Tuesday, June 23

How hot was it? Well, the sign at the Kentucky Fried Chicken place on Judge Perez Highway said 108 degrees, and members of our group were out on the bayou with absolutely no shade, or in houses with no electricity, or in attics doing abatement work, or out collecting trash and garbage from worksites, or any number of other places, so it was probably hotter than that. It's a challenge staying hydrated, though, for the most part, everybody hung in pretty well.

The bayou was something. More mud than one can imagine, great work... HOT work. Another group heading that way tomorrow.

After everyone returned to the University, showered up and ate dinner, our friend Amanda, the volunteer coordinator at St. Bernard project, and one of the residents of the parish, 15 year old Leslie, spent a little more than an hour with us. They led an activity that helped spur conversation about the nature of the work we're doing and our impressions of things so far. Then young Leslie told us her story, and you could have heard a pin drop in that room. We'll try to post a video of part of Leslie's talk (not sure I know how to do that, but we'll try).

Back at it in the morning. The group is coming together nicely.