Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Arrived in New Orleans
We made it to New Orleans Saturday afternoon, yay!! We got checked in at the First Street United Methodist Church where we will be staying for the week. We are staying in one big room with bunk beds for 80 people. There is a kitchen for us to cook in, 3 showers (one inside and two outside), a backyard with a fire pit and some comfy lawn chairs. I saw some before pictures and they have completely transformed this place. They built the bunk beds and the showers and the lawn chairs. Communal living is funny because everyone is immediately forced to drop their inhibitions a notch. I mean, I am practically sleeping in the same bed with someone whose name I don't even know. But everyone is here for the same reason, to help out and be a part of something big. It is definitely a bonding experience because you are seeing and experiencing complete devastation with strangers and trying to do something about it. People have been here days, weeks, even months!
After we checked in and found some empty bunks to stash our stuff, we walked to a local bar down the street called Igor's. We got to talking with the bartender, Jeff. He was living here when Katrina hit. When they evacuated, he hopped in his truck with 100 bucks in his pocket and drove to Tampa where he has family. His place got flooded and his stuff got ruined. Most of the clothes he has now were donated by co-workers. He told us some horror stories, stories we have probably all heard about people being stranded with no one to help, unimaginable stories. A woman called the radio station as her last attempt for help. She was in her attic on her tiptoes, she could barely keep her head out of the water to make the phone call, but no one could help her.
The work is hard and strenuous. On Sunday, we worked on gutting a school. Since we are working on mold abatement we have to wear Tyvek suits and respirators. I have never sweated so much in my life. I sweated completely through my shirt and jeans. We only worked half a day but I was exhausted.
Today we drove to Biloxi for the AmeriCorps Alum Month of Service Kick-Off event. We were de-molding homes in an affordable housing complex to get them ready for contractors to come in and finish them. It was a long tedious process, but it was nice to see all of the current AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Alums working side by side. The people down here are so grateful for the help.
I have got to go for now, my time is up. I will write again as soon as I can.
Megan Lashmet
Talk with Megan! ¶ 9:47 AM
We made it to New Orleans Saturday afternoon, yay!! We got checked in at the First Street United Methodist Church where we will be staying for the week. We are staying in one big room with bunk beds for 80 people. There is a kitchen for us to cook in, 3 showers (one inside and two outside), a backyard with a fire pit and some comfy lawn chairs. I saw some before pictures and they have completely transformed this place. They built the bunk beds and the showers and the lawn chairs. Communal living is funny because everyone is immediately forced to drop their inhibitions a notch. I mean, I am practically sleeping in the same bed with someone whose name I don't even know. But everyone is here for the same reason, to help out and be a part of something big. It is definitely a bonding experience because you are seeing and experiencing complete devastation with strangers and trying to do something about it. People have been here days, weeks, even months!
After we checked in and found some empty bunks to stash our stuff, we walked to a local bar down the street called Igor's. We got to talking with the bartender, Jeff. He was living here when Katrina hit. When they evacuated, he hopped in his truck with 100 bucks in his pocket and drove to Tampa where he has family. His place got flooded and his stuff got ruined. Most of the clothes he has now were donated by co-workers. He told us some horror stories, stories we have probably all heard about people being stranded with no one to help, unimaginable stories. A woman called the radio station as her last attempt for help. She was in her attic on her tiptoes, she could barely keep her head out of the water to make the phone call, but no one could help her.
The work is hard and strenuous. On Sunday, we worked on gutting a school. Since we are working on mold abatement we have to wear Tyvek suits and respirators. I have never sweated so much in my life. I sweated completely through my shirt and jeans. We only worked half a day but I was exhausted.
Today we drove to Biloxi for the AmeriCorps Alum Month of Service Kick-Off event. We were de-molding homes in an affordable housing complex to get them ready for contractors to come in and finish them. It was a long tedious process, but it was nice to see all of the current AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Alums working side by side. The people down here are so grateful for the help.
I have got to go for now, my time is up. I will write again as soon as I can.
Megan Lashmet
Talk with Megan! ¶ 9:47 AM
