Humidity, Heat and more Humidity

WOW the temperature down here in New Orleans is insane!! Like the second I step outside no matter the time of day (unless it's like 10 at night) I am instantly covered in sweat. Apparently a couple of days ago the heat index was 100 degrees... in the shade!! GROSS!! Especially when we are moving big boards and bricks outside in it.

We have officially been in NOLA for a week, we are working with Rebuilding Together a nonprofit that has branches all over the country including MN. I like it so far in the way that each person on my team gets to stay at the same project for the whole week, that way we are more able to finish a task. I have been working with "Decon" this week. Decon is the deconstruction team which is newly added to the organization. They take donations from people or clean out homes being demolished in order to resell or make new things out of the material. Monday and Tuesday I worked with a couple other people on my team making donation runs... well the same house that had a ton of bricks/doors/windows/tubs. We made numerous trips from the Decon yard to the house and back loading and unloading the goods. Yesterday was one of the most strenuous days I have had in a long time; Kelly and I loaded and unloaded thousands of bricks along with many other things in the heat and wow was it tiring. But I am very thankful because I had an interview today (crossing my fingers) for a VISTA position after NCCC so I decided to take a Life After Americorps day. We get two throughout the year and three personal days and I have yet to take one. So, I thought what the heck. I got to prep for the interview, relax and catch up with some people from home which was wonderful. I am going to see if anyone o my team wants to do PT today at a park so I can get out of this house and go for a lovely walk in Audubon Park, which is beautiful.

Saturday we went to the Bayou Boogaloo, which was a festival type thing with music, food and booths of art, clothing, jewelry (kind of like an art fair). Then at night we went to Olive Garden for my bday which was great... although I never seem to eat as much with anyone but my sister. I guess no one else downs ten bread sticks so I don't feel like I should!! haha Then Sunday we slept in and relaxed, then went to Audubon Park which is very beautiful with lots of trees and a lake thingy with about a 2 mile walking/biking trail. It surrounds a golf course and is across from the zoo which we are planning on going to soon. I hope to go to that park today as I said earlier.

We live in a two story house on the second story, the office to Rebuilding Together is downstairs. Our house is bright green with purple doors (I'll try to put more pictures up soon), it is right next to the salvage store ad warehouse which is nice if you are working there for the week... decon is also across the street from the warehouse. We live in a pretty unsafe part of New Orleans so we are unable to walk anywhere which makes me feel kinda trapped at times, not being able to go for a walk around the block to get away. There is a large fence with razor wire o top of it to protect us which reassures me but also wish we were in an area that the fencing was not needed. It is such a huge change from being in Boulder with tons of space and surrounded by hiking trails.

There is so much to do down here so hopefully that will keep me busy and content in the heat. I am getting really excited to come home and enjoy what will be left of the summer on the lakes. I miss that so much, my cabins, the lakes, all my friends and family. Bahhh only a couple months then this will sadly be over. I try not to think about it too much cause I have such mixed emotions. I can't wait for my brother's wedding, to see my other brother and Nicole's house, and not to mention Macers and Bailey. But most importantly my family (both immediate and extended) and friends. Well, time to convince the team it's a good idea for them to go back into the heat to head to the park :-)

Love,
Coley Burg

Back with the Water Three family

The last week in Boulder was amazing, such a great ending to a wonderful round. We were scheduled to work Monday and Wednesday. We worked Monday with the FEMP crew again so that was awesome, then Monday night was crazy windy all night long and was still whistling in the morning. We were suppose to do invasive species removal (med sage) which we all dislike with a passion but with the 50+ mile per hour winds we were able to do exit interviews with our amazing supervisor Craig, hang out at the library (where I was able to apply for a couple jobs) and go to a tour of Eco-Cycle (the recycling in Boulder). Then Wednesday we got the chance to go out birding with one of the best birders in the country and then on a hike in the afternoon. We saw amazing sites with breathtaking views. We were even able to see most of the Continental Divide from a distance. Thursday was used for cleaning of the house, which included being pampered with amazing pizza and pop. Thursday night we went out with our supervisors which was very enjoyable. Our last day in Boulder was spent getting ice cream and heading up to the little mountain town of Nederland up a beautiful drive of winding road, then Megan and I headed to Pearl Street for the last time. Friday morning was a little more hectic than we had planned for due to the flooring guys coming an hour early. But, we were able to be out by 9 and headed to the farmer's market and a flea market of those moving out from CU Boulder's graduation. I was able to try these amazing dumplings... I have tried so many new foods while being here in Americorps.


Transition week is always fun/boring/long/short. haha It always seems to go by very slowly and we think it's because most of the time we are wasting time before our next not very interesting meeting. Thursday we got free tickets to the Rockies game which was a lot of fun, we were upper deck behind home plate which was good since we were under an awning and it was raining pretty hard the whole game. They went into a rain delay halfway through the 8Th inning so we thought that was our cue to head back to campus. Paul and I were able to go to dinner Friday which was a lot of fun to get to spend time with just him. Saturday I did a lot of researching jobs, cleaning, laundry and a short nap. Last night we went out to Thai Basil was mine and Melanie's birthday. We both were born on May 20th but she is a year older... we were planning on going out in New Orleans together since her team was supposed to be living a few houses down from us. However, they got called to disaster relief in Mississippi from the flooding so they are going straight there and don't know how long they will be there for. We are hoping it will only be a few weeks so we still have time to work and play with them in NOLA.

I am VERY excited to get to see my aunt and uncle who live right out of New Orleans... I don't get the chance to see them much so it will be wonderful to be so close for a few months!! I have making progress with the job applying and am just waiting to see what happens while looking constantly online. Welp, it's almost time to start loading the cargo van for tomorrow so I better get going to double check I have everything packed I need. I am really looking forward to spike travel, the van relaxation, team bonding and staying in hotels. The heat and humidity is going to kick me in the ass for sure but I am looking forward to not having to wear/pack jackets and bulky things. Can't wait for this last adventure of my NCCC year... can't believe it's almost over... 4 days till my bday!!!

Miss and love MN
Coley Burg