Nick Andrade
I cannot even begin to believe that I've only been in this city for 2 weeks. I feel as though it's been months, maybe longer.
I remember my first thoughts upon exiting the airport terminal two Saturdays ago: boy, it's freaking hot. Although it certainly hasn't got any cooler, my Northerner self has been able to manage. Perhaps, it is simply because the city has so much to offer.
In just two weeks I've had a summer's worth of fun and comfortably adjusted to my placement site: the CARE Center at Children's Hospital of New Orleans. I'll start with the play though, and then get to the work.
I remember my first thoughts upon exiting the airport terminal two Saturdays ago: boy, it's freaking hot. Although it certainly hasn't got any cooler, my Northerner self has been able to manage. Perhaps, it is simply because the city has so much to offer.
In just two weeks I've had a summer's worth of fun and comfortably adjusted to my placement site: the CARE Center at Children's Hospital of New Orleans. I'll start with the play though, and then get to the work.
We've got 6 weeks to go and I've already crossed a majority of the items off my NOLA bucket list. Bourbon Street? Check. Jackson Square? Check. Hold a gator!? Check.
Our first tourist adventure, a Katrina bus tour, was one of the most eye-opening parts of my trip so far. We traveled across the city and were able to see so many things. The depth of the water in St. Bernard's Parish. The place where the 17th street canal wall failed. The housing projects of the 9th Ward, many of them funded by Brad Pitt. As a kid, I never really understood why Katrina was such a big deal. I never understood the breadth of the devastation.
Our first tourist adventure, a Katrina bus tour, was one of the most eye-opening parts of my trip so far. We traveled across the city and were able to see so many things. The depth of the water in St. Bernard's Parish. The place where the 17th street canal wall failed. The housing projects of the 9th Ward, many of them funded by Brad Pitt. As a kid, I never really understood why Katrina was such a big deal. I never understood the breadth of the devastation.
On a brighter note, I've been able to enjoy the great food of this city. On our first weekend after starting work, we went to the New Orleans School of Cooking to try us some authentic NOLA cuisine. There was gumbo, jambalaya, bread pudding, and pecan pralines. All the classics. I've also been able to try a number of local classics, particularly the deliciousness of Datdog.
It's hard to believe, but I've enjoyed my work at the CARE Center almost as much as I've enjoyed tourist-ing around. The center is a division of the Children's Hospital of NOLA responsible for providing medical examinations to suspected victims of child abuse. The center is also home to the New Orleans Children's Advocacy Center, or NOCAC, which gives in-depth forensic interviews to suspected abuse victims.
In our first few days at the CARE Center, Tiffany and I were thrown into the chaos of helping plan a silent auction at the national APSAC conference (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children). It was pretty stressful and worrisome at times, but the auction was a big success! Tiffany and I even got to attend a lecture at the conference, which was pretty cool.
In our first few days at the CARE Center, Tiffany and I were thrown into the chaos of helping plan a silent auction at the national APSAC conference (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children). It was pretty stressful and worrisome at times, but the auction was a big success! Tiffany and I even got to attend a lecture at the conference, which was pretty cool.
The Staff at the Center have been so welcoming to us, and I cannot be any more grateful. They barely know us and yet they have given us so many wonderful opportunities, from taking us to Baton Rouge for an all-day lecture series on child abuse to allowing us to audit a forensic interviewing protocol course with Dr. Mark Everson, the man who designed the method himself.
My placement at the CARE Center has allowed me to be a part of something I am genuinely interested in. I am fascinated with child development, and early childhood abuse has an incredibly large effect on later development, from mental illness to high blood pressure.
My placement at the CARE Center has allowed me to be a part of something I am genuinely interested in. I am fascinated with child development, and early childhood abuse has an incredibly large effect on later development, from mental illness to high blood pressure.
Needless to say, New Orleans is amazing. I cannot wait to see what the next 6 weeks have to offer me!
- Nick Andrade
- Nick Andrade