When I first met everyone at the airport, I had no idea what to expect them to be like. Most of them were new to me, other that Lauriane and Steven, I didn’t know anyone on this trip. When we found out our roomies, mine was Nikki, I was really hoping she would like me, turns out we are like the same person.

As the days went by, I started making more and more connections. These people are the best people I have ever met, and I’m hoping to stay in touch with them the rest of my life.

I was with Liane, Lauriane, Steven, Nikki, Shannon, and Nick most of the time, but it wasn’t just the day trips, it was also the late night talks in the Banana’s hallway that made these people special, with Austin, Bryce, Chelsea, Mike, and Zack sitting in there with me as well. The laughs we shared at the dining table in the morning were oddly comforting because I missed them the next morning when we were back in our own homes. It makes me want to go back and be in that room with all of them again, sharing stories, and laughing with each other, and just enjoying the company.

And meeting Joe in the airport when he was on standby, just to find out he got accepted on to our plane.

“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
― Muhammad Ali

Check Out This Picture Video!

On Monday, after a fun day yesterday, I didn’t know how it was going to compare. We started our day out by eating breakfast and drinking coffee at the dining room table while talking about our day before. Then on to Royal Street we went.

While walking down Royal street we saw two really great street performing bands. They were playing the classic music that you would expect to hear while in New Orleans. It was swing, but soul at the same time with a collection of instruments, banjo, guitar, and tap shoes are just a few to name off.

Then off to The French Market, which seemed to be our daily stop since there was so much to see and do there, and also, we were hungry. We stopped at The Gazebo, and I tried a half of a Muffaletta. I was a little put off by the Olives as there was so much of it on there. The sandwich didn’t have a lot of flavor that I was hoping for, but at least I can say I tried it. We then walked down the Mississippi and saw the steamboat, as well as many shipping boats coming around the bend of the Mississippi, it was so warm out, and it felt fabulous to feel the sun. On our walk down, we saw a guy playing the Bagpipes, and it was very unique. I haven’t really thought someone would play the Bagpipes in New Orleans when there is so much jazz every where. It was different.

We walked home to relax and get some water, and maybe take a nap because we were tired already. On the walk home, we petted a cat that sits in the window at a veterinary office.

That night, a group of us went to Lola’s cafe for dinner. It was so good. I got the Gazpacho and the Meat Paella. These dishes were delicious and I was more than happy to share mine with our friend Michael.

We were supposed to go swing dancing that night but we had gotten out of the restaurant so late that we couldn’t make it, which was okay cause we were able to walk down many of the famous streets and enjoy the night.

^Muffaletta^ (Sorry the picture is sideways)

^Mississippi River^

^Gazpacho^

Waking up Sunday morning, I forgot that I was in New Orleans until I looked at my room, I had fallen asleep so hard the night before. That morning we all ate breakfast at the dining room table, and I enjoyed laughing with my classmates and talking about the night before. We also talked about the Islenos Fesitval that was going on later that day. I was more than excited to go because the weather was so nice, and we had a large group go.

Upon arrival at the festival, it was very different than I had expected. I expected to see more latin vibes to it, but it was still very awesome. I tried an alligator sausage and tres leches cake, which were both very good. After that, we walked around and were asked to join a group in a traditional friendship dance, and I could not refuse because I love to dance. So off we went to do a friendship dance, and it was kind of weird, but at least I tried! We walked to the front and a band was playing some really good music, so Nikki, Lauriane, Nick, and I all went and danced. It was a really good time. After that, we went on a tour with the head of the organization and learned about the Islanders that were there forever ago. After the tour, we headed home.

On the way home, we stopped and got Snowballs, which were my version of a glorified sno-cone, I got a strawberry cheesecake flavored one. It was pretty good. We drove through the ninth ward, which was one of the areas that was hit the hardest by Hurricane Katrina, and we saw the houses that Brad Pitt had built there. I honestly do not think they fit in with the area, and should have probably been rethought about how they looked.

When we got home, my roommate, Nikki, noticed I was burnt pretty bad. I got myself some sunday sunburn.

^Alligator Sausage^

^Strawberry Cheesecake Snowball^

On Saturday, when we landed in New Orleans, and I saw the green grass, I was more than excited to be here. My heart fluttered and when I stepped off of the plane, I could feel the warm air. This was just the beginning of the best 5 days of my life.

We landed and rode to the hotel, and just riding through the city made me excited. I saw old buildings, I saw newer buildings, and I saw people EVERYWHERE. It was natural for them to just walk around the city, where as, in my town, it’s not normal unless the weather is really nice.

We arrived at the Banana Courtyard and I got to see my room, and they had really high ceilings, when back at the time this building was probably built, they were much shorter people. I dropped off my bags and off we went to go find some amazing food. Just a block away from the Banana was a restaurant called Buffas. I could smell sausages being cooked on a grill outside and instantly my mouth started to water. We went in and looked at the menu, and I immediately decided that I needed what ever the man outside was cooking. It just so happened that it was a Bratwurst Jambalaya. Three of us ordered the Bratwurst Jambalaya and two ordered the Crawfish Ettoufe. We sat waiting for the food and started admiring the artwork in the restaurant, and we noticed a band coming in to play. Our food came and man did it look delicious. We dug in immediately trying the other dishes as well. The jambalaya and the ettoufe were both very delicious and the music was good.

After dinner, we walked down through the french market, did some exploring, and then went on a Ghost Tour of New Orleans to end the night.

^Bratwurst Jambalaya^