Missing Louisiana is an Understatement
Posted from Camarillo, California, United States.
Over the course of my academic career, I have had numerous opportunities to travel and visit culturally and environmentally significant locations. All had a significant impact me, but none like New Orleans. As I reflect on the trip, I am overwhelmed with emotions. We were able to participate in numerous activities that benefited both the people of Louisiana and impacted our perspective as well. I was 12-years-old when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. I remember hearing snippets of news reports and information about the destruction and chaotic state of the region from flooding, but not enough to fully understand. Up until I enrolled in this class, I still had that same limited knowledge of Katrina. My eyes were opened to a disturbing reality once I began to comprehend what occurred in Louisiana following the storm. The people were left with nothing and relatively little emergency assistance. Levees burst, homes were knocked off of their foundations, lives lost, and families torn apart. Entire neighborhoods were flattened and debris littered the ground. This year is the ten year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. While visiting the area, more truth was revealed about the storm and recovery of the people, neighborhoods, and culture of New Orleans. There is still apparent evidence of Katrina as we drove through its cities and you can hear it in the voices of locals as they describe the effect the event had on their lives. What struck me the most was talking to the man from Buras, where we planted a community garden. His home lies directly between two levees: one holding back the Mississippi, the other the Gulf. When asked why he returned to such a vulnerable, low lying area that will surely be destructed again, he replied simply: “This is my home. I can’t imagine lively anywhere else.” It then hit me that what we were doing truly was service. We were serving the people of Louisiana who have a deep connection with the land and city. It is all we can do to protect it and save it for future generations.
The swamp, I realized, is one of the most unique ecosystems I have had the privilege of understanding and experiencing. It was all I imagined it would be and more. The species that inhabit the humid, warm, and inundated regions are unique to say the least, and different from anything I have seen before. It was breath-taking. When all was quiet, the forest was peaceful and a calm would come over me. Clearing my mind of numbers and science I could feel at peace with the environment and be able to think past the hard labor and know what I was doing was imperative to preserve the gorgeous ecosystem. In addition, the comradery among the students was strengthened on the trip. Previous friendships grew stronger and new friendships blossomed. These are people I will know and remember for the rest of my life. Our joint respect and passion for service, research, and learning was palpable.
The harsh reality is the swampland will most likely disappear in our lifetime. It saddens me to think my grandchildren won’t be able see the beautiful swamp. The opportunity we had to travel to this region of the country was a once in a lifetime experience. Though our visit was short, I feel I experienced most of what New Orleans had to offer, though that doesn’t hinder my thirst to explore the region more. I will never forget my time in New Orleans. And with that…CORNBREAD!
