One, daylong, car ride from Furman University, and 1400 miles away from my hometown, I find myself completely out of my comfort zone. The Crescent City is a long way away from Furman; let a lone from my hometown in New Hampshire. Being completely thrown into a different culture and submersing myself into the unique, Deep South flavor of New Orleans for three weeks presents itself as a daunting task. Although this overwhelming task seems daunting, I embrace it as one of the most welcomed aspects of this trip. While I am excited and anxious to see what New Orleans has to offer me and what I have to offer New Orleans, I am going to have to force myself to be open to new experiences and to the culture of New Orleans. What makes this task so daunting is that I know very little about the city of New Orleans. My knowledge is composed of common facts such as how the French settled the city and how French culture has had a large impact on the social climate and culture that is at the heart of the city.
From Jazz and Mardi Grass to voodoo and hurricane Katrina I have entered the city knowing that it is one of the most diverse and eclectic cities in the world. With this in mind, I am excited to become an active part of the city for three weeks. I hope that as the trip progresses I will learn more about the people of New Orleans, their struggle, and what really defines this unique city. I want to figure out what is underneath the facade of the Crescent City in hopes of understanding how the community functions as a whole, as well as how the community has changed since hurricane Katrina. I am anxious to see what happens when you mix a Yankee with one of the most southern cities in the country for three weeks. I have no doubt in my mind that I will leave New Orleans with a different more authentic view of the city.
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