Create Our World

A Home in The Lower Ninth Ward.

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” - Kahlil Gibran

The Lower Ninth.

Hurricane Katrina’s influence is still felt here.

The Lower Ninth Ward. is a neighborhood in New Orleans that was instantaneously covered in 18 feet of water during Hurricane Katrina.  The levees were breached in three areas near the neighborhood, one being hit by a barge.  The barge went right into the neighborhood.  Not only were houses flooded but they were destroyed and moved from their blocks.  This was also one of the poorest neighborhoods in New Orleans.  Most of the inhabitants were caught unaware and did not have the financial resources to flee the area.

Hope.

Many lots are covered in tall grass.

Hope.

I walk around the area midday with my friend, Hope.  I met Hope in East Lansing and couchsurfed with her there.  She is in town for a medical conference as she is a medical student.  We explore and try to grasp what happened.  It is hard.  There is just not much there.

Nothing.

A lot of lots full of tall grass.  The houses that are standing have an X spray painted on them by the rescue teams that went through after the storm.  In each quadrant of the X is a number.  The date the rescue team went through, the number of the rescue team, the number of non-human casualties and the number of human casualties.  In most cases the number of human casualties has now been painted over, unless the number is zero.

Make It Right is making 150 new homes in the area.

Make It Right.

New homes are currently being built.  Aymee says they look like homes from Mars and they do a little.  They are on stilts and made with material that is sustainable and earth friendly.  Brad Pitt, whom lives in New Orleans leads the project called Make it Right.

What would you do if you lost everything in a split second?

Create Our World.
Ben

“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazawa

Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

I am hope you are all surrounded by loved ones, new or old, and taking time to reflect on all the good that has come into your Life.

A recent article about my travels which was run my hometown newspaper, was picked up and ran by the Chicago Tribune.

Check it out here!  This is great and hopefully gives my trip some more credibility.  But in reading the article, I realize that I really dropped the ball on explaining how grateful I am for my life and the people in it.

I Love You All.

The success of the trip so far has really relied on the people whom I meet whom have taken me in and taken care of me.  I hope this is a small step in showing the goodness of people living in America!  Also, I really want to thank everyone in my life, whom has went out of their way to provide Love to my Life and guidance.  My family.  My teachers and coaches from high school.  My close friends from Michigan and Virginia, whom have been there for me in good times and bad.  And also to all the people whom I have met on my journey so far whom I would now call friends.

I am blessed and grateful for your Love and hope today greets you well!!!

Create Our World.

Ben

My Home in NOLA. 4320 Coliseum.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu

 Below is a collection of photographs of people from my home in New Orleans.

I had planned to stay the night, but ended up staying for a week and a half.  

Aymee, Sarah, Sean, Erin, Brooke, Luke, and Dane are grand!

Erin, Sarah, Aymee, and I prepare for exploring NOLA on Halloween.

Sean records his newest hit song, The Dinner Bell.  Erin Teaches for America at a local school.  Brooke serves high quality local food and rides her new bike.  Sarah is rooting down here after traveling with her sister, Aymee.  Aymee rests before leaving for Chicago and the end of her cross country roadtrip.  Luke and Dane experience New Orleans while planning to learn about architecture on their trip around the world.  They want to KNOW before they create!

A beautiful collection of people under one roof.  I sleep on the floor and enjoy their company.

After coffee in Uptown.

Sean records a new song. The Dinner Bell.

Erin and I pose by a local Statue of Liberty.

Brooke finds her twin on Halloween.

A special place.

Tommorrow, photograph from the Lower 9th Ward.  An area hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina.

Create Our World.

Ben

“Do all things with love.” – Og Mandino