Unlike last year's volunteer experience, there is relatively little preparing to do for this trip. That is why Habitat is so awesome, you show up, and they've got everything for you!!
I have registered my group online with New Orleans Habitat for Humanity, signed us up for our accommodations at Camp Hope, and continue to explain to people around me why exactly we are going.
Yes, it is true, people have said "Why would you want to go there?" when I told them of my plans for New Orleans. I think their reaction shocks me as I am still trying to find peace with it. I guess their reaction of "WHY??" is expected when traveling to Africa or some place far away, but this is New Orleans, the Big Easy, the bustling party town home of Mardi Gras and Jazz. So it is still catching me off guard as people question my intentions. And I try very hard not to leap across the room, shake them and yell, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHY?? BECAUSE!! YOU IDIOT!" But oh, how good that would feel.
My favorite reaction remains "I wouldn't go there, with all those diseases."....... My reaction to that comment was "There are no diseases, nothing more than here. Besides, there are Americans with no homes waiting for the bureaucracy red tape to unwind for them to rebuild a home where their home once stood." Then I added, "And, I've got all my shots from last year, so I'll be fine against, Malaria, yellow fever, TB, HepABC, Typhoid, Tetanus, not that any of those have reached the US since 1930...."
My blanket statement to all of those questioning the intentions of any volunteer is the following, "We do it because we care, because we believe we can make a difference, because it needs to be done. And I challenge you to do the same, just try to volunteer, I can assure you it will change your life."
So with our preparations underway, we are ready! Now if I can just figure out how to fit a nice comfy pillow into my already stuffed suitcase......
