Today we started what we came down to New Orleans for- service! We got an early start to the day and headed to the St. Bernard Project headquarters for our orientation where we learned how the program started and the types of people it's initiatives help. We split into 2 groups, each of which went to separate houses. One group went to lay tiles and the other did drywall in a home.
My group went to lay tiles on the kitchen floor of a home that is nearly finished- we are aiming for the end of the week! It was an incredible experience because it was a new experience. Many of us had no idea what we were getting ourselves into at the start of the day, but by the end of the day we had become confident with our new skill set. It was so rewarding to leave the day with half the job done. I was proud of my peers and our work because I truly believe it is making a difference which is why every time I looked at our work I couldn't help but smile. I cannot wait to get working tomorrow and hopefully we finish tiling the floor! I'm looking forward to working the rest of the week and seeing the house come together. I have learned so much about myself, working with others, and the city of New Orleans over the past 3 days, so I can only imagine what more I will gain during the remainder of the week.

As fun as the past two days have been, touring the city and eating our way through the French Quarter, it was great to finally start working today.  We got an early start and headed out to the St. Bernard Project to learn about the history of the organization and to get our project assignments.  My group worked on dry walling a house for a very nice lady named Ms. Cassandra.  She is a mother of four, supporting two children through college.  We really appreciated hearing her story because it helped us to see the importance of our work and how much  it means to her.  Ms. Cassandra even stopped by to bring us snacks and to meet us in person!  After a day of working, we took a drive through the Lower Ninth Ward to see some levees and houses.  While a lot of the houses have been rebuilt through organizations like Brad Pitt's "Make it Right" campaign, we were shocked at the devastation that still exists even eight years after the storm.  The trip has exposed us to many aspects of this great city - from the music and celebration of the French Quarter to the hardship that still exists in areas such as the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish.  It was great to roll up our sleeves and join in the effort to rebuild this amazing city.   Even though our arms will be sore tomorrow, we're excited to get back to work!

Together we fleur-ish!
Melissa and Chloe