1:12 in the morning

Hello all,

Okay so packing is pretty much over.  Hardest part was definitely stuffing all my cloths into one bag but I made it work. Super pumped for New Orleans. Whoo! I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty and helping to BUILD A HOUSE! It's just amazing to think that whatever small part of the work we can accomplish this week will lead to something substantial, and hopefully relatively permanent. As preparation for this trip I've been watching Treme on HBO and eating home made beignet, now I'm  so ready to experience the real thing. Good night, and see everybody later today.

Pre-NOLA Trip Excitement

Tomorrow we will be headed down to New Orleans. I am very excited about this opportunity! While in New Orleans we will be helping with Katrina relief. In November I had the opportunity through Bonner to help with Sandy relief in Northern New Jersey, and it was an incredible experience. The owner of the house was literally in tears when she saw the van pull up full of volunteers from TCNJ who had come for the day to help in anyway they could with reconstructing her house. Everyone worked extremely hard; everywhere you looked you could see people breaking up giant blocks of cement with sledgehammers, carrying trash to the dumpster out front, or raking up the tree branches and garbage that was all over the yard. Through our combined efforts, the yard was completely cleared of all the rubble and debris that had cluttered the yard when we arrived. It was the most rewarding feeling to spend that whole day helping her and her family, and I am looking forward to do that again for another family during our time in New Orleans!

A ballad before the road...

A ballad about Dj and my expectations for New Orleans…

Nola bound here we go,

The van ride down will be quit a show,

No doubt, turning up the stereo!

A Bonner tradition,

All freshmen gain admission,

Meaningful service comes to fruition!

Our third trip with Saint Bernard,

Always expecting to work hard,

As chaperones we won’t let down our guard!

(That one’s for you Paula)

Friendly people on every corner,

Makes the culture even warmer,

Every trip just as fun as the former!

Always expecting something new,

As Chaperones we're learning too, 

Freshmen Bonners we can't wait to get to know you!

Excited for the trip to be here,

Bonner Staff should have no fear, 

This Lauda won't be hitting any deer!

~DJ and Gabby 

NOLA..

I've never blogged before but I am a really simple person so I would like to keep this very short and simple: I am genuinely excited to travel to New Orleans and assist with the rebuilding of not only a family's home but a family's life.

NOLA 2014

As our Bonner trip to New Orleans quickly approaches I am becoming more and more excited.  As a senior chaperone, I have not been to New Orleans since my freshman year but it remains one of the most valuable and rewarding things I have done as a Bonner.

There are a few things I look forward to most as I finish preparing for the trip.  First, is being back in the city itself.  I remember it being so different from any other city I have been to and can not wait to return and experience the food, nightlife, and people again.  Also, one of the best things about the trip my last time was how close I got to the other freshman as well as the chaperones.  I look forward to spending time with my fellow Bonners and getting to know them better.  Lastly, I look forward to the service.  The type for work we do in New Orleans is so different from the tutoring I typically do with Bonner at TCNJ and I love the chance to work in a group on a week-long project while helping serving a community that, years later, is still in need.

Pumped for NOLA

Hey Bonners!

We're now only two days away from NOLA and I could not be more excited (and also a bit nervous). I think it's safe to say that my experience with construction is pretty limited. However, knowing that we, as a group, are going to be making a huge impact on one homeowner's life gives me certainty that even though I have limited experience, I'll be able to quickly learn new skills with the help of my Bonner team and make positive change within the lower ninth ward of New Orleans (even if it means one house at a time).

With that being said, I'm not really sure what to expect. What I've seen of the destruction from hurricane Katrina was only through pictures on the internet and on T.V. Witnessing the devastation and destruction caused by hurricane Katrina, even now in 2014, will definitely be an eye-opener. After this trip, I'm certain that I will have matured and that I will be able to return to TCNJ with a renewed sense of what my role is as a Bonner community scholar for promoting social justice not only locally, but on a national and even international level.

Also, how can I forget to mention how incredibly excited I am to be spending 25-26 hours in a van with my friends! Okay, maybe only 5-6 of those hours will be exciting and then I'll be pulling out the iPod and the books. All kidding aside though, I think the rides to and from New Orleans will be a great way for us to reconnect after spending three weeks apart when for the past semester we've spent every waking moment with each other. I think that the team bonding we'll achieve through the 25-26 hour drive will prepare for the immense teamwork needed to work efficiently and effectively with the St. Bernard Project.

Well, here's to NOLA 2014!

Countdown to NOLA

Sitting here, freezing in 8 degree weather, I jump at the chance to head towards warmer weather. But the escape from blistering cold New Jersey isn't the only reason I'm excited for NOLA 2014.

It's been a pretty comfortable winter break, filled with happy reunions and holiday festivities accompanied by piles of desserts. It's been a nice few weeks lying in bed for hours on end, complacent with the lack of pressing errands or homework to complete.

The thought of returning back to the chaotic blur that is life during the school year is a bit scary. The delicate act of juggling many priorities while still getting enough sleep and social life in is something I've forgotten since December 16th.

But thankfully instead of wasting away the last 10 days of my break in bed or stuffing my face with Chipotle, I will have the opportunity to travel to New Orleans and serve.

This past semester as a Bonner, I usually stayed in my comfort zone: working with kids inside and outside of the classroom. But during the next 10 days, I will be challenged with doing hands on, construction work and manual labor.

I am excited because that will be so many new experiences to learn and grow from. Thankfully, I will be surrounded with fun but responsible friends who will keep me company on the long car ride, prevent me from potentially amputating myself with any tools and be an example to me as they serve alongside with me. And of course, traveling to another state and a vibrant city is always a highlight.

Now, the only thing between me and New Orleans is my attempt to fit everything I need for the trip in one duffel bag...