Crusader Toby Alfonso wrote an essay in his English honors class here at Brother Martin High School that was recently featured in the St. Bernard Magazine:
A Journey Home
By Toby Alfonso
"The eighth-grade field experience filled me with pride when we were riding down to my home, the most beautiful place to live, St. Bernard. My class and I took a trip to my hometown to bag oyster shells and look at the Caernarvon freshwater diversion for our field experience, but the journey there was the best part. We started our journey getting onto the cold, uncomfortable buses. Soon, I found myself in Arabi, the beginning of St. Bernard from New Orleans. Riding through Arabi, my teachers asked Michael, my best friend, and me questions, as we live in St. Bernard.
We passed his house next to the yellow and brown brick covered C&C Drug Store and the bright blues and reds of the spray-painted train cars that have gotten even more pleasing to me since the first time I saw them. Even though these things might not be appealing to some people, I find them beautiful. I have grown up with these things and they have attached themselves to me. I see the beauty meant by what the artists have attended for the train cars now; I know the story of the drug store’s life. Therefore, I am proud of Arabi. But my mind was on lower St. Bernard, where I live.
Soon enough we arrived in Chalmette. I knew it when I saw the tall brown St. Bernard Stack. All of the good times from my past suddenly washed into my head. We passed my old school, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, bringing back colorful memories of my grammar school childhood, and I could taste the cheesy macaroni and red gravy from Rocky and Carlo’s as we went further.
Going deeper into the more rustic, rural side of St. Bernard, after passing the Chalmette refinery, where my dad works, and Valero, another plant, we were riding through the deep green cow pastures. The soft “moo” I heard once, but it was enough to make me realize that we were almost in small Meraux.
Through Meraux, we passed the “square houses” as I like to call them. These houses more-or-less have a particular box shape that I have noticed throughout my years. As we kept on riding, we went through the tunnel of trees and saw the familiar orange-brown cluster of buildings I see every day, Docville farm – the place that I’ve spent countless hours at for gatherings, car shows, events, and cookoffs. The reused barn area brings me joy. Although these community values might not seem appealing to some people, I am proud.
Finally, we rode through Violet. We passed the creepy mannequin house and the chalky old church as we arrived on the “ship strip,” a patch of road where you can see cruise ships occasionally passing through. There even used to be a battleship docked for repairs there! We kept going and arrived in Poydras, my home. We passed Casanovas, and I smelled the salty shrimp that it sells. I could hear the birds’ joyful song as I shifted in my seat to get more comfortable.
We passed where I live and saw the blue bayou in the back of my house. The sight of the old Oak and Willow trees was awning as well. We then passed through Poydras and arrived in Caernarvon. The area was getting more and more rural as we arrived at our destination, the diversion. We exited the bus, and I stretched in an even chillier environment.
We walked up the levee, and I saw the beautiful Mississippi River. The shining deep murky green waters reflected the bright yellow sun as a boat passed through the scene, a sight that would stop even a thief in his tracks. Our teachers began to talk about the water diversion, and I listened intently.
Once they were finished, it was time to go to the next stop of our trip: bagging oyster shells. As I look out to the river with my friend Michael, I thought to myself once again, “I am proud to live in St. Bernard!” This place is like no other in the world, to me, it is the most beautiful. I am proud to call St. Bernard my home."
Toby Alfonso is an 9th grade student at Brother Martin High School. He lives in St. Bernard Parish with his parents and brother and wishes to pursue a career in acting. He is actively involved in the Brother Martin Dionysians.
