IN Conclusion

The act of reflecting is something that always amazes me. I try my hardest to live within the moment, however, it is entirely too easy to wish for tomorrow, to get caught up in the negatives, or to ignore what is around you. The first week in New Orleans was tough. Our accomodations served as quite a challenge the first evening and the full body work out required to dig Honduran trenches made me question why I had ever even come to New Orleans. Allowed myself to get caught up in the stress of work and assignments. However, upon reflection I can see that this first week, while challenging, was essential to my New Orleans experience. To truly learn, one must be pushed and challenged. I was pushed and challenged and I personally feel that as that first week progressed, I became prepared for anything.

Actually this is an understatement. I was prepared for the work, the stress of the jobs, the hardships of travel. I was not prepared for the emotional toll the trip would take on me. In fact, I don't think I quite realized the emotional impact of this experience until our group discussion the evening prior to my departure. As we sat and talked about our experience I grew quite angry and was often on the brink of tears. This reaction surprised me. I had not allowed the my time in New Orleans to impact me this way prior to our discussions that evening most likely as a move towards self preservation. Verbally I let it all out at during the discussion, much to several of my fellow classmate's dismay.

But what is it that caused me to have this reaction? One idea is continually in my head and wrenches my gut. The idea of being ignored in times of trouble is terrifying to me. While watching the iMax movie, I began crying when the images crossed the screen of families waving signs from their rooftops begging for help. For days the people were ignored. Our government, the government that is meant to protect us did so very slowly. It is this idea, the idea of being abandoned in a time of great need, is one that I cannot empathize with. I have never known that feeling and I pray that I will never have to. My question then is whether or not we can truly help people without empathy? Sympathy goes a long way but empathy often seems to be the key. Regardless of the ultimate answer to this question, we must try our damndest to work with what we have got and if that happens to only be sympathy than that is what we must use.

I honestly do not know where to go from here. I am angry and frustrated. I now do feel as if I made some kind of impact while I was in New Orleans, however, so much more is needed and not simply within New Orleans. If I have learned anything, it is that putting a face on an issue is the first step in working to solve the problems. New Orleans taught me this. The city has been beaten and battered and yet its soul still remains in tact. This is inspiring. Finding the soul, the center of life, is essential within every damaged community. It may be that I never return to New Orleans but I know that through what I have learned, I will now take a little piece of New Orleans with me every where I go.