Today we went to the site and tried to finish up some of the stuff we did yesterday. Instead of working on the ramp and the siding, I did a lot of painting. This was pretty fun for me because I wasn’t allowed to paint in most of my art classes because I was not very good at art. During the morning, Ms. Tonda, the homeowner, made us biscuits, hashbrowns, and sausage. It was delicious. I drank a bunch of Sunny D and while it’s not good for you, it was amazing. I really enjoy working on this house because it gives me a good way to spend my spring break and give back to people who need it. It also keeps me occupied and keeps my mind from wandering. It makes me happy to be able to help people who need it most, and learn new things along the way.
The ghost tour was really cool and I learned a lot about New Orleans. I originally had a question about why a city was built so far below sea level. Turns out people thought that sailing through the pacific river and to the ocean was faster than going around the Horn of Africa. Another cool thing about the heart of New Orleans in Jackson square is that it is symmetrical across the huge cathedral. The French government building and the Louisiana government building are now both museums. Also, there are two hotels next to the square that are symmetrical as well. We passed a couple haunted hotels. One, the bourbon hotel, advertised its estranged ghost lovers. The other hotel however, the Provincial, did not advertise its haunts, as they are much more gruesome and bloody. What I found interesting what the yellow fever epidemic, and how in 1853, over 10,000 people died. There weren’t enough burial spots or hospitals, so bodies were just lying in the street. One of the hotels was occupied by a family of 9, who all died from cholera while sitting at the dining room table. The most gruesome story i thought though was about the lalaurie, who performed morbid experiments on their slaves, and fled the city during a fire. Apparently Nicholas cage actually owned this house and only spent one night there due to the sound of rattling chains. Our last stop was the United States mint, the oldest surviving and working mint in the US. All in all, today was a pretty good day, and I’m happy to be here.
-Noah Rothenburger
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