Next stop: Puerto Rico!
Hello everyone! Long time no chat!
Yes, I know it’s been a while, so we have a lot to catch up on.
First and foremost, I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving and ended the day with a full tummy and a full heart. I am so very thankful for each and every one of you!
Florida DSA (disaster survivor assistance) work has been keeping me busy. Over the past few weeks, I have canvassed community’s door to door with a crew of FEMA reservists in many areas of Florida: Bonita Springs, Naples, Fort Myers, Daytona, Cape Canaveral and Orlando. I have never seen hurricane damage firsthand until recently, and it is absolutely heart breaking. One street particular in the North Naples area was absolutely demolished. Cars were moved blocks away from where they stood before the storm, sand mountains were piling up miles inland, children beach toys in the streets, and foundations of buildings missing. It was eerie how quiet and vacant this street was. I had so many questions: Where did all of these people go? Are they injured? Are they getting enough food and water wherever they have evacuated to? Are the kids safe? How can I help them heal from this disaster that has just uprooted their lives? While it is greatly valued that we are able to go door to door and guiding the survivors through the FEMA assistance registration process, checking account status, and listen to people tell their stories, in some communities, there are more vacant homes than homes occupied. We still left flyers at the homes that were clearly vacant, but it is unsettling and frustrating that these people had to leave their homes and I can’t take away the heartache that they must be feeling. For the homes that knocks on the door were answered by someone, I have noticed two different reactions. I have met an abundance of tough and positive minded survivors that are extremely grateful to see that we are going door to door, and I have also met a few people that do not like FEMA and did not want any of our assistance. Overall, DSA work has been very hard emotionally and mentally, but I feel that each and every house we cover, we are making a difference and that is what I am here to do!
So, about this posts title… I am currently sitting at the gate waiting to board my flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico! Estoy entusiasmado! (That means I am excited! Thank you duolingo and need to make a note that today I hit my eight-day streak. I will be speaking fluent Spanish in no time.) I land in San Juan this afternoon and jump right into work tomorrow! I have been assigned a project with the Office of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation. EHP is something that I have always been interested in but have not had the chance to further pursue, until now! As always, I will not know much of what I will be doing until I am doing it, but I look forward to telling you about my experiences as they come. For the next few months, I am going to explore Puerto Rico and I CAN NOT WAIT! I plan on going to the rainforest, on many hikes, walk the streets of Old San Juan and eat lots of yummy food. If you have been to Puerto Rico and have some must see attractions, please send them my way!
My plane is starting to board, so I have to get in line but before I do… you know what time it is!
Rose: Going to Puerto Rico (DUH)!
Bud: Hopefully finishing up my federal resume in the next week or so!
Thron: I am tired as heck, but fingers crossed, I can get some sleep on the plane!
Talk to you super soon!
xo, L