#udab2014

I know this is a few days late but I just wanted to reflect on my trip, both for my followers and for me to look back on.

I'm now sitting in rainy Delaware after spending my spring break in Leesburg, Florida. 

Going on a UDaB (University of Delaware Alternative Breaks) trip was one of my best college experiences to date. We worked with the National Relief Network to help rebuild a community that has recently turned for the worst. There was a large population there that could no longer do their own yard work and were disconnected from their community. We raked leaves, cleaned yards, built swing sets, cut down trees, painted houses, mowed lawns, took about chimneys, deforested land, and had conversations. The conversations with homeowners and community members are what mattered and are most remembered. Everyone has a story and sometimes it's best to just take a load off for a few and a good listen. 

One week ago, a group of 38 semi-strangers boarded a bus at 5:30 in the morning. After a 17 hour bus ride, we were friends. After a week of sweating, laughing, crying, handwork, and sunburn, we were family. This hodgepodge family consisted of some of the weirdest, funniest, most inspiring people I have ever met. We worked together for the week and I cannot even begin to explain how rewarding it was. It was so worth it. I learned that even the smallest act of raking a yard could make such a huge last impact.

Every day I was inspired by a new friend - college student or community member. The more I talked to people the more i was impacted. Some of the stories that people have are amazing and are truly a delight to listen to.

Well, I'm back in Delaware after spending the past week in New Orleans on a service trip run through UDaB.

One of the best experiences of my life, hands down.

We gutted houses, cleaned yards, and took apart foundations. We met homeowners who lived through Katrina and Isaac and had their homes and lives torn apart. We spent 45 hours on a bus. We used sledgehammers and crowbars. We worked hard, sweated, and got really dirty. But you know what? It was worth it, just to know that we were making a difference. And it was worth it every single time someone said thank you, because they're so appreciative of the work we do.

And now I have 40 new best friends, and I couldn't love my UDaB family more.