im sitting in a dust storm at the moment. today we were closed and did an all day clean and inventory. we're still working!!! folks are sweeping the entrance of the center and i'll be moving stuff back into the double wide once the carpet dries. this morning i cooked breakfast for the volunteers did 8 economy size loads of laundry from EC and then assisted with dinner. one of the funniest people i've ever met taught me how to make polentas....kinda:) a polenta is usually made out of boiled cornmeal but all we had were leftover grits. so we fried up some grit patties and added kates mushroom, fennel, and tomatoe sauce and fed people one by one...it was so good!! it's been a long freakin day though.
my paitence just about ran out in the early evening for a number of reasons and then two things happened. 1) peace corps people tell you that patience is the number one skill you need and will acquire during your time so i did a little bit of self-talk to snap out of it and 2) cara sat me in a corner with colored pencils and a mandala and i slowly got to come back to center. i'm definitly going to buy a mandala book and pencils before i head overseas:)
last night was one of the scariest times i've had in a long time. a few of us went to sixflags about 20 mins away from site. the park has been closed since the storm... it was dark, quiet, and like being in the middle of a really creepy video game. the park hasnt been touched...there is a GIANT clown head smashed on the ground, stuffed animals and tshirts moldy but still on display as prizes, weeds growing up into the rides, and signs into the entrances of rides tilted or broken from katrina. we walked around wispering and taking in all of the sites, of course i was getting a bit scared-ok, im a giant baby. i was freaking out when we decided to walk through mardi gras madness in the pitch black....we ended up turning around. we did walk to the top of a roller coaster though and saw the whole park and the city in the distance- that was amazing. my writing is not doing the evening justice but it was pretty amazing. here's a shout out to two amazing people who left today: kate and emily, you guys are awesome and thanks for taking me on that adventure!
friday night we went to see a brass band play at the balcony bar and cafe. i met the owner last week and after asking what i was doing here gave me his buisness card as a coupon for 8 free drinks for me and some other volunteers. it was cool to be there with a ton of the ec people and reconnect with Massumi, the owner. he's persian and the crowd was a nice mix of people, persian, black, white- new orleans is a truely diverse place. anyway, we ended heading down the road eventually and taking over the entire street. it seemed like every bar there you saw someone from ec- at one point we had 12 of us in a little alcove- im realizing this is a stupid story to share cause you cant really get the feel for the night so here are some pics:)
my paitence just about ran out in the early evening for a number of reasons and then two things happened. 1) peace corps people tell you that patience is the number one skill you need and will acquire during your time so i did a little bit of self-talk to snap out of it and 2) cara sat me in a corner with colored pencils and a mandala and i slowly got to come back to center. i'm definitly going to buy a mandala book and pencils before i head overseas:)
last night was one of the scariest times i've had in a long time. a few of us went to sixflags about 20 mins away from site. the park has been closed since the storm... it was dark, quiet, and like being in the middle of a really creepy video game. the park hasnt been touched...there is a GIANT clown head smashed on the ground, stuffed animals and tshirts moldy but still on display as prizes, weeds growing up into the rides, and signs into the entrances of rides tilted or broken from katrina. we walked around wispering and taking in all of the sites, of course i was getting a bit scared-ok, im a giant baby. i was freaking out when we decided to walk through mardi gras madness in the pitch black....we ended up turning around. we did walk to the top of a roller coaster though and saw the whole park and the city in the distance- that was amazing. my writing is not doing the evening justice but it was pretty amazing. here's a shout out to two amazing people who left today: kate and emily, you guys are awesome and thanks for taking me on that adventure!
friday night we went to see a brass band play at the balcony bar and cafe. i met the owner last week and after asking what i was doing here gave me his buisness card as a coupon for 8 free drinks for me and some other volunteers. it was cool to be there with a ton of the ec people and reconnect with Massumi, the owner. he's persian and the crowd was a nice mix of people, persian, black, white- new orleans is a truely diverse place. anyway, we ended heading down the road eventually and taking over the entire street. it seemed like every bar there you saw someone from ec- at one point we had 12 of us in a little alcove- im realizing this is a stupid story to share cause you cant really get the feel for the night so here are some pics:)
point: this weekend was nice, we worked hard, and had a freakin blast in the eve:)
this wednesday the new orleans city council is coming to do a volunteer appreciation event at our place. that'll be exciting- when we have visitors we usually get a band so im looking forward to that:)
welp, tomorrow is a big day again so im outta here.
xo,
sb
2 comments:
I hate creepy clowns! I would have been freaked out too! I sent your letter in the mail today- it has a hug enclosed ;)
Buff?! Holla. How are you and WHERE are you? I found your blog through Becca G's blog. And you're going to Africa?!! Wow, that is going to be amazing. When are you going to be home again? Tell the 'rents "hi" and I drive by their downtown house every now and then. Check out my photography blog sometime (http://jamiesangar.blogspot.com/). Peace and take care.
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