So………I’m finding it hard to write these blogs. It’s difficult to just throw stuff out there.
Well, moving half way across the country and not knowing a single person where you’re going is probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. There are days when I feel so alone and I wonder when I’ll make friends that are like my friends back home(probably won't happen). It just totally throws you out of your comfort zone. I’ve always been the outgoing person that didn’t have to try to get invited out or be the one pushing to be friends with someone. It’s not like college where everyone is trying to make friends, everyone here already has their group and most of these people, aside from my roommates, are locals. I’m also learning a lot about myself. Good things and bad things. I’ve learned how independent and capable I am, and that I love throwing myself into uncomfortable and challenging situations to learn from them. Although, most of you know that considering the awkward situations I have consistently put myself into for the entertainment of it all. I have also learned that I have a lot of things to work on, in terms of personal growth. No need to go into detail here.
On Monday I got sworn in at the Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court as a CASA Advocate. There is going to be a bigger celebration at the end of May where you invite all of your family and friends but unfortunately none of you will be there. But I’m sure you will be in spirit!! I also got my first case, which, for obvious reasons, I can’t really talk about. I can tell you it’s a sibling duo of a 10 year old boy and a 7 year old girl, and I will be meeting them next week!! It is very strange that since moving here I have fallen in love with children. They really put a smile on my face!!! My neighbor is a 5 year old girl named Macy, and she is gorgeous. She tells me she is going to work at the pizza place I work at and we are gonna go to work together one day. How can you not love that?
I’m now back to substitute teaching and it’s getting a little easier. Every time I walk into a class I still get terrified that they will be an out of control class that will not listen to a word I’m saying. It also sucks because I become an evil, point deducting, writing bad reports to the teacher, kinda substitute. I told a third grader they were acting like a jerk the other day! Even the bad kids have personalities that you have to appreciate though. In fact, a lot of the bad ones that appear to have anger problems or something, seem to be the most intelligent. It’s like they're just mad they got stuck in a class with a bunch of idiots. Most of the kids are really sweet and wonderful, it just ends up that you have to pay more attention to the bad ones. Like the first month I was here I didn’t hug a single person. That may not seem that weird, but it sucks. Not a single hug for that long. Anyway, kids in a class I was substituting for were the first people to hug me in New Orleans, and that made my day. And some kids today kept telling me I looked like a model, and that also made my day.
Ahhh…..New Orleans is a ridiculous city. People make turns while driving really slowly, it drives me crazy. Everyone here is in denial of the racial separation, even though it is so obvious to me. Everyone really does say “alright” when you ask how they are. I have yet to buy food that wasn’t delicious. The roads are completely fucked up and are probably ruining my car. Even though this is supposed to be the city of drinking, I have yet to see anybody act as out of control as my friends back home. By home I mean Frederick, D.C., and of course Philly.
P.S. My sisters suck at sending me pics, so if anyone in Frederick wants to go see my nephew and take lots of pictures and is technologically capable of sending me these pics online that would be awesome!!!!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
I think it’s about time for an update. For the past two weeks I’ve been in training for this volunteer thing I’m doing. The organization is called CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Basically you get assigned a case with a child that has been removed from their home because of abuse or neglect. You meet with this child and research the case and then make recommendations in court as to what you think needs to be done for that child. Not as a lawyer or anything, they have one of those too, but since you only have one or two children you can find out things that their lawyer or case worker may not have time to figure out. Anyway, the stories about these kids are insane and it is definitely some real life shit. I’m super excited about this because it’s just such a great organization and everyone working there is really great. Plus, I get free breakfast every morning! Anyone that knows me knows I love free food.
Aside from starting my work with CASA, I also started Saturday tutoring at New Orleans College Prep. I’ve only been twice but it’s pretty awesome. When I went to orientation we got to sit in on the schools morning meeting since there is only like 150 kids. The principal was giving a speech and asked the kids to raise their hands if they knew someone that had been shot. Every single kid raised their hand. I mean these are 11-13 year old kids. It was definitely a reality check. Anway, I got assigned three kids, and will hopefully be with these three kids for the rest of the semester. I like that aspect of it because then you can actually develop a relationship. Its two girls and a boy and they are all in the seventh grade. They are very sweet kids, but it’s tough to get them to concentrate on school work. They are in school on a Saturday, so I can’t really blame them.
So, on March 18th I’ll be done training for CASA and then I’ll be back to substitute teaching. Then I might have some stories for you guys. I’m really dreading going back to teaching, and hoping I find a “real job”, real soon. Sorry I don’t have any crazy stories to tell, I’m still in the process of making friends. I did swing by a gay male strip club last night with a friend from work. I was only there about 5 minutes but a dancer tried to stick his hand down my pants. I figured that was my cue to leave. I know my DC friends will be happy about this one!
Anyway, I really miss Maryland and I can’t wait to visit in June!! The weather is getting warm here and the cockroaches are coming out!! They are huge and make me want to vomit. Just wanted to give an update as to what I’m doing, nothing crazy or anything. I need to find people that approve of getting extremely intoxicated and doing inappropriate things. Also, it is very depressing to have to watch Maryland basketball and have no one else around that cares.
Aside from starting my work with CASA, I also started Saturday tutoring at New Orleans College Prep. I’ve only been twice but it’s pretty awesome. When I went to orientation we got to sit in on the schools morning meeting since there is only like 150 kids. The principal was giving a speech and asked the kids to raise their hands if they knew someone that had been shot. Every single kid raised their hand. I mean these are 11-13 year old kids. It was definitely a reality check. Anway, I got assigned three kids, and will hopefully be with these three kids for the rest of the semester. I like that aspect of it because then you can actually develop a relationship. Its two girls and a boy and they are all in the seventh grade. They are very sweet kids, but it’s tough to get them to concentrate on school work. They are in school on a Saturday, so I can’t really blame them.
So, on March 18th I’ll be done training for CASA and then I’ll be back to substitute teaching. Then I might have some stories for you guys. I’m really dreading going back to teaching, and hoping I find a “real job”, real soon. Sorry I don’t have any crazy stories to tell, I’m still in the process of making friends. I did swing by a gay male strip club last night with a friend from work. I was only there about 5 minutes but a dancer tried to stick his hand down my pants. I figured that was my cue to leave. I know my DC friends will be happy about this one!
Anyway, I really miss Maryland and I can’t wait to visit in June!! The weather is getting warm here and the cockroaches are coming out!! They are huge and make me want to vomit. Just wanted to give an update as to what I’m doing, nothing crazy or anything. I need to find people that approve of getting extremely intoxicated and doing inappropriate things. Also, it is very depressing to have to watch Maryland basketball and have no one else around that cares.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
First 2 Months
So……I’ve been in New Orleans two months now and I finally decided it would be a good time to start one of these crazy blog things. I don’t get to talk to as many friends as I would like, so this way EVERYONE can know about my new life.
My first week here I stayed in a hostel, living in a four bed room with 3 men, including a bi-sexual, neo-Nazi (very contradictory). After the first two nights I was moved because my body was covered in bed bug bites. I then spent the rest of the week sharing a room with a 39 year old stripper named Sheila. My next two weeks were spent at a guesthouse. I had my own room and everyone was a little less sketchy than at the hostel. There isn’t too much to say about those three weeks because I basically did absolutely nothing.
On January 27th, 2009 I moved into my new house which is where I currently reside. For those familiar with New Orleans it is in the Lower Garden District at the intersection of St. Andrew and Annunciation. Pre-Katrina it was the St. Thomas Projects. I’m living with two guys, one is a 27 year old Coast Guard Officer (Judson) attending grad school at the University of New Orleans for Naval Architecture, and the other is a 20 year old Canadian (Tony) that works at a local pizza restaurant. Within the first week of moving into my new place I got my first introduction to the “hood”. While on the phone on a sunny Sunday afternoon I happen to hear gun shots. When the police drive past and ask where they came from I don’t think twice about being honest. As I’m standing on the corner, some guy from a large group of people across the street feels the need to tell me that I am now in the hood and when people ask me that stuff I just say no. So, hopefully my house will not be shot up because I was “snitchin” on some neighbors. Anyway, I learned from the newspaper article the next day that 3 people were shot inside of a car two blocks from my house, while I was outside on the corner. Don’t worry, no one died.
Fast forward, I’m now working at the pizza place my roommate works at and also substitute teaching on the West Bank, which is on the other side of the Mississippi River from New Orleans. I will also be starting Saturday tutoring next week. For anyone out there considering substitute teaching, I strongly advise against it! After the shock of seeing children with silver teeth and kids telling me they have to “use it” in reference to having to use the bathroom, you realize that students just do no respect substitutes. I have had well behaved classes, but there is always a few bad apples that spoil the bunch. It seems as if I can’t teach the kids that want to learn because I’m too busy disciplining the kids that don’t want to learn. It’s sad, but the kids are so adorable. Today I had two girls in a second grade class start beating the crap out of each other. I mean, these are 7 to 8 year old children. I had to pull them apart, even though there is a serious no-touch policy with substitutes, and take them to the office. Some other stories:
1. On one of my first days, within the first 5 minutes a kid yelled out “I don’t like white people”.
2. Every time there is a white kid in the class, the other kids ask me if I’m that kid’s mother or the white teachers’ sister.
3. Today, my greeting was “Hello white teacher”.
Overall, it is fun, but certainly not for everyone. It’s just crazy because so many of these kids seem so grown in the way they talk, dress, and style their hair, etc., and then you see them take a nap sucking their thumbs. Ohhh they are so precious.
Anyway, sorry this is so long. Let’s get to Mardi Gras, which ended two days ago. Josh, his girlfriend Danielle, his college roommate Bob, and two other guys all come down for the celebration. We went to the French Quarter on Friday and Saturday night. It was awesome, lots of drinking, and thousands of people. I can’t say Bourbon Street is all it’s cracked up to be. It’s certainly crazy, but it seemed all I was doing was avoiding getting hit in the face with beads and making sure I didn’t lose sight of my friends. Believe me, those beads fucking hurt. The craziest thing about Mardi Gras is the way they shut down major roads in the city for all the parades. They barricade one of the busiest streets and there is no way to get through it unless you reroute and drive an extra 30 minutes around the city. For example, a friend and I get dropped off two blocks from his hotel. Even walking, you are not allowed to pass the barricades. So we reroute and two blocks becomes probably close to two miles. After those two days, I was done with Mardi Gras. In fact, on Mardi Gras day I went grocery shopping and then never left my house again. P.S. Fucking Wal-Mart is closed Mardi Gras Day, that is insane! Surprisingly enough, I am so relieved that chaos is over.
Hopefully my next blog will be short and have some good stories. Sorry so long, and I’ll work on my writing skills to make this more readable.
My first week here I stayed in a hostel, living in a four bed room with 3 men, including a bi-sexual, neo-Nazi (very contradictory). After the first two nights I was moved because my body was covered in bed bug bites. I then spent the rest of the week sharing a room with a 39 year old stripper named Sheila. My next two weeks were spent at a guesthouse. I had my own room and everyone was a little less sketchy than at the hostel. There isn’t too much to say about those three weeks because I basically did absolutely nothing.
On January 27th, 2009 I moved into my new house which is where I currently reside. For those familiar with New Orleans it is in the Lower Garden District at the intersection of St. Andrew and Annunciation. Pre-Katrina it was the St. Thomas Projects. I’m living with two guys, one is a 27 year old Coast Guard Officer (Judson) attending grad school at the University of New Orleans for Naval Architecture, and the other is a 20 year old Canadian (Tony) that works at a local pizza restaurant. Within the first week of moving into my new place I got my first introduction to the “hood”. While on the phone on a sunny Sunday afternoon I happen to hear gun shots. When the police drive past and ask where they came from I don’t think twice about being honest. As I’m standing on the corner, some guy from a large group of people across the street feels the need to tell me that I am now in the hood and when people ask me that stuff I just say no. So, hopefully my house will not be shot up because I was “snitchin” on some neighbors. Anyway, I learned from the newspaper article the next day that 3 people were shot inside of a car two blocks from my house, while I was outside on the corner. Don’t worry, no one died.
Fast forward, I’m now working at the pizza place my roommate works at and also substitute teaching on the West Bank, which is on the other side of the Mississippi River from New Orleans. I will also be starting Saturday tutoring next week. For anyone out there considering substitute teaching, I strongly advise against it! After the shock of seeing children with silver teeth and kids telling me they have to “use it” in reference to having to use the bathroom, you realize that students just do no respect substitutes. I have had well behaved classes, but there is always a few bad apples that spoil the bunch. It seems as if I can’t teach the kids that want to learn because I’m too busy disciplining the kids that don’t want to learn. It’s sad, but the kids are so adorable. Today I had two girls in a second grade class start beating the crap out of each other. I mean, these are 7 to 8 year old children. I had to pull them apart, even though there is a serious no-touch policy with substitutes, and take them to the office. Some other stories:
1. On one of my first days, within the first 5 minutes a kid yelled out “I don’t like white people”.
2. Every time there is a white kid in the class, the other kids ask me if I’m that kid’s mother or the white teachers’ sister.
3. Today, my greeting was “Hello white teacher”.
Overall, it is fun, but certainly not for everyone. It’s just crazy because so many of these kids seem so grown in the way they talk, dress, and style their hair, etc., and then you see them take a nap sucking their thumbs. Ohhh they are so precious.
Anyway, sorry this is so long. Let’s get to Mardi Gras, which ended two days ago. Josh, his girlfriend Danielle, his college roommate Bob, and two other guys all come down for the celebration. We went to the French Quarter on Friday and Saturday night. It was awesome, lots of drinking, and thousands of people. I can’t say Bourbon Street is all it’s cracked up to be. It’s certainly crazy, but it seemed all I was doing was avoiding getting hit in the face with beads and making sure I didn’t lose sight of my friends. Believe me, those beads fucking hurt. The craziest thing about Mardi Gras is the way they shut down major roads in the city for all the parades. They barricade one of the busiest streets and there is no way to get through it unless you reroute and drive an extra 30 minutes around the city. For example, a friend and I get dropped off two blocks from his hotel. Even walking, you are not allowed to pass the barricades. So we reroute and two blocks becomes probably close to two miles. After those two days, I was done with Mardi Gras. In fact, on Mardi Gras day I went grocery shopping and then never left my house again. P.S. Fucking Wal-Mart is closed Mardi Gras Day, that is insane! Surprisingly enough, I am so relieved that chaos is over.
Hopefully my next blog will be short and have some good stories. Sorry so long, and I’ll work on my writing skills to make this more readable.
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