Rebuilding New Orleans

This summer was my first time traveling with Rustic Pathways and I truly could not have hoped for a better first experience. I went on the program with one of my best friends and as soon as we landed we were greeted by 2/3 of our group leaders who were excited and enthusiastic from the start. During the program I earned 40 community service hours and while the hours were long and the weather was hot, it really didn't feel like work since the people you work with are so passionate about what they do. Partnering with people/organizations that care so much about giving back to the community makes the work much enjoyable and in my opinion impactful. Outside of community service we got plenty of time to explore the city . One of my favorite non-service days from the trip was when we went to Satchmo Fest ( A music festival dedicated to Louis Armstrong) even though it started raining as soon as we got there and by the time we left the streets were ankle deep in water it didn't stop us from having fun. After leaving the festival we ended up having a "hurricane" party (there wasn't actually a hurricane, just a lot of rain) my group spent the evening curled up watching movies and eating pizza. The group leaders also play a huge role in making the experience what it is, I can't imagine the trip without them. They taught me so much and even managed to make chores around the house enjoyable. By the end of my two weeks in New Orleans I was wishing I could stay for two more! I couldn't be more thankful for the time I was able to spend in New Orleans and can't wait to see what next summer will bring.