Annie - Heat

Escaping the heat

New Orleans is unlike any other the people are fun and loving but the heat is extreme.  The summers are tough and have extremely long days because of this heat. To escape this extreme heat you may ask what one would do. Here are some things a person might do:

•  Grabbing a snowball with friends
• Turn on the sprinklers and run all around with your younger siblings or cousins 
•  Find a pool and go play and swim all day
•  Play on a slip n’ slide
•  Have a water gun fight
•  Have a water balloon fight

Even though the days are extremely hot and the days are long, the heat of New Orleans is unique and helps people to find fun ways to stay cool with their friends and families. Even though the heat may be a pest, finding ways to escape the heat is always fun, especially when a person cannot go inside. 

Annie, age 16

Annie - Home

Home

“New Orleans proud to call it home” this saying on bumper stickers that are on cars across the city shows that New Orleans is a special place. Calling New Orleans home isn’t quite like the other places that people call home. Home for New Orleanians is a bond with the other people from our city. It’s the loving family atmosphere between everyone no matter who you meet. Home is the oneness a person feels with everyone when they are together for a crawfish boil, the joyfulness listening to great music at our multiple festivals. Home for us in New Orleans means we are here and together having a good time and being happy. Home is truly where the heart is and every New Orleanians heart is here. No matter where you are New Orleans is there in your heart as our home. 

Annie, age 16

Annie - Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Down in New Orleans

Mardi Gras down in New Orleans

There’s laughter and cheering

The screaming of ‘Throw me something mister’

People dancing, and singing

Running to catch floats that have your family riding on them

Mardi Gras Indians dancing through the streets

Friends coming over at all times of the day or night

That is a Mardi Gras Down in New Orleans

There is no better place or celebration better than that

Annie, age 16

Annie - NOLA Myths

“So you’re from New Orleans?”

“Yea, why?”

“Oh I’ve just heard a lot about New Orleans.”

“Like what?”

“Well just that people there are crazy and they all flash for beads at Mardi Gras and they get drunk all
the time and go to the French Quarter.”

“Oh well that isn’t true.”

“What do you mean.”

“First of all, we aren’t crazy, we are just New Orleanians and we are an amazing and special group of
people. Second, not many people flash for Mardi Gras beads. It’s mostly really drunk tourists who think
that is what you are supposed to do for beads. Third, most of us don’t go to the Quarter a lot.  It’s more
of a cultural tourist center, but we do go there to celebrate big things like the Superbowl. New Orleans
may have some crazy people but it’s the best place I’ve ever lived and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

“Oh wow I never knew that New Orleans was such a great place. I need to go there and visit sometime.”

Annie, age 16

Annie - Winter in NOLA

New Orleans in the Holiday Season

Going to City Park to Christmas in the Oaks

Lights going up around the city

The air becoming chilly

Friends and family getting together

Laughter and love filling the air

Exams drifting closer and closer

People hugging

People being happy and cheerful because Christmas is near

Joy spreading around the city

A feeling of home and togetherness is what the holiday season in New Orleans is

Annie, age 16

Annie - There's a Feeling in the Air...

There’s a feeling in the air

The sweaters and jeans,

The bond fires with friends,

The sipping hot chocolate by a warm fire,

The friends and family laughing together,

The love and joy,

The feeling of pure happiness,

There’s a feeling in the air of a perfect winter wonderland. 

Annie, age 16