As a teacher and temporary guardian of my students, I take my job very seriously. I am always cognizant that we are tramping about in the lives of others. And ever vigilant to the effects on my students.
In December 2005, my concern was invading the privacy of people too traumatized to defend themselves.
On this trip, the concern was intruding on people angered by the damage to livelihood and the beauty of nature around the Gulf.
This trip is (so far) not life-threatening but a threat to the quality of life. I don’t believe we are to the point where we can yet say there are no lingering effects to health from our travels into the stricken areas in 2005.
Who knows when an alarm from this trip could sound?
Despite all those concerns, particularly for residents of the Gulf Coast, we were constantly met with cheerful optimism and graciousness for having made the effort to come see them.
Whether they agreed to an interview or not, people thanked us for coming to cover their stories.
Such unselfish expressions of gratitude never cease to fascinate me. Here are people facing some of the hardest times of their lives who can still appreciate the acts of others and practice the hospitality they are so well known for.
Irene Abrego
lauravgarcia
julysasosa
triciabuchhorn
alisonwadley1
zahrafarah
2write4life
dajames101
drlo1234
