Phase One: Complete

      

Stepping onto the platform of the train station in New Orleans was awesome on so many different levels. First of all, it was HOT. Okay, hot may be an exaggeration, but I definitely did not need my coat which is a drastic change from the climate back home in Illinois. Secondly, we had finally made it. It felt like such a relief to finally be in our destination to start learning all about this diverse city. Lastly, we were all about to go and eat a real meal with plates and menus and waitressing staff and dessert! Being trapped in a train for seventeen hours makes the heart grow fonder of real food and the ability to walk on solid ground. I do not know how, but I honestly have the greatest luck with Uber drivers. The man who picked up Mackenzie, Jessica, and I was so nice! He loaded our luggage into the car, recommended local hot spots around our hotel and even took out luggage out of the car for us when arriving to the hotel; this experience was a great way to start the trip. Having a local drive up from the train station to the hotel was great because we were able to ask him questions about restaurants, bars, real estate, sports, museums, and other topics that he would give us his honest opinion about. He was even pointing out famous buildings and locations around the city on the way to the hotel. Once we arrived at the hotel and got settled, we went to the Street Car station and learned how the system worked. As I was standing there, I was taking in the environment around me. I could hear the squeaking of the train cars on the tracks, taxicabs honking at each other, bicycle bells ringing and the sound of foot traveling on the sidewalk around me. When we got to Pierre Maspero’s, I made a promise to myself (and to Mackenzie) that I would expand my pallet and try new foods while on this trip. I ordered the shrimp alfredo pasta (and I have never had shrimp before) and absolutely loved it. The shrimp flavor was something that I did not expect to enjoy. They tasted slightly like rubber, but I thought that it worked really well with the pasta flavors. Overall I was happy with my entrée and happy with myself that I am not backing out of my dietary arrangement. To be completely honest, I was disappointed with the ghost tour. I thought that the stories were very interesting, but it took our tour guide a long time to get the actual story or “punch line” about the hauntings. I think I created false expectations in my head about what would happen on the tour and was kind of a little nervous about being scared about the stories! The roomies and I might be going on a different ghost tour later in the week to see if we can be spooked or hopefully see a spirit before leaving New Orleans. I had a really great time tonight walking the streets of New Orleans with my instructors and peers while getting to know everyone a little better. I’d say overall night one in New Orleans was a success and I cannot wait to continue this party tomorrow!

As I was listening to the stories about New Orleans being haunted, I could not help but think to myself what stories I would tell people who would come to visit my hometown. I hardcore believe in spirits and their presents in this current life, no doubt about it. I have plenty of stories that I could share with people about my hometown; I think that everyone in every city could have haunted stories to share with large groups of people. However, I find it interesting about how these stories differ. For example, these stories we heard tonight about hauntings typically had to do with slavery. I do not believe that people in Nebraska would be sharing the same types of haunting stories with people in their hometowns. I think that the people who live in New Orleans have a sense of pride being from a city with so much haunted history that adds a dynamic twist to their culture, where as people from Nebraska or Illinois may not think the same way. The city of New Orleans also takes pride in their cuisine. After trying the food tonight and going out on a limb with my entre choice and actually enjoyed it I thought to myself, “What are you so afraid of?” I realized that my fear of different food is simply irrational. I do not have any know food allergies so I am not in any medical or physical danger by eating strange foods. It makes me think about the different culinary experiences that I could have missed out on in the past, while also encouraging me to stay true to my goals on this trip of as much culinary diversity as possible. On a non-educational level however, tonight I also learned a lot more about a fellow student that I had in the past. After “school hours” tonight, I was able to spend time with classmates in which I had developed perceived notion about them and did in fact stay at arm’s distance away because of these notions. I was given the opportunity to spend time with these people and learn more about them (ultimately deleting my previous notions about them entirely). I do not think I would have been presented with an opportunity to develop a friendly relationship with these people during regular school hours and I am totally grateful that this opportunity presented itself.

            Day one in New Orleans was overall super freaking cool. I was able to tour a city and see just a small glimpse of what it had to offer to those who live there and to those who are visiting. This city is already forcing my brain to think about concepts that I would not have the opportunity to think about while living in the city of Peoria. This city is teaching me to be brave with my culinary choices and not to judge a book by its cover. May I be learning these lessons a little late in life? Maybe, but better late than never!

Interview before the ghost tour featuring Mackenzie, Jessica, and John!