OT: Where will the Evacuees GO??

refugees who said he had already fallen in love

True but the winters will likely bring a long time Gulf Coast resident back to earth :-). Not that WV isn't absolutely beautiful but, compared to the south, you guys got winter weather -- LOL! If the person interviewed is smart, s/he will stay u there regardless of the winters! Think what those poor people who are going to the *really* northern states (like Cheryl's NH or MN) are going to have to deal with =8-O. Now, those folks will need all of those imaginary space heaters and down comforters in about -- oh -- maybe a week or two :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Well, I know that we`d refuse to go rather than leave our Maggie behind. Not practical, I know, but that`s how we`d fell, anyway. We saw one man with just the floor of his home standing, keeping it clean and swept, together with his little dog who he held in his arms as he swam to safety. A few neighbours had tents nearby, and he and a friend took turns to keep watch with a shared gun.

Pat P

Some consideration should be given to whether the university has the program the student is majoring in. I mean, my alma mater did not have any engineering classes, so it would be pointless for an engineering major to transfer there, but we do have an excellent reputation with medical schools and law schools.

Of course, as you say, the question is whether the students are responsible for deciding "I'd like to go to X" or whether someone else is making the decision for them. Perhaps Tulane is sending out a list of students and their majors and the volunteering colleges will respond "we'll take Mary, we don't want Joe".

Saw on our news last night that a closed military area is being refurbished to house 5000 refugees in the old barracks. I think it was in MN somewhere. The university I work at (UND) has volunteerd to have the air traffic control students from the MS & LA university programs transferred to ours.

'Twill be interesting to see them all coming. :)

Joan

My impression is that it's not anything like that. My impression is that universities are just offering to offer some spots to affected students who apply, fast tracking their applications to get them started ASAP. I think the students choose where to go, if to go, and have to kick off the process. I don't know what the financial situation is (do they get scholarshipped? do they get any financial aid they were to get at Tulane?). It's just that normally, a student who wanted to transfer at this time would be extremely unlikely to get in, and now universities are attempting to make it possible for them to be in class this term or next term.

Best wishes, Ericka

Knitting needles to the fore - hats, scarves, mittens!

Alison

Ah, OK. Thanks for clarifying. I only heard something in passing about schools taking in displaced students, but missed how they were going to administrate (if at all).

Mom heard a little something about some local gal who was supposed to graduate from Tulane in 2006 and her folks wondering "now what?" Her parents had driven her from NY to Tulane, arriving about 24 hours before Katrina, and when they arrived, were told to either go to a shelter or turn around and head back north, you can't come into the dorms. But Mom's been spending most of her time at the hospital with Dad, so didn't hear the follow-up, if any, to that.

OK. I can do hats and scarves. Cheryl, if you can connect us up with the resettlement agency, I'll send some stuff. Or send it to you for distribution. I'm stressing big-time at the moment and need some mindless knitting like scarves that won't overtax my feeble brain.

'Twill be interesting to see them all FREEZING! :)

OK, everyone, dig out your old parkas and ship them to Joan to hand out to the thin-blooded Southern Belles and Bubbas, who will probably need them next week, if they're anything like my native Californian roommates.

(The day the temperature dropped to 60, I emerged in a long-sleeved cotton shirt, while my roommate emerged in a parka. She didn't want me to leave the house dressed like that, kept insisting that I needed a parka, too. Or at least my trench coat with zip-in wool lining. Kept muttering something incomprehensible about frostbite. Fer Pete's sake, eight months before, I was running around in ten-below and snow up to my kneecaps, I do NOT need a parka when it's 60 above. Or 50 above. Or

Now, MizJoan, you need to rent a couple of movies like GWTW and Steel Magnolias so y'all can understand your new students when they ask you a question, a-coz those Suthunas don't talk a-tall like normal people.

DC Armory just got 300, and they have 100 more beds for folks. It's in the low 50s this morning, in the 80s later. I hope they give these folks some jackets! Fall in DC is pleasant (compared to the muggy nasty summer especially), but I'm sure it's gonna be a bit of a surprise to folks used to living that far south.

I know of one volunteer group currently making teddy bears and putting together backpacks for the kids (coloring books, small toys, things that help bring normality to a child's life).

Caryn

There is still a population of Creole folks down there who speak a version of French. I doubt that they'd understand French Canadian, or vice versa tho! lol

Caryn

That's not correct. Every summer there are big get togethers, particularly in NB where Sharon lives, between related Acadians (Cajuns) mostly from Louisiana. In our Guild we have four of Acadian heritage, they understand French French, Quebec French and also the rather different Acadian French and have no difficulty with the people from Louisiana and their own version of French.

The summer gatherings are a very big thing, they all share a common heritage - two summers ago it was a HUGE celebration, 300 years since the Expulsion by Governor Lawrence.

Although McGill is an English speaking University, I am sure certain Louisianans would feel right at home in Montreal in general.

Actually, lots of outgrown winter coats will head to the shelters soon!

Cheryl

I'll let you know when I find out!

Cheryl

Karen C - California wrote: > (The day the temperature dropped to 60, I emerged in a long-sleeved

This was DD's experience during her college years in Sarasota, FL, too. She said the first time temps went down to 60-ish, she kept going in her shorts and sandals while everyone elsed donned long pants, flannel shirts, and jackets. She was both confused and amused!

Sue