Remembering NOLA: Spring 2015 CSUCI service learning

Posted from Camarillo, California, United States.

Time was insufficient, and the need to continue our service learning is still lingering in my mind as I picture elderberry recruits. The smell of gas in the air, and the feeling of NOLA humidity is now reminisced by us all. The sound of trumpets and street performers still buzzes in my head, as like the pesky mosquitos ate us alive in the swamp.  The tasty PO-Boy that brought a smile on everyone’s face after a long day in the field. These were all great experiences of NOLA, and will be a part of the story of my life that I hope to pass to my children and grandchildren in the future. But most of all, the smiles and good vibes of those who showed great appreciation for our help will never be forgotten.

Upon arrival I was nervous and was scanning the land just as a raptor looks for its prey. I kept calm, and as the days went by I began to feel like I was a part of NOLA. The first few days we set out to learn about the history of NOLA, and got to learn why Katrina was such a disaster through local individuals who shared their stories and knowledge of the event. We did all this in order to help us understand why we are here, and in doing so it seemed to have sparked a light that pushed us to work as best as we could.

Always at the 100 (m) mark of a transect I paused and looked around. The feeling of being so small out in the wilderness made me feel alive, and awakened my senses. Human civilization was all around us, and yet being in there felt like it was none existent.  We worked hard at cutting our way through those transect sites, and always had some kind of painful encounter with three meter high blackberry bushes. Woodlands trail and Delacroix preserve are the two sites we worked on. While woodland has some areas that were flooded, Delacroix had no mercy and was completely flooded. However, Delacroix offered more of a view of what the swamps of NOLA looked like in the past. Both sites beautiful in their own way, and by studying them we can help them survive the test of time for our well being.

Irvin Mayfield gave a wonderful performance, and Tevin a service learning class mate of mine still brings a smile to my face as I recall him showing up the ladies on the dance floor.  Paul Sanchez left us with the feeling of being appreciated for our hard work, and his stories had everyone going. Overall, words cannot describe how thankful I am for have been given this opportunity. I’ve spent most of my college life working to pay the bills, and attending school without any sort of internship experience. This program made it possible for me to experience just that, and I know it will continue to do so for many others in the years to come.

Remember,

“In Wildness is the preservation of the world”

-Henry David Thoreau

Thank you to everyone who made this possible for us, and thank you Dr. Sean Anderson for making this adventure remind us of why we are fighting an uphill battle and keeping the hope alive.

Jonathan Fausto, CSUCI Senior ESRM student.

-Cornbread!