Tips for a trip - Elective

For my final blog, I thought I would give some tips for those who decide to visit New Orleans... These are in no specific order :)

#1 - Pack the right shoes! Driving in the French Quarter is obnoxious. Taxis are expensive. The street car will make you late 75% of the time. Bring a good pair(s) of walking shoes and plan to walk lots of steps (We did like 21,000+ one day.). I had bought two new pairs of shoes right before we left and I was nervous to wear them on the trip because I am prone to slippers (I have princess feet!) I lucked out in the sense that both shoes fit perfectly, were fairly comfortable, and didn't cause any blisters! My toots were tired by the end of the day, but they weren't bubbling or in pain... for this I am so thankful!

#2 - Plan for all sorts of weather... especially if you go in the winter! The day we arrived, temperatures were near 80 degrees. The next day, I don't think we reached 60. It's a colder 60 in New Orleans... I'm not sure if it's because it's near large bodies of water, or because it was 80 the day before... But pack for everything! (If you're used to hormonal IL, this shouldn't be different from the norm) I also would suggest packing a rain jacket/rain coat and waterproof footwear... As stated above, you'll likely be walking quite a bit and ain't nobody got time for soggy socks and swampy feet! (EW)

#3 - You're going to spend $15+ on every single meal if you eat in the quarter. I tried finding cheap restaurants, and it turns out around $15 is about as cheap as it was going to get. Even Jimmy John's is more expensive there than it is in IL. Either way, plan for it! Either pack food so that you can eat at the hotel and save your $$$ or just know going into it... it's not cheap. The food was good... but I was definitely glad to eat a home-cooked meal that I didn't have to pay for!

#4 - Bring a pillow AND a blanket for the train. On the ride down, the train was comfortable while I covered up with my blanket. (Just a small, fleece blankey) On the way back, they had trouble with temperature regulation, so the entire ride (17ish hours) they would run the heat for awhile and then run the air conditioner for awhile. It was horrible. Regardless, when the air was running... it was freezing. I suggest wearing a hoodie onto the train and bringing a small blanket. You can always take layers off if you get hot, but being freezing cold for 17 hours doesn't sound like very much fun.

#5 - The train food is terrible. It's all prepackaged, microwave food. Bring your own so that you don't have to pay $7 for the mini microwave pizza. ALSO - Bring your own drinks because those are overpriced too!

#7 - Keep an open mind - You're going to see a lot (especially if you visit Bourbon Street, lol). New Orleans is a very diverse and eclectic place.... Embrace it! There will be times when you want to giggle at the way someone looks or say, "Did I really see that girl wearing nothing but pasties and a G-String?" (I was offered a group discount on pasties from an entirely different person, also.) Just go with it! This place is like no where I've ever been before... so don't be surprised if you get shocked a time...or twelve.

#8 - The French Market is way awesome... but way overpriced. NOLA T-shirts are much cheaper elsewhere in the quarter... so save your money. OR... Learn to haggle! Many of the items that are sold are handmade and priced by their owners. A lot of the time there is leeway in the price, so don't be afraid to make a counteroffer.

#9 - WETWIPES, HAND SANITIZER, FEBREEZE SPRAY, OH MY! - These were my best friends/lifesavers. Every single bathroom is gross. Every. Single. Bathroom. Is. Gross. I packed these items in my personal bag (that I carried everywhere with me) and I couldn't have been more thankful. It made both mine and my friend's lives much easier (and less disgusting.)

#10 - Don't take anything from anyone....unless you want to pay for it. There are LOTS of people walking around from "charities" and "the local girls and boys club" - No matter what they try to hand you... they aren't just giving it to you. They expect you to donate to their "cause." If you're listening to someone play music... TIP THEM! That's how they make their money. If you take pictures of any street performer, artist, etc... TIP THEM! It's the respectful thing to do and almost stealing if you don't. Not to mention, they won't be pleased and probably won't be very nice if you don't. During my time there I had at least three people come up and claim they were with charities, one man came up and sang me a rap (without me asking and then expected me to pay for it), multiple people blatantly ask me for money, and 2398732498243 different street performers hoping to grab my attention. You don't have to tip them if you don't want to... but don't take advantage of them either. Most of the time, that's their job (Whether you consider it a job or not) - so just keep that in mind :)

These are a few of my favorite things...

The Our assignment was to choose our favorite place in the French Quarter and take a picture of it. I contemplated this for awhile and came to the conclusion that I cannot choose just one place as my favorite. I don't think I could choose multiple places as my favorite. My favorite thing about New Orleans wasn't a building... My favorite thing was the music. Live music is one of my favorite things in the world. New Orleans gave that to me and I didn't even have to work for it. On nearly every street there was music - one man bands, family bands, rap, jazz, country, etc. New Orleans doesn't have a favorite - they offer it all. I will definitely miss the music. I have quite a few friends that are musicians, living paycheck to paycheck, hoping they can make music a career someday. I think that because of my close friends, I have sort of a soft spot in my heart for these musicians. (I also think that's why I spent more money on tipping these beautiful people than I did on anything else.) I cannot wait to share my experience in NOLA with everyone, but especially to my musician friends. They would thoroughly enjoy being able to walk up and down the street and hear all of the different bands playing.

This band was one of my favorites that I saw. Myself (and a few of the other girls) actually purchased a few of their original CDs.

I think my favorite part of the class was all of the different things we were able to participate in. I won't lie, it was exhausting those first couple of days. I don't think anyone planned for as much walking as we did and the back-to back-to back tours were tiring. I will probably never have an opportunity like that again, so it was cool to experience all of these different things and then to know for next time I visit the area what is worth trying and what I might skip. My favorite part of the trip was the education. I learned so many different things that I never knew before. I learned so much about the city's history. I learned so much about the city's people. These people are so eclectic and full of love. I mentioned more than once to my friends that it sort of reminded me of being at a music festival. I love festivals largely because they are what we refer to as a "judgment free zone." Everyone is welcome to be whoever they want to be. You can dress up as crazy as you want, have your hair however YOU want it, etc. Nobody bats an eye. I LOVE THAT! I love the freedom of expression. In my small town, it isn't like that. People are so judgmental and can be so condescending. I hate it. My motto is, "If it doesn't effect you directly and it doesn't hurt anybody... then who the hell cares." This is how I felt NOLA was too. I don't think that I learned anything new about myself... But I do think I further confirmed something that I already knew. I love my small little town, but there's things about it that I don't love. And after spending a week in New Orleans and seeing so many different people, smiles, styles, etc... I've confirmed that I'm supposed to be in a place like that. I'm not supposed to be worried about what I wear to the grocery store because "so and so" might see me. I'm supposed to be able to just thoroughly enjoy every moment of my life and NOT WORRY about those petty details.

Presbytère & Cabildo - A day in history

Because I didn't grow up in the south, Hurricane Katrina really didn't affect me. I was a freshman in high school and my day-to-day didn't change. I didn't really watch the news or keep up with the storm. My knowledge regarding the subject didn't go much further than, "There's a big hurricane hitting Louisiana and Mississippi right now." After high school I moved to southern Mississippi and it was there that I soon realize how ignorant I was on the matter. My neighbors all surrounding me had lived there during that very same storm and gave me their own personal stories on how Katrina affected them. Fast-forward about 5ish years and I've realized that this storm and its aftermath was much more than anything I could even imagine. I think what shocked me most about the storm was the poor attempt at help that we as a nation offered our own. 

Though it is so frustrating to think about those people suffering, watching their stories was so inspiring. There were many accounts of NOLA citizens taking the job of the first-responder into their own hands. In a way these stories sort of reminded me of my own town. Chillicothe is such a small place that we're kind of just one huge family. If someone falls ill and has a benefit, everybody in the town comes. Our support for the St. Jude run beat Chicago this year, because the town came together as a whole. Remember - we are a population of 6,000. Anyways, seeing the way the citizens of New Orleans came together to help each other gave me chills, but also made my heart full. It made me think about my little town and how I know that if a natural disaster were to occur (though I hope there never is) - my town would be okay. We have each other and we always have. I almost felt honored to be able to visit this amazing city of New Orleans, yet a little bit ashamed that I didn't know more about the complete devastation this city faced only ten years prior. 

Seeing everything inside this museum also made me think about healthcare and my future in healthcare. I can't imagine how overly crowded the nearest -and capable- hospitals were. I can't imagine the long hours those nurses worked without taking care of themselves, because they knew they had lives to save. This is actually a screenshot I sent to my boyfriend when these thoughts were going through my head. Excuse the profanity... I am a potty mouth. 

Mixed with the sadness was also pride. I am proud of myself, and the nursing field as a whole, for choosing a career that is devoted to taking care of others. 

 My reaction to Hurricane Katrina was a mixture of feelings. I was devastated reading the personal accounts on what happened. It was heart wrenching to view the photos and videos. It was frustrating to see the different times that people had tried to warn that the city would not be able to handle any significant amount of water. It restored some faith in humanity knowing how much the citizens helped each other out. Strangers took other strangers in. People risked their lives in order to save someone they'd never even seen before. It was disheartening to see the lack of response from governmental organizations. It was depressing to find out how many people were injured, how many died, and how many are still missing. It was angering to read about the looters and how greedy some people are. 

Overall I am so happy that the city of New Orleans has prevailed. I appreciated the city so much more after visiting the Presbytère and I would highly suggest that anyone in the area also visit. Not only was hurricane Katrina a monumental devastation in history - it was also a time where the human race came together as one and fought for their home. Strangers helped strangers, volunteers came from all over and devoted their time, anyone who was willing and able - did. I think that NOLA's reaction to Katrina should be emphasized just as much as the storm's damage was because the world has become such a crummy place... I think that a reminder like this would give everybody a little bit of faith. Be kind. Give when you can and take when you need. If we could all just work TOGETHER.... 

I won't lie, my mind was still focused on the Presbytère when we visited the Cabildo. I was very moved by that experience. Though I was intrigued by all of the different sights within the Cabildo, I'm not sure I found any of its stories to be "interesting." If I had to choose, I would say what kept me most interested were all of the artifacts. I love to see old objects and discover their uses. I like to consider their relativity to today's world and then if they are still used, I like to compare the OG (Original Gangsta) version to whatever today's version is. For example, I came across a Physician's chest. It was filled with all of the doctor's medications/supplies so that he could travel and still be able to fully access his tools in order to treat them. 

It was crazy to me how large and presumably heavy this chest must have been. I actually thought about my luggage and how much it sucks to lift it up right above my head in order to load it into the train. I couldn't imagine lugging around something like this all day everyday. Not to mention that most of what was inside would probably have killed you or made your ailment worse before ever making it better. Though I did not enjoy this facility as much as the Presbytère, a an early Amerixan history buff would. Overall this was one of my favorite days of the trip. 

Villalobos - Elective

Though we were all tired from the night before, we woke up excited to visit Villalobos. I've never seen Pitbulls and Parolees, but I was still super excited to pet some puppies! We had no idea where this facility was located, and neither did the cab driver. Though this struck us as a little bit odd, we gave him the address and he got us on our way. As we were driving, we noticed that things started looking a little... um... different. We pulled into what we thought was an alley and our cab driver said, "What are you guys doing down here?" We explained to him what our plan was for that day and he let us out and left. We looked around and noticed a sign that said "Upper 9th Ward." *Light bulb* When we saw this sign, we remembered talking to two policemen the night before about the 9th ward. Jessica was explaining to them that we'd love to see the 9th ward, simply to learn more about Katrina and see some of its lasting effects on the city. The cops told us it was a bad idea. Jessica jokingly said, "Why? If we get mugged it's no big deal." The cop replied, "Mugged? That's on a good day. You'll probably get shot." - Long story short - we decided that visiting the 9th ward probably wouldn't be on the agenda for the next day. Fast forward to this morning, pulling into what looked like a dead-end alley. We were a little bit nervous, but took comfort in knowing there was quite a number of people there in case anything crazy did happen. I also was comforted when I saw multiple pit bulls being walked around the grounds outside of the facility. Though I do not believe in the stigma against them, I do know that pitties are high up on America's list of "Dogs that are dangerous." We waited in line for about an hour and then it was our turn to experience a tour of the facility. We didn't get to actually walk the dogs because we showed up a little bit too late for that part of the experience, but we did get to see and touch the dogs, as well as the rest of the facility. We had a tour guide, who has a parolee. He said he was brand new and hadn't been there long, but that he would be happy to answer any questions we might come up with. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining throughout his tour. He told us funny stories and little tidbits about every single dog we walked by. I fell in love with one certain dog, his name was Dennis the Menace. He was absolutely beautiful and he wanted to come home with me. 

This was probably my favorite experience thus far. I love animals and I love selfless people and it was clear that this facility housed both of those things. They truly have their fur baby's best interest in mind and the depths that they go to to ensure this is amazing. I will visit Villalobos again someday, and I am hoping that when my family and I go to adopt our own dog... That we're able to rescue a pitty from Villalobos.

Bourbon Street - Elective

Friday night, after returning home from the Whitney Plantation we were officially on our own time. With no tours scheduled and no concrete plans in mind... We decided as a group that we couldn't leave New Orleans without experiencing the Bourbon Street night life. Knowing we were out of our element and in a fairly unfamiliar environment, we decided to stay together and travel as a pack. I think what I enjoyed most about Bourbon was how diverse it was. There were people of all ages, shapes, colors (I even saw a man who was gold!), and sizes. Some were dressed to the nines, some had signs asking people for clothes because they couldn't afford them. The drinks were outrageously priced and most were terrible. You couldn't walk more than 15 feet without someone trying to sell you something, take a picture with them, or get you to come into their bar. It was crowded. It was stinky. There were unfamiliar liquids on the ground all around you. The music was loud and everybody was there just trying to have a good time. I had one of the best times that I've had in a long time and I think that everyone who was out with us would say the same thing. We all stayed together and we all had a blast. I like to think of it as a celebration for ending the semester, passing our classes, and moving on up.

GiRL'S NiGHT! - Elective

I'm a full-time nursing student, I work 25 hours a week, and I have two children under the age of 5. In other words... I don't have a social life. I looked forward to this trip because I was going to finally get a "break." I knew I would enjoy all of the tours and such that we've done because I love learning new things and trying to understand different cultures. I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I've enjoyed just hanging out with my girlfriends, though. Being so sucked into school and work and motherhood, I've lost a lot of my friends. None of us have time to see each other regularly, most of my "childhood" friends don't have children, and to put it simply - our priorities are just completely different. Since I started nursing school, I've naturally bonded with quite a few people but especially a group of girls - most of which are on this trip with me. The other night, we were so exhausted from all of the walking through the quarter that we decided we were just going to order in, veg out in the hotel room and fall asleep early. We had so much fun stuffing our faces and just talking... it felt like a high school girl's sleepover. We laughed so much that my ab muscles still hurt. We've shared stories, jokes, frustrations... We've given (and received) advice from each other. And most importantly... we all enjoyed adult conversation that did not have to do with vital signs, bodily fluids, or lab values. I can honestly say that the people I've met in nursing school will be lifelong friends. They've been with me through what has been the hardest battle I've fought thus far and I truly cherish them.

Hansen's Disease Museum and The Whitney Plantation

As a future nurse, the Hansen's Disease Museum was very interesting to me. I was not familiar with Hansen's Disease up until watching the documentary on the train. I think that watching the film before visiting the museum helped me to understand and appreciate the museum more. Upon first entering the museum, I was overwhelmed by the amount of things that were EVERYWHERE. As I started to explore, I thought it was all very, very interesting. I had no idea how much that particular facility impacted medicine as we know it today. I was also very surprised at the fact that the last patients left the facility only a few months ago. The museum taught me about Hansen's Disease and the effects that it had on those who were infected. It was also like stepping into a time machine and going back into the 40's. It was so cool to see all of the different tools and pictures that they still had set up today. It was amazing to tour the same exact buildings that the patients lived in. It was awesome to read the stories of some of the facility's patients. I think it is amazing how far medicine has come from then to now, but in the same sense, it's amazing how many things are still used today, that started back then. The impression that this facility left on me was to be thankful. Healthcare workers put their lives in danger by taking care of people with a disease that they didn't know much about. Scientists and doctors dedicated their lives to studying this disease in order to try and find a cause and/or a cure. The facility kept it's doors open to these patients for as long as they wanted to stay, even after they had been cured and were given the option to leave. I would definitely recommend people visit this center. I think that it was an awesome educational experience and that it would even be enjoyable for I am thankful for all of those things today. I am also thankful that Hansen's Disease, though still prevalent, is no longer a mystery and can often be fought and cured with few lasting effects. Science is cool.

Visiting the Whitney Plantation was a very sad, yet humbling experience. It makes me absolutely sick to think about the fact that people ever owned other people, let alone the fact that they treated them so horribly. As we walked around the plantation, I felt a lot of different emotions, but I think sadness and anger were the most prevalent. It was so sad to read the quotes on the walls from the former slaves. It was sad to see the number of children who passed away before they were even given a chance. It was sad to see their living quarters and to hear what everyday life was like. I would definitely recommend people go and visit this plantation. In fact, I think everyone SHOULD go and visit this plantation. I think it would be an eye-opener for everyone. One word to describe this place is: WOW. We've been taught about slavery all through school, but this experience topped anything you could read from a book. It all became so real when we walked around the plantation. It is devastating and sickening the way that these people were treated. There is only one race: the human race. I wish the entire world could live out this belief and that we could all realize that we're in this together.

Christmas New Orleans Style - Elective

I hate Christmas music. In fact, when it comes to Christmas music, I am the Ebenezer Scrooge. The Grinch. At the top of the naughty list. I cringe at the radio stations that only play Christmas songs and if I hear that Mariah Carey song ONE MORE TIME... Needless to say, I wasn't exactly thrilled about this holiday show. I'm not sure why the music bothers me so much, because I love the holiday season... But I think it has to do with the fact that when I was a kid, my dad would start listening to it in November and it would play nearly non-stop until March. I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed the show. The singer's voice was beautiful and I thought it was really cool that she was Louis Prima's daughter. Though it was hard to understand some of her songs, it was still enjoyable and the instruments were amazing. I could listen to the horn section all. day. long. Though Christmas music isn't my favorite, I will admit that this experience kind of put me into the Christmas spirit. I have been slacking due to school and finals week and then preparing for this trip. I usually have Christmas presents bought and wrapped before December even begins, but not this year. I still have yet to buy anything. I've not been motivated or excited for this holiday season because I've been so stressed out about everything else. I feel like now that finals are over and we are half way done with this trip that I can finally relax a little bit. Kicking back and enjoying the music tonight helped put some holiday cheer inside this Grinch and I look forward to going back home to get everything ready for Santa's visit!

Art

I was drawn into Sutton Galleries by the large, vibrant tree painting that I could see through the doorway. As I walked inside, I realized that the entire front part of the gallery was dedicated to paintings that were very similar. A young man working in the gallery approached my peers and I and said that this artist, Isabelle Dupuy, was very, very popular. He said that her paintings flew off the wall and that for this reason, it was okay to take pictures - nothing of hers stayed for very long.

I noticed that all of Isabelle Dupuy's paintings were bright and colorful, full of texture and were all scenes from nature.The amount of paint she used on the canvas gave each painting depth and in my opinion, more character. I also liked the number of paintings she had available and that each of them were totally different - whether it was the size, content, or color scheme. I feel that these paintings could really brighten up a room and for sure would be a conversation piece. I look forward to purchasing something from Isabelle Dupuy some day.

Music, Treme, and the Pharmacy Museum

One of my absolute favorite parts of NOLA is that you can walk around the French Quarter and you hear music on almost every corner. Since I've been here, I've heard all sorts of different musical styles, with jazz being the most prominent. New Orleans, and Louisiana as a whole, had a major impact on American music. Jazz was born here, but before jazz music came along music was predominant back in the 18 and 19th centuries. The history of Congo Square is so intriguing to me. I got goosebumps standing in the middle of the square, listening to Mr. Carr tell us all about the history. New Orleans was also a port city therefore a number of cultures made their way here and brought their own musical styles with them. I love how the city is a melting pot of a number of different genres. I have enjoyed all of our tours thus far (even though I am EXHAUSTED), but I honestly think I would enjoy just walking around the French Quarter or stopping on Frenchman Street and just listening to the sounds. I love music and use it as an outlet therefore I could just listen all day long. I think what I found the most interesting about Treme was the photo gallery that we were allowed in to. I loved viewing the history and listening to Mr. Carr's stories.

I think my favorite part of the day thus far was stopping at the pharmacy museum. I found it amazing (and scary) that just about anybody could be a pharmacist during the 19th century. I think all of the different medications and tools that they used are terrifying to think about, especially being familiar with current day medicine and it's regulation. I found it crazy how many different things that the pharmacy actually influenced, such as soda and the pole at the barber shop. I was surprised that the first licensed pharmacist opened up his pharmacy right here in New Orleans. I was also shocked to hear about all of the dangerous medications that used to be used as sort of a cure-all, when in reality they probably hurt the patient more than anything. (Chloroform?!?!) Though I am exhausted, I enjoyed the pharmacy tour. Science is cool.

The City Speaks

Today we went on a tour of the St. Louis Cemetery no. 1. I love seeing little pieces of history still living today, so this experience was really cool to me. I thought it was awesome that our tour guide was actually a cousin to the tour guide we had during our ghost tour. I also felt that both tour guides were knowledgeable and interesting - they definitely kept my attention.

I enjoyed the cuisine tour even though I did not enjoy most of the food. I'm definitely not adventurous when it comes to trying new foods, especially sea foods. Either way, our guide was a lot of fun and she taught us a lot about creole cuisine. I also really enjoyed visiting the Germaine Wells Mardi Gras Museum and seeing all of her elaborate dresses. I found it amazing that each one of those dresses were handmade and was in awe at the cost of them.

I think the thing I enjoyed the most today was simply seeing everyone. I enjoy going to music festivals because 1) I really enjoy music and 2) I really enjoy seeing people be themselves without a care in the world. Nobody is judging anybody or making anyone feel poorly about their choices. I get that vibe walking around in the French Quarter. There are so many different types of people and it just works. I LOVE IT! I get a little bit anxious with the amount of people around me, but it makes my heart happy that people can just be who they are. I think that if I learned anything about myself today, it was just confirming that fact that Chillicothe, IL is not where I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life. I love diversity. I love hearing all of the different accents and languages. I love New Orleans. 

Arrival

WE MADE IT! I was THRILLED to look out of the train's window and see the Super Dome, where the New Orleans Saints play. It had been a long and only semi-comfortable ride and I was ready for some fresh air. I haven't visited the south since moving back to Illinois in 2012 and as soon as I smelled the air and saw the palm trees - I fell back in love! We called a cab to take us to our hotel, as walking a mile with our luggage didn't seem like a very fun idea. $15 and about 7 minutes later - we made it to our temporary home. We rushed up to our room in order to shower before we went out for the night. (We all felt a little grimy from the train.)

I am from Chillicothe, which is a town of about 6,000 people. We house a few gas stations, one main street (which has three stoplights), and one grocery store. The population of the French Quarter is around 4,000. The French Quarter is a 78-square block area. (13 blocks long, 6 blocks deep.) (Frenchquarter.com, 2015) To say that I was a little bit overwhelmed by the chaos that is the city is an understatement. I loved riding on the street car. All I could think about was how cool my almost 5-year old would think it was. I look forward to taking him some day. I also thought it was a way more fun way to get around than a city bus or a taxi.

I've been in the French Quarter a time or two, but this has definitely been the best experience thus far. Dinner at Pierre Maspero's was good. I was glad to find something even I, being the picky eater that I am, would like. I also really loved the ghost tour we received and though I didn't necessarily believe in everything she was saying, her enthusiasm kept me hooked. Hearing the stories (real or gumbo yaya) is so interesting. I look forward to the rest of the week. 

Resource:

Frenchquarter.com. (2015). FrenchQuarter.com: French Quarter FAQ. Retrieved from: http://www.frenchquarter.com/about/FAQ/php

Departure

I had never ridden on a train before, so I was a little nervous about the 17-hour train ride. Once we got our luggage on the train and filed into the car, I was thrilled to feel the comfortable temperature. After riding for nearly two hours on a bus with no heat… this was a luxury. It had been a long day and we were all exhausted so I was also looking forward to sleep. I leaned my chair back and kicked the recliner out and did my best to get comfortable. I was surprised at how smooth the train ride was – only being rocky a handful of times and nothing that was too crazy. I really enjoyed being able to just ride the train and not have to worry about listening to the GPS, looking for my exit, or pulling over for one of my passengers to pee. The food was overpriced and terrible, but that was partially expected.

I’ve learned a lot from this trip thus far. I learned that riding in a bus for two hours with no heat in the middle of December in Central IL is not something I want to do again; therefore I will have a ride waiting for me in Champaign when our train pulls up. J I also learned that I should pack more real food when I travel on a train… I only packed snacks (which really consisted of just candy). I learned how convenient train traveling is. We usually drive on every trip we take, but I really think that we will probably take a train next time as all of the hard work is done for us when we ride a train. Finally, I learned how to operate the seat that’s on the train, in order to make for the best sleeping experience.

Preparation

Here we are... three days before we leave... and I haven't packed, purchased, or hardly thought about what to bring. I have been so sucked into finals the past two weeks, that I've kept putting off packing. For whatever reason, I also thought it would be a good idea to pick up extra at work, so I've been working twelve hour shifts on top of that. I normally am such a planner - so now that I'm coming to the realization that we leave so soon... I'm stressing!

I've started my preparation with a to-do/to-get list (I make these lists almost daily). I plan to run to Walmart tomorrow evening, and purchase some "bathroom stuff," an umbrella, and lots of snacks! The biggest struggle I'm having is what to bring as far as clothing goes. I know the temperature there will be much more enjoyable, but I'm so used to either scrubs or sweats, that I'm not sure I remember how to dress casually. Since I'm not really sure what to expect as far as the places we will visit, how the weather will be, etc... I'm just going to bring an assortment of clothing and hope that I can come up with appropriate outfits. :)I am going to bring my laptop, cell phone, and tablet (loaded with games and movies) to keep me entertained on the train. I'll also bring a sleep mask, blanket, and pillow - in hopes of getting some sleep during our ride. 

The biggest apprehension I have with this trip is leaving my kids behind. They are almost 5 and 1.5 and I have never been away from them for more than a night or two. I'm a bit of a control freak and I worry about how on Earth their father will keep them alive without my help. My family is encouraging me that I need this trip and that I deserve a break... and I'm trying to believe that too. I am looking forward to it, I just know I'll miss them. While I'm gone, they will maintain their regular routine and we will hopefully be able to FaceTime regularly.

Course Expectations

As a full-time nursing student, full-time mother of two young boys, and 30-hr a week worker... It's pretty obvious that I don't get out much. When I heard about the travel trip to New Orleans, I thought, "Oh! How fun would it be to go back down south and with Jessica and Nicole!" (I had already assumed that my friends were also going.) Though the extra expenses caused minor stress, I think that the experience will be more than worth it. I cannot wait to see New Orleans through a totally different eye from prior visits. I am excited to learn about the city's history and culture. I look forward to hearing the music in the streets and seeing the performers. I can't wait to soak in the warmer temperatures, see all of the crazy people, the beautiful sights, and spend an entire 7 days without trying to reason with a toddler. (Okay, okay - I know I'm going to miss that.) 

After seeing the trip's itinerary, I'll admit I was a little bit overwhelmed. When I originally signed up for the course, I was thinking it was a week long vacation without kids. Now that I've snapped back into reality, I am very excited for everything that Colleen has planned. I think that the trip will be packed-full of unique learning experiences and I look forward to taking it all in. I am impressed with the thought and organization of this whole thing - As someone who likes to have a plan, this eases the mind. 

Urban Expectations

I was born and raised a small town girl. I grew up (and still live) in this town of only around 6,000 people. We have three stop lights and one grocery store. That being said, when I think of the city... I think of the busy! Bigger cities boast tall buildings, bumper-to-bumper traffic, and lots of noise! For whatever reason, Chicago immediately comes to mind. I think of the erratic drivers and the obnoxious honking of the horns. In comparison with my home town, everyone moves much faster in the hustle and bustle of the city.. It's not uncommon to get stuck behind a tractor or a golf cart in my town... In Chicago, however, everyone is in a hurry! I am intrigued by the diversity of larger populations. I think about how all of the different cultures make up this one area and how beautifully they all fit together. 

Having lived in Long Beach, Mississippi for a year... I've visited New Orleans on more than one occasion. My first impressions have been less than wonderful, however I am looking forward to this trip. When visiting before, I noticed that the city had a stench to it. We didn't venture out of the French Quarter, which is constantly full of people and activities. We unintentionally explored NOLA as tourists, stopping in every gaudy gift shop we could find. I was underage and unable to investigate any of the bars, but that didn't stop me from getting a ticket from the party police. I think that this experience in New Orleans will leave a much more positive memory behind as I look forward to the different activities we've got planned. I am excited to take in more of New Orleans than just the less than cleanly Bourbon Street. I'm excited to learn the city's history. I'm most excited to soak in some kid-free time in one of the most diverse cultures in the United States.