This Hits Home

After sending and working with students in New Orleans and Nicaragua for years—it is surreal to be living through the Hurricane Sandy experience. The center of the large Donohue clans’ universe-where aunts, uncles, cousins and grandchildren gathered for almost forty years—is all but gone. After spending two full days removing all of the contents of the house with my siblings and building a 10 foot mountain of debris along the entire length of the curb—we have come to the realization that my parents will have to demolish their home. Now, cars drive down the street slowly and the passengers take pictures of us; how weird indeed to be on the other end of the camera lens.  I don’t think I’ll do that again when I return to the Lower 9th ward or the slums of Managua after we help rebuild our own state.

Pat Donohue
Assistant Provost
Community Engaged Learning Programs and Parterships