Nothing but blue skies...and awesome clouds

Since moving to New Orleans, I would estimate that I interrupt 85% of conversations in the car with the phrase "Oh my gosh, look at that cloud". I don't think I have ever seen as much sky as I see everyday here in NOLA. I guess this is partly because it's so flat here, there really aren't any hills. Also, we are pretty close to the Gulf of Mexico. There are two places I have found that offer the best views: the bridge on I-10 heading west (I think they call it the Highrise) and the levee in the River Bend area. But really anywhere in the city, you can see some honestly breathtaking skies. New Orleans is also the first place, where I can look up at the sky and tell (even just slightly) how the sky actually curves around the globe. I've never been able to look at the world and tell it is a sphere. It's really something that is hard to describe, so I won't really try. I'm including a bunch of photos of some tremendous clouds.

These two photos are from down on the levee during the sunset. It's a great spot to watch the sun go down because there's a big clearing right where the river turns North/South. 

This was right outside of the ProHo Village where I am working: 

Heading west: 

Crossing the Causeway:

The Causeway, is also a really cool bridge. It gets boring really quickly, but for the first few miles it's pretty amazing. Lake Pontchartrain is so huge that you can't see the opposite shore. It really just looks like you are driving over the ocean. What's really weird is that the average depth is only 12 - 14 ft. 

More clouds: 

I think I may have to start a separate blog just for all the clouds I want to share, but that most people probably don't care too much about seeing. 

A Week in Limbo

As most people know, Hurricane Isaac caused quite a stir in the gulf coast this past week. Fortunately, I did not have to go through the experience of evacuating New Orleans, like many others did. On Sunday, when it became clear that Isaac was going to be trouble, I was still up in Stony Point, NY for YAV orientation. Flying into NOLA on Monday night was obviously not going to be a good idea, and it was pushed back until Thursday and then Saturday.

Orientation week was hard. Orientation week was long. It was filled with an overwhelming amount of information and intense socialization. It wasn't a bad week, but it was exhausting. Part of what helped me get through it all was the anticipation of finally leaving for New Orleans. The only problem was that we didn't leave. Monday came and the three of us NOLA people waved good bye to all the other YAVs as they left orientation for their sites. We were left in limbo.

Rather than recount the week's events and non-events, I'd like to share what I learned from them:

1. Gas station shampoo is never a good investment.
Orientation week was the first time in my life that I didn't overpack. I had exactly what I needed for the week. Once week two began, I realized I didn't have shampoo. The closest store was the Quickie Mart at the gas station a mile away. The shampoo dried out my hair and cost $6. To make matters worse, housekeeping accidentally threw it away the very next day.

2. Two miles really isn't that far.
Stony Point has an idyllic setting, complete with fawns grazing on the lawns. It isn't that close to anything though. Over the course of the week, we got used to walking 2 miles to get places like a lighthouse and a Walgreens (to replace the gas station shampoo). At first the distance felt far, and a good example of how "tough" our Stony Point lives were. In reality, people around the world walk a lot further everyday. It also doesn't take that long to walk 2 miles. Especially when you don't have anything else to do.

3. I have been taking my independence for granted.
Until this week, I didn't realize how much I valued my ability to make my own decisions and to get myself places on my own. I did not get to choose whether or not to evacuate. I did not get to choose how long to stay at Stony Point, or even whether or not I stayed there. If I wanted to go somewhere, I had to ask someone else for a ride. Losing my feeling of independence and control was the most frustrating part of the week. It left me in tears more than once.

4. Family is a wonderfully restorative thing to have. (So is good food!)
Through my frustration, I was able to find a way to get into New York City all on my own. I walked from Stony Point 1.5 miles to the bus stop and caught the 2 hour bus to the Port Authority. The "thawity" is far less sketch than I pictured it to be. Once in the city, I met up with my dad for lunch. There is something wonderful and centering about spending time with people who really know you, and who you know will be there for you no matter what. This is especially true after two weeks of meeting new people and making quick friends. Getting to see my dad after almost 6 weeks, really made a difference for me and my mood this week. So did the prosciutto, melon, fancy cheese, grilled squid, and chocolate cake we had for lunch at Eataly.

5. YAVs are flexible (even when frustrated).
I think this is the biggest lesson I learned this week. All through orientation, we were told that YAVs are flexible. Life will not follow your plan and you can either adjust or be miserable. This fact of life became quickly evident as our plans kept getting changed. I was proud of how flexible and easygoing I was when our plans changed the first time. I was surprised at how disappointed and frustrated I was when they changed the second time. Being that frustrated, though normal, is a waste of time. Had I let it, it could have easily ruined some really nice moments. The extra time at Stony Point gave me the opportunity to see the Hudson's oldest lighthouse, to visit a Beacon church and soup kitchen, to have lunch with my dad, and to embrace the notion of just being instead of doing.
This week was one of the first times I can remember where I had nothing I had to do. I didn't have work, school, class, or homework. I didn't have any prep for NOLA and didn't have any of the papers for my fundraising. What I had was a hammock, a journal, and a lot of free time. When I gave myself a break from frustration, I could actually relax and breath the fresh Stony Point air.