have you ever stopped in your tracks and thought, what the hell am i doing?
last friday i got up in front of ALL the primary/junior candidates and did a mock interview session with four school principals. i don't actually know what i was thinking. i made the decision instantaneously, so i didn't have time to doubt it. it didn't want to, but that was exactly why i made myself do it - i wanted to challenge myself with the learning experience. primarily, i put myself through this tortuous situation to prepare for next weekend. the teaching overseas recruiting fair (torf) is in 9 days.
NINE days?!
nine days until i potentially get a job anywhere. there are schools coming from thailand, panama, egypt, guatemala, brazil, germany etc... the possibilities are endless. i haven't doubted for a second my decision to go overseas next year. but, i won't lie, i have a crazy mixture of emotions going through my mind about it: excitment, nerves and curiosity. where will this adventure take me? will i get any interviews? what will my school be like? what grade will i get? will i even get a job?
deep down i know that whatever decision i make will be the right one for me at this point in my life. phew. however, it still scares the living daylights out of me!
i am trying to remain calm and balanced about the whole experience, but it is pretty nuts when you start researching schools everywhere from uganda to bangladesh.
i'll keep you posted.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
the break-up.
i was speaking to a girlfriend today, who was venting about an unhealthy friendship. from the sounds of it, this friend of hers has an incredible toxic relationship with everyone in her life: she is rude, inappropriate, controlling and generally not nice. when my girlfriend told me that she has been putting up with this friendship for over five years, at first i was angry. this wasn't a balanced, healthy friendship at all! but i got to thinking, and realized that as difficult as it is to break-up with a boyfriend, it is probably more difficult to break-up with a friend. we just don't do it. it is almost taboo.
i have heard stories of people who have told a toxic friend that they can't be friends anymore, but i have never actually met anyone who has done this. when a child is in grade three, all bets are off: if they don't like someone, they don't hesitate to tell them right to their face. why is it that when we grow up so many girls put up with friendships that they don't even enjoy?
i am not encouraging hatred, but i want shy/timid girls to stop putting up with 'bullies' who call themselves girlfriends. and it is NOT just shy and timid girls who put up with toxic friendships. some women have such powers of manipulation that even other strong, outgoing girls have difficulty standing up to them. if these toxic individuals are not put in their place, they will continue to feed off others, treat them poorly and boost their own feelings of power and control in the process.
i have seen bullying in the schoolyard, and i have witnessed friends being bullied in relationships. neither of these is acceptable. but this 'queen bee' phenomenon extends past middle school. maybe these women believe they are just being outspoken, independent and strong? in reality, however, they need a swift kick in the butt.
i have heard stories of people who have told a toxic friend that they can't be friends anymore, but i have never actually met anyone who has done this. when a child is in grade three, all bets are off: if they don't like someone, they don't hesitate to tell them right to their face. why is it that when we grow up so many girls put up with friendships that they don't even enjoy?
i am not encouraging hatred, but i want shy/timid girls to stop putting up with 'bullies' who call themselves girlfriends. and it is NOT just shy and timid girls who put up with toxic friendships. some women have such powers of manipulation that even other strong, outgoing girls have difficulty standing up to them. if these toxic individuals are not put in their place, they will continue to feed off others, treat them poorly and boost their own feelings of power and control in the process.
i have seen bullying in the schoolyard, and i have witnessed friends being bullied in relationships. neither of these is acceptable. but this 'queen bee' phenomenon extends past middle school. maybe these women believe they are just being outspoken, independent and strong? in reality, however, they need a swift kick in the butt.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
banff mountain.
the best day of january has already come and gone.
each year, the banff mountain film festival goes on a world tour, and stops in kingston. the moment we get back in january, we get on the look-out for advertisements for this celebration of mountain culture and the spirit of adventure. as a highlight of january, it definitely helps combat the winter blahs! this year, i really missed erin, care and katie who have always been there with me in the past.
as always, the films were ridiculous awesome and inspiring. after the first hour, i was convinced that i should bike from mongolia to india, survive with no nutrients, and make a feature-length film about it. maybe one day. even the opening video gets the adrenaline flowing. you can actually watch it on youtube if you search bmff.
yes to the no: this was the first film and it was made by a group of guys that call themselves the rocky mountain sherpas. they introduced us to the sport of noboarding, which is basically snowboarding without boots. they love it because they are bringing snowboarding back to its roots, forcing a true connection between the rider and the snow. the shots were stunning, particularly this dude noboarding as the snow disintegrated into an avalanche. check them out at www.rockymountainsherpas.com.
first ascent: thailand: rock climbing off the coast of thailand. no ropes. falls broken by the ocean. nuts. but also really cool.
asiemut: this was my favourite of the films. a young french canadian couple, who had never made a film, and never gone on a bike trek, decided to bike 8,000 kilometres from mongolia to india. pushing themselves to their absolute limits, the film chronicles their journey through desert, sandstorm, water, mountain and their memorable encounters with locals. an unpretentious look at the world, as well as the crisis of abundance in society, these two examine their true place and capabilities. why did they decide to embark on this incredible journey? to feel they had a place in the world. and for themselves. a true tearfest. here is their french website, i believe english is to come: www.asiemut.mine.nu.
epicocity: thrill-seeking paddlers. i wish i had the guts. www.epicocity.com.
didier versus the cobra: the title character was this hilarious swiss dude who made it is mission to make the first ascent up the cobra crack in BC. the video chronicled his journey, his challenges, and his random trip to australia to follow his girlfriend. this film was worth it just to get to know didier.
the thrill seekers: when given 48 hours (1 day to film, 1 day to edit), this is what two british guys came up with. certainly gave the audience a good laugh! www.nakedsledge.co.uk.
kids who rip: a film about kids who are WAY cooler than i wil ever be. six year old skateboarders, tween bleach-blonde surfers, eight year old skiiers and snowboarders. fearless and frighteningly good - they must have brave parents (or crazy parents?) www.kidswhorip.com
ride of the mergansers: another highlight. an up-close look at merganser ducks like you have never seen them before. just after they have hatched, they must take a giant leap from their nests high in the trees to meet their mother below. these are some stellar falls, let me tell you. www.rideofthemergansers.com.
best of jo: a short film submited by the youngest filmaker ever at the banff mountain film festival. he claims that he would one day like to film *real* humans and maybe even make money doing it.
that's it.
i can't believe i have to wait another year to see more!
Monday, January 22, 2007
gift of the gab.
in ireland, the locals are known for the ability to talk with exuberance - readily and convincingly. in irish, the gift of the gab is called 'solabharthact', not that i have any idea how to pronounce it. i spent this past weekend in toronto, and i certainly got my fill of conversation. aside from the cumulative twelve hours i spent sleeping, i think talking/chatting/gossiping/catching-up is all that i did!
not that i am complaining. i was a veritable socialite in toronto this weekend! i brought absolutely no work, and did not even think about the faculty of education for more than 2.5 seconds. i got swept up in great conversations with both old and new friends. i socialized, ate out, shopped and dedicated the weekend to reconnecting with toronto folks. why is it that we don't speak with friends for months at a time, but when we finally do, we don't skip a beat? this is the sign of true friends, i think.
on friday night i had dinner with cayleigh at a delicious thai place on queen street west and then hit the town. she took me to meet some friends at the bovine sex club. no joke. i didn't notice a lot of cows, or a lot of sex for that matter, so i think the name must be purely for shock value. or perhaps it has some meaning that is beyond me. regardless, it was a stellar night with loads of familiar faces from queen's and around. the band was really quite good, and i managed to score a free ride home from them at the end of the night -- door to door service is a sure fire way to collect fans! in fact, i should give them a shoutout: thanks for the ride, caledonia.
saturday i lounged around the titus household with alyssa doing typical cottage-y type activties. sleeping, making a late breakfast, looking at pictures, lying around. we didn't get out of our pyjamas until almost 4! at five i met up with risa, my favourite jewish hippie vegan, whom i hadn't seen in almost TWO years. first of all, it was two years toooo long between visits. after we had tea and caught up, and i could barely believe how long it had been. she offers such a positive calming presence in my life. i adore her. i will have to make absolute sure it is not two years before i run into her again!
saturday night was sushi with a friend from my travels at a hidden gem. this place was called sushi on bloor (maybe i shouldn't be telling anyone else... keep the restaurant a secret) and it was quite possibly the best price-for-quality-food that i have had in eons. for less than 20 bucks, two people can get stuffed! the thirty minute lineup is worth it when you get free unlimited tea, soup and ice cream. i honestly felt like we were cheating them in some way when we got the bill.
sunday i had brunch with kally (another date that was way overdue) and got seriously distracted by the stores in yorkville and the the eaton centre. i kept trying to be practical and deciding to leave toronto, but then the titus' convinced me to stay for dinner.... and then tea... i just didn't want my weekend of conversation, gastronomy and socializing to end. plus i am easily convinced.
i am really not far from toronto, and with some good music or a book on tape, the trip absolutely flies by. i may not be like the irish, who possess a fluency of utterance unlike no other, but if i learned anything from my mother, i sure learned how to appreciate a good conversation.
not that i am complaining. i was a veritable socialite in toronto this weekend! i brought absolutely no work, and did not even think about the faculty of education for more than 2.5 seconds. i got swept up in great conversations with both old and new friends. i socialized, ate out, shopped and dedicated the weekend to reconnecting with toronto folks. why is it that we don't speak with friends for months at a time, but when we finally do, we don't skip a beat? this is the sign of true friends, i think.
on friday night i had dinner with cayleigh at a delicious thai place on queen street west and then hit the town. she took me to meet some friends at the bovine sex club. no joke. i didn't notice a lot of cows, or a lot of sex for that matter, so i think the name must be purely for shock value. or perhaps it has some meaning that is beyond me. regardless, it was a stellar night with loads of familiar faces from queen's and around. the band was really quite good, and i managed to score a free ride home from them at the end of the night -- door to door service is a sure fire way to collect fans! in fact, i should give them a shoutout: thanks for the ride, caledonia.
saturday i lounged around the titus household with alyssa doing typical cottage-y type activties. sleeping, making a late breakfast, looking at pictures, lying around. we didn't get out of our pyjamas until almost 4! at five i met up with risa, my favourite jewish hippie vegan, whom i hadn't seen in almost TWO years. first of all, it was two years toooo long between visits. after we had tea and caught up, and i could barely believe how long it had been. she offers such a positive calming presence in my life. i adore her. i will have to make absolute sure it is not two years before i run into her again!
saturday night was sushi with a friend from my travels at a hidden gem. this place was called sushi on bloor (maybe i shouldn't be telling anyone else... keep the restaurant a secret) and it was quite possibly the best price-for-quality-food that i have had in eons. for less than 20 bucks, two people can get stuffed! the thirty minute lineup is worth it when you get free unlimited tea, soup and ice cream. i honestly felt like we were cheating them in some way when we got the bill.
sunday i had brunch with kally (another date that was way overdue) and got seriously distracted by the stores in yorkville and the the eaton centre. i kept trying to be practical and deciding to leave toronto, but then the titus' convinced me to stay for dinner.... and then tea... i just didn't want my weekend of conversation, gastronomy and socializing to end. plus i am easily convinced.
i am really not far from toronto, and with some good music or a book on tape, the trip absolutely flies by. i may not be like the irish, who possess a fluency of utterance unlike no other, but if i learned anything from my mother, i sure learned how to appreciate a good conversation.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
fix or repair daily.
for those of you who know me, you know my love/hate relationships with my cars.
i loved the blue beast i drove in high school. at that point, i was just ecstatic to own a car, period. i loved the freedom associated with having a car. i loved road trips, cottage weekends and going to school when i wanted. it gave me a sense of mobility that i have always craved, and probably took it slightly for granted. we certainly put WAY more money into the blue taurus then we should have. it broke down regularly, and often had expenses in the thousands of dollars to fix. i am sure that over the years we put way more money into the car than it was ever worth. i always vowed i would never own a ford again.
last year, when the blue beast finally died after a long and painful death, i couldn't imagine life without a car. i immediately went car shopping with an i'll-deal-with-the-consequences-later type of attitude. however, i realized i couldn't afford to lease, rent or buy a car... i would have run out of my available credit. i felt so trapped and discouraged. i know having a car is a luxury, but it was a luxury i had had for six years!
eventually, a set of circumstances led to the fleming's inheriting yet another ford taurus, at a low cost. dad drove it for awhile, but being a 1993, it wasn't in the greatest of conditions. a red interior (sexy), broken heat and regular maintenance was frustrating for him. when dad finally got the car of his dreams (certainly NOT a ford!), i inherited the aformentioned red taurus. how lucky have i been in this lifetime? not one, but two ford taurus'! about every two months, like clockwork, something goes wrong with the car. i keep deciding, against my better judgement, to pump money into the car when it should probably be heading to the dump. but, living far from campus in kingston and needing regular transportation to ottawa make it very difficult to consider being car-less.
just the other day i found out that my oil pan rotted through. i have been told that this is not actually the worst thing that could happen, but at 450 dollars it certainly feels pretty rough. i can handle fixing or repairing daily, i just hope it is never found on road dead. cross your fingers that i make it all the way to toronto this weekend. however, if you do happen to see a '93 red taurus on the side of the 401, please stop to help!
i loved the blue beast i drove in high school. at that point, i was just ecstatic to own a car, period. i loved the freedom associated with having a car. i loved road trips, cottage weekends and going to school when i wanted. it gave me a sense of mobility that i have always craved, and probably took it slightly for granted. we certainly put WAY more money into the blue taurus then we should have. it broke down regularly, and often had expenses in the thousands of dollars to fix. i am sure that over the years we put way more money into the car than it was ever worth. i always vowed i would never own a ford again.
last year, when the blue beast finally died after a long and painful death, i couldn't imagine life without a car. i immediately went car shopping with an i'll-deal-with-the-consequences-later type of attitude. however, i realized i couldn't afford to lease, rent or buy a car... i would have run out of my available credit. i felt so trapped and discouraged. i know having a car is a luxury, but it was a luxury i had had for six years!
eventually, a set of circumstances led to the fleming's inheriting yet another ford taurus, at a low cost. dad drove it for awhile, but being a 1993, it wasn't in the greatest of conditions. a red interior (sexy), broken heat and regular maintenance was frustrating for him. when dad finally got the car of his dreams (certainly NOT a ford!), i inherited the aformentioned red taurus. how lucky have i been in this lifetime? not one, but two ford taurus'! about every two months, like clockwork, something goes wrong with the car. i keep deciding, against my better judgement, to pump money into the car when it should probably be heading to the dump. but, living far from campus in kingston and needing regular transportation to ottawa make it very difficult to consider being car-less.
just the other day i found out that my oil pan rotted through. i have been told that this is not actually the worst thing that could happen, but at 450 dollars it certainly feels pretty rough. i can handle fixing or repairing daily, i just hope it is never found on road dead. cross your fingers that i make it all the way to toronto this weekend. however, if you do happen to see a '93 red taurus on the side of the 401, please stop to help!
Monday, January 15, 2007
all the world conspires.
january began at the faculty and everyone immediately hit the ground running... except me. i slept in for three days straight.
i know that we are meant to return from vacations well-rested, rejuvenated and ready to work. the problem is, i returned from my vacation wanting to go on another vacation. my body completely rejected any systems of structure. particularly related to being a student. after six years in post-secondary education, i am ready to be done. not only that, but seeing the world makes me realize how *little* i am actually learning by sitting in the classroom. i enjoy actually teaching when i am on practicum, but i constantly question whether this is where i am 'meant' to be.
i just finished reading paulo coelho's 'the alchemist'. it has been on my must read list for quite some time, and i was pleased to finally get my hands on a copy. while the novel has bestseller written all over it, i enjoyed the simple straight-forward messages within. sometimes, we get so wrapped up in complicated semantics that we need someone to spell it out for us. and this is exactly what coelho does. it is literally impossible to miss the message of the richest treasures being within ourselves. coelho uses a shepherd boy named santiago, and his journey to the pyramids in egypt, to show that all the world conspires to help us acheive what we are meant to, if we have the courage. he demonstrates the invisible chain that links one thing to another; and explains that it is a great lie that fate will simply take over - essentially calling for us to take an active role in our own futures.
but, has anyone noticed how exhausting it can be to find your own 'personal legend'? it is certainly not a simple endeavour. there are a whirlwind of job applications due over the next few weeks; dozens of information sessions and literally thousands of choices for what to do next year. i am not particularly stressed out and i am at peace with literally not knowing where next year will take me. but maybe i should be! this is a BIG deal. this is the start of my career, my journey on the road to my own personal legend. is it crazy to say that i am nervous because i am not feeling more overwhelmed by this enormity? i am not overwhelmed by potentially having a teaching job next year, but i am literally worried about never finding what i am truly 'meant' to do.
i know the type of life that i want to live, and the values that i want to live by - hopefully along this road, the whole world is conspiring and i just haven't noticed yet.
i know that we are meant to return from vacations well-rested, rejuvenated and ready to work. the problem is, i returned from my vacation wanting to go on another vacation. my body completely rejected any systems of structure. particularly related to being a student. after six years in post-secondary education, i am ready to be done. not only that, but seeing the world makes me realize how *little* i am actually learning by sitting in the classroom. i enjoy actually teaching when i am on practicum, but i constantly question whether this is where i am 'meant' to be.
i just finished reading paulo coelho's 'the alchemist'. it has been on my must read list for quite some time, and i was pleased to finally get my hands on a copy. while the novel has bestseller written all over it, i enjoyed the simple straight-forward messages within. sometimes, we get so wrapped up in complicated semantics that we need someone to spell it out for us. and this is exactly what coelho does. it is literally impossible to miss the message of the richest treasures being within ourselves. coelho uses a shepherd boy named santiago, and his journey to the pyramids in egypt, to show that all the world conspires to help us acheive what we are meant to, if we have the courage. he demonstrates the invisible chain that links one thing to another; and explains that it is a great lie that fate will simply take over - essentially calling for us to take an active role in our own futures.
but, has anyone noticed how exhausting it can be to find your own 'personal legend'? it is certainly not a simple endeavour. there are a whirlwind of job applications due over the next few weeks; dozens of information sessions and literally thousands of choices for what to do next year. i am not particularly stressed out and i am at peace with literally not knowing where next year will take me. but maybe i should be! this is a BIG deal. this is the start of my career, my journey on the road to my own personal legend. is it crazy to say that i am nervous because i am not feeling more overwhelmed by this enormity? i am not overwhelmed by potentially having a teaching job next year, but i am literally worried about never finding what i am truly 'meant' to do.
i know the type of life that i want to live, and the values that i want to live by - hopefully along this road, the whole world is conspiring and i just haven't noticed yet.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
rock the boat.
what a way to start 2007: aboard a luxurious ship, with hundreds of young people, decadent food and alcohol paid for by our parents.
day 1: it was pouring rain in new orleans. torrential downpour. tornado warnings. we quickly got on our way sailing down the mississippi river.
day 2: cloudy, but i was not yet discouraged. there was still loads of time to aquire a killer tan. new years was celebrated with hundreds of balloons being dropped from the roof, and hundreds of people dancing in the centrum of the ship (and one guy grooving in a glass elevator going up and down just before midnight!). my parents partied with andrew and i in one of the lounges and even beat us to the dance floor! they left at 2, and i think i may have gone to bed as the sun hit the horizon in the morning...
mom and dad all jazzed up for new years eve:
day 3: slightly painful in the AM, but the sun was calling me! i spent all day sunning on the deck, exploring the ship and sitting in a hot tub. tough life.
food could be eaten at any hour of the day. literally. at our table we had a lovely family from alabama, and the older couple quickly became my adoptive grandparents. i idolized them: a hummer-driving, gambling-obsessed, cosmo-drinking lady paired up with the dry humour of a man who used to own an ice cream restaurant. i LOVED them.
day 4: georgetown, grand cayman. sigh. we got off the ship, hired a cab and went directly to the beach, and buried ourselves there all day. we got up for a few walks down the beach (corona's in hand) and a few floats in the ocean. the sand is truly like silk and the ocean is azure blue. beautiful. the day was completed with a midnight buffet and pool party under the stars.
day 5: we were supposed to go to a port in the mayan riviera, however due to high waves, we had to change our plans. the boat did rock quite a bit, but i never felt that it made me uncomfortable. some people were disappointed to miss the port, but the staff were excited because it was replaced with a night out in cozumel! plus, seriously, we can't do anything about the weather and there are worse places to be stuck than on a luxurious boat in the middle of the caribbean sea.
andrew all dressed up during a scavenger hunt:
day 6: island of cozumel. we took a catamaran ride out to a snorkelling location (yes, it is true, my mother drank beer before 9 AM in the morning), and then lounged on a 'private, secluded beach' (only inches away from an extremely large resort complex). we ocean kayaked, floated on air mattresses and drank margaritas like they were going out of style. the afternoon was spent window shopping and experiencing the debauchery of carlos 'n charlies. my parents had the luxury of watching my brother have a litre of sangria poured down his throat, lucky them!
floating in cozumel:
day 7: last full day at sea. i was really lucky to have met so many wonderful people on the cruise, so i spent most of my last day with them. we danced up a storm at the club (closing it, obviously!), socialized in the hot tub for hours on end and lost all our money in the casino. it was a late night, once again. painful to get up to retrieve our passports after only a few seconds of sleep.
day 8: you may have realized that i did absolutely nothing productive on this cruise. and, you would be right. i did, however, finish two whole books and one magazine. AND, i got to spend some quality time with my family, which was long overdue. lucky for me, we got to spend another 36 hours together as our plane got delayed in new york, and we missed our connection in toronto.
tired, tanned and slightly tired of each other, the fleming family survived their (potentially) last family vacation. apparently next time the trip is on me. i better get a good job. a really, really, really good job! (and that would only pay for our alcohol bill...)
day 1: it was pouring rain in new orleans. torrential downpour. tornado warnings. we quickly got on our way sailing down the mississippi river.
day 2: cloudy, but i was not yet discouraged. there was still loads of time to aquire a killer tan. new years was celebrated with hundreds of balloons being dropped from the roof, and hundreds of people dancing in the centrum of the ship (and one guy grooving in a glass elevator going up and down just before midnight!). my parents partied with andrew and i in one of the lounges and even beat us to the dance floor! they left at 2, and i think i may have gone to bed as the sun hit the horizon in the morning...
mom and dad all jazzed up for new years eve:
day 3: slightly painful in the AM, but the sun was calling me! i spent all day sunning on the deck, exploring the ship and sitting in a hot tub. tough life.
food could be eaten at any hour of the day. literally. at our table we had a lovely family from alabama, and the older couple quickly became my adoptive grandparents. i idolized them: a hummer-driving, gambling-obsessed, cosmo-drinking lady paired up with the dry humour of a man who used to own an ice cream restaurant. i LOVED them.
day 4: georgetown, grand cayman. sigh. we got off the ship, hired a cab and went directly to the beach, and buried ourselves there all day. we got up for a few walks down the beach (corona's in hand) and a few floats in the ocean. the sand is truly like silk and the ocean is azure blue. beautiful. the day was completed with a midnight buffet and pool party under the stars.
day 5: we were supposed to go to a port in the mayan riviera, however due to high waves, we had to change our plans. the boat did rock quite a bit, but i never felt that it made me uncomfortable. some people were disappointed to miss the port, but the staff were excited because it was replaced with a night out in cozumel! plus, seriously, we can't do anything about the weather and there are worse places to be stuck than on a luxurious boat in the middle of the caribbean sea.
andrew all dressed up during a scavenger hunt:
day 6: island of cozumel. we took a catamaran ride out to a snorkelling location (yes, it is true, my mother drank beer before 9 AM in the morning), and then lounged on a 'private, secluded beach' (only inches away from an extremely large resort complex). we ocean kayaked, floated on air mattresses and drank margaritas like they were going out of style. the afternoon was spent window shopping and experiencing the debauchery of carlos 'n charlies. my parents had the luxury of watching my brother have a litre of sangria poured down his throat, lucky them!
floating in cozumel:
day 7: last full day at sea. i was really lucky to have met so many wonderful people on the cruise, so i spent most of my last day with them. we danced up a storm at the club (closing it, obviously!), socialized in the hot tub for hours on end and lost all our money in the casino. it was a late night, once again. painful to get up to retrieve our passports after only a few seconds of sleep.
day 8: you may have realized that i did absolutely nothing productive on this cruise. and, you would be right. i did, however, finish two whole books and one magazine. AND, i got to spend some quality time with my family, which was long overdue. lucky for me, we got to spend another 36 hours together as our plane got delayed in new york, and we missed our connection in toronto.
tired, tanned and slightly tired of each other, the fleming family survived their (potentially) last family vacation. apparently next time the trip is on me. i better get a good job. a really, really, really good job! (and that would only pay for our alcohol bill...)
Monday, January 08, 2007
the big easy.
the last time i went on a family vacation, i was in grade 12. so, it has been awhile since the fleming family all got together and took the world by a storm. as a christmas gift, my parents surprised andrew and i with a week-long cruise out of new orleans. to be completely honest, i was most excited with our days in new orleans before the cruise!
we flew in via phili on december 28th with no problems. considering MANY people on our cruise had flight delays and tornado warnings when they arrived on the 30th, we were very lucky. i knew that hurricane katrina had severely devasted new orleans, but aside from the immediate coverage in 2005, i was really unaware of the current state of the city. i was excited for two days of music, soul and good food but i was also looking forward to an eye-opening, sobering experience.
my first impression was the sheer emptiness at the airport. there were absolutely no planes, and very few people. new orleans is certainly not a hub airport, but i didn't expect it to be so dead. since katrina, tourist rates have severely dropped off, and the population of the city has been depleted by half. full neighbourhoods and completely empty. driving through suburbs, there are no cars, no children playing in the streets and few open businesses. certain areas look like ghost towns. cab drivers and tour operators kept telling us how thankful they were that we had come to visit, and for our contribution to the local economy.
upon arrival at our hotel in the french quarter, there is less indication that anything has changed. the french quarter was almost completely unaffected by the flooding after the storm. tourists seemingly swarmed the strip clubs along bourbon street (although apparently it still looks empty to many residents), restaurants have lines that snake out the door, and street performers play to large crowds. however, after converstation with several locals, we learned that many businesses have only recently re-opened, that street performers have only begun to entertain and return to the city, and that many residents still have to rebuild their entire lives and houses.
one tour operator asked that we tell others the truth about new orleans. the truth is, i have never visited a more welcoming, lively, colourful city in my life. it is so obvious that residents love their city, and are so proud of where they live. tourists are visiting, businesses are being rebuilt and residents are gradually filtering back into the city. however, new orleans is not yet alright. they say it will be decades before the city fully recovers. the news has not done justice of reporting the real situation in the city: flooding has demolished entire communities, and nothing has been done. houses are still overturned in the ninth ward. emergency trailors have been donated by the government for residents to live in while they rebuild their homes, but many are inoperable due to a shortage of electricians to hook them up to power. crime and vandalism runs rampant.
the best thing we can do for new orleans is to visit, and to contribute to their local economy. the city is damaged - but it is far from a lost cause. however, if you DO visit new orleans, do not keep yourself isolated to only the french quarter, where less has changed. venture out into where the majority of the city lived, where they swarmed the superdome, and hid in attics during the three weeks of flooding after the storm. while i was there, 40,000 students from various universities were participating in a habitat for humanity project in the ninth ward.
my days in new orleans were amazing: i ate delicious fried chicken, and beignets; listened to dr. john at a local jazz club; and met incredible local citizens who have taken on the enormous job of loving new orleans back to life.
we flew in via phili on december 28th with no problems. considering MANY people on our cruise had flight delays and tornado warnings when they arrived on the 30th, we were very lucky. i knew that hurricane katrina had severely devasted new orleans, but aside from the immediate coverage in 2005, i was really unaware of the current state of the city. i was excited for two days of music, soul and good food but i was also looking forward to an eye-opening, sobering experience.
my first impression was the sheer emptiness at the airport. there were absolutely no planes, and very few people. new orleans is certainly not a hub airport, but i didn't expect it to be so dead. since katrina, tourist rates have severely dropped off, and the population of the city has been depleted by half. full neighbourhoods and completely empty. driving through suburbs, there are no cars, no children playing in the streets and few open businesses. certain areas look like ghost towns. cab drivers and tour operators kept telling us how thankful they were that we had come to visit, and for our contribution to the local economy.
upon arrival at our hotel in the french quarter, there is less indication that anything has changed. the french quarter was almost completely unaffected by the flooding after the storm. tourists seemingly swarmed the strip clubs along bourbon street (although apparently it still looks empty to many residents), restaurants have lines that snake out the door, and street performers play to large crowds. however, after converstation with several locals, we learned that many businesses have only recently re-opened, that street performers have only begun to entertain and return to the city, and that many residents still have to rebuild their entire lives and houses.
one tour operator asked that we tell others the truth about new orleans. the truth is, i have never visited a more welcoming, lively, colourful city in my life. it is so obvious that residents love their city, and are so proud of where they live. tourists are visiting, businesses are being rebuilt and residents are gradually filtering back into the city. however, new orleans is not yet alright. they say it will be decades before the city fully recovers. the news has not done justice of reporting the real situation in the city: flooding has demolished entire communities, and nothing has been done. houses are still overturned in the ninth ward. emergency trailors have been donated by the government for residents to live in while they rebuild their homes, but many are inoperable due to a shortage of electricians to hook them up to power. crime and vandalism runs rampant.
the best thing we can do for new orleans is to visit, and to contribute to their local economy. the city is damaged - but it is far from a lost cause. however, if you DO visit new orleans, do not keep yourself isolated to only the french quarter, where less has changed. venture out into where the majority of the city lived, where they swarmed the superdome, and hid in attics during the three weeks of flooding after the storm. while i was there, 40,000 students from various universities were participating in a habitat for humanity project in the ninth ward.
my days in new orleans were amazing: i ate delicious fried chicken, and beignets; listened to dr. john at a local jazz club; and met incredible local citizens who have taken on the enormous job of loving new orleans back to life.
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