Passion in My Generation

One of my favorite parts about my job is that I get to interact with all the volunteers that come to Project Homecoming. It's usually the same questions that come up between us, me asking the volunteers why they came down here, where they are from, what they like best about New Orleans and the volunteers asking me why I chose New Orleans, what exactly is the YAV program and the occasional "do you live at the Village too?" (The answer is no! I do not live in those abandoned trailers with broken windows!) But every once in a while I have a conversation that really sticks with me.

Every morning at breakfast we project a slide on the projector screen that has the menu for breakfast, the weather for that day and reminders for the week. Tonight at dinner a volunteer approached me asking if I could add Happy Birthday to the daily slide for the next day. I told him that would be no problem and we walked over to the projector together. After I found it that it was Keith's 65th birthday tomorrow, this volunteer went on asking me the basic questions - where I was from, what made me come here, etc. When he found out I was from Jersey we launched into the typical Jersey talk - "what exit are you off of?", "yes, I love Wawa!", "where were you in relation to Hurricane Sandy?" The last question I have got before and it usually leads to a conversation comparing and contrasting Hurricane Sandy to Hurricane Katrina. This particular volunteer (wearing a Restore the Shore sweatshirt!) told me how he had helped with Hurricane Sandy right after the storm and was part of a First Response team working on taking the debris out of homes. I told him that it must have been hard seeing the shore in that devastating state so close to when the storm had hit. He replied that it was very difficult but that he had such passion for the work and the people he met that he was glad he was able to be a part of the recovery effort. I then related that to how hard it has been moving here and witnessing the state of New Orleans even 8 1/2 years after a storm and how much work still needs to be redone.

Now this is where the volunteer threw me for a loop. I was expecting him to respond with additional problems in New Orleans (our corrupt government, our bad roads, our terrible school system) or something about how we have come so far but still have a way to go. But I did not get that response. Instead this particular volunteer launched into a discussion about how he thinks so many people his age (60's) think that my generation lacks passion for anything. That we are perceived to have our priorities mixed up, we don't value hard work and that we lack motivation. Older generations don't understand that we are motivated in different ways and that we have different but not necessarily inferior priorities. He said being at Project Homecoming this week had totally knocked those assumptions on their head. He told me that I was brave for moving away from my family and my comfort zone. He told me that giving up a year of my life to serve others, as well as the countless other Americorps and YAVs on staff, is incredible and doesn't get enough attention. He told me that my passion for the work that I do is inspiring and that it nice to see young people getting involved with organizations that do great work. He said I was an inspiration and reflected my "true" generation.

I was absolutely floored by these statements. It's funny how when you tell yourself things like that they go in one ear and out the other. But when it comes from a stranger that has no insight on your insecurities and doubts tells you those same things, it somehow means so much more.

Lesson from the Journey: The unexpected is wonderful.

Friends in Town

I am glowing from this past weekend! Three of my college friends made the trip to New Orleans and I got to show them this amazing city. It's always nice when people visit because even though I have lived here for 7 months there is still so much for me to see and learn. I cannot think of a better combination than having your best friends in town to explore a new city while reminiscing on old times. I got to show them some of my favorite spots while also trying out some new places that have been on my list. I've been missing home so to have my best friends make the trip made me incredibly happy on so many levels.

Elana, Ariel, me and Mallory enjoying Bloody Mary's and mimosas outside of the Ruby Slipper while we waited for our table! The Ruby Slipper is by far my favorite breakfast place in the city. If you come and visit me, I guarantee I will take you there!

Mallory and her first official Mardi Gras beads! While walking around the quarter a parade was coming through and we got some of the goods!

Mallory and I made a statue friend in the quarter!

We walked through the French Market which sells jewelry, food, drinks, clothes...you name it! We all got matching bracelets and delicious drinks :)

Ariel couldn't resist getting corn in the French Market! She bought some Mardi Gras goodies to get in the spirit :)

We found a Mardi Gras Indian! I was personally so pumped about this because I find Mardi Gras Indians fascinating. I also am so impressed that they hand make a costume each year. The costume that this Indian is wearing was from last year (all the feathering and beading is done by hand) and he told us that his new costume was bigger, better and blue!

Me posing in front of a funny sign in City Park. It was gorgeous out on Saturday afternoon so we walked around city park, ate beignets at the Morning Call and explored the Sculpture Garden!

Beignets! The Morning Call in my opinion has superior beignets to Cafe du Monde. It's also located in beautiful City Park with beautiful oak trees and spanish moss. It was my friends first beignets and they loved them (but I mean c'mon who doesn't like fried dough with powdered sugar?)

Mallory and I posing in front of the LOVE sign in the Sculpture Garden!

Elevator selfie getting ready to hit up Bourbon street wearing some of the beads we got from the parade earlier in the day. Doesn't Elana look beautiful?

The infamous Huge Ass Beers! 

All of us wearing our hats at Parkway Bakery! Parkway is one of the most famous Po-Boy places in New Orleans. I hadn't been since my first week in New Orleans - it was just as delicious as I remember. 

THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN IN ALL THE LAND! Melba's is hands down my favorite fried chicken place in New Orleans. It is also ridiculously cheap. The 4 of us split 20 wings and french fries and it cost us $4 each! I don't know how they make their wings so juicy and delicious - it will be hard to top this fried chicken. 

It was so wonderful to have my friends in town. I love them all so much and it can be so difficult being away from home at times. Them all being here was like having a little piece of home and such a comfort. I must admit though I almost cried when I had to drop them off at the airport - no part of me wanted them to leave. I have done some amazing things and met some awesome people while being here in New Orleans but not many people know me like those girls. Them being here soothed a lot of the homesickness I have on a daily basis but also intensified it as well. Such a weird and emotionally draining dynamic. It's funny how sometimes I feel so affirmed in my decision to move to New Orleans while other times I just want to be around people and places I know. When my friends were here all I wanted to do was get on the plane and go home with them. However, I don't want to dwell on the things that cannot be. I would rather focus my energy on being grateful for the amazing friends I have - so amazing that they came and visited me and spent an entire weekend letting me show them around. I just wish it could happen more often!


Lesson from the Journey: The city is much different during Mardi Gras season in ways that I never expected, my least favorite change thus far has been my favorite bar on Frenchman Street having DJ's instead of hosting their usual array of brass bands. That's my favorite part of New Orleans - bring back the brass!

Krewe du Vieux

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mardi Gras is officially here! This past Saturday, I made my way to the French Quarter (along with what seemed like everyone else in the city) to watch the Krewe du Vieux parade that kicks off Mardi Gras every year. It is one of the only parades during Mardi Gras that goes through the French Quarter (contrary to popular belief) and one I was told I could not miss. There were countless floats, people in elaborate costumes and things being thrown to catch! Krewe du Vieux is known for being a more risque parade in the sense that there are people walking around with fake plastic breasts, handing out condoms, waving around paper mache sperms on sticks and riding on floats that resemble genitalia. Definitely an interesting site to see!

The parade route for Krewe du Vieux! 

Jess's friend Mike, me, Jess and Anna Leigh getting pumped for the parade!

If you have to use the bathroom during Mardi Gras be prepared to pay! Anna Leigh and I had to buy daiquiris to use the restroom (as you can tell we are not that upset about it!)

I tried my absolute best to take pictures of the floats but I must admit taking good pictures while also trying to get some sweet throws is not an easy task! I ended up with some AWESOME beads and quirky knick knacks. Nothing like the feeling of catching beads off a float! Valentina told me that by the end of Mardi Gras I will be looking for ways to get rid of my beads because I will have so many. She told me told me last year her neck hurt after one of the parades because of all the beads weighing her down. Challenge accepted! And now a look into some of the floats (warning: some more inappropriate than others!)

A float honoring the olympics and what appears to be a person in a penis costume

The theme of Krewe du Vieux was "Where the Vile Things Are" so you can see some of the people in front of this particular float dressed in monster like costumes resembling the book Where the Wild Things Are. 

No caption really needed for this!

Or this either....

Attack of the Zombie Fish float... they are so intricate, bright and well decorated it's amazing. 

I think the coolest thing about Mardi Gras is the energy that surrounds it. Let's face it - how miserable can you be at a parade where people are dressed in ridiculous costumes? The crowds can be a bit overwhelming at times (especially when hundreds of people all want everything that is being thrown!) but I tried to see past that and settle in the beauty that I think Mardi Gras is. It is a celebration, it is history, it is ridiculous, it is fun and it brings everyone in the city together. I think that has become one of my favorite parts of New Orleans -the events that bring the city together as one. The Saints, Mardi Gras, Cajun cuisine, Bayous, Fleur du Lis...New Orleans looks, feels and tastes different from any other place in the world. To be experiencing all that is truly a blessing in so many ways.

Lesson from the Journey: In the moment, parade throws feel like the only thing you want in the entire world. All dignity and manners go out the window.

I am small

It is no secret that New Orleans is filled with poverty and crime, and it is also no secret that that poverty and crime is everywhere. I see homelessness, hear sirens, drive past car accidents and witness arrests every day. On the way to work, driving to the grocery store or even walking through the French Quarter. I remember how overwhelming this was when I first moved to New Orleans but I never really gave it much intentional thought. I think poverty and crime are hard topics to think and talk about because they are uphill battles that make any individual efforts look and feel microscopic. I entered my YAV year hoping to improve not only myself but the lives of others in some way. Although I think I am contributing in a small way to certain families in New Orleans, on the larger scale of problems it feels as though I am doing nothing. I feel this calling to partake in a line of work that helps other people but am I really making a difference?

When I leave New Orleans there will still be homeless people sleeping under the highway overpasses and asking for money at stoplights. There will still be gun violence and news reports of shootings involving kids that are way too young. The school systems will still be broken and not receive the funding and support they need to make a significant improvement. The government will still be corrupt and not put the people of New Orleans first. There will still be so many problems and I have trouble seeing how I will have made a difference. I keep telling myself that every small change I make will somehow have a rippling effect on the larger community but often times this feels extremely deflating when the problems seem to grow right before my eyes. I recruit volunteers to help build a few houses but there are still hungry and homeless people scattered all throughout New Orleans. I guess in a perfect world with every house that Project Homecoming built, I would see a few less homeless people on the street. But that's not how it works is it! 

Then there is this horrible feeling I get for wanting to see results. Am I doing service to feel good about myself? It always seems to come back to me. I don't think it is wrong to want some affirmation in the work that I am doing but I am afraid it sometimes gets lost in the work that I am doing. Serving others is not easy and reflecting on these certain questions I've been having has helped me realize the challenges I have faced this year living in a city where I am not able to ignore the problems I see every day. It is overwhelming and scary and most of all sad. Two of my roommates, Colleen and Jess, came to the Village last night and talked to volunteers about the state of the wetlands and food justice. Both of these topics are not only hard to talk about but also are extremely prevalent and relevant here in New Orleans. They kept saying that every little positive thing you do matters despite these two women being up against huge problems that are bigger than themselves. Maybe service isn't as gratifying as it's made out to be. Awareness and knowledge of these situations is honestly kind of depressing at times. But I think my awareness is a service to others in a sense. You cannot change the world if you don't know the problems and I am grateful of this awareness every day. 

Lesson from the Journey: Jess shared with me this quote from Mother Teresa that really helped me grasp the important of my service here in New Orleans. 

Fancy, Fancy

This past Saturday, Project Homecoming held its first Annual Gala! I was really excited to be a part of making the vision a reality and even more excited that the night went wonderfully. We had just about 200 guests and I must admit it was nice to see our work site managers and construction crew all dressed up! We all gathered in the Central Business District at the First NBC Bank for a night of delicious food, great music and a silent auction. I helped with registration, giving people their silent auction numbers and greeting guests as they came in the door. The night went great and famous musician Dr. John even showed up!

The Project Homecoming YAVs - Anna Leigh, Alex and me all dressed up :)

The inside of First NBC Bank - beautiful and intricate high ceilings, it was the perfect venue.

One of the tables offering the silent auction items! We had everything from vacations to spa retreats to art to music and more!

Kevin giving the opening speech and welcoming everyone to the Gala.

Mardi Gras Indians started off the night with a colorful performance

I couldn't not get a picture with the Mardi Gras Indians!

Dr. John playing piano! It was such an awesome addition to have him there. 

The last few days have been spent tallying up the expenses for the gala and I am happy to report that we raised over $7,500 for Project Homecoming! This is especially awesome because the goal for our first gala was to just break even. I really enjoyed being a part of such an awesome event - Kelly (who planned the event) and Alex (my roommate who was her right hand woman) did an exceptional job and honestly, it will be hard to top for next year!

Lesson from the Journey: Photobooths with props are my new favorite thing.

Elena, Valentina and I had to "test out" the photobooth before guests arrived!

Say Yes to the Dress: Colleen Earp Style

One of my beloved housemates, Colleen, is getting married this year and I was fortunate enough to accompany here on her search for the perfect wedding dress. We drove to Alfred Angelo in Baton Rogue and tried on a large array of dresses - from poofy to lacey to classy to "this weighs approximately 100 lbs". For those of you don't know Colleen she wanted to go wedding dress shopping about as much as the average human wants to go to the dentist. So it was obviously necessary to try on some ridiculous dresses to take the pressure off the situation. Luckily, Colleen trusted me to live tweet the entire adventure for her family and friends back home. In order to get the full effect from the day, I am going to take through the live tweeting of the day so y'all who weren't there or not following can get the full effect.

From left to right: Anna Leigh, Hannah, Colleen, Me and Lindsay. 

I had never been wedding dress shopping before and we had a lot of fun. I think one of my favorite parts was picking out the ugly bridesmaid dresses. Please check out how much Anna Leigh looks like a cupcake haha. Overall great day with some even greater people :)

Lesson from the Journey: Any event can be made 10x better by live tweeting.