For spring break this year, I decided to participate on my third Real Break trip through Orthodox Christian Fellowship. I traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana and spent a week with nine other Orthodox college students learning more about Orthodoxy, Hurricane Katrina, and how to tile a house! 

     The first year I participated on a Real Break trip, I went to Alaska. The second trip I went on, I traveled to Romania. Both of these trips I went on were amazing and were more faith based. The New Orleans trip was more service based. All of these trips were life changing, but I really enjoyed being able to help someone in need. 

     While we were in New Orleans, we were working with IOCC and Habitat for Humanity to help build a house for a family in need. We were split up into groups to complete different tasks and for the entire week, four of us, including myself, tiled the entire house. I learned how important straight edges and level floors are, the importance of "measure twice, cut once", and teamwork. I worked with one participant from Ohio on all of the rooms and teamwork was very important in making sure the floor turned out right. 

     Growing up in Wyoming, I have not had much exposure to fresh seafood, but while being in New Orleans, I tried tilapia, oysters, and craw fish and I can say it was some of the best food I have had. 

     I left this trip with a better understanding of New Orleans and what Hurricane Katrina did to this city and with a new skill of being able to tile. I may have had bruised knees and dried hands, but knowing I was able to make a difference in one family's life is heart warming.