DukeEngage | Duke Center for Civic Engagement

I had studied abroad three times before I embarked upon my Duke Engage trip to Cuidad de Dios, a squatter community in northwestern Peru. During each of my previous abroad experiences my objectives were clear; I was there to explore a
> new culture, get to know people, and broaden my horizons. My goals were noble, but a bit selfish. While I did share my culture with others and hopefully affected their lives in a positive way, my focus was primarily on personal growth. This trip has been different, my focus here has been on community growth, but through working with the community I have also learned about myself.
While a passerby might observe twelve Duke students and ten UNC students (with Nourish International) simply painting a mural in the Plaza de Armas, picking up trash, and helping to construct a new water system in the small community, we are in actuality doing much more. In all of the projects we are striving to bring people of the community together. We want them to take pride in a beautiful town and a clean water system.
The majority of the residents of Cuidad de Dios, a small town of about 40 families, moved to the town, which lies on high ground, after devistating flooding during the El Niño of 1997. People came from different cities and towns and have not lived for long in Cuidad. People in the lower, more well established part of town have water in their homes while new residents in the high part of town must use public taps and carry water up to their homes. The current water system is controlled by a larger town called Santa Rosa, and the amount of water pressure in Cuidad de Dios is directly related to the amount of water used by Santa Rosa. The current water system often lacks sufficient pressure and can be cut off by the town of Santa Rosa.
In order to start the new water project held a meeting with the town to get their approval as well as elect community members to a commitee to oversee the maintenance of the system and be an integral part of the contrustion. We see community ownership of the system as vital to its success. During the contrustion of the the water system we hired members of the community to work with us in digging trenches, laying pipes, and backfilling. We have had paid work days as well as community volunteer work days. Community members who already have water have worked side by side with newer waterless community members to build the system. Even after we reduced the number of paid workers, community members have brought their shovels and picks to help us for free.
This week we have interviewed members of the community about their feelings on the water project and about the strange "gringos" that have invaded their small town. While comments were made about the funny way we shovel and my unbelievably white skin, most people were very excited about the new water system and some people even commented on a new sense of unity in the community. While the community has become tighter, my horizons have been widened. I definitely share the sense of pride the community has in all of our accomplishments of the past six and half weeks.

When in New Orleans do as the New Orleanians (is this even a real word- somebody spell check please) do. For almost a month here I’ve tried to abide by this mantra. I’ve taken the St. Charles trolley, partied on Bourbon St and eaten way too many shrimp po boys for my own good. Despite my living in New Orleans for the past four weeks and my attempts to be considered a local, it’s still very apparent (most times immediately) to the natives that I am not from here. I’m not sure what it is that gives me away but I’m thinking my distinctive North Carolinian drawl, my tendency to sweat bullets as soon as I step into the thick Louisianan air, the overly eager look in my eyes as I wander through the French Quarters or my inability to pronounce New Orleans but instead New Or-Leens all land on the list of “foreigner” tell-tell signs. Either way, my inability to “fit in” has drawn a considerable amount of attention to myself. One of the first questions people ask me after realizing that I’m merely a “clumsy tourist” is “Where are you from”? When the person doesn’t seem too sketch I respond honestly saying “North Carolina” in my perfect (yes perfect!) southern drawl. The second question they ask is “So, what are you doing all the way down here?” Again, if I feel comfortable knowing this person is not a crazy stalker or serial killer I tell them that I am a summer intern with the Duke Engage program volunteering with Providence Community Housing. I then proceed to give them a brief spill about my job and Providence’s mission to create affordable mixed income housing in New Orleans. And like clockwork every time, the person usually thanks me for my willingness to donate my summer to better the city.

I will admit, during the first few days I was quite taken aback by people’s gratitude for my services, however menial I may think them to be sometimes (especially every Friday afternoon around quitting time.) And at the risk of sounding egotistical I also must say that it makes me feel good inside to know that someone beyond my friends at school who are jealous of my trip to NOLA or the program directors of Duke Engage consider my time here as valuable and beneficial. The most meaningful appreciation that I’ve been given is from the curious grocery store owner or the man standing behind me in the po boy line after learning about my intern. People often remark about the kindness of strangers and over my four weeks here I’ve become amazed at how the sincere interest and gratitude of complete strangers makes me feel not so strange in this unfamiliar place. So while I am pretty sure that no one is ever going to mistake me for a Big Easy native, I nonetheless feel at home and welcomed here.

I’m not sure what all it is, maybe the Louisianan accent that’s almost as beautiful as my North Carolinian one or maybe the smiles that make the appreciation received from NOLA natives all the more special. Or perhaps it’s just the glint of hope that I feel these people have in me and my compatriots in our efforts to make this city a better place. So no matter how tedious my job may get some time (this week I had to help organize a city parcel survey for over 6000 units the Lafitte-Treme neighborhood) I just remember that I have to push just a little harder, no matter how tired I may get. I’m still working to earn the thank you given to me the day before by the guy sitting next to on the trolley as well as the kindness of countless other “strangers” that I’ve encountered.