the last one...i'm gonna miss ya'll!!!

I guess its time to talk about myself, my growth process. As I sat at dinner with my mom and grandmother after they picked me up, I had the time I needed to think about the time spent in New Orleans. I have grown. When I entered New Orleans I knew next to nothing and was ready just to rebuild rebuild rebuild. Silly me. I left New Orleans with knowledge of the political system, the political nature during Katrina, racial lines that run deep along the income line, more knowledge about crocodiles then you can imagine, and much more. I now have plans to create a “Save the Wetlands” club at Furman as well as plans to return to New Orleans to help continue the building process of New Orleans. When I come though, I will know what is needed to a better extent then most people on mission’s trips. I have been able to live here and learn the ways of the people. By no means am I an insider into this community, but I do feel welcomer, and definitely not like a tourist. There will not be time wasted on Bourbon Street although I do love the French Quarter, the time will be focused on getting out and meeting the people of New Orleans and finding out what they need of me, what I can help them with. Places like Reconcile Café where the city is helping itself by giving jobs and teaching life skills gives me such appreciation and ideas that can be used in other places like D.C. New Orleans is not like any other city in America, even the world. It is a place that has been through countless hardships but bounced back every time – the relentless city. It is a place where racial issues have been overcome and regressed back to over and over again. It is a place of happiness and hope in every smiling and helping face, every organization. It is a place that is getting there and if people would just pay attention and listen, it could be done that much faster. New Orleans to me will always be a place of faces. The faces of my professor and my classmates who opened new windows to learning about the Big Easy. Faces of the people of the organizations we helped with. Faces of the people sitting on their front porches watching the afternoon go by. Faces. Please look at the people of New Orleans faces. They do want people to know that they are still there….they still need help.