Reflecting on a year

It has been a long while since I have updated this, but I have just not had a whole lot to talk about for the month of December. Plain and simple.

It is coming on the end of a year, welcoming in 2013 with a new family in a new city, and starting fresh with all kinds of new things. It seems time for some reflection with the new year coming upon us; I guess my life thus far has been a constant stream of perpetual and curious change. If I had to boil down my thoughts down to one word I would say the word is "change". I think that every year since my first year of college has been a different one, usually new friends, or classes, but more recently a series of new life altering changes and events.

Now obviously I am speaking about the changes that have occurred within the last few months, but also the many changes that I am probably going to be experiencing in this new and upcoming year. I mean this is the theme of my life, so I might as well keep the cycle going. I don't look for the changes, they seem to look for me, and I just learn that I need to accept when they show themselves. I think the most interesting aspect of the change in my life is how much I have grown from these experiences of change. Growth would be then next word to describe at least the past few months; I feel like that is all I have been doing since I came down here to New Orleans. And I don't mean just maturation of myself, but my way of thinking is maturing, my spirituality has grown, I am growing in understanding my sexuality more, and in fact I seem to be learning something new about myself at least once a week. I know that when I say that people ask, what changes have you been noticing lately, well one that I noticed recently, is that I am very capable of living hundreds of miles away from my parents and be able to take almost complete care of myself.

Independence is something that I have always valued in my life, and I told my mom as they were driving me to the airport to come back to NOLA. I have always been wanting to move away from home, I have never wanted to live in Erie Pennsylvania for the rest of my life. I wasn't expecting to move all the way to New Orleans Louisiana, but God works in mysterious ways. Honestly I have no idea where the next point in my life will be. I could be doing another year of volunteer work, or I could be just working for real, or a I could be starting Grad school. I am very open to any of the options I just presented.

I was thinking about what I wanted to see happen in this upcoming year, and I figured I want to see at least four things to happen; 1) I want to be in a stable job (even if it is a volunteer position) 2) I want to be living in New Orleans somewhere 3) I want to be sitting in Starbucks next year at this time having and living with a boyfriend 4) I want to still be doing something that I am passionate about.

I know that these are oddly specific, or maybe they are even just a bit vague, but I would like it if all of those could happen in some form or another. I am not asking to settle down, I am just asking that I have some of those happening. I would also to be working harder in my current job position, making more of a long term impact on what I am doing, making the most of what I am doing right now. I think this is a good thing for me, and I would love it if I could be making more of an impact than I am making now. I think that it would be cool to be doing something like this again, if the opportunity presents itself, I am not one to plan out my life (we all know this by now, how could I have planned this?) I am aware that I can't mature fully, but I am enjoying the growing up that I am doing so far, as scary as it is sometimes, I don't mind doing it on occasion.

Well I think that is enough reflection/rambling for now, I think I will leave this post off for now.

Happy New Year Y'all!! It is a new season, and a new time, welcome to 2013!

Peace!

Reflection on my time in New Orleans thus far

I would first like to make it known that I am sitting here writing this post in shorts and a t-shirt, it is December 2nd, and almost 76 degrees today.

Now that we have that little bragging out of the way for those of you who are reading this from up north freezing inside. I am mostly writing this post as a reflection on the past three and a half months that I have been down here in New Orleans. It seems like the months are just flying by, and all I am doing is going through a constant series of changes, growing up, learning, and loving every minute of my time down in New Orleans. I think that the biggest changes in my life right now are that I am more spiritually connected now than I have ever been in my entire life, I feel like I am getting the most exciting gift of being able to explore this part of who I am. Another major change in my life right now would be that I think I may have found what I would like to do as a career. I am looking at going to graduate school for Social Work, which I know of one person who reads my posts who will enjoy knowing this fact.

My journey to coming to terms with these major changes has been filled with ups and downs, lots of questions, discernment of my passions in life, and long talks with many different people. I knew that when I moved down here that I would be going through a lot of changes and growing, but I had no idea the emotional roller coaster that I would be stepping on to. I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to do this year of service, because this is a year that is going far beyond volunteering, I am being given the chance to take a year and learn more about myself then I have ever known. I can take chances, follow my passions, learn tons of new things, and grow in ways I never knew I would. I know that I have passed the time for thanksgiving by about a week now, but Christmas is also a time to be thankful, and realize all that you have been blessed with in your life.

I have been blessed with an extremely loving compassionate, supportive family, a new family down here in New Orleans who I have grown to love each day. I am blessed to be given the opportunity to grow, help, give, learn, and find all that I am and what I can be. I have been blessed with the gift of education, and the ever growing gift of continuing my education after this year.

I am hoping that my year is ever increasing in all that I learn, about both New Orleans and its amazing people, but also about myself and all that I am capable of doing. This isn't a really long post or rant, just a reflection and slight update since I have written in a while.

So until next time,

Peace and God Bless.

Advocacy against Homelessness

I would consider myself to be a pretty socially self-conscious person, I am an advocate for Gay Rights, I would say that I am pretty well versed in youth advocacy, feminism, and in education issues. While I spent time at Gannon University, it was hard to not be aware of the homelessness in Erie, whether it was through Gannon's annual Hunger and Homelessness Week, or just walking down State St. and seeing all of the those who were unable to find a home. While I was aware of all of this, I never really educated myself on the true issues of homelessness in this country, I never really paid much attention to those who are without a home. When I came to New Orleans, I was still not very well versed or really knowledgeable of the homelessness in the city, until recently when I was very much made aware of how bad the government was about handling this issue.

In New Orleans, there is not much notice of the vast amounts of homelessness in the city because most of those who are homeless, stay in either the blighted homes or reside under the Pontchartrain Expressway underpass, right by the Super-dome (this is important to know.) They reside here because well when it does cold in New Orleans this is the safest and warmest place to be, it is also protected from rain and other people. This was true all up until just a few days ago when the City of New Orleans sent out an order officially telling all of the homeless under the underpass that they would breaking the law if they stayed there, putting up fences and signs saying they would be arrested if loitering. Now this was not an unprecedented event, the city was working prior to this with the cities missions to provide extra beds and food for all of the displaced people. The part of this sad story that makes me so angry is the timing and the reasons why the city decided on now as their time to take this action. The reason for displacing so many people, is because in two months New Orleans will be hosting the Super Bowl, which is why I mentioned the geographic location of the bridge to the Super Dome.

The plan is to erect a fence around the underpass, to keep out the homeless who usually reside there, and making sure they move to the cities not so many missions and shelters (who by the way are not receiving much extra money to feed or bed the over 300 homeless that are anticipated to be sheltered.) The city also did not tell the missions or anyone really when they were planning on executing the action. They did not go into the underpass with social workers or health care workers to help those with mental disorders or who have never had a home, find their way to the shelter or to the missions. The police simply came in told those who were there to leave, and put up fences and signs telling all who reside there to leave. I understand the cities reasons for executing the action, it was part for the Super Bowl, but also because of the ongoing residential complaints of the health and safety hazards of so many people living in this space (having recently had two rapes occur, as well as numerous accounts of public defecation.) I don't understand however how this is supposed to be a solution to the homeless issue in New Orleans, moving people around like cattle for vanity of the city, and making public notices is just a band aid solution to an on-going problem that is clearly going to return after the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

What am I going to do about this, now that I have ranted to you for three paragraphs, well I am going to start educating myself on the history and statistics of homelessness in not only New Orleans but also the US. I want to become an advocate against homelessness, I would like to spend more time trying to volunteer in the NOLA Mission, or even in Covenant House (one of the major shelters in the city.) I have realized that I have a passion for helping all of these people who shouldn't be treated like they are simply because they can't find a decent place to live.

Well until next time,

Peace and God Bless 

Removing Privilege From My Life

I have been in New Orleans for two and a half months now, and I have been meeting a lot of interesting people, even if just for a few moments. Every time I tell people here that I work in Central City, (mind you is also considered the murder capital of the country), I hear this statement, "God Bless you working in such a rough neighborhood, is it hard working with people who live in the Ghetto?" Every time I hear this kind of a statement, my first reaction is to laugh and think "I didn't even realize that I work in a ghetto." I am not blind in seeing all of the blight and drunkeness in the neighborhood that I work, but every person I have come across has a steady job, or is retired from a long time steady job, they have a large family, and are the kindest people I have ever known. Every time I hear those statements about how I am an angel for working in such harsh conditions or that I am a saint for volunteering in the ghetto of New Orleans, I want to ask those who make these statements, "have you ever taken the time to walk through Central City, and talk to some of the people there?" Because if they did they would probably notice that these people who they talk down about as if they are poor or homeless, are actually a lot like them, only happier.

When I first started hearing these statements about my being an angel or saint, I immediately thought about how that is what people said and those were questions asked when my mom taught in the Erie City School District. The way my mom got through all of the mistaken identities of those she was teaching, was to treat them like kids, which is what they wanted to be treated like. When I go to work and meet with people in Central City, I don't talk down to them, I talk to them like my equals. I give them the respect, that I would want from them. When I was first introduced to the people of my neighborhood, all of them told me I was welcome to come over and have coffee or dinner any time. When I worked with them on my second event on Halloween, I made so many friends with the residents of the neighborhood working with them giving out candy to kids. I have seen nothing but open arms and happy faces every time I have meetings with my residents in the neighborhood.

Working down here in New Orleans has also given me some insight about what Erie would look like if every one would stop looking at those on State Street with the respect that we would want for ourselves. Really I have to stop and think about what the world would look like if we all stopped talking to each other with a privileged filter, but rather just talked to each other with respect and dignity. This may sound like a late revelation, but I feel like I have found out something that I was supposed to find out a long time ago. I think that I have spent so much of my time down here trying to convince myself that I am helping those less fortunate, really I am down here just giving my time to those who need some help. They are asking that I help them do something, and take action, giving their neighborhood some dignity in the city, giving Central City a new view.

I am going to challenge myself from now on, and I am going to challenge one bit further, I challenge anyone reading my blog. My challenge is this, anyone that you talk to throughout your days, or lives, anyone, take down the walls of privilege, and talk to them like they are your friend. Give them the respect you would want when you are being talked to. I am going to do that from this day forward, I am not going to be a privileged white kid anymore, I am going to only talk to people with the respect that I would give myself. If you care to try, I would love to hear about your experiences with this. It is not an experiment, just a change of lifestyle.

I think we will be surprised at how many people will be nicer and more welcoming to us in return, just by giving them respect, and not acting like we are better then them.

Well until next time.

Peace, and God Bless. ☮

Understanding why I was called here

I have been working in the volunteer business for about two and a half months now, I am learning more than I think I ever could about anything and everything. New Orleans is a fascinating city to do volunteer work in because not only is there a culture that seems to have been built on and for volunteers by Hurricane Katrina, but the city welcomes you with open arms and hearts if you have the time to give to them. Volunteering is one of those things that really allows you to see the true generosity and kindness of the human spirit, not only are you seeing people who are willing to give a year of their lives to help, but also you see a different side of humanity, the truly grateful one.

Volunteering breaks down into two distinct parts at its core; the volunteer and those are being served.

Being a volunteer for a whole year is a truly daunting task, and I never whine because no one ever said this year would be an easy one. I am in a program where we take the time to examine all parts of who we are, it is unique and one I will never get to experience in the rest of my life. Down here in New Orleans, when you say you are a volunteer to anyone who is a local or who has been here since Katrina, the instant response from just about everyone is "Thank you for being here, and if you need anything just call, and God bless you!" I can't tell you how many people I have had say that to me. Whenever I told people up north that I was doing a year of volunteer work, and I would tell them it was in New Orleans, they would say "Good Luck, New Orleans is really needing to be rebuilt." When I got down here, I was always told be just about everyone, we as volunteers are not rebuilding New Orleans, that has been done, we are helping to sustain and heal. Sustain the almost near death city, by helping to provide services like mine which help people who can't always afford a new home, find the resources and be walked through the processes of buying one. Healing the wounds that were opened by Katrina, like what I do within Jericho Road, by working within Neighborhoods trying to get people to break the walls of difference and work together to create a safer place to live. I said earlier that you see through volunteering how truly generous people are; this I have found in two separate terms; people like to help those who volunteer, because they want us to be able to continue doing what we are doing. But also there is a spirit that is drawn out when you volunteer, a generous heart is called upon. You learn how to just forget about the politics of the situation, and just do what needs to be done.

The second distinct part of volunteering is those who you are serving, and those I have found to come in all shapes and sizes. I have heard stories from every type of person down here in New Orleans about how they received help from a volunteer, and how that touched their lives forever (and some of these stories come from before Katrina.) When I came down, I came with judgements about whom I would be serving, I had this assumed identity of the people who truly needed help down here. Then I got here, and realized that I would be helping middle income to low income white people,  let me just say honestly that was not who I anticipated working with. But over the past two months I have heard their stories about how they are desperate for help in revitalizing their neighborhood, how they just want to connect with those who have been living in their neighborhood all their lives. I am also finding out that the web of differences in New Orleans is a complicated one, I can't say how difficult it is to really delve in and figure out why Jim doesn't like John and Judy. But that is not what I am discussing here, I am talking about how my own perceptions of who needs to be helped in New Orleans were fundamentally changed by the work I am doing in Central City. I have also found a newly kindled spirit for the work when I did some very happenstance volunteer work the other night. I was hanging out with my boyfriend the other day, helping him and his friend set up their ritual for Halloween (they are Wiccan,) well it turns out that she works with a church non-profit every Saturday called The Desmond Project, which is an organization that on Saturday makes food for an hour and a half in the kitchen of a local United Methodist Church, and then they take the food and go feed the homeless under the I-10 over pass for two hours. What an experience it was to work with people making food, but then to go and serve it to people who some have not eaten in almost a week. So many smiling faces when started setting up, and all of the truly grateful thank you's and God Bless's when we were serving. One man started crying while he took the food away because that was the first real meal he had had in almost 4 days. When I say, seeing people who are truly grateful for what you are giving them, it was the most heart wrenching thing to do, but it was probably the most enjoyable experience I ever had.

Volunteering has truly become a major part of my life, and I don't think I will ever give it up. I don't think after this experience I will be able to, I will always be doing volunteer work in some way, probably not for another whole year, but definitely on a part-time basis. I don't usually say this, but I think that God has truly shown me what my destined work is for my life. I am a volunteer!

Also on a side note, I would love to see comments more often, just like knowing who is reading my posts. I only know how many of y'all are reading them, not who. Even a short post is cool.

Well peace on earth y'all! 

Refreshed Idealism

I realized tonight that I am not really updating this as much as I should be updating it. I apologize for that.

So Tuesday was a very eventful day for me at Jericho Road, we had our first real event as fellows in community organizing. Tuesday was "Night Out Against Crime" in New Orleans, what this is a national night where communities get together and sit outside and talk about the issues of crime and violence in their neighborhoods. For us as community organizers that meant we had to organize events in our neighborhoods, some of had block parties, and big events with some of the local churches. My neighborhood decided to just partner with two separate sites in the area; the local police station, and the Youth Leadership Council. Both sites were heavily attended by our residents, each had free food, lots of music, and many other organizations from around the area. I had to as the neighborhood coordinator be the point person making sure that both sites had materials, the spots reserved, tables and chairs to sit at, as well as making sure people were there to sit at the tables the whole time of the event.

Me sitting with a few board members, I don't look excited, but I am.

This was my first real experience in event planning, resident coordinating, and really being a leader for a large group of people, and even to a certain extent mass marketing. It was a tiring but exhilarating experience at the same time, I loved being out doing something, making posters, sitting at the tables talking to all the people about the wonderful neighborhood association that I was representing. I even got a compliment from one of the other neighborhood association coordinators that it was nice to see so much material out on the table and that she was impressed that I made half of the materials. It was the first time since arriving at Jericho Road, that I was excited about my job, not that I wasn't before, but I was starting to get burnt out a bit just talking about all these events, and having endless meetings about them. It was nice to see the final product playing out and talking to residents and hearing their enthusiasm to join the association. I was complimented by so many people at both sites, many saying it was so nice to see a young person with so much investment in a community of people.

It was also the first time I felt like I was being treated like a responsible adult and that people were respecting me for the job that I was doing. I liked meeting all of these people whom I can work with on future events in the neighborhood and it was refreshing to talk to residents about all of the plans that I had to work with them on. My idealism that I came here to New Orleans was refreshed by this experience, I came to work this morning with tons of ideas for new events that I want to propose to the Board of my association and to call up residents and get working on. Just a few little teasers of ideas I am thinking about doing would be upcoming for Halloween, I am planning "Safe Routes" for trick-or-treating, as well as a Halloween party with kids and some of the senior citizens in the area. In November I am planning a food drive to help the local Mission that is in my neighborhood. Lots of plans and ideas in my head have swirling around I am trying to catch them all and get proposals ready for my supervisor, so we can start fleshing them out with our residents. I am sure as the year moves along I will be excitedly be talking more and more about my upcoming events.

Well until I update again,

Peace!

Gay Reaction To Homophobia

I have been out of the closet now for about 6 years, I came out within my first year of college (I mean my one and only year at BGSU.) I came out into a completely accepting community of people who with open minds and hearts accepted my coming out of the closet with open arms and where always available to talk about my being gay when ever I needed to. I am out to my parents and my immediate family, while they are still learning how to accept it into the life force of the family, they have come to accept me for who I am, mostly because family in itself has the innate structure of unconditional love. It took me some time before I was fully able to just say "fuck it, you can take me or leave me, I am who I am and that is all that matters." I don't hide my sexuality to anyone, I am also one who doesn't advertise, (i.e. I don't walk into a room and say "guess who is the gay one here,") mostly because that is just obnoxious. I am not one to censor what I am thinking our what I say, even if I don't say a whole lot.

This is all leading to a point I promise. Last weekend, I had my first real bout with homophobia, and it involved my and my new boyfriend, while we were walking holding hands in the French Quarter. Here is what happened, me, Tony (my boyfriend), and his friend were walking through the French Quarter from one bar to another, talking admittedly pretty loud about some pretty lewd things (but only in the sense of making fun of the stuff, and pointing out it's stupidity), anyway, we were walking behind this couple, and all of a sudden the man turns around, looks down at Tony and I holding hands, and says "You're being too loud." First of all in the French Quarter one can not be too loud, it is basically impossible. Secondly, we all watched him look down at Tony and I, it was pretty obvious he was not making a point about our volume level. Let me just say it out loud to those not aware of what I am discussing; this was a homophobic action.

While this wasn't a blatant statement, and he admittedly didn't say anything like "I don't think you two should be holding hands," it was still obvious that he was irritated with the fact that he was being followed by a loud gay couple. I guess my point of this story is that if you are uncomfortable with two people holding hands and showing affection for each other, then you should find a more discreet way of avoiding it. I have a feeling though that if I was with a girl holding hands, the man probably wouldn't have made the comment that he did. But alas I cannot make that assumption. I just feel that if you are going to make a statement, then don't make it obvious that the volume is what you are really offended by, at least have the balls to make the homophobic comment that is really on your mind. I mean I really doubt it would have made a difference to me either way, but off handed homophobia is just another reason why PC attitudes in this country are messed up.

I am sorry for ranting about this situation, and I am aware that I am only really arguing about one side of this situation, I am just reacting to a problem that I keep seeing in this country all the time.

So that is my update on this blog and I hope y'all who are reading this are enjoying reading what I am really thinking about all of the time. Also I would love a comment once in a while just to know that I am not talking to myself.

Peace. 

I'm a Preacher's Kid

For those who weren't aware I was in fact a preachers kid, or a better known term a PK, I grew up my entire life in the church, the United Methodist Church to be specific. While I was growing up, my parents taught me how to speak about religion and Christianity intellectually, making sure I knew what I was talking about when I was referencing the Bible, or talking about different aspects of Christianity. It goes on to say that if you know me at all you know that I have strong opinions about not only the Christian Church but all of organized religion in general. I don't advocate towards blindly going to church and not really understanding or caring what the meaning is behind why you are going. I also don't really enjoy hearing older people who go to conferences or discussions about religion quoting every piece of literature that they have found about the Bible, Christianity, or theology in general. In fact that actually annoys me more then blind faith. It's not that I don't like those who like to fully understand what it is they are believing, I just don't like when it is all of the pious crap, trying to show off that they have read the Bible.

Here is my opinion, there is a difference between reading the Bible, studying the various theologies of Christianity and reading different literary works on Jesus. But if you are doing this all so that you can have dialogue, and then on top of that you aren't really acting like a true Christian, then I don't really want to argue your Bullshit research. Because theological discourse is not necessarily about being able to argue biblical context intellectually. No, you need to be following what the Bible is actually teaching. Pious Jesus talk is not necessarily making you a good christian, just because you go to church every Sunday, and you think you have a "relationship" or a "love" for Jesus, doesn't make you a Christian, when you are walking around judging others, and not really taking the time to engage your fellow man.

This ranting on my religious annoyances comes out of a day and a half conference that I attended called "Let Love Rule," essentially where we spent the whole time discussing or rather listening about how the monastics would say we should live with love. The problem was not the content for me, I loved the speaker, she made many great points, it was the audience that was participating in the discussion. First of all the conference was held in possibly the richest part of New Orleans, secondly the audience was for the most part elderly people, or those who consider themselves to be holy church going folks. Basically what I am getting at was that the content didn't resonate with the audience like it would if for example this conference was being held in a lower-income area, or maybe with a more youthful vibe. I am 90% sure that our group of LWP folks and the Presbyterian Young Adult Service group were the youngest attending the conference. To me, the whole idea of the conference was a waste of time, because we essentially spent 5 hours listening to older people showing off how much they thought they knew about the Bible and the original church fathers. I was fighting my inner preachers kid the entire time to not pull out a Bible and have those making the pious claims, to prove themselves.

Well anyway, I think I have ranted enough about my annoyances with Christianity on the pious level,

Peace. 

Growing Up

I have been volunteering now with the Episcopal Service Corps for almost a month and a half, I was recently told 8 weeks. I have been having a blast down here in NOLA exploring what I will be calling home. But I am also learning what it means to have a full time job and actually be considered an adult in the work place, coming up with ideas that will have an impact on not only the organization but also my neighborhood which I am serving as part of my job. I think that this is probably the single hardest transition I have ever had to make, the process of going from being a full time student to being a full time volunteer/person in the workforce.

I feel like I am learning this process in a more unique way than most, because I am doing volunteer work through a program, which means that not only am I working, but I also have to live within a community of volunteers, walk through the different meetings and activities that the program offers, and find some way of balancing a social life in there some where. Balance has been a word I have used and heard frequently in the past few weeks, balancing my life is important. I know, to most that would sound obvious, like that is not a new revelation, but moving through this transition into a more adult role in my life has brought the idea of balance into a totally different light. One comfort I can take in this whole experience is that I am not walking this path alone, the others who are also in the program are also making these same realizations that I am. I would say there are most definitely three types of growing in life; high school, college, and post-grad adulthood. I have hit that point where I am trying to decipher the complexities of becoming an actual adult.

 I have learned a lot since coming to NOLA and I feel like I could not have picked a better place to grow up and find myself as an adult. I think that going across the country to do my year of service was a good choice, because while I am here I don't have the temptation of running to my parents every time I have a problem, or when I need comfort or money...haha. So now I am left to my own devices on how to solve the problems that I would usually go running to my parents with. I also don't have the luxury of calling them everyday, which only occurred really to me this week when I realized that I had not talked to my mom in almost three or four days. I mean I email with my Dad but that is not the same as hearing the voice of my parents and talking with them about my everyday ordeals. Growing up is an adventure that I am still riding, and learning all of the twists and turns of different aspects of my life that I have had to adjust or just flat out change. I think what will be the most interesting thing after this experience, will be to see where I end up, will I stay here in NOLA or will I look to find the next step in my life? I think that is a question that I must leave up to God, because while I have my ideas, God is the only one who truly knows my life path. But I guess until then, I will just have to continue on with this roller coaster I call growing up into adulthood.

Well till next time,

Peace

NOLA and the South

I took another trip to the French Quarter today, and I went into the State Museum of Louisiana at New Orleans, as well as the National World War II and Confederate Civil War Museums. I really felt like I needed to replenish the history loving personality that drove my degree. Well I learned so much about the different aspects of New Orleans that I have a lot to say about this city and its relationship to the rest of the south.

If you were to ask any New Orleanian if they were a southerner, they would probably tell you know, they are a New Orleanian. The people of NOLA don't have southern accents, conservative views on national politics, and it is probably the most accepting city of different cultures, sexual orientations, races, and religions of any of the southern cities. One of the main reasons that there is such a difference between NOLA and the rest of the south, even a difference between NOLA and the rest of Louisiana, is primarily because NOLA has always been a port city. Being a port city, New Orleans was on the cusp of the cutting edge, the avant garde, and the politically different. I mean one can see this in that there is a clear difference between those who identify as Creole and as African American, or even those who are a WASP and those who are Cajun. Since its founding in 1718 as a French port settlement, New Orleans has accepted all kinds of people, from pirates to French Quebecois fleeing British Canada, to Gays and African Americans. These people are pretty resilient to new types of people moving in and out of their city. The husband of the deacon helping with our program said to us "the people here don't care what you do, how you do it, or where you're from, as long as you're not boring."

Where am I going with this, well I am trying to say that while New Orleans resembles a southern city, in how it handles politics, social hierarchy. The people are fundamentally different in terms of how they tolerate all that happens in their city, they have a style about them, they are half implants, and full of the saying "Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler." I almost feel as though when they hear someone say it from the outside, it gets annoying, because they know deep inside that they do truly live that saying. Style is an important thing, and having fun is the second most important, coming very close to eating and food. New Orleanians take pride in the fact that they have a massive food culture, extending far beyond the new "foodie" movements happening up north. Food has always been engrained who the New Orleanians know themselves as.

Much of the business and politics happening in New Orleans happens at social functions and at food events, Mardi Gras Krewes hold more power in this city as a social order then any other in the United States. I learned at the State Museums, that Krewes were formed back in the 1700's by the higher ups of NOLA as a form of Nobility to greet those of noble blood from other countries. Having what are called Rex Kings, or kings for a day, who have a Rex court and all, they celebrate their rule on the two days before Mardi Gras, but are selected after January 6th when the season before lent begins. These Krewes became popular as social organizations of the higher classes of NOLA, later forming as social groups throughout the city. Then around 1809 the African American and Creole of NOLA being angry from being left out of these pretentious organizations formed the order of the Zulu, which was intentionally mocking the Rex Krewes, but now hold just as much significance as the Rex Krewes. These Krewes hold parties throughout the year trying to gain more and more influence from the politics and business types of the upper echelons of NOLA society, (essentially if you want to be elected in NOLA, you need to schmooze to the Krewes.)

New Orleans society and politics is basically backwards from what one thinks they know about southern society, here just because you have money doesn't mean you have power in this city. Here a krewe can rule the city merely because they have a lot of affluence in the city, and they have many members throughout the city. I think in many ways that is what keeps drawing me to the city, everyday I have to learn something new about how the this city functions, because it is unlike anywhere I have ever been. Anything I have ever learned about society from the north, is all thrown through a loop here in NOLA, nothing makes sense sometimes, because they seem to do everything with their own style and personality.

Well I must end this post about NOLA for now. So until next time.

Peace!  

One Month Already, so many adventures!

When I was working on my internship in Washington D.C. one of the first things they told us during our orientation was "Be a tourist in your city." Now at the time that was said because we were their for only a short time (3 1/2 months) so we had no choice but to explore the city. What I am getting at in relation to my experiences in New Orleans, is that for the first time last weekend I was a tourist in my own city, I went to the French Quarter for the first time during the day. It was actually fun being a tourist, I found myself just wandering the streets of FQ just admiring the architecture, perusing in and out of the little shops that line the streets. I went to the Voodoo museum, which I had read about in books, and it was interesting to finally see what I had been reading about. 

I don't know what it was about being a tourist, but I found it strangely relaxing to just view all of the sites of the city that I have been living in for almost a month now. Which leads me to my next point of interest, I have been in NOLA for a month, and has the time flew by, it still feels weird or strange to call this place home. I am having a hard time calling it the city of New Orleans, because when one walks through the streets of NOLA, it doesn't read like a city, but rather a very large small town (I know oxymoron, but that is Louisiana in general.) Learning how this city operates, is much akin to trying to learn how to read a map in a foreign country where the map is all written in their language. Each day at work, I feel I find out some new strange custom or law which just makes me turn my head and think "that is so backwards." Then again I have come to just being saying to myself every time I hear something backwards, "only in Louisiana," or "it would happen like that in New Orleans." One has to understand that I mean this with the same affection as when I would always say "only in Erie," or "Gannon would do things like that."

Through a strange happenstance I have started meeting new people that live around us, finally starting to get to know some people who are not from my work or from LWP (Living With Purpose.) While I have only known them a week, I feel like it will be nice to have a place to crash when I am tired of work or LWP people, I love being around everyone, but sometimes it is nice to have others to talk to. These are just some random ramblings that I have thought about since the last time I updated. But I am ready to sign off till next time.

Peace.

Football and Church

Well today is my first experiencing of a Saints game in New Orleans and Church as well, both are pretty instilled in this cities culture. The city of New Orleans was founded by Catholic missionaries and well church has just always been this town, the town stops in the morning for churches to hold their services, and I have never been in a city where church is so engrained the lives of everybody. I mean I went to a Catholic university but even there, church was just always sort of in the background of the culture of Gannon.

I feel like I should talk a little about my church experience today, because for the first time in 6 or 7 years I attended a Methodist church. It was kind of weird to come back to the church of my roots, especially with the complicated relationship I have always had with the UMC. It was strange returning though, because it felt strangely like home, or like a college kid returning home after being away for many years. I remembered all the prayers and the songs and the rigamarole of a typical UMC service, but it all just sort of flooded back to me, very fast and I felt suddenly as though I had never really left the church. The pastor who admitted at the beginning that she was a solid feminist (which I liked by the way) gave a very inspirational sermon on the value of growing up, not only physically, but in all dimensions of ones life, obviously focusing on the spiritual self. She managed to incorporate this message of growing up and always learning throughout the entirety of the service, from the Children's moments to the fact that we sang a new song as a congregation. It seemed as though this sermon came at the right time in my life, considering all the growing up I have been doing lately.

The next experience of the day that I would like to discuss is the first Saints game I am experiencing as a resident of the city of New Orleans. It's interesting watching everyone (even me) engaging in wearing and supporting the NOLA Saints, wearing our Black and Gold, and worrying about getting around while the game is going on. The idea of football in the south is fundamentally different than in the north. It is different in that in the north people watch and cheer on football in the same capacity as they do in the south, except in the south, entire towns shut down for the football team to play and give their contribution to the cities vitality of morale. Even those who don't really like sports or football for that matter (myself included) find themselves talking about the recent game, or different players on the team. It is crazy to watch as a northerner, listening to my supervisor at work for example who came from Arkansas saying that "before she came to NOLA she could care less about football, but now she gets emotional about the team and when they win." Football is a whole other game for those in the south than it is for those in the north. Well I must exit this blog for a while, mostly because i am tired, but also because I have to go watch the game, Who dat? nation has arrived.

Until next time,

Peace  

First Week Done

Well I have now completed my first full week of work as a volunteer fellow with Jericho Road, and it has been a long informative, tiring week. I have learned sooo much about community organizing and development, learning everything from how to set up meetings with community members  to what it actually means to be doing community organizing and development. For the first few days it seemed all we were doing was learning about the different aspects of community organizing and the influences it has on Jericho Road, as well as the neighborhoods which JR serves in Central City.

Central City is basically highlighted.

Central City is the district in New Orleans that Jericho Road has decided to place it's focus on, and this was a plan put in place before Hurricane Katrina. My job with JR is called Neighborhood Coordinator, which means I am responsible for helping one of the neighborhoods in Central City. I will be attending community meetings, facilitating neighborhood circles (or meetings held in homes by people in a specific block), updating the neighborhood on community events, and attending events held by the community. Alongside this we are also responsible for helping other parts of the JR organization, such as helping with the community green spaces, or selling houses. It sounds like a lot, and it probably will be, I am going to be working hard to make sure I stay organized (what an organized community organizer...lol?). Essentially I am managing the community, and helping provide information where it is needed.

It was when we took a tour of the neighborhoods that I realized just how messy this situation is going to be, especially since one of our neighborhoods doesn't have a clue that JR exists, and those that do are not really in favor of JR involvement. While I hope that I am not responsible for that neighborhood, I will take it if my supervisor assigns it to me. However I am excited because this coming week we are going into the individual neighborhoods to do surveys and talk to the people directly. While we are not being assigned a neighborhood directly yet, we are getting a chance to do the work that we have been learning about for the past week.

http://www.jerichohousing.org/

Well I have to stop talking about my life for now. So until next time.

Peace

Souhern Ways

Being a northerner in a southern city is an interesting experience; culturally, intellectually, physically, mentally, and just about any other capacity you can think of in the holistic sense. There is quite the cultural shock when coming down to a city like New Orleans. People operate differently here, not only is there the southern way of doing things, but there is also the New Orleans way of doing things. So much of the past three weeks has been a learning game of not only my job, but also the socioecopolitical aspects of living here. For example, I have learned that when considering the sociogeologic way of saying south for Louisiana and New Orleans, one has to say that this is the "deep south" because the way they treat just about everything in relation to the rest of the south. I would almost call this city a patchwork city, because there are so many elements in this city that shouldn't fit together but some how they just do.

The concept of "southern time" can be considered here, in that in the north, we do things fast and try for as much efficiency as possible, that is not how it is done down here at all. Down here in Louisiana whatever it is you are trying to do will happen in good time. Hurry is just not a word said down here in New Orleans very often. Another contradiction needing mentioned would be the way that Louisianans handle politics, which is to say they really just don't, and when they do it is dirty and quite scandalous in the eyes of a northerner. People are both extremely political and extremely apathetic here, they care about things that effect them, but when it comes to doing it efficiently or in a way that would make sense to the rest of the country, that is just not their way. Learning about the southern way of doing community organizing has come into light with the concept of slow and unorthodox in how things are handled. Our spiritual director's husband put it the best about the people of this city, "in New Orleans, they don't care who you are, what you do, how you act, just as long as you stay interesting."

As a lover of culture, this city is heaven for me to try and understand and live in, because there are so many different types of people, and aspects of life that I can look at when I am doing my day to day. I think the most interesting part of New Orleans is that when one thinks about all of the cliche southern ways or the tourist things to do, they really aren't because the weird quarks that we think of when in New Orleans are true and they are the life force of this city. There is literally something for every type of person here. I want to say that New Orleans is a feast for the sensations, literally every sensation that you have can have a hay day in some part of the this place. The food is amazing, the sounds are great (ranging from jazz and zydeco to the people talking and singing), you can smell
just about anything while on the streets, the old architecture blending with the ramshackle dirty look of the town can astound any eyes, and lastly you can embrace just about anyone here with kindness and a warm handshake or hug (New Orleanians have no problems with personal space.)

I think what keeps any person here is the people, they are so welcoming and embrace any one with whatever their quarks may be. Just about every person I have met in New Orleans has been friendly, welcoming, and nice all around. Any time you walk down a sidewalk, you always get either a hand wave or a hello or good morning, afternoon, or evening. No matter what it is, the people love having visitors and implants coming in and out. I have to say, I am becoming a southerner, and most definitely on southern time.

Random NOLA Rants

Finally moved into our NOLA house and spent our first night in it as well. We found out we are missing many things that are just random not to have, like a tool kit, or area rugs, or lamps. So now we must start our quest to find these many various items at Wal-Mart. It is very strange not having all ten of us together, it hit me especially when we were all (all the NOLA people) at dinner at Deacon Elaine's and we were all sitting around the table. I realized as I looked at everyone, "we are missing people" then I thought, oh yeah, the Baton Rouge girls aren't here. I think it will be an interesting adventure figuring out how we will all see each other time and again.

It is labor day in New Orleans, which apparently like any other town/city in America doesn't really mean much more than a day off and time with family. So that is why every one in the house is taking it slow to getting up, and we are off to find supplies for our house.

New Orleans/Louisiana is very strange, and as I live here I have found many things that I have to just get used to happening; such as I found with the light switches last night. Basically because NOLA is such an old city (like 250 years old) things in houses are just kind of put the best way they can fit. So our light switches in our downstairs bathroom for example are half on their sides. Another great example of this making it work ideology would be the fact that there really is not a single traditional apartment in the city, they all have half the unit downstairs and the other half upstairs. It really is quite amazing how NOLA has made it work over the past 250 years.

I have to say I love finding out the weird quarks of a city, especially the ones that have been around for so long as NOLA. Louisiana itself has the strange quarks that you just don't see anywhere else in the country. I had it explained to me like this; think of New Orleans as an American Caribbean city, and Louisiana as a different kind of deep south, a lot of how the people act and the way the state works will start to make sense. Also don't spend a lot of time trying to make New Orleans happen, just let it come to you.

Well I apologize for the random thoughts of this post, it is early and these were just some things I thought of last night while moving myself in.

Peace.

Changing in ways I never thought I would

I have only been in this state two weeks and I have already changed my ways of living in so many ways I am almost not even aware of the changes when they occur. I am thoroughly enjoying doing things the southern way, especially the deep southern way. For example I went to a football game and actually enjoyed it, I am falling in love with country music, and I buying christian based things.

For all those thinking I am suddenly going to become a conservative southerner, that will not happen, I will just be a crazy liberal with a fun southern twist. It's cool and I am completely okay with these new changes. This is a short post, just announcing how much I am enjoying myself and the new found changes that are happening in my life.

The Virtues of being a volunteer

I have spent a week here and now I have come to a point where Louisiana is offering up it's first challenge, a hurricane. Essentially this has put a halt on our orientation processes within the Living With Purpose program, we have to wait Isaac out. At first I was a little nervous about the idea of a storm which had the potential to disrupt and ruin my entire experience in New Orleans. Now I am a little at peace with this storm, especially since my experience today at the Red Cross.

Hurricane Isaac courtesy of NOAA

While I was waiting for the provisions to keep coming in, I had this feeling like I was just sitting on my hands watching as everyone prepared for Isaac to descend upon southern Louisiana. So when a fellow of mine Maggie had a friend who was working for the Red Cross, and asked if any of us wanted to help with the Disaster Relief and Sheltering, I jumped at the chance. We arrived at the RC to fill out the paper work and run a basic criminal background check. Of course with all of those who also wanted to volunteer, I was unable to get my background check to go through. So I sat and waited for the check to go through.

As I sat there waiting, I watched as tons of people poured in from other RC chapters across the nation, giving up their time to fly in and help those who they had never met. It gave me a renewed sense of what it means to volunteer, and what people are willing to do when a crisis arises. So now the best thing we can do is sit here in a small apartment and wait for Isaac to pass over and leave his mark on the state. Keep the southern Louisiana area in your prayers as you read this, and know that I am safe, but there are those who have no shelter or ability to stay safe for the duration of this storm.
Listed is a link to the Red Cross website, please if you can donate, or sign up to volunteer.
http://www.redcross.org/

Peace

Uniquely New Orleans

I arrived in this city six days ago, and since then I have had many adventures which were and continue to be nothing like I have ever had before. I have learned so much about this city and it's strange ways. It's politics are frustrating, and it's people are welcoming. They do everything so backwards here, but yet it all strangely still makes sense. I feel the eternal motto for this city is "Live life to the most, celebrate as much as possible, don't take shit from nobody, and always leave room for more." I think it is amazing how people here just seem to find any way of loving life, it makes taking an introverted/extroverted look at one's spirituality very natural and fluid. Even though most churches in the north would say that the people of New Orleans are all sinners, I feel these people know something we don't, and that is God is with us everyday, but at the same time, God wants us to just enjoy life as much as possible. There is so much here that says these people have their minds made up on how to live and the lifestyle is unique to them. The people are all very welcoming and more than willing to show you their way of doing things, of how to say things, and even how they dance/party. I have to say, in five short days, I have slowly come to realize that the motto of New Orleans holds completely true, Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulez! Let the Good Times Roll!

Finding Faith

I don't normally talk about religion all that much, because for the past 10 years I really just stopped going to church. I stopped because I became tired how a social hierarchy and stigma has formed with religion, people don't go because they want to retain their relationship with God, and have meditative discourse with Christ. Mostly I see people going because an older relative is making them go, or because they think it is the right thing to do, which means they are speaking the words and singing the songs but not truly understanding or feeling the meaning behind any of it. Every time I attend a church service no matter the denomination, I try and listen to the sermon and read the passages and sing the songs trying very hard to feel God's presence in the service. I don't really pay much attention to what I am wearing because I highly doubt God nor Jesus has any interest in what shirt I decided to wear to Church that particular Sunday.

Since coming down to New Orleans I have been doing a lot of intense thinking/learning about the meaning of faith and walking with the grace of God. We talk about how faith and religion are two entirely separate entities, and speak about God as if he is our father and friend that we go to see every week. We talk about how he is watching over us and making sure we do not fall or make major mistakes, while allowing us to make decisions on our own. Many times I hear people speaking about God as if he is merely there to clean up after our mess or grant our every wish. God is not a genie, and he is definitely not our mother.

Another aspect of the faith orientation down here in New Orleans, is the idea that we should be grounded in our faith backgrounds. This means for me going back and re-looking at my complicated relationship with the United Methodist Church. My first step to understanding was talking to my father about the United Methodist Church, asking many questions about our differences with other denominations, our specific traditions, the history of the church, and different theologies which came with the creation of the MC (for example; if your ever interested look up "Methodist Quadrilateral" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesleyan_Quadrilateral). There is so much I am learning about myself spiritually, which I was really hoping I would be doing while I was down here. For the first time in my life I am actually excited about attending church on a regular basis.

Trials, Tribulations, and Warm Welcomes

       So I have finally made it to New Orleans, and what a crazy first half day it has been. I went through a very anxiety filled first flight ever in my entire life, followed by very bumpy wet landing into the Louis Armstrong International Airport, all to find that one piece of my luggage was mistakenly left in Charlotte. But I was warmly welcomed by many of my fellow volunteers who took me around where we are living, and are going to take me to Wal-Mart to replace temporarily what I don't have from my bags (i.e. Shirts).
       It is so strange for me to realize that I am finally here, it sounds strange but it looks exactly as I imagined it would. All of the crazy big fancy houses, the french style wrought iron fences, all like I wanted to come down to. I am loving my time here so far, exploring where to eat was our first challenge, come to find a very local restaurant chain called Jaun's Flying Burrito (think Burritos the size of Chipotle, but the style all its own). I have enjoyed all of the company here so far, everyone in this town is so friendly, and always greeting with a hello. I am curious to start tasting the cajun food that everyone is either warning or raving about (i've heard I will need to have pepto or tums on hand.) Anyway, this a short post just start making some very early observations about my new home, and updating everyone on my starting adventure in the south.

Peace

Last week in PA

         So I created this blog to chronicle all of my time down in New Orleans Louisiana. That's right I will be living down there for an entire year from August 2012 to July 2013. What will I be doing you ask, well as the title of the blog suggests, I will be volunteering. Where pray tell will I be doing this volunteering as so many have asked...with what organization?....do I get a stipend?....where will I be living?....well here is the skinny; I am working with the Episcopal Service Corps (http://www.episcopalservicecorps.org/) if you would like to know more follow the link. I will be spending one year down in New Orleans working with the Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative (http://www.jerichohousing.org/) if you would like to know more about them follow this link. I will be living in simplicity (on a monthly stipend of a little over 300 dollars) in a house with 6 other "fellows" who will be working at other sites of their own. The program we are participating within ESC is the Living With Purpose Fellowship through the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. What this means is we will be volunteering, finding ourselves spiritually, and walking with God.
         It sounds like a lot but it really isn't and equally it sounds like it is very religious and "jesusy" but I was promised by the program coordinator that it is not that bad, and I will benefit greatly from the experience. Honestly, I don't think I would be getting this great of an experience from Americorps, no offense to those who are serving, their work is truly doing great things for this country. This is something that I need to be doing right now, for several reasons;

1.  I am just out of college and I need a good stepping stone to provide a link into adulthood, which will also provide me with a resume building non-school related work opportunity. 
2. Religion is something that I have struggled with for a long time, and I have always had a underlying mistrust for Christians and Religion. So having a spiritual mentor and a regular church going experience, and weekly times to talk about God in a more grounded tone will give me the spiritual growth I am desperately in need.
3. Erie is getting way too small for me and I need to find who I am away from the constraints of my parents (I love them both dearly, but finding who I am as a person is hard with them around), and being across the country and taking many firsts is just the medicine I need to grow up.

      I have been spending all summer it seems gearing up trying to prepare myself in all dimensions for this new and I can't stress that word enough experience. It has only been within these past few weeks that I have started to finally get myself physically ready to leave. The time is fast approaching for me to board that plane on Saturday August 18th with all my stuff in hand, and being this grand journey of adulthood. This is truly my greatest leap of faith, the push away from my parents to start doing my own thing, my time to make my mark on the world, to start doing something that matters. This is what I have been waiting all of college for...my time to doing something meaningful.

So till next time, which will most likely be when I have landed in NOLA (New Orleans),

Peace