Two disasters less than five years equal tough skin

Before heading off to the trip I was nervous I wouldn’t meet people willing to talk to me, but in fact it was the complete opposite. Everyone I’ve met so far has been incredibly polite and has addressed me as either honey or baby.

In New Orleans I’ve had the privilege to meet some of the most interesting people. For example Raymond Joseph Fonseda Jr., fishermen and owner of DesAllemandes Outlaw Katfish Kompany, was a man I interviews 7 a.m. in the morning who was waiting for me on the porch steps of an old green blue home. Walking up to the house I took a good look a Fonseda’s stern eyes and strong stature. The ends of his gray mustache curled and he gave me a sinister look. I thought I was a goner. He told me rather abruptly I had five minutes to only ask five questions.

I was really nervous, but sucked it up and before I knew it he was willing to tell some details of his life story. He first started off by explaining the questions I ask him now have to be asked five years from now, because the damage done will be here for years.

He then explained how his entire livelihood, fishing and shrimping, had to be changed to catching crocodiles. He mentioned there was such a surplus of crocodiles that he was not even making a decent profit off if it. His business was just getting better after Hurricane Katrina, but now he had to start back from square one.

I was able to squeeze seven questions; eight was going a little too far.

The people in this region have tough skin to endure two major disasters in less than five years, but continue to stay and work off of the land they have loved for so long. There is a lot of pride with New Orleans no matter how much hardship they go through. The city is full of culture, personality, and passion that I couldn’t help fall in love with the brief moments I spent in New Orleans.