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.

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