2011 Pangaea students and leaders embark on journey to the Gulf Coast

Our students have returned from their travels this summer, but below are a few words about their experience:

July 11, 2011

Our intrepid teens from Open Meadow, Mt. Scott and Portland Youth Builders are currently experiencing the hot and muggy South as they help rebuild homes and communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina, hear stories from the local people of New Orleans (NOLA) and participate in a week-long teen leadership conference on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain.

Here’s what the students have to say about their intercultural experience so far:

“It was unreal at first. I didn’t realize how different the people were going to be.  I’m intrigued by them and can’t wait to get to know more!” –Mike

“…beautiful and melodic, the aged voice of the South spoke to me through more than just words.  Culture and general southern sophistication…it was beautiful and haunting, shockingly familiar, assuring and peaceful. It was my first taste of the South, and I yearn for more.” –Austin

“At that moment I felt sadness in my heart, it made me think about all the people that have suffered from losing a loved one or even their properties that one day they had called home.”–Lucy

To hear more from our inspiring Changemakers, follow their journey on www.pangaeaproject.wordpress.com 

Photos!

This is our group with the site supervisors and other Habitat crew members on our last day.

At Sprog, the students did lots of creative things to get their points across. Sage created this mask as part of a skit demonstrating how to mobilize a community around an issue.

Morgan hard at work on some drywall for a project with the Lower 9th Ward Village.

Katie & Daphne & Lake Pontchartrain

Alex representing GCC as he takes a Popsicle break on the job site with Habitat.

We got very familiar with public transit in New Orleans--this is a picture of one of our many streetcar rides.

Tihara and Amber hard at work for the folks at The Community Center of St. Bernard.

This was our first day exploring the streets of New Orleans.

Learnings from the Lowlands

I asked the group to speak to the strengths and weaknesses they have noted in the last 2+ weeks we have been traveling.  We are at the end of our time on the Habitat for Humanity job site in Biloxi, Mississippi, and I have observed innumerable strengths from this group–teamwork, communication, dedication, determination, a willingness to learn and do things that were previously foreign and/or unknown, cultural acceptance (even if that has meant grinning through construction site humor that doesn’t seem so funny), and the list could continue.

Below they share their own insights and self reflections:

Daphne:

I think my weakness is that I take things too harsh. Small things stay with me and keep from being able to do certain things because I become insecure about them, also that I get frustrated very easily. My strength is that I have a sense of humor to things, but at the appropriate times.

Katie:

I think I’ve realized one of my strengths is that I try my hardest to be as committed to the things I do or need to do. I haven’t always been this way but going through this trip I’ve realized that dedication and commitment are the only way to get through it and enjoy it. My weakness is, I don’t speak my mind enough. I keep quiet about my opinions or things I don’t like. The only people I’ll tell these things to are people I’m comfortable with. So if someone’s having me do something I don’t want to do, I won’t say a word. Or if someone was criticizing me I keep it in. I hope to change that when I return to Portland.

Tihara:

Through this trip I have noticed a different me. I think my attitude is my weakness and strength because it still needs time to get better, for lack of a better term; but at the same time I have changed it a lot as far as controlling it and letting the small things go. Some other strengths are helping others, that’s something I always practice, but here I have noticed that it isn’t all for yourself–it’s all for all. Some weaknesses are letting people get to me and my attitude. Also a strength is not bitching on the work site (besides the heat) and actually getting down to business.

Alex:

Some of the strengths I have realized about myself have been how much I have actually been committed to this whole journey. I could definitely bring this willingness to commit to things back to Portland & I feel like I would experience so much more. Some weaknesses I have realized about myself is that I sometimes lose my main purpose in things, for example, I came to volunteer & sometimes I just want to relax & I may start complaining. I do think my weakness will become a strength as I start to notice it more & more, I feel like I will eventually learn how to stay on track with my purpose, whatever that may be.

Lucy:

I have found a huge strength and that is helping others and not thinking so much on my self; it’s a great strength. A weakness that I found out is that I get really mad if some one is disrespectful to me–I crack and want to do so much disaster, but I am a bigger person so I brush it off. I know I will use my strength for good purposes when I return to home. I really hope that I don’t use my weakness again; it will be all bad like Katrina.

Austin:

Weaknesses are easy. I’m terrible at adjusting to new environments, meaning I have a hard time as we move from place to place. New “homes” often mean lost sleep and lost sleep only worsens my adaptation. I also have a difficult time dealing with people who insist on “riling me up”. I really don’t enjoy being played with. Strengths are more difficult. I think I’m pretty good at apologizing when it’s needed, or even when its not. I’m also decent at keeping people in high spirits…or maybe I just keep myself happy, wish I knew.

Amber:

Weaknesses that I’ve learned about myself are worrying too much about what mistakes I make and how other people will react to them. Also when I step out of my zone or comfort level at times I struggle to not be pushed back into my bubble due to my peers’ reactions. Strengths I’ve realized are that I am knowledgeable at correcting my mistakes and changing my attitude around for the better. Attitudes have been not so great lately, but we’re adult enough to pull it together. I do believe my weaknesses will turn into strengths while back in Portland, because this trip has taught me to think not of what others say but what makes me comfortable.

Morgan:

This trip has brought out many strengths and weaknesses in me, some of which I knew about and have for quite a while, and others of which I wasn’t so sure of. I feel that my main strength that being away from a familiar environment is the ability to take direction. If I’m told to do something, I can do it well and in a timely manner. I won’t gripe and even if I do get frustrated, I won’t speak to it. That alone leads me into my weakness. Sometimes those and strengths can overlap. It’s crazy how that happens, but my weakness is that, for the most part, I don’t speak. If something bothers me, I’ll swallow it in whole. I’ll keep smiling and do as I’m told or take what is said. If I don’t like something but everyone else does, I won’t say anything about it. As long as everyone else is happy, I’m for the most part happy, but there’s still something else there. Being a people pleas-er can only get you so far. When I get back to Portland I feel like my strengths will keep on being strong and my weaknesses will, hopefully, diminish and I’ll be able to keep my bottle capped at a healthy level. I need to know when to open my mouth and when to keep is tightly closed.

Mike:

I feel like I have grown and realized that I’m overall very strong. I have matured 10 fold over the last year and a half. I feel my best strengths are my ability to understand where someone’s coming from (when I want too!). As far as negatives go, sometimes I don’t know when to stop joking or seeing when someone’s in a bad mood. Or the ability to get close enough to figure out how to help. As everyone on this trip knows I’m dedicating myself to helping out people with less. Everyone needs a fair chance in life and I’m going to give it to them.

Sage:

Since this trip has started I have begun to realize just how messed up this country’s priorities are, we would rather go spend billions of dollars a year on a stupid war while the people of our own country are literally starving to death in their homes and on the streets. We always think that no matter what happens someone will come, someone will help, and that is true but it’s not the people who we think will come. I may be just a kid, but I can realize that things are not okay in this world, and not just sit in my house watching cable and eating hot pockets while the people of my city, the people across the country and the people across the world are worried that they might not eat today. I know that I will be a changed person when I get back to Portland different priorities different perceptions.

Adventures in the South Continued…

For a week the Pangaea students participated in a leadership development/community mobilization workshop lead by the Sierra Club Student Coalition just north of New Orleans in Fontainebleau State Park.  We were in the “sticks” so to speak without internet access, but with plenty of access to alligators, armadillos, deer, rabbits and BUGS of all shapes, sizes and sting styles.  Our students held their own with youth from colleges and universities all over Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, and the DC area.  During the week, inspired by an informational hike we took with BARK earlier in the summer, a handful of students are in the process of developing their own campaign to stop Nestle from building a water bottling plant on the Colombia River.  They called Governor Kitzhaber’s office and local senators, developing the power of their voice at an all new level including state government.  It was amazing to witness.

On Saturday morning, our troupe returned to New Orleans and spent two days working with a community organization called The Lower 9th Ward Village.  Under the leadership of Mack McClendon, this organization is striving to bring back the 75% of community residents that are still displaced from the Lower 9th Ward following Hurricane Katrina.  Our students worked along side other volunteers to restore the interior of a church in the community.  Mr. Mack’s philosophy is that churches bring congregations which bring community–only one primary step in his blueprint to restore the Lower 9th Ward to what it once was.  He also took us on a tour of the hardest hit areas in the Lower 9th and St. Bernard’s Parish, giving us invaluable insight into the purpose behind the work we are doing nearly six years after Hurricane Katrina.  His commitment and drive are something that I wish I could bottle and give as an elixir to every student I’ve ever worked with (and many adults too!).  Our students are asking great questions and working hard.  A few are talking about how and when they will return to New Orleans and how they can and will continue to help rebuild the city.  The people and the city have successfully gotten into the hearts of our travelers.

Today we head to Biloxi, Mississippi, to work with Habitat for Humanity for the next week.  Below, read a few comments from the students about what it’s like living in a volunteer camp, comparing the Northwest to the Southeast, ways they have surprised themselves on this journey, and things they will miss when they fly home next week.

Tihara:

It’s weird living at a “volunteer camp” because there are so many other people that I am not used to. I’m the only child and it’s only me and my Ma at home together so just being with the Pangaea group alone is crazy. It’s also kind of overwhelming because there are joint responsibilities with all these other kids that I don’t know and it’s a bit weird getting used to other personalities that I haven’t been around before. I guess there are a few good things about living there, like: having more space to move around as far as being outside and there are computers and the food is pretty good . Over all its okay though, takes time getting used to, but so far I’m surviving.

Amber:

Some similarities and differences of being in the northwest from the southeast are THE BUGS!! OMG the crickets here are like the size of my hand. We don’t have that in the city!! Also the fact that the climate here is also very bipolar even though it’s hotter than dragon’s breathe. But the people are really kind and generous. It’s a southern hospitality thing.

Lucy:

The similarities and differences between the northwest and the southeast–well the similar things are that there are great people in both and the love to help others is similar as well. There are many different things here in the southeast starting with how people talk, dress, and people don’t recycle.

Katie:

There really aren’t too many similarities to me between the northwest and southeast. Everything seems so new to me here in the southeast. The bugs, weather, people and even the way the buildings look, is different. Everyone has so much passion towards their culture and I don’t see that very much in the northwest. I enjoy both places and I’m glad to be here.

Alex:

I’ve surprised myself by participating in things that I really didn’t want to, not even only participating but opening to people I barely know & telling them things I haven’t told a lot of people. I also didn’t think I would get used to this humidity as much as I have so far. Also, I’m surprised how much I don’t miss home.

Daphne:

I’ve noticed very few similarities between the Northwest and Southeast. In the south there really is a lot of Southern hospitality. People are friendly and pretty non-judgmental. People are down to talk to me on the street. Back in Portland people will talk to you but it’s a very different vibe. People tend to seem like they think they’re better than you in Portland, it’s not like that here.

Austin:

When we fly out I will definitely miss the people; courteous and friendly, they exemplify the best the south has to offer. I will not miss the bugs though. Icky icky icky, I have been bitten more times in the last week than within the past three years accumulated.

Mike:

The northwest and the southeast are so different. But in a great way in my opinion. The northwest’s weather is too bi-polar for me to ever feel comfortable. Also the people in Portland are always in a hurry and don’t have time to have a true conversations. The South is so laid back and I feel at home when I’m in New Orleans. Everyone down here is so laid back and friendly. Even on the bus we must have talked to ten plus people or more. It makes me want to move out of Portland at some point in the near future! We will see what happens. Mike signing out!

Sage:

The northwest is way too different from the south, while the people in the NW are more accepting they defiantly don’t have the same manner of respect and hospitality. Portlanders have this aura of elitism around them (not all but a lot) and it’s really nice just to be with people that are genuinely nice without expecting something back from you. I really can’t put this experience into words especially the information we’re getting and how incredibly angry it makes me that our own government is completely ignoring its own kind over and over and instead of putting money into rebuilding these amazing peoples’ lives they’re more interested in making money off of some bullshit war/company. This is most likely the beginning of a life of activism. I Did not think that this trip would do that to me.