At the risk of talking even more about hurricane Katrina, I should add something good that has come about from the last, almost, two weeks. As you know, my uncle, aunt and grandaunt have been here in Austin since Tuesday. My dad and I went to Lafayette, LA on Monday to pick them up, and brought them back on Tuesday where they've been ever since. They will be leaving tomorrow for Houston, Chicago and other US destinations to visit people whom they've wanted to see for years but never had the time off to do so.

Though the hurricane has brought a lot of death and destruction, I will say that it has provided me with a welcome long-term opportunity to spend with my relatives from New Orleans whom I have not gotten to spend much time with in recent years. During previous visits to New Orleans, I would only get to have a dinner with them and that was about it. This past week, they have been around during the afternoons and evenings when I've been home. I've appreciated the perspective that my aunt and uncle have given me regarding graduate education and also enjoyed hearing their experiences teaching and researching at Tulane University. I also enjoy talking to my grandaunt who is one of my closest connections to my late grandpa; however, I do realize that my Taiwanese is very limited when I speak with her, but fortunately I can somewhat get by.

This is not to say that I am glad that the storm happened. Absolutely not! But as we hear stories of rescue and hope, it's yet another good thing that has happened out of the many occurrances of despair that have graced our television screens for the past two weeks.