I've now been in New Orleans for almost exactly 2 days. My room is pretty much situated and unpacked, and we start classes tomorrow.
So the obvious question is, "what's it like?"
Before I get into that, though, a quick disclaimer. This isn't meant to be a definitive guide, just a small record of my own thoughts, observations and feelings about the city, as honest I can present them.
So here we go.
Driving through town on I10, you'd almost never guess that one of the greatest disasters in American history had just occured here. For the most part it seems a lot like any other stretch of the highway, slightly dirty and filled with people trying to get anywhere but where they are.
Exit at Carrolton, bear left at the ramp and make a right, and you're immediately aware that you are not in a normally functioning city. Look in any direction and you can see the profound echoes of the devastation that refused to leave the city with Katrina. There are still downed trees along the sides of the roads, and many residents have taken to piling the garbage from their houses in the neutral grounds. That really doesn't present a problem, becuase with the streetcar lines down very few people go through there.
Most streetlights are deactivated, either completely turned off or flashing red. Consequently, there are hastily erected stop signs (placards nailed to sawhorses) at most intersections. Simply driving down the street is still an adventure, though.
The storm was completely random with how it hit houses, and which ones it went after. Some homes seem to be just fine, while others are completely boarded up. Many have spraypainted marks from rescue workers, the kind of X format you've probably seen on the news. The worst cases by far, though, are the burnt out husks of buildings that are still standing... I've seen maybe 5 of them since I've been here. The water line is still visible on some structures, but for the most part a lot of them have been cleaned, assuming they're worth saving.
Still, many people are still missing and you're immediately aware of that fact when driving around. Most businesses are still closed and boarded up, and those that are open are begging for workers. A fry cook working full time can make up to (I am not making this up) $12 an hour with a $150 bonus on every 40-hour paycheck and a $5,000 bonus after one year. You've got to plan your day well, becuase most places close by 7 or 8 PM and definately by midnight, bars excepted.
In short, it is utterly impossible to go around in the city and not be reminded at every turn what has happened here. Boarded houses with dumpsters in front of them, piles of garbage on the sidewalks, leaning trees, and lonely streets.
I'd originally intended to talk about how I feel about being here, but rereading what I have above I see it's immediately apparent, so why bother. It's strange to be back, and it's a lonely place for someone as sensitive as I am to be. Our spring break comes in 6 weeks (which is actually late for us, believe it or not), and though I'm definately reserving judgment about staying around for Mardi Gras, I wouldn't rule out coming home like I had before. Still, like I said before, this is definately one of the most important and momentous experiences of my life, so at least on that level I'm glad for it.
I hadn't relized this before, but my enthusiasm about returning to the city definately failed to take into account just how much the city has changed. I was looking forward to a nostalgic past that in many ways is gone.
In the morning, I meet with a counselor to discuss early graduation.
For me, this is what it's like.