Oh Miss Mary

This is an article I wrote for the corps paper.

Cedar 7 pulls up to Miss Mary’s home during the first week in Louisiana. The lot basically resembles a glorified junk yard made up of a decrepit house (the reason we were there), tin panels surrounding her whole acre (to prevent forest fires?), and 12 cats. Filled with curiosity, Cedar 7 approaches the back door, eager to meet Miss Mary…and the cats. An 82 year old woman with the mouth of a sailor and the endurance of a 24 year old, Cedar 7 appreciates her greatly, especially her potty mouth. We also appreciate her unloading her guns for us. The guns are to scare off the “pill head boys” who come in her yard and mess with the cats.
We were asked to clear up debris. As we are peeling this debris, layer by layer were received our first batch of authentic Louisiana culture; the bugs. Termites, ants, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, and a scorpion! Kevin, our sponsor, explained to us that these bugs are called “tai tai’s.” While working, Miss Mary is constantly screaming from her window telling us she would grab her “poison” if we wanted to kill the bugs. We politely refrained. In the midst of screaming at us in her Louisiana Creole accent, Miss Mary screams, “Michael! Get off my husband’s grave!” Apparently she buried her husband in her front year some years earlier. Creepy?
The next morning, Miss Mary asked Michael to fix the electricity because she has a lot of lead in her. “Oh yeah is there a lot of lead in the water?” asked Michael.
“No! When I was 17 my husband stabbed me and the lead is still lingering!” Michael smiled awkwardly and continued working.
This woman is full of surprises and the best thing Louisiana has brought us yet! Despite her outlandish stories and threats with guns, Miss Mary is a dime in dozen and a hoot to work for.

Cedar 7 at Holly Beach

Team outside the recovery Center

BUGS

Today was the most interesting day yet in Louisiana. We packed in the van and drove an hour and 20 minute to where Louisiana borders Texas. The house we were working on was the last house in the area with electricity. Anything beyond the house was swamp (with gators!). We pulled up to the house and it basically looked like a junk yard with a tiny bungalow in the middle. The woman are helping is Maryanne. She is 82 and lives alone. She has guns (“for the pill head boys who hop her fence”). She had tin surrounding her whole property which is probably an acre. She spoke in a Creole accent and yelled instead of speaking normally. The tin said told us was there in case a fire came, it would protect her house. I cannot express how much junk was in her yard. She said she didn’t want to get rid of it because it was the only memories she had of her dead husband who she had buried in the front yard 5 years earlier. Is this not illegal? Oh and she had 12 cats.
We were basically clearing debris that she would let us out of her yard and into a dumpster. We’ve cleared debris before so it seemed like no biggy. I am not exaggerating when I tell you once we lifted up one piece of scrap about 200 bugs came out. ALL different kinds of bugs. Roaches the size of your pinky, termites, giant ants, baby ants, red ants, centipedes, and we actually found a scorpion! I have never seen a scorpion before in my life and it was outrageous. After this happen I decided to help John (one of our sponsors) clean out his trailer instead. He did however say I did an exceptional job and have great organizational skills. I had fitting into the stereotype of girls hating bugs but it's pretty much the only thing Im afraid of. This was my favorite and most authentic experience of Louisiana so far. Pictures will come shortly. Love you all!

New Address Ya'll!

here is my new address!

Lyndsay Senerchia
Americorps NCCC, Cedar 7
2606 Common Street
Lake Charles, LA
70601

Iowa to Memphis to Louisiana!!!

6am Cedar 7 left for Memphis! We drove 10 hours because that is the limit for us to drive. Packed in the van like sardines we ventured off. The drive wasn't so bad. With a ridiculously goofy team like cedar 7 there are not so many bad times. I slept for the first 4 hours. Then we would make fun of each other, play the movie game, punch each other occasionally when we saw a licence plate from a different state, and tell stories.
We arrived in Memphis around 5pm. There were also 5 other NCCC teams staying at the same hotel as us which was fun. My BFF Rob was there so I was happy. We changed and ventured to Beale street which is a crazy busy "main" street in Memphis with loads of history and drinking going on. We ate at a restaurant where they had live music which was fun. We all either had BBQ or Gator Gumbo.
After we dropped off the people who didn't want to stay out and then some of us went back to Beale street for some fun. We listen to lots of live music and then sang some karaoke which is a favorite for NCCC members. Patrick, Rob, and I sang Lindsay Lohan's, "rumors". It was hilarious and embarrassing. My friends here are great. Griff and I have the same birthday and we'll be in transit for it, stopping in Memphis again. Should be a fun 24th birthday!
Today we arrived in our living quarters in Lake Charles Louisiana. We live in a church which is a little uncomfortable for me but I think I'll adjust. ALL 10 OF US sleep in the same room. We have military cots and we brought sheets and sleeping bags. This should be interesting. The best part about it here is that it's 60 degrees and it's night time! We are VERY excited about this.
I am still home sick but it's getting better. We have things to look forward to. I get to come home for Oliver's christening! My friend Tim from Rutgers is going to Tulane grad school in New Orleans so he invited Shannon, Steph, and I down there the weekend of the 30th to stay with him and show us around. I cannot WAIT for that!
Orientation is tomorrow...hope it goes well! Miss everyone alot. Cheers.

Sick For Home

It is my second day back in good ol Iowa and I want to go home. I have never been this homesick and I studied in Australia for over 5 months! Trying to get excited about Louisiana
So far what we know is that we'll be staying in the basement of a church. 1 room. Everyone together. Fun? ehhhh
The good news is, is that we're not too far from New Orleans. 3 Hours for me is nothing so we plan on taking weekend trips as much as we can. Either renting a car or taking a bus, whatever works. Patrick has a aunt who lives there, and I have a good friend who goes to Tulane.
Another thing I'm looking forward to is being the godmother of Oliver and coming home for his christening. Im taking a personal day so I'll probably be home Friday late night to Monday night and Im SOOO excited for that.
Still deciding if this program is for me or not. I really want to go home but I don't want to quit. All I hear are people telling me how much Ill regret it and that's the last thing I want on my mind.
I'll try and stick it out for as long as I can. 7 more months seems like it will go by fast but time only usually flies when you're having fun.
We leave Monday for Lake Charles, I'll keep everyone updated on how it is!
Miss everyone!