Fruition, the amazing moment when what we have been eagerly awaiting becomes reality. It feels so good to be back. New Orleans feels so right to me, a home very far from home so to speak.
It took an enormous amount of effort to get to this moment. Fundraising, team building, and putting extra effort into school so that we don't let homework build up over vacation. It was exhausting, but indescribably worth it.
You might think that it is hard to just pick up and leave home behind during vacation and throw yourself into an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar tasks and people. There is the mistake, "loosing yourself in the service of others" is actually one of the easiest things to do. It has not been hard at all to leave NM where it belongs, far away in Townsend, Ma, so that we can be where we belong, here in New Orleans, La.
The contenment that I feel here is above any I experience anywhere else. I am happy, surrounded by people with common goals, whom I am close with, and whom I know will never judge me unfairly. I love all of these people, I love this city, and I love what we do here.
Living in the moment is something easy to forget how to do. How often do we stop to breath the air of our present state and enjoy it? Constantly I have an agenda running through my head. What's next what's next what's next is my only stream of thought. Only sleep brings me a break from this never ending to-do-list. That's how it is at home anyway.
Here, we are free. We are free to take our time and be happy. We can throw ourselves into a single, simple task and let it encircle our minds. As we weed this garden, we think only of the sun on our backs and of how right at that very moment we are helping someone. Calculus next period, and college planning, and pleasing this person and that person has no place here. We are here to be here. Not to have a never ending list of responsibilities which must immediately be dealt with. It is a miraculous way to rest the mind, though our bodies may be hard at work. It is also an important stretch of the soul as we learn and grow through what we do, see, and hear.
New Orleans is beautiful. It is as wonderfully simple as that.
Thank you for reading,
Colleen Schroth

The First Day (Amber)

After a long day on Friday, full of fast food, plane tickets and ear pains, we are in New Orleans! It's beautiful out (even at night) and feels a lot different from home. Most of us got to bed around one and we all woke up early this morning for a quick tour around the Lower 9th Ward . On our way throgh the city we saw beautiful houses, but as we crossed into the Lower 9th Ward the scenery changed a bit. We walked around the neighborhood and saw concrete walkways that led to nothing but a slab of concrete. We saw houses that looked like they had been ripped apart by a tornado just the week before. Seashells littered the ground from when the ocean waters ripped through the streets. Had such a disaster really struck over 7 years ago? Despite all these scars there were a lot of wonderful things to see. Make It Right homes, sponsored by Brad Pitt, were everywhere to be seen. These houses stand on stilts at least 5 feet tall and are equipped with solar panels. They may not be traditional New Orleans style houses but they are beautiful, and it's heartwarming to see that somebody out there is doing something to get people back home to their properties.

This was my (and many others) first day in New Orleans and there is certainly a lot to take in. The people, the weather, and the atmosphere are very different. But the change feels good, and I am so happy to be here. People have been telling me that it is an amazing thing we're doing; giving up our vacation time to help people in need. But so far, I have a feeling that in some way, New Orleans is going to help all of us.

Home Sweet Home

Well we just arrived at United Saints and everyone is off to their rooms and bed for a few hours before we start in at 8:00am tomorrow. Touring the Lower Ninth in the morning, working at Our School at Blair Grocery, Project Greenlight, and ARNO. Flights went quite well and everyone arrived safely, a little trouble getting vehicles, but worth the hassle. We were able to save $600.00, but at first, we encountered an issue because I changed ethnicity, evidently, and became Raymond Kim. All is good now! Laissez les bons temps rouler!

So excited! - Maggie Kenney

This being my second year going to New Orleans, I already know a little of what to expect. However, I believe this year's group is wonderously more prepared and united than last year's. The kids we have are amazing and are so compassoionate about this trip. Futhermore, I am convinced that many great experiences and memories will come out of our time spent down there. I am looking forward to working with this group, in particular, watching the first year students having their outlook on life being completely changed. Last year, the way I think was dramatically changed by my experience and I came home itching to do more and trying to make a difference. I am extremely excited for this year's trip, it's going to be absolutely amazing and worthwhile!

New trip- Anastasia

We are less than a day away from finally starting our journey to New Orleans! I can't believe the week we've been preparing for since last April has finally arrived. I have never been on this trip before, and have barley ever really traveled past the east coast of the United States. So i'm wicked excited for the adventures of traveling, along with the new experiences I will gain while away. I really have no idea what else to say, or what to expect once we arrive. I'm just extremely excited and ready to share this week with all of the amazing people I have gotten to know over the past year.

21 Hours - Elisabeth Ryden

Despite having gone on the trip last year, I am still nervously awaiting our departure time. I am fidgety in my seat and have the focus of a two-year-old. I know what to expect, but I take the mindset that this is a unique adventure. I look forward to bonding and growing with a new group of students. I know I will return home just as changed and evolved as I did after the last trip. I hope you can see the change and growth in your child that I know occurs in everyone who experiences the love, happiness, and generosity of New Orleans.

18 hours left- Alli

Honestly, I am getting more and more excited as the day goes on. I still have to pack my all my stuff, but besides that I have been ready to leave for a few weeks now. I'm really excited to be going back to the city, and working on the projects. It is nice to have a week to not focus on anything but doing the work assigned and soaking in the experience of the trip. Long story short, I wish it was 9AM tomorrow so we can begin the trip :)