SENIOR YEAR IN SYRACUSE

All images copyright 2006 Yunghi Kim,

all rights reserved

Nicole Morales, 17, was eagerly anticipating her senior year at all girls Mount Carmel Academy when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on Aug 29, 2005. Nicole accepted an offer from a family of Lauren Levine, 18, a friend she has made four years earlier at summer camp, to come and stay with them in Manlius N.Y., outside Syracuse. At first until things returned to normal, but Nicole ended up living with the Levine's and finished her senior year at Fayetteville- Manlius High School .

For mom Christine, who stayed behind in New Orleans, the separation was exceptionally difficult. Nicole is her only child and best friend. The year apart seemed eternity.