My back ground

Hi My Name is Caroline Kim. I was born and raised in Korea until 1992 when my whole family came to USA. At the beginning I had very hard time learning English so, I had to watch Sesame Street so many days to learn English. My very sociable and love to meet and talk to people. I recently found a job at Goodwill. I'm so, excited and cannot wait to see you all in New Orleans. Almost time to party!!

As the days approaching to go to New Orleans for Service Trip I'm getting so excited about the city and love to explores the museum and just basically everything about New Orleans. There were so many new faces at the orientation meeting so, I was very nervous ,but now I'm super excited about the opportunity and the trip. I thank my parents for allowing me to participate, PACE Program Ms. Kornhauser and Karen Roth for everything.

Test

Hi all:

Just trying out the blogging system that we have at our disposal. It was great to meet everybody this past Saturday. Hope all is going well for the Week 1 volunteers. Can't wait to read about your experiences. In a week it will be me and the Week 2 volunteers. I hope we'll be able to gain from your experiences.

Frank

Getting prepared

Hi All,

This is my very first time for both, blogging and going on such a service learning assignment by myself. I was born and brought up in a traditional Indian Hindu family. So, I have had a very sheltered and protective upbringing. I had an arranged marriage and migrated to USA after marriage, where I experienced a very different living style and culture. In my early years, I always wanted to go back home as I felt very out of place here in USA. However, after my kids were born, I got more involved into the culture and the American society as I didn't want to raise kids who were alien to the world they were born in.

I started school and decided to get a degree in ECE field(as I found my interaction with my kids very rewarding). I already have a bachelors in accounting from India, but chose to change my career to become a teacher. I have lived in USA for almost 12 years and this is the first time I will be travelling alone, without my family and kids. I have never been away from my kids. I have never even hired a babysitter as I always took them everywhere with me. I am a homemaker and chose to do evening school, so I could be there for them.

I feel that it's time now to do something that will force me to be out of my comfort zone and look in to something farther and beyond my horizons. Even though I am nervous about the whole experience, I am ready mentally to take the challenge and experience something new. My kids are also prepared mentally and happy to have their daddy home for all 7 days. I am thankful to National Louis, Karen Roth and most of all, my husband, who has supported me on my endeavors.

Today we met the members of our NOLA service teams, during the trip orientation - some are returning veterans of previous trips and some are brand new. It was good to learn about your backgrounds and your purpose for being part of this experience. There was so much energy in the air that I can image the great bonding that will occur among each team. Look forward to our work and building frendships. You are all now alumni of the NLU's Partnership with NOLA Schools Project.

See you in Naw'leans

Congratulations to our 5th Summer Service teams to NOLA

I am so excited to be coordinating 2 outstanding teams to New Orleans as we continue with our 5th summer of service to the public schools of NOLA. The students, alumni and faculty, and supporters representing NLU, are greatly appreciated in NOLA, and recognized for our professionalism and caring to the needs of the teachers and children. Our service this year is with Harriet Tubman K-8 Charter school in the Algiers Parish. A take-over school by the NOPSD, our friend, and NLU almuni, Julie Lause, submitted a charter proposal under the new managment team of Crescent City Schools. We will work with Julie and her newly hired team of educators as we prepare the school for the new academic year. After 5 summers, and with returning service team members: Eunice Shapiro, Angela DiAgostino, Nina DiAgostino, Adrienne Waller, Kathleen Boyle, Shantel Baker, Erica Morales, Erin Bosman, Phyllis Coleman,Judith Hurwich, and Tyler Steinemann, supporting our new team members: Susan Bolton, Jeffrey Herning, Danielle Lappin, Theresa Majkrzak-Anderson, Emily Popescu, Jigna Shah, Jillian vanTuyle, Lillian Yawanis, Ken Zoline, Robert Zoline, Jeffrey Zoline, Sarah Susan Cortesi,Jennifer Hager,Lauren Helmick, Ryan Hoffman, Caroline Kim, Lauren Kornhauser, Marjorie Thomas, Frank Yang and Kate Zilla, we will make formidable teams. I am proud of their commitment to the work and to their eagerness to learn through service. Enjoy the reflective contributions we will be posting here.

2011 NOLA here we come.

As we prepare for our next trip to New Orleans as few things come to mind. The first is, as usual, the weather. The world has experienced the most unusual weather this year and I can't imagine that New Orleans has been exempt from this. Hot..... I suppose it will be hotter than on our other trips (I can't imagine how that could be). Wet....some parts of our country have had so much water they seemed a lot like NOLA after Katerina, others have had no rain at all and are parched and desperate for relief. What will we encounter this year?

Second, our new school. So far we have worked on some interesting buildings trying to get them up and ready to receive students and engage excitement about learning. I'm sure this year we will do something similar. That is good for me, I look forward to seeing another school and having a hand in getting it ready for another academic year.

Third, our group. In a couple of days we will meet our new team. I am excited to see my "old" friends and meet some new ones. That's part of the fun of this experience.

Fourth, my friend Karen. I hope this is the best NOLA trip ever. Karen is such a special person, I want her to have a wonderful, spectacular, successful program. We'll go celebrate every night.
(with music, and food, etc. And of course, some coffee and beniets at Cafe du Monde).

Well, I will post more this year. I am learning how to do this blogging stuff.

Eunice