WOW!! AWESOME!

I feel in a way that I am at a loss of words.  We leave the day after tomarrow so basically only one day left.  This has been an experience that I wish everyone could have (and I think YOU definately should).  It’s an experience that makes you think: think about others, think about the environment and think about yourself. 

I have not blogged in a long time, sadly I know, because there have been so many ups and downs through out this entire experience as I have learned should be involved in any true super fantabulous experience! When I first heard about the opportunity to go to New Orleans my gut reaction was like WOW that totally would be a great experience.  However, I did stop and second guess my gut reaction because I was honestly a bit scared of doing something so different and incredibly challenging without anyone that I was really knew! I’m so glad that I did…I’m glad that I took the challenge because I have gained new super awesome friends (plus my big sisters!!) and have gained a love for the people of New Orleans.  There is a magical spirit here that is just amazing: full of heart and sould and Music and celebration!!!

So I’m trying to think back to the few days since I last blogged. Well I guess I’ll start with our free day.  First in the morning I went with a group to the Aquarium it was neat! I love aquariums…anyway we then wanted a taste of New Orleans food so we went to a food market/sit down and eat place called “Cajun Seafood.”  That was a bad Idea because later I felt completely sick with immense stomach pains and headaches followed after that, but it didn’t stifle the power of enthusiasm!!! For the rest of the week we continued to complete more demolding and gutting projects and then on Wednesday we worked with a Timberland project.  Besides Knox and Hands On there were several other service and New Orleans organizations that worked on Timberland’s project as well (and we got T-shirts I LOVE t-shirts!!).  Knox students helped clean up a park for the children of New Orleans. The project that I participated was soil remediation.  We dug up a long (I cannot think of a good word to describe its length..lol)grassy field to plant mustard and sunflower seeds, which will help decrease the presence of lead in the soil (this will in affect help the well being of the children of New Orleans who play in the park).  Tomarrow I’m going back to plant the seeds.  I’m so excited! I really want to come back and see the plants grown and the children playing in the park (it is a long term project and the decrease in the presence of lead will not be noticable right away).

It was, is and forever will be a life changing experience.  It’s one of those experiences that will never leave you and it will only enrich every experiece you have after that! I’m not positive if this is my last blog but either way I’m glad I was able to have this experience, I’m glad I was able to make a difference to those in need here in New Orleans and I’m glad I was able to share my thoughts, opinions and response with the entire Knox community, which touches every part of the world!

Thank you so much for making this experience happen!

~Eileen