Lorvelis A. Madueño (photo provided by: Lorvelis A. Madueño and the Neighborhood Story Project)
I was born and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela. I moved to New Orleans in the summer of 2014 with my sister, Loraine and her wife, Ruth. Before coming to New Orleans, my sister and I used to live in a small, private urbanization in the Northern side of Maracaibo. It was a very quiet area despite the heavy traffic and big constructions that surrounded it.
I have moved twice while living in New Orleans. When we first got here, we lived in Poeyfarre Street in the heart of the Warehouse District. Our apartment was on the third floor of a small building, and I had a balcony right outside of my room. Usually, I would wake up really early to watch the sunrise. The mix of orange, red, and yellow in the sky reminded me of Maracaibo.
In the summer of 2016, we moved to a bigger house in Central City. Even though I don’t have a balcony anymore, I can still see the sunrise from my window quite often.
I fell in love with New Orleans the moment I got here. It is a very distinct city with delicious food, beautiful landscapes, and amazing people. I believe I could use these same adjectives to describe Maracaibo to a stranger.
By comparing and contrasting my life experiences, and those of my sister, in Maracaibo and New Orleans I wish to offer my perspective, emotions, and thoughts on this geographical and cultural change in my life. I hope that by exploring some of our life experiences, this ethnographic project will shed light on the importance of storytelling for immigrants living in the U.S. I believe all immigrants have stories, and I hope that mine will actually motivate others to share theirs.
Earthtalk: “Cool Roofs” for New Orleans
It’s hot outside, but it could be cooler! In this article, Brooke Theis explores Cool Roofs, an effective solution to the urban heat island effect that makes the New Orleans heat so unbearable. The author also explores inequalities in how people experience the environment from identity perspectives like race and class.
Big Chem-EZ: How can small Louisiana communities access clean drinking water after a hurricane?
When I went to visit the Pointe-au-Chien tribe after Hurricane Ida with my Service Learning class, I heard that one of the biggest challenges in the aftermath of the hurricane was finding enough drinking water, so in this article, I explore water purification methods: 1) when they are necessary, 2) how they work, and 3) if they really make your water safe to drink.
