Lots of changes - we're not staying at Camp Algiers anymore! Instead, we're being housed in the W Hotel in the French Quarter (which is what the picture is of) - which puts a whole new spin on the experience. Definitely brings into perspective the amount of backing there is for the cleanup operation: this is a pretty fine establishment, but they're taking us (and other volunteers) in, in support of the work we'll be doing with Relief Spark (see link in the sidebar).

We now know that we're specifically going to be clearing out flooded houses. I can't quite imagine what it will be like to sift through the wreckage of a family's life... I expect it will give normally everyday objects a very different meaning - somehow less significant in that they're useless and damaged, and somehow completely unique, because of the event that transformed them.

I'm really looking forward to getting there (if not especially to the 20 hours in the van that will get us there!), I know that I can't possibly conjure up an accurate image of what it's going to be like, and I don't like not being able to imagine things. Obviously that hasn't been helped by all of the recent sudden changes - but actually, I'm pretty happy about those. Like I put it in my email to the team, it's taking alternative spring break to a whole new level!