Today was a more relaxed day because we started out the day on a later start! We met at 10 AM this morning and hopped on the bus with Larry to head down to the park. We went to the Audobon park across the street from Tulane University. Then, we walked around the beautiful park admiring all the ducks (there were some funny looking ones). Under the gazebo by the water, our group discussed poverty and our affiliation and view with the issue. The conversation became a little heated, but in the end it was eye opening for most of us.
Then, we joined Larry on the bus again and headed off to watch an IMAX about Hurricane Katrina. The movie was an hour long, but it covered most of what we were learning about throughout this trip. There was a scene where a person was riding his bicycle through the storm which may not have actually happened. We had to time to walk along the pier after that and saw the riverboats in the dock. The sky was gray and cloudy, but it was still a beautiful day! Then we celebrated Shabbat as a community, Jewish and non-Jewish people alike, which was a special treat for those who had never done a Shabbat service! It was a lot of fun and the food afterwards was great! (Especially the chocolate cake!) :)
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tired but Happy
Today was an exciting day, it was our last day of doing service work, and we finished painting the body of the house. It looks really great and the smile on Mrs. Banks’ face when she came out to see it made the long days of working worth every second. The house looks great and it felt really good to see all our hard work come into a finished product. The group is looking forward to all getting a nice relaxing rest of the day finished up with a nice trip to the famous Café du Monde for some beignets. What we accomplished will make a difference in the community and in New Orleans as a whole. According to Devin, our site coordinator, when one house on a street is painted, you can come back to visit in a few weeks and many others will have followed suit. We didn’t just paint one home; we changed the atmosphere of a community. We are all very excited for tonight and to sleep in/ Shabbat tomorrow.
Sam Costanzo
Mike Nenner
Eliana Janssen
Sam Costanzo
Mike Nenner
Eliana Janssen
Purim in Nawlins
It was a long, hot, but not unfulfilling day of painting primer and the first coat of paint on Ms. Banks’ house we are all very satisfied with the work we have done so far. The color we are painting on her house is a pastel yellow, and seems to go along with a style very specific to New Orleans.
After returning to the church we’re staying at we had begun preparations to travel to an orthodox synagogue to celebrate Purim. Even with our high expectations and excited attitudes this celebration surpassed our greatest hopes. The community was willing and happy to accept our Virginia Tech community into their home, and with an open bar and live jazz band this was very evident. Towards the end of the night after the staff went home, instead of going to the French quarter the rest of us stayed at the synagogue and got the real party started. The band moved out into the street and so did all the dancing, one of the little girls in the synagogue was screaming “this is just like Jewish Mardi Gras,” and I have to say we all agreed with that. This was the best Purim celebration that any of us have ever been to and we look forward to seeing everything else this city has to offer.
Mark Moskowitz
After returning to the church we’re staying at we had begun preparations to travel to an orthodox synagogue to celebrate Purim. Even with our high expectations and excited attitudes this celebration surpassed our greatest hopes. The community was willing and happy to accept our Virginia Tech community into their home, and with an open bar and live jazz band this was very evident. Towards the end of the night after the staff went home, instead of going to the French quarter the rest of us stayed at the synagogue and got the real party started. The band moved out into the street and so did all the dancing, one of the little girls in the synagogue was screaming “this is just like Jewish Mardi Gras,” and I have to say we all agreed with that. This was the best Purim celebration that any of us have ever been to and we look forward to seeing everything else this city has to offer.
Mark Moskowitz
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The ninth ward
Today our group did a short walking tour of the ninth ward. We were lead by a tall man named Darryl. He had a large white beard, big beer belly hid under a tan flannel shirt and spoke with an authentic New Orleans accent. He walked us around the neighborhood while discussing the various effects of Hurricane Katrina and issues that have arisen because of it. He showed us small details of the houses that highlighted how reconstruction effects have been averted due to neighborhood conservation effects and environmentalist influences such as solar panels and marsh rehabilitation efforts.
The walk was comforting. We finally witnessed the ninth ward. The long avenues were drenched in thick greenery. The rich marsh soil allowed nature to reclaim abandoned lots and homes. Darryl spoke about the construction of the new homes and the various historical influences. Factors such as tax code, barge construction and boat styles affect the real estate of New Orleans.
The tour ended with a brief look over a body of water. Chopped down Cyprus trees dotted the water. Darryl told us that this was once a marsh, but deforestation removed the roots that once held in the rich soil and the Cyprus trees can no longer grow as a result of the salty water ruining the land.
While we were waiting for the tour to start, a random man with thick salt and pepper hair addressed the group directly, so the group assumed he was related to the tour. He was not. He simply knew that we were volunteers and wanted to thank us for our work. The work in rebuilding New Orleans is not complete. More is to be done, but I am happy that I'm here. My small part painting Ms. Bank's home will make her a little happier and a neighborhood a little brighter and for that I am thankful.
Max Goldbas
The walk was comforting. We finally witnessed the ninth ward. The long avenues were drenched in thick greenery. The rich marsh soil allowed nature to reclaim abandoned lots and homes. Darryl spoke about the construction of the new homes and the various historical influences. Factors such as tax code, barge construction and boat styles affect the real estate of New Orleans.
The tour ended with a brief look over a body of water. Chopped down Cyprus trees dotted the water. Darryl told us that this was once a marsh, but deforestation removed the roots that once held in the rich soil and the Cyprus trees can no longer grow as a result of the salty water ruining the land.
While we were waiting for the tour to start, a random man with thick salt and pepper hair addressed the group directly, so the group assumed he was related to the tour. He was not. He simply knew that we were volunteers and wanted to thank us for our work. The work in rebuilding New Orleans is not complete. More is to be done, but I am happy that I'm here. My small part painting Ms. Bank's home will make her a little happier and a neighborhood a little brighter and for that I am thankful.
Max Goldbas
Monday, March 5, 2012
el dia numero
Hello!
We started out this break with a paint scraper! Today we went to an elderly woman's house to start reconstructing her home which was damaged from the weather. The work began with chipping off the rusted paint. Volunteers also participated in helping to remove steel window security bars. After brushing off the rust, we repainted them. In the post-lunch era, we cleaned up the work space, and headed back for more information sessions. After the information sessions came the best part of the day: dinner! Succulent and delectable vegetarian Jumbalaya with a side of kale and delicious succotash! By far one of the best vegetarian meals I have ever consumed. The vegetarian Jumbalaya was so good and rich that even one of our volunteers questioned if the chefs used real meat! (Thankfully they did not!) The chefs were very friendly and personable when we thanked them after their heavenly meal and said they were delighted that we loved their food so much! One of them even offered to write down a few recipes for me to take home which I will definitely will. More updates to come soon!
Eric Avissar
Jessica Lieberman
Stephanie Parey
We started out this break with a paint scraper! Today we went to an elderly woman's house to start reconstructing her home which was damaged from the weather. The work began with chipping off the rusted paint. Volunteers also participated in helping to remove steel window security bars. After brushing off the rust, we repainted them. In the post-lunch era, we cleaned up the work space, and headed back for more information sessions. After the information sessions came the best part of the day: dinner! Succulent and delectable vegetarian Jumbalaya with a side of kale and delicious succotash! By far one of the best vegetarian meals I have ever consumed. The vegetarian Jumbalaya was so good and rich that even one of our volunteers questioned if the chefs used real meat! (Thankfully they did not!) The chefs were very friendly and personable when we thanked them after their heavenly meal and said they were delighted that we loved their food so much! One of them even offered to write down a few recipes for me to take home which I will definitely will. More updates to come soon!
Eric Avissar
Jessica Lieberman
Stephanie Parey
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