were "shacks" or houses that people were trying to forget or move back into. Next we went to the church service. This was one of my two "highest" points of the trip. The service and sermon were "deep" and powerful. The congregation took us in with open arms and treated us like one of their own. The thing I noticed the most was that the congregation wanted to be there. You sometimes see, and feel (yes personally) that you just go to go or you are forced to and get nothing out of it....but here you definitly got the feeling that everyone there enjoyed and needed a sunday service to lift their spirits and get through the week....it definitly started off mine in the right way. The second, and maybe most persuading high point were the people. Throughout our travels Saturday night at the restaurants or Sunday and Monday the people's hospitality have just seemed different and more meaningful down here. Sometimes I think it is not hard for people to tell that we are tourists in a way, and maybe since we are they appreciate us in a different way, but I think regardless they are very nice people...generally. Our first experience in New Orleans area was going to Dots Diner. The service was OUTSTANDING. This just carried over into the church service and random people on the street. THe parade was awesome and interesting. Its one of those things were at some points I was "uncomfortable ha", but yet I can't get enough of the culture that was going around and I can't wait to go back. Between the food, music, and just fellowship between complete strangers. Awesome!
Monday we started our work. We planted about 400 or so trees near the city park. The leaders were worked with shared that same hospitality. Overall its going to be a great, fullfilling, and fun week....
Wont touch on the ride too much, but I do have to say the group that I am fortunate enoug to travel with is both fun and considerate. Not "too" many struggles on the way down. :p
Saturday night we got to our house, and I know the first thing that ran through my head when we were driving through the 9th Ward to get to the Common Ground house that we were staying at I immediately saw how bare the place was. Even in he dark you knew something was missing. Then the next morning we went on a drive tour around the 9th Ward on our way to church and thats when the little drive last night came into perspective. The empty lots, which seeing pictures back before the hurricane were portrayed as being full and lively with culture, were empty and full of uncut grass. The majority of the houses, other than the Brad Pitt houses, were "shacks" or houses that people were trying to forget or move back into. Next we went to the church service. This was one of my two "highest" points of the trip. The service and sermon were "deep" and powerful. The congregation took us in with open arms and treated us like one of their own. The thing I noticed the most was that the congregation wanted to be there. You sometimes see, and feel (yes personally) that you just go to go or you are forced to and get nothing out of it....but here you definitly got the feeling that everyone there enjoyed and needed a sunday service to lift their spirits and get through the week....it definitly started off mine in the right way. The second, and maybe most persuading high point were the people. Throughout our travels Saturday night at the restaurants or Sunday and Monday the people's hospitality have just seemed different and more meaningful down here. Sometimes I think it is not hard for people to tell that we are tourists in a way, and maybe since we are they appreciate us in a different way, but I think regardless they are very nice people...generally. Our first experience in New Orleans area was going to Dots Diner. The service was OUTSTANDING. This just carried over into the church service and random people on the street. THe parade was awesome and interesting. Its one of those things were at some points I was "uncomfortable ha", but yet I can't get enough of the culture that was going around and I can't wait to go back. Between the food, music, and just fellowship between complete strangers. Awesome!
Monday we started our work. We planted about 400 or so trees near the city park. The leaders were worked with shared that same hospitality. Overall its going to be a great, fullfilling, and fun week....
Driving Tours
We met the kids of a family today that lives next door to the common grounds house and hung out with them for a while. Twice, while we were outside with the kids, vans drove by that were giving driving tours of the 9th ward. The people from one of the vans even got out and started taking pictures of the Brad Pitt project signs. Something about this didn't seem right to me, and I wondered how it made the kids and the families living in the 9th ward feel.
I know that yesterday we were doing similar things, I took pictures of where we were staying, and the Brad Pitt houses, and we drove around the 9th ward but I feel like our experience was different. I felt kind of awkward doing this even, but I feel like it was more educational for us and that we will take back our pictures and knowledge with intention of spreading awareness to hopefully bring more help to the area. I don't know if the intentions of the people on these tours were the same. I can't say they weren't but, I really just don't know what their intentions were. I personally think it's different to drive around the 9th ward as an educational experience to gain perspective on a service trip than to take a tour of the 9th ward during your vacation. What do others think? :)
Posted by Kim Hesse
I know that yesterday we were doing similar things, I took pictures of where we were staying, and the Brad Pitt houses, and we drove around the 9th ward but I feel like our experience was different. I felt kind of awkward doing this even, but I feel like it was more educational for us and that we will take back our pictures and knowledge with intention of spreading awareness to hopefully bring more help to the area. I don't know if the intentions of the people on these tours were the same. I can't say they weren't but, I really just don't know what their intentions were. I personally think it's different to drive around the 9th ward as an educational experience to gain perspective on a service trip than to take a tour of the 9th ward during your vacation. What do others think? :)
Posted by Kim Hesse
Good ole Iowa (and Wisconsin and Illinois) work ethic!
After that we came back to Common Ground and did some digging and pulling out cement from the ground and weeding a garden. I think we'll all sleep good tonight!! Oh and not to mention, some of us have sunburns from working in the 80 degree weather. Not to rub it in or anything :)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Day 1 in New Orleans!!
Wow... today was such a busy day. I can't even believe all of the experiences wte had today. We started off with a drive around the 9th Ward, which was one that was very humbling. It feels like a ghost town here, no one around and anyone who does move back doesn't have much for neighbors. While on the drive I remembered back to the movie when they said that many people were not moving back because there was nothing to move back to and now I completely understand that. There is nothing here for them to move back to. No neighbors, and the lots around them are all over grown or have destroyed houses around them. If it were my choice I wouldn't move back either probably.
After the driving tour we attended a mass at Bethlehem's Lutheran Church which was another eye-opening experience for the day. The congregation there was so welcoming and so moving. I have been going to church all my life and have never had an experience like that. You can tell they were very sincere in what they were feeling and I absolutely loved the experience.
After church we went to a parade that was a couple of blocks away and experienced some of the culture of New Orleans! It was so much fun! The bands and floats were amazing! The rest of the day contained seeing a lot of the culture such as visiting the Mardi Gras World Museum and walking around the city, and eating authentic food. After day 1 I feel completely immersed in the culture after only one day and I can't wait for the rest of the week!
After the driving tour we attended a mass at Bethlehem's Lutheran Church which was another eye-opening experience for the day. The congregation there was so welcoming and so moving. I have been going to church all my life and have never had an experience like that. You can tell they were very sincere in what they were feeling and I absolutely loved the experience.
After church we went to a parade that was a couple of blocks away and experienced some of the culture of New Orleans! It was so much fun! The bands and floats were amazing! The rest of the day contained seeing a lot of the culture such as visiting the Mardi Gras World Museum and walking around the city, and eating authentic food. After day 1 I feel completely immersed in the culture after only one day and I can't wait for the rest of the week!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
We've arrived!
Well after an 18 hour van drive (with the exception of a stop over in East St. Louis to see Sister Marge and get a good night's rest at the Hubbard House) we have made it to New Orleans! Driving in I may have missed our turn off on I-10 which caused us to take a scenic route over the Mississippi river and back, although it took us a little bit out of the way it was a very beautiful view. It's hard to believe that 5 years have already passed since this city was under water. We are staying in the 9th ward and as we drove in to the 9th it was clear that there is still much damage to recover from. We have not had our orientation yet from the folks at Common Ground Relief, but heard that only 25% of the neighborhood has been able to return. The Brad Pitt Make it Right Foundation headquarters is located accross the street from where we are staying and many of the houses around us have been built through his foundation, however the homes cost upwards to $250,000 compared to the $50,000 homes that used to sit on these vacant lots. They are all made to eco-friendly standards, painted in bright funky colors with very modern architectual appeal. Not what you would typically think of as a "New Orleans" home. We'll be sure to post some photos.
The people of Common Ground Relief are very chill and relaxed, we are looking forward to working with them! Tomorrow we've got a big day ahead of us with a driving tour, Church at Bethlehem Lutheran, a tour of the Mardi Gras Museum and then spending the afternoon in the French Quarter. Stay tuned for more!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
About this class and this blog
How natural are natural disasters? Are disasters equal opportunity or do some people suffer disproportionally due to income, race, ability, age, gender or other reasons? This course, Living in a Diverse World: Disaster and Diversity (IS 201), is intended for second year students who have completed the first year course, Asking Questions, Making Choices (IS 101). The general goal of the class is to expand students’ critical inquiry and communication abilities as they recognize the challenges and opportunities of living in a diverse world and connect this “widened view of the world” to liberal learning.
Specifically we have been examining multiple facets of diversity, i.e. class, race, gender, sexual orientation, age and ability and simulataneously been studying the history and affects of Hurricane Katrina. We will travel to New Orleans Feb 25th-March 5th on a service trip to experience first hand the culture and people of the gulf. While we are there we will not only be taking in the sites and sounds of Mardis Gras and the French Quarter, but involve ourselves in the rebuilding efforts of the 9th Ward. We will be staying in the Lower 9th Ward and working with Common Ground Relief (http://www.commongroundrelief.org/), an agency that has been on the ground helping with recovery efforts since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
This blog will help you gain a glimpse of what we are experiencing and seeing while we are gone. Feel free to check back and see what we've been up to!
Specifically we have been examining multiple facets of diversity, i.e. class, race, gender, sexual orientation, age and ability and simulataneously been studying the history and affects of Hurricane Katrina. We will travel to New Orleans Feb 25th-March 5th on a service trip to experience first hand the culture and people of the gulf. While we are there we will not only be taking in the sites and sounds of Mardis Gras and the French Quarter, but involve ourselves in the rebuilding efforts of the 9th Ward. We will be staying in the Lower 9th Ward and working with Common Ground Relief (http://www.commongroundrelief.org/), an agency that has been on the ground helping with recovery efforts since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
This blog will help you gain a glimpse of what we are experiencing and seeing while we are gone. Feel free to check back and see what we've been up to!
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