End of an alternative vacation

I was hugging and crying yesterday afternoon and this morning. Before I left for this trip, I was nervous. I'm really quiet, shy and not necessarily very outgoing in large group situations. So I wasn't sure how I was going to survive a week of building homes with people I hardly knew. Honestly, not knowing anyone on this trip was what scared me the most. But I'm leaving with many friends to visit, keep in touch with and share stories about making an impact. I hugged every single person I got to know, worked with and met even by chance. I'm really ironic - I'm antisocial but love to hug and make people feel warm and loved.

Doing something positive this entire week - learning to use a powersaw, a hand saw, painting rooms, using primer and installing hardwood flooring - these were all skills where I had no experience. But I learned from doing while on vacation. What better way to spend a week away from my own boring day job and learn something useful and practical. I can apply these skills to my next rebuilding trip in New Orleans or if I decide to build my own home one day.

What I really enjoyed was being removed from the media and technology. I checked email occassinally but didn't respond to any of my job-search and industry-volunteer work. I blogged but only wrote one post. I loved not having to be chained to a desk 8 hours a day on my butt staring at a computer and looking at my work email constantly for updates. I didn't twitter and all that other social-media stuff. It was refreshing and soul-cleansing. I left my laptop at home and while there was a common tv in the area I was staying, I didn't pay any attention to the news. Apparently I missed a lot - the China cyclone, bush's remarks and some other things likely not very important.

And I'm not all that excited about going home to San Francisco or work. I toured a plantation by random chance yesterday - it wasn't a typical plantation. It was a green oasis plantation covered by trees, rivers, wild mushrooms, fruit and more. The plantation was run by a true "green" hippie - the true definition of "green living." Tomato plants were grown in recycled plastic buckets and old garbage cans. There were pots of water from the rain. I was blown away. We walked a mile along the swampy parts in mud, puddles of water blazed through trees and shrubs.

New Orleans is a wonderful place. The Southern culture is so friendly, warm and welcoming. The food unfortunately is too greasy, huge and not very vegetarian friendly but I've adjusted. The street is always brimming with lively, entertaining and soulful music. It's really the artsy scene and the culture that make the city so wonderful and easy to fall in love with.

I'm going to figure out how to come back and stay long-term. I know it's possible - I've got some people I can call and email. And I have a feeling I'll be back in August for the Hurricane Katrina anniversary and some of the blitz builds.

I was ready early in the week to stay a bit longer. But the roommate stuff is a bit complicated and I have to collect deposits and checks. So I really couldn't just eat the money and not come home.

I have a lot of amazing video clips I'm going to post of the music and entertainment.

But the best part is I didn't buy any souvenirs. The masks were not unique and hand-crafted - they were made in China. And everything else just felt too touristy - I didn't really need a magnet or a tshirt especially when I have incredible video clips, stories and pictures to last a lifetime.

Next week's going to be a bit interesting at work. Everything I once believed in and thought I wanted don't mean the same. I have a few lunch meetings next week related to my job-search and I'm not that excited or interested.

When you spend a week doing something positive and helping people who need your help the most, everything else in life just takes a backseat.