Over the last two year, I've had mixed emotions regarding the multitude of disaster tours in my neighborhood. During peak tourist times, conventions and sporting events we can have as many as 30 tour buses a day travel past our home. This doesn't even begin to factor in the rental car and taxi tours. They interfere with our driveway and those with poor manners even walk through our yard, in our home and worse...take pictures of us repairing and cleaning without even a hello.The ones who do speak with us often ask silly questions, "how did your neighbors flood and you didn't", totally missing the fact that our house was rebuilt not unflooded or "why would you live here?" Not understanding that we have a mortgage and want to pay only one house note not two.
My mixed emotions began with these rude tourists who regarded my home and situation as an attraction. To them we were on display, something to photograph and point to, not people with a hearts, a painful past or a great deal of heartache and headache. Thus, I began to dislike all tour groups who passed by. I closed my mind to the idea that any disaster tour could be positive.
Then, Loyola University contacted me to participate in their educational disaster tour. At first I was reluctant, but I truly wanted to know what was being said on the buses which pass by my home. When the bus arrived it had a sign, EDUCATIONAL TOUR, and that it was. The tour was led by a professor of Environmental Communications, a biologist, Bob Thomas. I was extremely pleased with the result.
Dr. Bob was incredibly sincere in his approach to the tour. He spoke of distressed residents, the challenges with rebuilding, the effects on residents around the metropolitan area and the role of New Orleans in history, this country and the importance of rebuilding. As a resident and tour guide he spoke with passion about issues that impact us on a daily basis and provided inspiration to out of towners to get involved in the rebuilding efforts. He taught the importance of coastal restoration, levee protection and maintaining a national spotlight.
When the tour was complete, I had a completely new perspective on disaster tours. If all are like Dr. Bob's, New Orleans will have a voice around the country. The tourists departed with a sense of our history and culture, and a better understanding of how the Katrina flooding happened, how other areas of this country could experience similar disasters and mostly, what people can do to help us.
I feel like I learned something, I feel like the tourists learned something and it gave me a completely new perspective on devastation tours.
Next time I see a Loyola Tour, I'll waive, smile and know the guests are learning a valuable lesson.
Amy
Sunday, October 7, 2007
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