Before New Orleans Welcomes Us

As the NOLA service trip approaches I am a ball of unsettled emotions ranging from nervousness to excitement. I am nervous because I do not know what New Orleans has stored for me over the next week and excited because the unknown evokes a flare of adventure enriched with personal growth and learning that only the NOLA trip can unravel for me. However, I am also overwhelmed with curiosity as I think about the service we will be doing in New Orleans and how it will differ from the typical service we complete in my hometown of Trenton. Furthermore, I am curious to learn about how Hurricane Katrina has affected the social and economic paradigm in New Orleans, and learn of local and national initiatives that work to ameliorate the living conditions of New Orleans residents.