Beignets in Jackson Square

Today we had a great day filled with adventure. We started the day off at the hurricane Katrina museum where we all got a better look and understanding at what really happened and how the people in New Orleans were affected. It was eye opening to see the footage that was playing throughout the museum. The very beginning of the museum had a room that played the sounds and videos of the storm. I have never seen that much damage and it made me feel like I was in the middle of the storm, which brought up more emotions than I thought it would. Everyone really soaked in the information and I think that we all learned something new that we didn't know before. After going through the museum we split up into groups and walked around the French Quarter until we found a place to eat. Many of us tried different types of seafood and New Orleans dishes and it was fun seeing how each other reacted to everything surrounding us. I have been to New Orleans before but didn't get to experience the culture and atmosphere the way we got to all day and I know that I have a better understanding of it. Eating Beignets in Jackson Square was a lot of fun and although we were doing tourist activities today it was all enjoyable. Many of us went to the french market where we bought souvenirs and checked out at all of the interesting trinkets being sold. Many of the people selling things were friendly and a lot of people stopped us to talk about Missouri State University, we even saw some other students, a professor, and alumni. We ate at a variety of restaurants today and were able to try some things that we wouldn't have experienced in Missouri. It was interesting to see the differences between the environment when walking around and some streets were very populated while others were residential areas that were calm and quiet.I didn't realize before then that so many people like in that area or that were so many homes there. I enjoyed getting to see different parts of the French Quarter and without today I wouldn't have as much about hurricane Katrina and the community of New Orleans. Another favorite part of the day was seeing all the architecture. It is so different and historical from the buildings that we see throughout Missouri and that really amazed me. Even though the streets were crowded and we walked a lot, today was enjoyable and beneficial. 

Claire Mansur

Looking Back to Look Forward

Greetings from NOLA! My name is Jared Cates and I am one of the advisors on the trip. Over the course of the past few days, I have had the pleasure of being a part of some amazing service learning opportunities within the city of New Orleans.  Reflecting back on the week, some of my favorite experiences have been interacting with the people of New Orleans and hearing about their everyday lives.  From those individuals, I have learned a great deal about the pride they have for their city and how well they have been able to respond to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Another experience I have thoroughly enjoyed is receiving a guided tour of the lower ninth ward from local geology professor Stephen Nelson.  The tour was very educational and encompassed a very rich discussion of the Hurricane Katrina disaster and the impact it had within the New Orleans community.  Altogether, the tour was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed and now have a better grip on how the event unfolded.

In taking what I learned from professor Stephen Nelson and the interactions I have had with the people of New Orleans, I am very excited about taking it back to my family and friends, Missouri State University, and the community of Springfield. Go Bears!  

               

Katrina Exhibit & Exploring the French Quarter

Today was a great day spent in downtown New Orleans, in the French Quarter. We started off the day going to a Katrina Exhibit. This was a very eye opening experience. I will be honest, before coming to the museum, I did not realize how much of a disaster Katrina really was and how much damage it had caused. Hurricane Katrina happened when I was younger and I think that when such a big disaster like that happens when you are little, you don't really know too much about it or understand what is going on. So walking into this exhibit was very surreal to me and I learned a lot. I really liked how you could listen to people that were actually there, tell their stories, express the emotions they felt, and the experiences they had to deal with. I could not even imagine going through what those people went through or what they felt. I wouldn't even know how to deal with a situation like Hurricane Katrina.
I really enjoyed the exhibit because it shows you how it really was when Katrina hit. There was a big blown up journal on the wall from a man during the tragedy and it was really interesting to read his daily writings and how he was feeling during this time. One of the things that really made an impact on me was towards the end. There was a video of some of the people and they talked about some of the things they went through. Some had moved away, some were evacuated to different places, some lost loved ones, etc. Just watching the video, I could feel their emotion and their pain from this horrible disaster. But that is not the part that impacted me. Even though Hurricane Katrina was such a devastating, negative natural disaster, the people of New Orleans made it a positive thing. They turned tarps and other materials into dress up clothes and made it fun. On each of the little stories and information boards inside the exhibit they ended with some sort of humor which just shows that every negative situation can be made into a positive one.
After going through the exhibit, I realized how much pride the people of New Orleans have for their city. It was amazing to see that families that had been gone for 5 plus years after Katrina, moved back because New Orleans is their home and they wouldn't want to live anywhere else. For me personally, if something like that were to happen in my home town and I had to move away, I'm not exactly sure I would want to or could move back. I have a lot of respect for the people here and how they have evolved from such a horrible thing. They are continuing to grow in their community and have a good time. Which leads me to the second floor of the exhibit. The whole second floor was all about the culture and history of New Orleans. Mari Gras is such a huge celebration and I love how the city still celebrates after Hurricane Katrina. It just proves my point to what I said earlier, how people are still going about their daily lives, keeping old traditions, and staying positive. Even though there is still a lot of construction that needs to be done in New Orleans, I don't think it will ever be the same. After a big disaster like Katrina, it kind of puts a dent to the city but that doesn't stop it's people from doing their thing.
The second part of our day was spent walking around and exploring the French Quarter, which was an amazing experience. From trying a shrimp poboy sandwich and hating it, to eating the delicious beignets, it was all a good time with the group. Just walking around the streets seeing the people, and feeling the energy, made it a great day. I loved all the jazz music and all the people playing different instruments on the streets. The little houses and apartments up and down the streets were so beautiful, I have never seen anything like them. I really liked their Spanish architecture and all the different colors. I personally love to people watch, so walking down the streets and seeing all the different people in this culture was such a good experience. So many different lifestyles and personalities. When we made our way to Bourbon street, I will be honest I was a little surprised. I had heard from friends and family that this particular street was a little on the dirty side and smelt horrible. I believe the "smell horrible" was an understatement. The smell was awful, but you got used to it. I still loved getting the experience walking up and down the street seeing all the fun shops and places.
Overall, I had a great time today walking around the French Quarter with the group. I think we all really enjoyed it and I think we each learned something that we didn't know about New Orleans. This trip has opened my eyes to so many different things and it has seriously been life changing. I'm so happy I got to have this experience and glad I got to make a difference in the community of New Orleans. This will definitely be a trip I will never forget!

P.S. If any of you reading this entry have not been to New Orleans and have not had a Shrimp poboy sandwich....make sure to ask the waitor/waitress if the shrimp is ground up or not and if it is, that is a BAD BAD thing. Trust me. Been there done that. :)


Katelyn Sanchez

Reflecting on Reflections

Hey from the drivers seat. My name is Michelle and I am one of the advisors of this trip. The topics of diversity, neighborhoods, and urban renewal have always been ones close to my heart.  Of course when the opportunity arose last year to attend the NOLA trip, I jumped on it.  The experience was unforgettable and changed me in a way difficult to capture.  This year I was fortunate enough to return and work on the same topic with (mostly) new students.  The change within me continues into this trip. 

So quick recap of what we did today:  Starting off the day, we attended a tour with Stephen Nelson, a geology professor from Tulane University.  He has held tours presenting the geological facts behind Katrina and the levee failures/breaches for almost eight years.  Check out his site here.  After grabbing some local seafood for lunch, we moved into the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans to volunteer at a youth after-school drop in center, APEX.  

Overall, the issue has been proven to be more complicated than we first realized.  A seemingly simple visit to a youth center sparked issues about the way and motivations behind our service, diversity in our own Springfield community, the language we use, ethical (or not so ethical) leaders and politicians, and human development.  It is near impossible to say all we can say about these issues we have explored.  Each perspective brings new questions and each question brings new perspectives. 

Our allotted time for reflection at the end of the day has provided opportunities for us to explore safely with each other.  Listening, empathizing, and sometimes even challenging each other, we always have made good use of our reflection time.  It seemed though today, with so many issues coming to the surface and our differences in perspectives, ultimately it is the underlying desire to better our community unite us.  Each person has experienced a change in some way.  Whether it was through observation of an argument between neighbors in Central City or standing on top of the rebuilt levees looking out at neighborhoods only 10% rebuilt, the only clear thing is how the complex and unsettling these issues of diversity and urban development are to us.

We still have two full days left.  With the past three providing so much room for dialogue and experience, I look forward to the exposure of new ideas that have not been uncovered. 

Our Day at the Senior Center and Creole Creamery!

Here our some photos of our group hanging out at the senior center and getting to hear first-hand stories of what it's like to live in New Orleans.  These individuals have a strong passion for the city they call home and were determined to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.  We had a great time getting to know them and playing Bingo!

Today our New Orleans group of 14 volunteers visited a senior center in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans. From what I understand, the seniors meet at the center about three times a week to do devotion and play bingo. The members were so sweet about all of us being there and asking them questions...and joining in on their bingo. Ronnie was the woman that myself and a few other volunteers talked to. Ronnie told us about her daughter and her grandson and about the Holy Trinity of New Orleans food (bell peppers, onions, and celery). She also talked about how she has lived in New Orleans her entire life and even when she had to move to Texas for three years after Katrina, she wouldn't even consider staying there. Surprisingly, she was very open to talking about the hurricane and her experience. I didn't quite catch her entire story, but from what I heard, her circumstance was very lucky. She and husband were able to be airlifted away before they were physically hurt. Her daughter and grandson lived in Texas at the time so they weren't in danger. However, her home was completely destroyed and she lost many sentimental valuables. Ronnie said that she lost her wedding ring and another ring that was given to her by her mother-in-law, also mentioning how she isn't able to show her grandson pictures of his mother when she was little. Despite all of the trauma and loss that she went through, she had such a wonderful outlook on life. I could tell that she really appreciates everything that she has and everyone that she meets, not taking anything for granted. Personally, this is something that I have a difficult time doing. I have had such a privileged life and have been so blessed with my family and health that it is easy to complain about petty things. I truly admired how Ronnie treated us and the other seniors, as if we were family. Being there, meeting New Orleans natives really gave me a better understanding and appreciation for the culture here. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything and am excited to see what the rest of the trip has in store for myself and the rest of the group.

Karley Kindberg

Getting to Know New Orleans Through the Natives Eyes

   When I heard that today we would be going to the senior citizen center I was unsure about what I would take away from there but I ended up having a better experience than I thought I would. Not only was it interesting to talk to the men and women but driving through the neighborhood and seeing how much damage occurred there from hurricane Katrina was impacting. I didn't realize how many people evacuated not only their homes but the state and ended up coming back after a couple of years. Almost all of the people at the center explained how they went to other states but made sure to come back to New Orleans because they missed it so much. I found it to be interesting that even though they experienced so much devastation they still wanted to come back to their home towns even though their community was destroyed. Going into the center I wasn't sure how to approach the topic of hurricane Katrina and many of us learned that it would end up being brought up because it was such a big part of their life but not all of them would elaborate on their experiences. This was when I realized that it was something the natives are still grieving and it isn't just a devastating hurricane that was all over the news.

   At the end of our volunteering we went and got ice cream at Creole Creamery in the garden district. We were all amazed by the size and architecture of the houses but it was evident that it was in better condition compared to the other areas that we had seen. We hadn't seen the "nice" neighborhoods until today and we were all amazed and in shock by the how little damage was done to the garden district and how much damage was still there in the other neighborhoods. At the end of the day I got a better understanding of how the natives feel about the hurricane and how they view their city. It was amazing to see the differences between the damages done to each area and the passion that everyone has for their city and although their communities were destroyed they are still persevering to make it better and grow their community. 

Claire Mansur