Alternative Spring Break

Well it's Sunday and the housing center is quite. For the first time in a month I've not had 100 people to talk to at any point and time. It has been quite the month and I can't believe it's already over. There were so many good times and I wish there were still more weeks to come.

As I board the tiniest plane ever tomorrow to head from Lake Charles back to DC, I'll be leaving behind an amazing group of people I've gotten to work with, but taking with me a whole bunch of memories. I've really enjoyed meeting you all and sharing this experience with you. I know that you've all got your own set of memories and I hope that you'll keep in touch with the people you met here for a long time.

Thank you all for your hard work, for your dedication, and for your good spirits. I loved all the energy that you brought with you and I'm so impressed with all the work you were able to get done. With all of your help, 51 projects in the Lake Charles area were work on...last year there were only 35. I give you all some serious props. You're all amazing.

Enjoy being back home and doing what you do, but don't forget the good work you did here and share it with your community. There is lots of work to do all over the country and I know you guys can be the ones who make the difference.

Much ASB love,
Maddie

and don't forget..."Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" -Margaret Mead 

While this entry may come as a bit late to some people, reflection on the past week is not something that can just happen overnight. Everything from the 1st townhall meeting to the city tour and even the work sites seems like a haze of overwhelming joy and emotion. The friends I made and so eagerly want to see again seem so far away. And the difference I hope to have made, at this point, seems intangible yet motivating.

I believe most of us came into this week with different ideas of what to expect. Mine were a blur of wanting to help out the community while meeting new people and enjoying a new city. While the latter two were definitely a part of the trip, what Deloitte and United Way made evident was the amount of work necessary to help recover from this disaster. Katrina was no doubt the center of this trip, and I loved every minute of it. I am grateful to be more knowledgeable about this tragedy and the recovery effort resulting from it. I am also happy to have been a part of the process to rebuild. But most of all, I am excited to continue serving in my community and educating others of the need to volunteer, whether this process involves rebuilding a home, mapping a city, or talking to adults and children alike about the horrors they have faced and the aid that they need.

While everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy their community service assignments, the week was not just all work. We had a chance on the fist two days (when we weren't yet sore or tired) to experience a devastation tour of the city, play some air hockey and foosball in the conference room, and partake in the culture of southern cooking. Throughout the week, groups also went on their own hunger hunts, whether it be Sonic or crawfish and gumbo. One of my favorite parts of the day happened in the evenings. And no, not just because we played Taboo or Mafia. I truly enjoyed the Shout Outs and the Team Reports at the end of each day that took place at the Town Hall meetings. It was really nice to see where everyone was with their assignment and how relationships were building throughout the week. I have been telling my friends and family that I need a week to recover from this past week. I came back sleepy and tired and overwhelmed. But every time I said this, I knew I wouldn't have traded this past week in for the world. I got to do what I love, surrounded by good people, food, and weather, and I have come back with the motivation and knowledge to help do more.

By Khushboo Bansal

re-sil-ience: ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.

We saw it this week. Saw it from Ms. Carol, DJ Brice, Richard, and the rest. "And that's everyone else too,"said Bob, as he described his rebuilding process acknowledging that he, like his neighbors, is just one story of thousands. Is this resilience just human nature? Hopefully. But from what I've seen here in Mississippi, I'm not so sure if it isn't something special, something unique to these people, their culture, and their experience. This nascent resiliency manifested itself more each day, eventually permeating the mindset of my group members and me.

Being from the "North Country," as one resident of Waveland put it, I don't hear much about Mississippi. Aside from directly after the storm, when CNN called Waveland "the city wiped completely off the map," the ninth ward and other parts of New Orleans have dominated the already thin news coverage. I'm not blaming the media' it's not easy reporting, and progress is slow and often unsightly.

But back to the Magnolia State. Up North I hear the statistics: Mississippi's education system rated last in the nation, trading off the fifty spot year to year with Louisiana; Mississippi's obesity ratings highest in the country; Mississippi's income per capita near the bottom of the fifty states. What I don't hear is what I experienced: a people with an outlook on life not seen in statistics. The residents of Hancock County and the greater Mississippi Gulf have an extraordinary blend of strength, humility, and pride. I have seen such qualities in few people, and know their resiliency is due to their volitions. The people of Hancock County have shown me much more than I could ever show them. I am a better for knowing them.

Billy Skarinka

*shout out to: Loren (the big bad wolf), Jenna (mad texter and friend to small children), Manuel Labor, Brooke (the original shingle slayer), Megan (even though she goes to Kentucky), and Natalie (MVP!)

As things continue to go well down here in Southwest Louisiana with week two, I wanted to take a step back to week one. Those of you who were here got to hear an awesome poem written by Ms. Catherine Thomas. (For those of you who don't know, Ms. Catherine is the longterm recovery specialist at the United Way of Southwest Louisiana and one of the people who is responsible for making ASB happen this year). She wanted me to post her poem so those of you who wanted could have it. I think its a great poem and I really think it speaks to all of ASB, not just those who heard it week one.


Ode to a Friend

Modesty becomes you,
For you are one of few words.
How can they not see your beauty?
You have the wisdom of years;
Yet, you posses such innocence.
You convey a willingness to share;
And yet, you have the vision to remain within limits.
You are the character of strength;
And yet, you remain tender and therefore
Vulnerable to be hurt.
How much they have missed!
For they have only seen part of you.
But I . . .
I am fortunate . . .
For we have shared a common bond,
And each of us
Emerged with a friend.

©1985

Hello everyone! Sorry to interrupt the awesome stories from the place I should be right now but I've got some business to tend to.

I need everyone who is going to Biloxi the week of the 15-22 to send me an email with a copy of your flight itinerary. If you have already filled out the survey then you do not need to do this. With the week coming up pretty quick we need to be as best prepared as we can to make sure you don't spend the week at the airport, although from the list of names, I'd like to leave a few of you there. I'm kidding (kind of)

Can't wait to see all of you there!

Eric

EJBRAUN82@gmail.com

So the Team Leaders/Support Crew (whom are are really assistant team leaders!) got here Thursday, and some of the excitement and positive energy from week 1 rubbed off on us, added to our already bubbling excitement and so far, week 2 is THE BEST!!!!!

We had a few frustrations and days of not knowing things, but things are otherwise going pretty smoothly!

It's my first year as a Team Leader-I was a participant last year! I thought it would be pretty cool to lead the way for other participants to make a difference down here in SWLA! So my team is pretty awesome, they are so great and helpful! We work really well together! Shoutouts to my "Co Team Leader" Casie, together we make some REALLY good team leaders!

Today we worked at a day care center with Sara and Adam's team and painted the exterior. It was going great, we got alot done! It began to rain around noon, and we had to cut our day short there. The short time we were there was great! The owner, Miss Carolyn, was extremely nice and the little kids at the day care were SOOO adorable!

Unfortunately, because of the rain, we had to leave...we then headed to a church (rainy date site) to clean off coins which had been donated to the church after the Hurricane by a casino. It was cool, props to both teams at the site for making the best of EVERYTHING-Shoutouts to my team: Jalayne, for being an awesome driver! Lauren, Claire, Lisa, and Neil-you guys ROCK! And to Casie---let's make the PIRATES the BEST TEAM week 2 has! After all, we already have the coolest site, FriendShips! We start there tomorrow, and when we start, I'll be able to blog more about that.

But before I end this, I want to say I am EXTREMELY proud of all the ASB week 2 Participants...you guys are amazing! I will post pictures next week when I get home (I'm sooo disappointed about that, but oh well!)