Yesterday we finished de-molding Papa Tony’s house! It felt so good to finish. His house looks so beautiful now…I mean, to the untrained eye it actually looks exactly the same as when we started probably. But there is no mold! None! We killed it all and now he can rebuild his house and live in it and be safe from all the bad moldy diseases (or whatever it is that happens when mold is in your house). It was so nice to be done and to feel like we actually changed his house and his life, even just a little bit.

Right now I’m actually in a cafe called UrbanCup where Evan (another blogger) is playing at the open mic. It’s really incredible to work and volunteer in New Orleans, but I think its also important to see the culture and the people of New Orleans in a different setting…a less helpless one, I guess. The culture here is so amazing, its so different from any other city I’ve ever been to. New Orleans feels almost European…small confusing streets and urban cafes and a ridiculous night life. I’m so impressed that after such a devastating event, the city held on to its culture and its individuality. There are people at this open mic singing and dancing and drinking, just like they’ve always done. I love that. I think this city can and will overcome Katrina, even if it takes years. They’ve already come so far. And if people keep helping out and volunteering and working and donating, it will get back on its feet even faster! So thats my service announcement for the evening…help New Orleans because its AMAZING HERE!!!

Lovey love love,

Eva