NOLA 2

Tuesday - January 19, 2016

Today I had the opportunity to speak with an elderly woman who survived Hurricane Betsy and Hurricane Katrina. I learned a lot from this seasoned soul who spoke with so much charisma and passion about her city of New Orleans. Elizabeth was her name and she bared such alacrity to speak with a college student since her granddaughter was also a freshmen in college. I learned that she had lived with her grandmother and uncle during Hurricane Betsy when she was a child and she survived Hurricane Katrina with her granddaughter and daughter both of whom are now in Italy and planning to travel the world to acquire knowledge of places that could not be unearthed in the city of New Orleans. Elizabeth was such a sweet woman and although she told me that her original home had not been rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina she now resided in a home that she helped build herself and she spoke with so much pride that I could not help reciprocate the smile that crossed her face as she spoke about it. Moreover, Elizabeth said something that really resonated with me as she began to speak proudly of her granddaughter who was studying abroad as she assertively stated that "Traveling was also a great educator" and as the trip continues I wholeheartedly agree with her. Exploring the city of New Orleans and its food, culture, and working alongside my fellow Bonners I would not have been able to learn about a beautiful city filled with beautiful people or learn about the well accomplished and ambitious Bonners I was working along side.