It's not goodbye it's see you later!

On the morning of the last day we spent in New Orleans my roommates and I cleaned up our hotel room and packed our suitcases. We walked out of the hotel and headed for the street car we had come accustomed to riding during our time spent here. We got off at Dumaine station so we could meet everyone at Cafe de Monde. While we were walking to the front of the cafe we saw the biggest pile of feces and Jessica proceeded to gag almost to the point of puking. We were all dying laughing at that point. That pretty much sums up the way this trip has gone, seeing something totally unexpected and laughing hysterically. I wish I would have thought quick enough to snap a picture of the scene because it was that hilarious. After talking with Colleen and receiving our final assignment we wondered off to Jackson Square and handed off our left over beignets to a homeless man on the way. This had become a norm for us to do with our leftovers during this trip. New Orleans has many homeless individuals but most are so kind and thankful for any deed you do. Throughout this trip I have liked pretty much every location or place we have visited but out of all I think my favorite would have to be Jackson Square. The things you see here range from the homeless sitting on the benches, tarot card readings, musicians performing and artists selling their work. You don't see the same things every day that you come so it literally is a surprise each time you walk through. It's amazing a city like this exists and law enforcement doesn't force these people out like I would expect in Peoria. I really love the array of people you find in Jackson Square and there is no judgment. One of the last days we were in New Orleans we were in Jackson Square and the weather was perfect. As we sat on the cathedral steps in the beautiful sun and listened to a local artist sing and play his guitar while his wife played the drums I thought to myself I could sit here forever and be content. I truly understand why so many people move here after visiting it. There is no place as unique as New Orleans. As I write this back in Peoria, I already miss this place. I'm not one to become attached to a place especially one so busy as New Orleans, but I can say I have fallen in love and cannot wait to go back. I have already told my family members they need to visit New Orleans and I already plan on taking my son who loves music and art. Even though this city isn't perfect or the cleanest place on earth I can't complain because the good by far out ways the bad. I have never been somewhere like New Orleans and recommend everyone visit it at least once because it truly changes your outlook on humanity. The way these people live and accept is a beautiful thing. It doesn't matter what you are trying to succeed at in New Orleans they are a community that supports one another.

My favorite part of the class would probably be going to the Presbytere. I never was truly impacted by Katrina even though I was in high school when it happened. When something major like that happens but it doesn't directly affect you I think people can distant it and not feel the pain. Going through that museum and seeing pictures of places we had walked by during the trip really shocked me. Honestly looking at New Orleans today you wouldn't necessarily know how much they were affected in 2005. This city is amazing at how much support they gave one another to rebuild such an amazing place. I am so thankful and humbled by the work they did because if they hadn't I may not have been able to come visit and see what an amazing place New Orleans is.

I honestly think my favorite part of the trip cannot be narrowed down to just one thing. All the tours and experiences we had aided in the love I now have for New Orleans. Some of the experiences we have I can say I would have never gotten if I would have taken this trip outside of school. I learned about their foods, music, history and other random but awesome things. I thought the pharmacy tour was awesome and so interesting. Especially from a nursing point of view. It also makes me really happy to live now and not back then. Ha. These people are so unique in every way. You have musicians, artists, etc and they all are here to follow their dreams be apart of something greater than just going through life everyday. They are amazing! Simply put. I didn't think I would be so affected by just a city and feel so much respect and love for it. New Orleans definitely did that for me and I cannot wait to come back. 

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Presbytere and Cabildo

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005. It's amazing to see how far New Orleans has come in the rebuilding of their city. It's truly heart warming to learn how the members of this community came together for one another to help rebuild their home. 

Many people fled and could have stayed away but this is the home they love and wanted to come back and make it whole again. Of course during crisis like these people freak out and the worst come out in them when it's a do or die situation but overall I think most of the people from this place stood together strong. 

Of course first responders and healthcare workers played a huge role in helping these people. They were trapped in their homes and businesses for days surrounded by the flooding. First responders were here to help the sick and the injured as soon as they could. People from other cities came to help as well. Honestly, I feel like New Orleans handled the situation surrounding Katrina so well for all the devistation they went through. 

For such a big city they really came together to rebuild and support one another. Honestly, to see the stories about Hurricane Katrina was heart wrenching. This happened to 2005, I was in high school when this occurred. Of course I heard about all the devistation and what not but it doesn't impact you the same way as when it is happening to you or a loved one. Sure New Orleans is just a train ride down the Mississippi but it's far away when things like that happen.

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  When we went through the Cabildo after lunch I had fun playing with the interactive things like the drums, holding the different size canninbals and taking pictures in the little photo op stand. I read about Louisana's position in the Civil War and never realized they aided both the Union and Confederate sides during it. I found it interesting that they did this and they would treat and nurse the wounded soldiers back to life. I guess it's similar to the way they were with Hurricanr Katrina, they just come together to help one another no matter your beliefs or culture.
  

  

  
  

  
  

Bourbon Street

Friday night, Hallie, Jessica, Lacy, Brett, Ursula, Josette and I decided to go down to Bourbon Street to see what it was all about. We all met in Hallie, Jessica and my hotel room prior to heading down. After we finished getting ready for the night we headed for the streetcar at about 8:30 pm. When first walking onto the street itself there was so many people, some drunk some not. The first thing I noticed about Bourbon Street was the smell. It’s a very specific smell of vomit and urine. The second thing that caught my eye was the policeman on horse standing in the street. We ended up talking to a couple Louisiana State troopers about Bourbon Street and about where we were from. It was funny because we mentioned that we wanted to drive to the lower 9^th Ward the following day to check it out and they asked why. When we mentioned that we realized it was not a great place and we might get mugged the one trooper said “Yeah that’s on a good day, more like you’ll get shot up.” So thanks to the lovely Louisiana State Troopers we decided against visiting the 9^th Ward. They recommended a couple places we should check out while we were in New Orleans and places to avoid. All in all Bourbon Street was pretty much like I expected it to be from what I have heard and I am glad I was able to see it while I was in New Orleans.

Girls Night In

 

On Thursday night Hallie, Jessica, and I decided to have a girls night in. We had an early night because from class things and decided against staying out in the French Quarter. We had noticed a menu that had been shoved under our hotel door earlier in the day and decided we should order dinner in from there. The resturant we had our dinner delivered from was called Pizza Gusto. They had things from pizza to pasta and even cake. Hallie decided to get the BBQ chicken pizza while Jessica got ham and mushroom pizza. I on the other hand decided to order the chicken alfredo. The alfredo was good but it sure wasn't Olive Garden good. Since we spent over $25 we got a free piece of chocolate cake that tasted ok. Once our food arrived we state pow wow style on the floor and ate together. The rest of the night we just hung out and discussed what we should do on our free day. We also did some blogging and had a nice relaxing night to rest our tired feet.

Villalobos Adventure

Villalobos Rescue Center

On Saturday Hallie, Jessica, Loretta and myself made a short trip via taxi to the upper 9^th Ward in New Orleans to visit Villalobos Rescue Center. We waited in line to take the tour through the center and see the dogs. When getting out of our taxi at the location the first thing you see is a fence full of beads, and other random things hanging. While waiting in line, the employees brought out Rhino one of the pit-bull soften seen on the show Pit bulls and Paroles.

 He was such a big sweet boy and loved everyone paying attention to him/petting him. Once we were able to enter the facility there is a large number of hand built kennels for each dog. Our tour guide, Joey would tell us a little bit about each of the dogs in the kennels. Many of the kennels had little notes about each dog. Things like, cannot have blankets, or cannot have soft toys were written on the papers to remind those taking care of the dogs of their needs. Each dog had a very unique name given to him or her. There were names like Mr. Nibbles for a tiny pup that liked to nibble on your fingers when you tried to pet him. Another was named Dennis the Mennis and he was such a sweet boy too. It’s heart breaking to see all these animals without a home but what these individuals are doing at Villalobos Rescue Center is a really great thing not only for the pups but for the paroles.

Excursions

Hansen’s Disease Museum

            We loaded the vans and navigated our way to Carville to visit the Hansen’s Disease Museum. When we first arrived to the location, we were stopped at a gate that was guarded by military personnel. The scenery around the location reminded me a lot of Illinois. There were rolling planes as far as the eye could see and factory type buildings much like what I am used to near my house. The air was very fresh smelling because of all the openness and being away from the big city. Before this trip and watching the video about Leprosy I did not realize individuals still could become infected with this disease. I always thought it was like earlier diseases that were cured with vaccines. I was really surprised to learn that some of the patients were still living there up until just a few months ago. Some of the experiments they tried on the patients to cure the leprosy are surprising such as fever inducing tests. The tour guide informed us they would put the patients temperature as high as 106 degree Fahrenheit in hopes of treating the leprosy and that patients were willing in the hopes of curing this disease. It’s really sad that these individuals had to live this way because so many people feared infection. It sounds like it was somewhat restrictive especially those who met and fell in love and were not allowed to marry until later in the 50s. I was also sad to hear that if a child was born to those within Carville they would remove the baby from the parents. I think it is a very interesting museum and it is an important part of our history and that we as individuals need to learn these things so we can be informed. I think it is definitely a great idea for those entering into the medical field because one day they may have a patient with this infection even though it is rare. I think the most important lesson we can learn from these individuals who had this disease is not to let fear turn us against one another. People sent these individuals away and turned them away because of the fear they had regarding this infection.

Whitney Plantation

            After we left Carville, we headed to the Whitney Plantation in Wallace. When we first walked into the front building I noticed a large wall with tons of colored post it notes with little notes from people who had visited the plantation. Next we were handed lanyards to wear that had little pictures of children and their stories on the back. I was handed a lanyard with the name Hannah Kelly. It gave a little background on her; she was a ten-year-old girl and worked in the house of the plantation owners. She nursed their children. We followed a tour guide through the plantation, the first stop being a chapel where we watched a video about the plantation and slavery life. Then we moved onto fields of memorials of slaves and the little information hey had on them. We were also able to see the slave housing, the masters home, the outdoor kitchen and the garden of angels. Reading the stories and hearing about what these individuals went through was heart breaking. We learned that little girls from the age of 10-years-old and up were sold as high prices because they were considered “breeders”, meaning they could start reproducing at that age. It is really sad that these humans were treated as property and nothing more. They were treated as equals but only help essentially. I think people should come to this plantation because it is very educational. It doesn’t shove the concept of slavery down your throat but focuses more on the aspect of educating individuals on the history of plantations. I think this experience shows how far we have come as a nation and the strides civil rights have made, but know there is still a long way to go.

St. Louis Cathedral Concert

           

 Day three in New Orleans we attended a concert at the St. Louis cathedral. It was performed by Lena Prima, daughter of the late Louis Prima. The show was Christmas New Orleans Style. She performed a number of the general Christmas songs as well as some of the Christmas songs her father wrote during his life. While I am not personally a big fan of Christmas music what so ever, I do have to admit she sang the songs beautifully. I do think that the more jazzy Christmas songs were y favorite because the typical Christmas songs are so overplayed on the radios during the holidays. Not only was her voice lovely but the cathedral was absolutely gorgeous. All the detail in the murals on the ceiling was stunning and eye catching. I would personally love to lay down in the middle of the cathedral floor and just stare up at the ceiling for some time and enjoy the detailed work. I was amazed at the turnout of people that attended the concert. Overall, I enjoyed the concert and can now say that I heard live Christmas jazz and the famous Louis Prima’s daughter sings.