Haley - NOLA Greetings

New Orleans Greetings: 

In New Orleans, one is always greeted with smiling faces.
Walking down the street and saying hello to people you don’t know is far from out of the ordinary.
Friends are made instantly.
Laughs are shared frequently.
New Orleanians are unlike any others.
They are unique.
They are genuine.
They are open to new faces/ideas.
This kind of attitude is a large part in shaping the intriguing culture of New Orleans, our home.   

Haley, age 15

Anonymous - NOLA Greetings

NEW ORLEANS GREETINGS:

In New Orleans we know everyone,

With that said, we greet everyone as a friend rather than a stranger

With smiles, waves, winks,

Anything really…

Hugs are also not uncommon,

In fact,

People usually jump at the chance to hug anyone and everyone in New Orleans,

I guess other tourists may think it is weird but here in NOLA,

It is simply tradition. 

Anonymous, age 17

Anonymous - NOLA Greetings

New Orleans Greetings
Come on in, let us brighten that smile.
Looks like you haven’t eaten in a while.
We’ve got air condition and room to spare.
Here, rest your feet, and sit in this chair.
With our crawfish gumbo, and po-boys galore,
Every Friday you’ll come crashing through our door.
Our Cajun styled food will just hit the spot,
With our generosity, on your list, we will always be on top.
As one can see New Orleans greetings are warm and fair,
Even if it is just to offer up a chair.
With generosity and a couple of bites or so,
I know that, from New Orleans, I could never go.

Anonymous, age 17

Anonymous - NOLA Greetings

Some may say New Orleans has a language of its own. Well, that is true. Where I come from, we
greet everyone with a big ole’ bear hug. We talk about our days as if we have known the person for
ever. There is no shyness between a New Orleanian and a “foreigner.” After we greet y’all we will ask
you if you want food, and stare at you as if you have two heads if you decline our offer. (If there is an
opportunity for food, you take it. End of story.)

When walking down the street we always say hey to everyone. If we see a group of tourists
exploring our grave yards or riding on our streetcars, we will probably greet them with a loud “WHO
DAT!?” If you don’t respond with “Who dat say they gunna beat the Saints,” you will most likely be
stared down. We ask “Where ya at?” all the time.

Although we have our weird ways of greeting strangers or simply talking to our neighbors, New
Orleans’ natives are the friendliest, nicest, coolest people you will ever want to meet. Okay, maybe I’m
biased, but we are pretty far up there on the list. So come down to the Crescent City that never sleeps,
and when you leave y’all better come back now, ya hear?

Anonymous, age 15

Courtney - NOLA Greetings

New Orleans greetings
So friendly
So genuine
So automatic
happening in restaurants,
Hotels, and parties
they always make you feel welcome
Unlike any other city
Where greetings are forced
New Orleans makes it warm
And welcoming

Courtney, age 17

Mikaela - NOLA Greetings

I went down south to New Orleans
To get myself some good Red Beans

The lady was friendly and told me to come on in
In her sweet old accent I was told “Come in so we can let the good times roll”

I was treated swell even when I walked down the streets
Even people I didn’t know treated me well and gave me treats

I will never forget New Orleans
The home of the sweetest people in the world

Mikaela, age 15

Brooke - Mardi Gras

The problem is the to. We are going to…followed by place

Down in New Orleans. After the carnival has passed

and the tourist, who screamed in our ears for plastic

and stuffed animals, who have left the streets encrusted

with particles of themselves left over from the fight for

a coconut or a moon pie wrapper, have left for good.

We love that place, where the blues was born, where

the food is good and ethanol can swish around in cups

open to the air, for children to smell. They say in voices thick

with far, far away. And in New Orleans they transform into

people I don’t like. They wouldn’t like. Why does the city I

love allow foreigners to entice her with the economic promise

of tourism , with the empty promise of we’ll come back. Because

the people who love her back are forever sinking Down into New

Orleans. But she can never know. She will continue to endure

the foolishness of strangers. And we will continue to clean up.

Brooke, age 17

Maeve - Mardi Gras

There is a creature.
Its name is seldom used
and is only whispered in the darkest of alley ways.
This small group
is fabled to live among us,
in New Orleans…

But once a year,
They get the hell out of Dodge
and cannot be sighted for at least a week.
Many believe that they migrate,
so that they can feed.

These creatures that I am talking about
are
PEOPLE FROM NEW ORLEANS WHO HATE MARDI GRAS!

*gasp*

It is said that they are adept at navigating the alpine slopes of Vail, Colorado,
and that many of them visit the “wonderful world of Mickey” acquiring strange hats that may be a
symbol to other like minded creatures that they are indeed, one of them.

This formidable beast is a danger to our life and our liberty here in New Orleans.
Now I hope you join me in the fight to raise awareness,
and that this infectious state of mind be squashed before it spreads.

Aid me in this fight.
Vive le Carnaval!

Maeve, age 17

Torre - Mardi Gras

Is it weird-
The joy that comes with screaming for valueless coins andplastic beads
The excitement of running down St. Charles littered withplastic cups
While strangers from every end of the country
Come in their obvious tourist attire
To profess their love for the Big Easy and even you
To a New Orleanian, this is nothing out of the norm
As we have found a time
Year after year
To make sure the good times keep on rolling
Through ignorance
Through trials of injustice and crime
Through it all
We have found a reason to celebrate
Laissez les bons temps roulez

Torre, age 17

Liza - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans

Where I was born

Listenin’ to the marching band blow their horn

Now Mardi Gras’ over, it’s time to morn

No more beads, my heart is torn

Too many king cakes my stomach is worn

Next year will be even better, so I’ve sworn

Liza, age 16

Ashley - Mardi Gras

When everyone screams “Throw me something Mister!”

And is thrilled by the thought of catching beads, stuffed animals, or even better…

A SHOE!

Just to throw them away the next day.

When everyone walks around in the same striped shirt with the little crawfish,

When it’s impossible to find an available streetcar,

When everyone eats a diet of king cake and gumbo,

When Cajun music fills the air,

When the whole city comes together,

You know it’s Mardi Gras time in New Orleans

Ashley, age 17

Holly - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans,
Mardi Gras means something different than what it means to the rest of the country.
Yes, it is a time of celebration and gluttony,
but it is also a time when the city stops what it is doing,
and comes together.

Down in New Orleans,
Mardi Gras is a time when families put on the most ridiculous of costumes
whether they're dressed as Swiss cheese slices, red solo cups, or super heroes,
and head out to their traditional Mardi Gras spots.
It is only down in New Orleans that you can hold a conversation
about the pros and cons of catching the parades on
Amelia, Marengo, or Milan.

Down in New Orleans,
Mardi Gras is a time when you can walk down the streetcar tracks
and have overly zealous locals throw beads at you
from the streetcar window or dance in the street with a stranger
as if you have known them your entire life.

Only in New Orleans
Will you find yourself in a brawl with strangers of all ages for
Plastic beads, parade cups, or coveted doubloons.

To those who have never experienced it,
Mardi Gras might seem ridiculous due to the
outrageous costumes, excessive eating, and dancing,
but Mardi Gras sums up what the city is all about.
It is about coming together and celebrating what we all have in common.
It is about enjoying our culture,
and it is about letting the good times roll.

Holly, age 17

Brittany - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans,

We don’t walk our alligators on the sidewalks, we contain it to our back yard

We don’t wear beads as regular jewelry, unless it is Mardi Gras season

We don’t all live in “the city”, there is Uptown, Metairie, the west bank, Kenner, Harahan

We don’t pronounce it Nawlins, its New Orleans

We don’t hear jazz music everywhere we go, in fact its mostly only on weekends outside of a bar

We don’t actually believe purple, green and gold look good together, but it's convincing during Mardi
Gras.

Down in New Orleans, were unique, were not able to be duplicated, were truly New Orleans

Brittany, age 17

Julia - Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is a time when everyone and everything in the city changes
a time when...
-it is not looked down upon to stuff your face with Popeyes and king
cake all day
-it is acceptable to wear short shorts with boots because of the
constant changing weather
-it is not creepy for the old man next to you to be talking to you
because you both have the common interest of catching beads
-you don't really care what you look like, because "its going to be
dark, right?"
-there is an excuse to be loud and rude because of all the craziness
around
-you see people you know you won't see until next Mardi Gras
-you collect enough beads around your neck that it's hard to breathe
-you meet people you know you will never see again
And when all of the craziness is over, you drive by the same spot you
stood at for days and wonder if that is actually the spot, because
everything and everyone in the city has already changed again

Julia, age 15

Grace - Mardi Gras

It is the joy and spirit that lighten the streets of New Orleans.
The blaring music from Superior Grill that makes everyone dance,
Bands with a variety instruments cover the pavement as they create cheerful music,
The rumbling of tractors that pull the flimsy floats for miles,
And lastly, children and adults scream for useless and plastic beads that in reality mean nothing
However, these are the sounds that “laissez les bon temps roulez.”

Grace, age 17

Elizabeth - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans, our lives are consumed by food
At breakfast, we think about what we are eating for lunch
At lunch, we think about what we are eating for dinner
And at dinner, we think about what we are eating the next day and about all the food we ate that day

Down in New Orleans, Mardi Gras is the best week of the year
It is the one time where acting ridiculous isn’t considered weird
Seeing all the floats
Shouting and fighting for plastic beads
Taking pictures with people dressed in ridiculous costumes
The city truly comes together during this time of year

Down in New Orleans, there is never a dull moment
There is constantly something to do
The music is only part of what makes this city so great
There isn’t a city like it anywhere else
The feeling of community is indescribable
The city’s spirit on the day of a Saint’s game cannot be contained
The music, the food, the history is all unique to the city
Down in New Orleans, everyone loves their city and is proud to call it home

Elizabeth, age 16

Anonymous - Mardi Gras

The trees and the beads

The parades with the masquerades

The fun while on the run

Down in new Orleans you can find

The atmosphere which is one of a kind

Maridas gras is the best

It beats all the rest

Anonymous, age 16

Ashley - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans…
Begging strangers in masks to throw plastic beads at your face
Diving to the ground for doubloons
Covering your neck in purple, green and gold beads
Giving kids decorated spears
Praising strangers dressed as kings and queens
Wearing tacky clothes
Eating your weight in fried chicken from Popeye’s
Celebrating when you get the baby in a piece of cake
Dancing with strangers to the beat of the drums
is the norm.
It is Mardi Gras Madness, what else do you expect?

Ashley, age 16

Estelle - Down in New Orleans...

Down In New Orleans
Down in New Orleans is what all the northerners say
Down in New Orleans where the bob cats sway
Down in New Orleans is where the jazz band plays
Down in New Orleans where the carriage horses neigh
Down in New Orleans is where you come to eat a beignet
Down in New Orleans is where the tourists stray
Down in New Orleans is where the college kids go “cray”
Down in New Orleans is the place to stay

Estelle, age 16

Lucy - Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras…

You see some funky outfits during Mardi Gras,
Especially from college students from out of town,
Those inexperienced first-timers…
Neon clothing, tutus and extravagant hats blind me from what I really want
Beads.
Just about every costume or clothing imaginable is worn during Mardi Gras
And used against me in order to drag my eyes away from the object I am trying to view,
The floats.
Bodies painted metallic gold, Mardi Gras body suits, and people wearing barely anything,
Are all, in truth, dressed wrong,
But, most importantly, they are distractions.
And if you think these outrageous costumes only come out during these five nights…
Just wait for Mardi Gras day.

Lucy, age 17

Haley - Mardi Gras

MARDI GRAS IN A NUTSHELL

Wake up.
Get dressed.
Rush to day parades.
Walk around aimlessly in the streets searching for familiar faces.
Stop to watch the floats passing by.
Scream “Throw me something, mister!” until your throat is sore.
Take a break to go eat.
The sun starts going down, and you go back out.
Walk towards all of your friends.
Run up to people you haven’t seen in a while.
Meet people that you feel as if you’ve known for a lifetime.
Stay out until you can’t take it anymore.
Go home and talk about everything that happened that night.
Sleep.
Wake up.
Repeat until Mardi Gras day.

Haley, age 15

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

Catie - Mardi Gras

There is such a sense of community down in New Orleans
Being with most of your friends on the streets of your Home city during parades is so much fun
Knowing almost everyone that you see walking around gives you a feeling of family and importance
There is a melancholy feeling  of not watching too much of the parades when in high school, but instead, visiting with friends
When you do finally watch some of the parade, it brings back memories, and reminds you of the excitement and joy Mardi Gras really brings
The strong bands' wholehearted sound defines Mardi Gras, while making people smile and dance
Masks are all around along with crazy costumes
Spirited people wearing beads around their neck up to their chin displays a good time on the route
Having soccer everyday preparing for state, brings you back to reality and soon the Holiday is over, leaving people with just memories to talk about

Catie, 15

Mikaela - Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras:

Indians come out and fill our eyes with color
As we watch them march down our streets in the many multi-colors

Little children reach up and scream “throw me something!”
As those on floats throw every little thing

Beads in the trees remain
As we try and refrain from going insane back at school

Of the three week party we will never feel ashamed
Because at the end of the day this is our city
New Orleans knows how to party
We let the good times roll

Mikaela, age 15

Francie - Mardi Gras

Arriving to school,

Purple, green  and gold everywhere. 

Teachers trying to teach, 

But no one seems to care. 

Ten minutes left, 

And no one can sit still. 

The bell rings, 

And everyone runs. 

Fried chicken and macaroni,

The highlight of the month. 

The sound of our favorite band 

Starts to fill the air. 

They fill the front courtyard 

As the whole school is as happier than ever.

This is just a glimpse of Mardi Gras at Sacred Heart.

 

Francie, age 17

Taylor - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans
Good smells rise
and lift across the skies
as we sink below sea level
six feet above where the devil lies
Down in New Orleans
We celebrate
where you’re welcome to eat, drink and pray
in the jambalaya jumble before Fat Tuesday
when the marching bands rumble
and the flambeaux men sway
and ancient oaks lean in toast to hurricanes now gone away
where friendly smiles are shared
and rain stains glass
Down in New Orleans
At a Super Sunday Second Line
you can buckjump out of your mind
party till the sun shines and
pass a real good time
down in New Orleans
embrace yourself
into the taste of this town and
Lose yourself until your soul is found
Down in New Orleans

Taylor, age 16

Camille - Mardi Gras

The Time of Your Life Could Be the End

A jab of the elbow here and there, a little shove to the old lady. Everyone has been through the fight.
I first discovered “The Fight” when I had to wrestle with a thirty-something year old woman who seriously wanted some beads. My friend Simone rode in the Zulu parade and man, did she have some things ready to hand down to me and Meredith. Be prepared to hear the horror of this day, Meredith almost lost her life. As the float approached, Simone got all our bags of beads and catches ready. As she lowered it down, among the regular commotion, this unknown lady threw herself in front of us. She was going for our catches! After that, everything happened in slow motion. Meredith and the woman struggled over the bags. Back and forth, both sides were not giving up. Then, the contents flew up in the air as the bag split open in two. We were almost pushed under the float and crushed to death.
I am grateful that we survived to tell the tale.

Even the French don’t venture to such lengths on their famous, Mardi Gras. My recent exchange student came for this past Mardi Gras. Her dad came with her and had the time of his life, as people do down in New Orleans. He told us stories of his late night on the town. He had gone up to the concierge and simply put it, “I just want to dance.” He just wanted to dance after all. He was directed to a night club on Frenchman Street, ironically where he met “the love of his life.” He was kidding when he said this. The lady was his age and he told us that his wife had never said such things to him. She told him, and this is not a joke, that he was “so beautiful.” And they danced the night away. He told us he returned to his hotel room at 2 a.m. the first night, then went a little crazy and stayed out until 4 a.m. the next day.

Camille, age 17

Kaley - Mardi Gras

           "Hey Mister!"

People get crazy, and party more than ever

Everyone partying with people they have never seen

A real excuse to stay up into the morning for a multiple days in a row

People acting in odd ways with people they have never seen nor they will ever see again

          "Throw Me Something!"

People throwing away their money for no reason what so ever to random people that they have never
seen before

People fighting for things that will never matter, and that will most probably be thrown away during the
next few days

Thoughts running through the minds of the people on the floats, while seeing all the random people
yelling at you

          "I Want Something Good, not Just Beads!"

How do those people on the float feel to be on the float and get yelled at by drunk people?

What do the tourists think when witnessing this odd spectacle?

What would a New Orleanian's life be like without Mardi Gras?

Kaley, age 15

Chelsea - Mardi Gras

The Essence of Mardi Gras
King Cake is a Mardi Gras Staple.

The Outside world does not understand.

No, it is not an over-sized cinnamon bun.

It is the start of a magical season.

In this season, an entire city comes together.

They all share in the revelry of carnival.

From the smallest krew to the largest

The streets are filled with people.

They wave there hands and chant

“Throw me something mister”

Hoping the riders will throw beads their way.

The Kings and the Queens wave at there subjects

The elaborate costumes stopping people in their tracks

All this together

Is the essence of Mardi Gras

The Carnival Season

Chelsea, age 15

Ciara - Down in New Orleans...

Mardi Gras Down In New Orleans

People gather around
Everyone comes together
You make your best friend for the day
Knowing you’ll never meet again
People yelling for their beads
Bands playing to the beat
Joy just floating in the air
Floats passing by
no one is shy
People come from everywhere
It’s a time we all share

Ciara, age 17

Courtney - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans
chilly weather, good spirits
great food, shiny beads
colorful floats, shouting people
all describe the time of the year
that all New Orleanians
anticipate daily
until it actually comes
fat tuesday, mardi gras
whatever one calls it
the meaning is the same
a week of pure joy and
fun for every person
in the city

Courtney, age 17

Emily - Mardi Gras

Today, today
The trumpets scream
And the people march
To a beating drum

There are men with flames
And precious, shining things
Strewn about
Muddied on the filthy ground

These are wild times, they say
Because the people invade the streets
So that none may leave the city
And their cries resound
And to the republic for which it stands
All hail, King of Carnival

And there are many flags
Some Fleur de Lis
Some tri-color: purple, green, and gold

And amidst the madness is you,
Like a little Dauphin, lost
In the tides of frenzied onlookers

You mount your scaffold
And you watch the people march
And a masked man looks at you straight in the eye

You raise your hands, praying to God
Hoping to grasp the tiny fortune
Which now passes fleetingly right above you

And then the strike
The sharp pain in your head
The feeling of a million beads
Making impact with your little skull
And as the tears well up in your eyes, you watch them fall to the ground

They remove your body from the scaffold
And over the shoulder of your mother
You see a young reveler
Holding your little, shining, purple bag

You extend your arm

Wrap a tiny fist around the bag
And in a wavering voice, mutter a thank you

Mardi Gras:
It’s the best of times
And it’s the worst of times

Emily, age 15

Brittany - Down in New Orleans...

NOLA Truth

My family and I evacuated Florida during Katrina. When we arrived, it was cold, dark and raining outside, and I had no friends. Sitting in my hotel room, I turned on the TV, hoping Spongebob would be there to make me laugh. Instead, a came across something disturbing and alarming. A news reporter informed me that “God is punishing New Orleans for their corruptions such as partying, and supporting of criminals.” I was a fourth grader who had just learned that I was a member of a corrupt community. All of New Orleans, including me, a naïve eleven-year-old, was at fault. We deserved God’s punishment; I felt guilty. When Katrina was over, I returned to my religion class at Sacred Heart and questioned the news reporter’s statement. My teacher told me “down in New Orleans, we ignore stupid stereotypes.” WHO DAT

 Brittany, age 16

Meredith - Mardi Gras

Why do people…Pull hair, Punch, Push, Shove, Shout, Spill

Just for beads

There is an abundant amount of plastic, replaceable, cheap beads.

So why do people fight over them

or even worse, almost get run over by a huge float

Tourists come for Mardi Gras to experience New Orleans

They spend five dollars at Claire’s for 1 bead

Or assume that all girls flash for beads

But the reality is they are just beads.   


Meredith, age 17

Lillie - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans, winter isn’t an actuality.
Clouds bound down heavily and humidity proliferates.
Temperatures remain around New England spring while spirits rise and fall.
Down in New Orleans, sea levels are inconsequential.
Storms are what re-energize and charge the static energy that this city runs on.
Oaks produce the fresh shade of which air-conditions dream.
Down in New Orleans, directions go south to the river swiveling around north.
Cracks and potholes are in the streets, not on the streets.

Lillie, age 17

Ruthie - Down in New Orleans...

No matter where they live,

always ask a friend to visit you

"down here."

How's Houma?

I like New Orleans,

not gonna lie.

You gotta come down 

and visit at least once.

Oh, you live in Miami?

That's nice.

You should come down here

sometime.

Venezuela? Sounds cool.

You gotta come to New Orleans.

We have good food 

down here.

We don't realize,

that we aren't that far south. 

Ruthie, age 17

Megann - Mardi Gras

We wear our short shorts in January, our scarves we wear in july, 

the weather here gets switched around, but not one snowflake on the ground

not one snowflake on the ground 

im walking in new orleans with the sunshine on my hair

flip flops on my feet, traces of chill gone from the air

but something different besides our dress 

and evergreen trees and sidewalks snow-less

sets us apart from any other country, state, or town

you can see it in the glimmer of the Rex king's crown

men in dresses, red black or gold

masses on the parade ground, young middle or old

we look, we sound, we feel separate

we are our own, a massive color palette

but every once in a big blue moon

the changes come and we all swoon

above ground graves all covered in snow

beautiful, austere, and strange, we know

never forget and never regret the fact we are all raised to know

it's deep within our hearts, our souls, our minds, our genes

dreams do come true in new orleans

 

Megann, age 17

 

 

Anonymous - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans, we all wait for that special day
when Fat Tuesday comes our way.
Down in New Orleans, we all scream and shout
“Throw me something mister!” as the floats roll about.
Down in New Orleans, little girls sit in their ladders
and pray that one day they will be queen of the ball.
Down in New Orleans, the marching bands start to play.
Down in New Orleans, where the king of Bacchus reigns,
but the women of Muses with their high heeled shoes are really who’s boss.
Down in New Orleans, it's purple, green, and gold.
Down in New Orleans, never forget to
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

Anonymous, age 15

Jade - Down in New Orleans...

Down in New Orleans is all about fun
We don't get in fights, we just love one another as one
Problems do arise and we all stick together
Just like one happy family, in it, together forever
We've been through a lot, just as a city alone
From being flooded to the oil spill, but we never leave one another alone
We're a big ole family, down in New Orleans

Jade, age 15

Jackie - Down in New Orleans...

“Down in New Orleans” in the deep, deep south

where those say yall

with the deep thick Cajun accent

is only stereotype of southerners.

It is the yall that we do say .

Down in New Orleans

We are in the streets

Watching the magical floats strolling down

The streets in New Orleans.

Even if it may rain,

Down in New Orleans,

We find the way to party in any type of situation.

Jackie, age 16

Anna Marie - Mardi Gras

What is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is the time when people run down the streets cheering “Carnival Time.”

Whether it’s morning or night seems perfectly fine.

All through the day and all through the night,

There is not a single empty street corner in sight.

People all around dancing, cheering, and singing,

If you’re not from New Orleans you don’t know what you’re missing.

“Carnival Time” and “Throw Me Something Mister” are common sayings,

If you come this year, I know you’ll be staying.

Or at least come back around this time next year,


To catch some beads and share that Mardi Gras cheer!

Anna Marie, age 16

Anonymous - Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is something one must experience for them selves. It cannot be described in words but only through occurrences of the fabulous time of the year. For New Orleans, it is everything. All of the city’s spirit is combined into one huge, great feeling of ferment. Nothing gets better than the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans.  

Anonymous, age 16

Leira - Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

When Tuesdays are Fat

And Cakes are Tri-Colored

The Food and the Family

The Friends and their Mothers,

All Gather to Eat to Dance to Play

All in the Honor of Mardis Gras Day.

Catch the Most Beads

Snatch the Most Toys

Be Selfish for Once

And Share all your Joy!

Attend all Parades

For Tradition or Fun

Set up a Party

Invite Everyone!

When Old Friends meet New Friends

Or Ex-Friends make Ammends

Bring them Together so you can Say

Let’s all have Fun on this Mardis Gras Day!

By Leira, Age 17

Julia - NOLA Myths

No, I don't live in the swamp
but I live a couple blocks away from it
No, I don't drive a muddy, old truck
but my cousin does
No, I don't have a pet alligator
but my neighbors do
No, I don't go hunting every weekend
but my uncle does
No, I don't have a hick accent
but I have realatives who do
No, I don't constantly party
but I have freinds who do
No, my home was not destroyed by the storm
but many were
No, not everyone owns a gun
but my friends nanny does
No, not everyone is a killer
but I have a neighbor who is on the WANTED list
Myths aren't entirely false
but that doesn't mean they are fully true either.

Julia, age 16

Sarah - NOLA Myths

No out-of-stater will ever truly understand New Orleans

No, it is not “just” the city with a horrible crime rate,

Nor is it is” just” the city that got destroyed by Hurricane Katrina

But, it is the city that never has a dull moment

It is the city with non-stop commotion-

Mardi Gras, Balls, the Saints.

And yes, the schools in the city of New Orleans schools DO get a full week off  “just” for Mardi Gras

Sarah, age 16

Brooke - NOLA Myths

No. You cannot take a taxi here.
Bareback on alligator or perot
But the former only if the location is near
Nawlins tourists, here we go.

Don’t expect to find chicken or to wash
Swallow when you can getcha some gator or bull frog
Served up with a side of grammatical goulash
Does it look funny? It’s not like we would eat a dog.

You really shouldn’t drink the water
Cause Lord knows, how much it is mudded
Can’t come to the Fait Dos Dos, daughter
Ya’ll know I can’t leave because my house is still flooded.

For the record we don’t bury the dead
We’ll keep you in a little white house indefinitely
Why, how could a person rest in peace rotting in lead?
Fear not, your bones can be used for voodoo sorcery.

Brooke, age 17

Courtney - NOLA Myths

Nola myths
Voodoo queens, French
quarter ghosts, and mardi gras madness. Some of the most
well known mysteries
repeated over the years
by people not from the city
These myths plague
Nola with more
stereotypes than
one can count
But it is the true
Essence of New Orleans
that dispels these lies
Family, football, food,
and fortune allow this
city to thrive on something
More than just counterfeit
Thoughts and ideas
It is the true traditions
Of Nola that counteract
These lies

Courtney, age 17

Jackie - NOLA Myths

It is a common myth for foreigners of New Orleans

To think that this is a city of

Sorrow due to the horrid event of Katrina,

But to inform those who are unaware,

This event occurred more than 5 years ago.

Although the citizens are grateful for the help and volunteering occurring,

Think of more than just sorrow and pity when thinking of New Orleans.

Let alone, it is a known fact that New Orleans is a

City of hope, change, tradition, and fun.

Nevertheless, it is a tradition to have fun when in this great city.

Even though the people of the great place

Have gone through much despair,

Those people have all found a way to find the beauty and fun that this city allows for there to be.

Thus, it is a myth that there is too much misery in this town, along with fun.

But, personally, I think that it’s the opposite. There is more fun and beauty than misery.

Jackie, age 16

Bizzy - NOLA Myths

Stereotypes of New Orleans

really, there are too many to list.

They drink, they party, they’re fat, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

People thousands of miles away judge us, think of us, stare at us, gawk at us, point at us and laugh—
they believe they know who we are from the television they watch,

they love to view us, like people at a zoo,

without real knowledge, they make speculations.

Now, we can say that they are wrong, but that would, in some ways, make us wrong too.

Because yes, some of us with very high blood alcohol levels slurp from tall, plastic, cups,

yes, some of us dance down Bourbon street on Saturday nights, and into Sunday mornings,

yes, some of us may have a slightly higher daily caloric intake than the average American,

Don’t the stereotypes have to come from some deep-seated truth?

Don’t we admit, to ourselves, when no foreigners are around…

that the large, stumbling man over there has had a little too much fun.

Bizzy, age 17

Shealynn - NOLA Myths

People assume big parties in the Big Easy are during Mardi Gras

That the hauntings and ghosts aren’t real

That crime is rampant and we haven’t gotten over Katrina;

Well I’ll show you the true New Orleans

Where we find every excuse to throw a party or a parade

From birthdays to Superbowl wins to holidays;

The city that inspired Interview with a Vampire

And where Halloween is taken to a whole new level

The French Quarter is better than ever before and even more beautiful

Many places one would never know a hurricane ran through

Because we’ve come back better and stronger,

So what are you waiting for?

Shealynn, age 17

Megan - NOLA Myths

New Orleans is the murder capital of the country. I have lived in this city for sixteen years and
until recently would say that this was a myth. I have never witnessed a murder. I have never been scared
to walk around my city or drive around it, but now the media and headlines like “Monday Murders”
have me agreeing with people around the country. This is no longer just a myth. Us New Orleanians live
for our misconceptions. I love the tourists who come in for Mardi Gras thinking that we all get drunk all
the time going to Bourbon and then to the swamp for some Gumbo. We rise above our reputation, and
are better than the myths that surround the city, but when a myth becomes a reality, it starts to concern
me. I hope someday that instead of “Monday Murders” we could just have “Monthly Murders,” but
either way New Orleans will make the best out of it. The party never stops in the Big Easy.

Megan, age 16

Mikaela - NOLA Myths

Entering the world that New Orleans withholds

We established a culture that we can call our own

From the outsiders point of view it is told

We party all night and at noon we go home

This statement isn’t valid?

No work?

What a tragic!

The Big Easy is not measly a party palace

We are so well known for letting the good times roll

People overlook the hard work that we put into our homes

They may overlook the foundation of our happy soul

Which is we rebuilt this city and for that we rejoice!

Mikaela, age 15

Maeve - NOLA Myths

I. AM. A. BEAST.

I eat three dozen beignets

EVERY day.

I eat a hot sausage po-boy for lunch

and drown it with a cup of café au lait,

then scarf down two dozen oysters

to feed my ferocious appetite.

Wait,

no that’s a lie.

I had a yogurt and some goldfish.

Though I may not have eaten a beignet in three months,

I am still from NOLA.

Maeve, age 17

Ashley - NOLA Myths

No, I don’t have a pet alligator

I don’t live in the bayou

I don’t take a canoe or an airboat to school

I don’t shoot my own dinner every night

I don’t carry a shotgun

I don’t ride a trolley

I don’t eat “bag-nets” or “pray-lins”

I don’t walk around shirtless at Mardi Gras

I don’t go to Bourbon street and get wasted every night

I’m not a cannibal because I eat “poor-boys”

I go to church, not voodoo rituals

I ain’t stupid, I be edumacated and I no tawk Cajun y’all

So stop stereotyping New Orleanians. Because even though you may not understand us, we’re
awesome.

Ashley, age 17

Estelle - NOLA Myths

The Big Easy

The first things that come to many people’s minds when theythink about New Orleans are Mardi Gras, Bourbon St, partying, street cars, café du monde, and a whole lot of fun. Yes, those are all very important characteristics about New Orleans but there is more to the city than just drunken madness. Many tourists come to New Orleans thinking that downtown is all there is to the city. They come for the food, the architecture, the music, andto see what it is all about. Whenever someone finds out I'm from New Orleans, their reactions are all the same: “Oh my God! You’re from New Orleans! I went to a wedding there once! It was crazy! You must be such a crazy party girl!” If you ever have second thoughts about coming to New Orleans just remember, it’s called “The Big Easy.” How bad can it be?

Estelle, 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

Anonymous - NOLA Myths

NOLA Myths

We drink booze, we forget shoes and we arrive home in twos

We may be crazy but were no more crazy than you

Take Kansas for example with all of the-

“Do you drink beer?” or some of the...  “Do you carry a gun for fear?”

Well, considering I’m 10

No.

Anonymous, age 17

Jade - NOLA Myths

New Orleans isn't what everyone thinks it's out to be.
Partying every night? We actually go to school and learn.
Bourbon every night? I've been on Bourbon with my mom twice.
Being on the roofs fighting for our lives during Katrina? I left before.
VooDoo? I've never even been to a fortune teller.
Sleeping outside in tents for Mardi Gras? Never done that either.

There's more to New Orleans than the spooky fortune tellers and the
crazy parties.

Jade, age 15

Torre - NOLA Myths

NOLA Myths

 Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a city. Over the years, this city grew and grew and gained a reputation for itself. People came far and wide to visit and city and see if the myths they heard were true. Doesn't everyone live on a swamp? Well, of course everyone lives on a swamp, where day to day tasks that involved traveling required for one to jump in their air boat and drive to the local grocery store to “make groceries.” There, in that grocery store, is where the truth was discovered about life in this city. As you turned into each isle, there was an abundance of king cakes on the walls, even in July. Next to the king cakes lay ingredients for gumbo, jambalaya, and beignets, seeing as those are the only foods the people of this foreign city eat. If one would turn to their right in this store, an extraordinary voodoo ritual would be going on, naturally. There are even “How to Start a Voodoo Ritual” kits on every shelf. As you proceed to check out, there are usual ghosts of every nature, good or bad, in line that one could chat with while waiting to be checked out- your typical Monday afternoon. After one of these natives to this strange city is done making groceries, their first instinct is to drive their air boat to the French Quarter, or more specifically Bourbon Street. After all, it is Monday, and one must visit Bourbon Street every day of the week. Did you not know that?! But one must return home early- can’t forget to feed the pet alligator! As the sun goes down and night jumps out over Lake Pontchartrain, Cajun lullabies slowly caress each resident of this city into a deep sleep. As the sun rises, this routine repeats itself again. And again.  Everyone from various states knows of this city. It’s New Orleans of course! This is the daily routine of a typical New Orleanian, isn’t it? I’m glad we have those misconceptions about New Orleans straightened out now.

Torre, age 17

Meredith - NOLA Myths

Trolley

Vampires

Year round beads

Voodoo

Frahnzsay

Good times guaranteed

Ghost

Bourbon street

Laissez les bon temps rouler

*Myth Busted*

Meredith, age 16

Grace - NOLA Myths

Camp friend: “So do you guys pay to get into Mardi Grass?”
Me: “No it’s free.”
Camp friend: “Well I don’t get it, so there are drunken men riding around on trucks?”
Me: “Exactly how I would describe it” (sarcasm).
Drunken men, blaring tunes,
Packed crowds and uncontrolled chaos
Phrases that depict the indescribable atmosphere through the words of…
Outsiders or so called foreigners,
All bewildered, puzzled by the thoughts of “Mardi Grass.”
Myths can only create the reaction of a New Orleanian: uncontainablelaughter.

Grace, age 16

Haley - NOLA Myths

“Oh, so you live in New Orleans? You must be crazy!”

It’s common for one to associate a New Orleanian with Bourbon Street, the French Quarter, and
extensive crime.

Let’s be realistic:

1. No, I don’t go out to Bourbon Street during the week let alone on the weekends.
2. The French Quarter is an awesome/cultural place to be but most people spend their time in
their own area.
3. No, I don’t have to freak out every time I walk outside my house worrying that I will get shot.

New Orleans is one of the most soulful, heartfelt cities there is. There really isn’t anything like it.

“New Orleans: proud to call it home!”

Haley, age 15

Katie - NOLA Myths

“Hey I am from New Orleans”
“So do you go to Bourbon St. every night?”
“No”
“So does everyone run around naked at night in the French Quarter”
“Um… No”
“What’s that weird thing you say? Oh yeah, Who dat and d’em.Is there a genetically mutated part of your speech where you are programmed to just say grammatically incorrect words?”
“Ok that’s kind of insulting, and no.”
“Do you flash to get beads at Mardi Gras?”
“Definitely not!”
“Do you realize that the Saints are incredibly overrated andthat Drew Brees is getting pretty old?”
“Just walk away and don’t talk to me anymore”
“Is everyone just drunk all the time?”
“No, did you think about that question before you asked it?”
“How are you doing since Katrina? Isn’t it still pretty bad?I mean I don’t know if y’all are going to going to comeback?”
“We are coming back, and better!”
-         These are all true questions that I have had to respond to while traveling to other states. The truth is that everyone wants to judge New Orleans and make up stereotypes, but they can’t touch New Orleans and what it means to the people that live here.

Katie, age 16

Victoria - NOLA Myths

The Amalgamative Definition of a Typical New Orleanian=
            [insert god-awful gangster-Cajun accent]

           swims wit dem alligators in dere backyard
           conducts dose voodoo rituals every Friday night
           all-day drinker, all-night partyer
           juz like Britnay Spears or Lil’ Wayne
          (minus the bank account—we freeze all our cash)

         On da weekends, juz fa fun, dey loot dat local Best Buy...
         And when they done finished,
         They hang at dat house on da corner haunted by
         Dos’ evil spirits.

lives and breathes New Orleans,
Flaunts their “ya’ll” like no other,
Pretends like they do not know how to spell the word “geaux” right,
And would die before associating themselves with a Falcon’s fan.

But most of all, living in New Orleans
Means ignoring what all those clearly mis-informed people say
In favor of letting our good times roll.

Victoria, age 17

Caroline - NOLA Myths

It takes a lifetime in New Orleans to even begin to know how to accurately describe it. The reason there are so many myths about this unique place is because anyone who has experienced it is burning with the desire to share it with people around them. I feel like it is almost safe to say nearly everyone in the US is aware of New Orleans’ wild reputation. The reason I say this is because I come from New Orleans I have developed the ability to engage in conversation with anyone. For example on the ski lift, you and the stranger you’re sitting with will go through the typical “so where are you from?” conversation. There has never been an instance where I have received a “WOW! That is so cool!” reaction. But of course, it is followed by a bunch of questions involving the myths of the city and Hurricane Katrina. I do my very best to explain to them my personal experience involving the myths but I by no means am capable of speaking on behalf of the whole city for there is not one myth I can even think of that does not come from some ounce of truth. Mardi Gras is the craziest time of year, I have participated in quite a few second lines, I do eat red beans and rice on a weekly basis, etc. I think in order for one to dispel a myth they’ll just have to come here and see for themselves.

Caroline, age 15

Maura - NOLA Myths

“IM SWASTED IN DA 504”

Oh, how we love tourists

Tourists come, tourists go

Our drunken stereotype always stays, it never goes

It’s a part of us, mostly true, but mostly false

Sure New Orleans has some drinks, but we know how to keep it in

Tourist don’t

They think they can hang, but how wrong they are.

We are not the drunken swamp people as many may think

We have much more to offer then drive through daiquiris and Bourbon street

We are just New Orleanians

We cannot be defined

That’s just a simple fact

Maura, age 16

Anonymous - NOLA Myths

The voodoo queen

Works while singing

She makes gumbo and pie

It is so good oh my

But really there is no queen

She simply is the resident of New Orleans

A mother to three

Oh how she is talented, yippee.

Anonymous, age 16

Ashley - NOLA Myths

Not everyone owns a gun.
Not everyone loses a loved one.
It’s not a game of warfare.
There still exists love in this New Orleans air.
Although there are some crimes,
There are also happy times.
And I am proud to stay here, without any fear, in the city that I love.

Ashley, age 16

Elizabeth - NOLA Myths

New Orleans Myths

I live in New Orleans so therefore I must
       Own a pet alligator
       Eat beignets every day
       Wear Mardi Gras beads year round
       Live in the Bayou
       Practice voodoo
These New Orleans myths couldn’t be anything further from the truth
No one owns pet alligators
       No one eats beignets every day
             Only tourists wear Mardi Gras beads year round
      Most people don’t live in the Bayou
And I guarantee that there are very few people who actually practice voodoo
Well I guess every place has its stereotypes right?
One must live in the city before truly understanding what
New Orleans is about
Everyone assumes all we do is party on Bourbon
There’s so much more to the city than that
Great food and music, Supporting the Saints, A feeling of family and community, and an
Atmosphere of happiness
There is no other city like New Orleans

Elizabeth, age 16

Holly - NOLA Myths

Everyone believes they know what life in New Orleans is all about,
But more than likely they have no idea what they are saying.

I can guarantee that very few, if any, people have pet alligators.
I can guarantee that an airboat is not a common form of transportation.
I can guarantee that there are other things to do besides going to Bourbon.
I can guarantee that not everyone speaks a form of Cajun dialect.
I can guarantee that it is not a New Orleans meal unless a bay leaf or Tony Chachere's was used.

And while most may not believe it, there is a sense of family among the people of New Orleans.
There is a love for music that goes unmatched by any other city.
The satisfaction of eating a beignet in Jackson Square never changes.
The Lucky Dog man is always smiling and the Roman Candy man welcomes all to his carriage.
And one is always able to strike up a conversation with a stranger by saying "how bout dem
Saints?"

The list of what's New Orleans goes on, but the one thing that never changes is the fact
That when everyone comes together, the city is unstoppable.

Holly, age 17

Ruthie - NOLA Myths

It would be very easy to dispel myths about New Orleans (no, we don’t go to Bourbon on school nights, sorry, I don’t eat king cake in July, nope, Mardi Gras beads are just for Mardi Gras, not everyone has an accent, for God’s sake my house isn’t still flooded, I’ve never seen a voodoo ritual, I don’t believe the Jackson Square fortune tellers, I have not and will never see a ghost, and yes, there is more to New Orleans than the French Quarter) but there would be no fun in that, right?

Ruthie, age 16

Ciara - NOLA Myths

That is the only place where people can have fun.
That is the only place where people know how to party
All the crazy people are there
You have to go there to have fun
That is where everyone one wants to be
These are the things that most people believe New Orleans to be
There’s much more to it to just parting and having fun
There are caring people
A love of the Saints
The common theme of the love of those Saints
That brings people together and make them feel as a family

Ciara, age 17

Francie - NOLA Myths

Party Hard, or Hardly Partying?

It's funny,
people hear you're from New Orleans,
and their thought immediately goes to Bourbon Street.
What's it like partying every night?

Well, I wouldn't know.
I barely step foot in the french quarter,
unless it is for a Saints Game.
People assume that the french quarter is New Orleans.

They do not know,
that there is much more to the city than that.
Don't get me wrong,
we still like to have fun, just not always in the quarter.

Francie, age 17

Leira - NOLA Myths

If I had decided to ask any of you
What it is that all of us do
You might reply, as most of you would
That we in New Orleans all eat seafood
Of course you are right, at least to a point
Many eat anything served in the joint
Po'Boys, Jambalaya, Gumbo and Tony's mix
All can be served with seafood in a fix
But still you should know
That is not always so
At least to us few
Who enjoy what we do
Just minus the food fished out of the sea
As never has fried shrimp tasted good to me
I've tried catfish and crawfish and tuna alike
Yet none have convinced me they tasted alright
Either squishy or clammy or just plainly smell
Seafood makes my stomach wish to expell
But now that I've cleared up
This small local myth mix-up
Think back on your on your favorite treats
And tell me if they ever included read beets

Leira, age 17

Anonymous - NOLA Myths

They say that all of them walk the streets.
With a soul in their hearts,
Feeling the jazz music from their head to their feet.
So much mystery lies in the heart of this city,
But what of all the rumors?
Those who view our city, and think of pity.
It is a shame that our city is viewed as dirty,
Another that is looked at as a city of crime.
But through our heart and soul, we will always shine.
Who dat.

Anonymous, age 16

Lillie - NOLA Myths

No, your visit to Bourbon will not be the highlight of your trip.
                (those sketchy blocks are the dirtiest your feet will ever see)
No, I don’t have an alligator in my backyard.
               (that would be inconvenient seeing as most people have only grass patches in the front)
No, we don’t eat beignets every morning.
               (those actions would lead to a serious over intake of sugar and most likely diabetes)
No, ghosts don’t roam the streets.
               (the carriage driver probably didn’t even read the pamphlet of historical facts)
No, New Orleans is not constantly under threat of drowning.
               (although if or when it is, we will all be ready to float on in our decked out houseboats)

Lillie, age 17

Brittany - NOLA Myths

My family is not a typical New Orleans Family. Most of the Cajun myths about New Orleanians actually apply to my family (crazy family members, strange pets). Because of this I chose a myth that applies to many people that live near New Orleans. A common myth is that if you say you are from New Orleans people assume that means you live downtown in the French quarter. We hear questions like, oh so you can walk to go eat beignets every morning before attending mass at the cathedral? And if you are truly a typical New Orleanian, like me, most of the time you live on the West bank, Uptown, Metairie, or Harahan. People often think the west bank is like driving to Texas.  Trust me, Texas is a lot farther. So to the people that think I live as far as Texas, where do people in Mandeville live? Canada?

Brittany, age 17

Lucy - NOLA Myths

Overall, I feel like a lot of people in general think our city is well, bad. I think New Orleans
is commonly pegged as the place where people get drunk or shot. After calling this my home
for sixteen years, I can proudly say that New Orleans is none of the above. Yes, we know how
to have fun and yes, we’re culturally diverse. Do you have a problem with that? I guess most
tourists don’t understand why we take so much pride in this city, and it is okay…you won’t
after your first time down. New Orleans is a complicated, misunderstood place, but that is all
explicable since there is, in fact, no other place in the United States quite like it. I think myths of
drinking 24/7 or horrible crime rates arise by out-of-towners because really they are just jealous
of what New Orleans has to offer: A fun, diversified time.

Lucy, age 17

Anonymous - NOLA Myths

have you eveR been at home alone
and heard a wolf’s howl loud enough to make yOu jump?
have you ever disobeyed yoUr parents wish
and been scared to death for who miGht come?
have you ever made an easy lenten promise
in feAr of coming up too short?
if any one of these is tRue,
then you must know the story of
ole’ rougarou.
the werewolf whO comes out at night looking for you,
hoping he might get a taste of that precious blood.
you better rUn fast as light or rougarou will get you!

Anonymous, age 15

Taylor - NOLA Myths

Through the tangled web of talk that constantly goes in one ear and out the other we
find ourselves picking up only bits and pieces of the story, and herein lies the problem where
so called “myths” begin to creep in. I think it’s time that we begin to untangle this web of mess
and set things straight about the way we really work down here…

Yes, we do seem to have a distinct way of communication, but No it’s not with a long
drawl or the stereotypical southern twang.

Yes, the names of some of our streets are in French, but the truth is we barely speak
English around here let alone French.

Yes, we know how to make a good time out of any situation and party hard but we are
still respectable people who at some point put the balloons and cake away and wake up to go
to school where we do actually, in the midst of all the fun, learn something.

Yes, I go to a private school but until we evacuated I thought this was totally normal,
guess not. To set the situation straight, we are not all rich, and snobby, there just aren’t many
options around here.

Yes, I have gone to a voodoo Football game but that’s about as far as our voodoo
obsession actually goes, though I’m sure there are a few people around the city who do take
their voodoo quite seriously.

Finally yes I was here during Katrina, No my house did not float away while my family
and I sat on the roof waving a white flag which read, “S.O.S!”, and for the last time NO I DID
NOT DIE!

Taylor, age 16

Megann - NOLA Myths

This is for clarification. Yes, I am a Cajun. However, I do not address everyone as “Cher bébé.” Do I like my spicy food? Of course. Do I smother my morning eggs and cup of coffee in avalanches of cayenne pepper? That, however is a firm no. In fact, my list of firm no’s is probably as long as my right arm. Here are a few from the top ten. Keep in mind that some of these answers are in response to questions that people have indeed asked me.  No, I do not live in the bayou. No, I do not own a pet nutria and or alligator. No, I do not show up to school in an airboat. No, my last name is not Boudreaux or something really really French. No, I do not eat alligator head sandwiches for lunch, and no, I do not enjoy a Fais Do Do every night after I finish my homework. My dad doesn’t have a mullet, and my mom is not an alligator wrestling, shotgun-wielding, hunting zealot. I know it’s a lot to handle, but keep in mind that this city is not at all what it may seem. I assure you that the closest I get to Cajun is the occasional whoop and holler from a zydeco band at “Rock N Bowl” or a Swamp Pop band’s Cajun rendition of the “Cupid Shuffle” at a local fair. Sure, I can say that I’m proud of my heritage, but no, I cannot say that I live a life in any way similar to that of which they might have lived. Times have changed, despite the reluctance to believe so. If you come to New Orleans, you will stumble across a smorgasbord of accents, foods, and traditions far outside of the Cajun realm, but don’t trust the Cajun accent of the Haunted Cemetery vampire tour guide.  It’s probably a lisp from his plastic fangs.

In the brilliant and well articulated words of my ancestors, Aiiiyyeee!

Megann, age 17

Anonymous - NOLA Myths

Myths After Katrina - many New Orleanians left and became better off.

Many people left New Orleans after Katrina because they thought that the city nor any of the citizens would ever be able to overcome the problems that Katrina formed. By doing this, they were escaping and ignoring the horrible happenings, so they were not able to grow up and learn from experiences. The loyal citizens that stayed grew tough, wiser, and were able to form a much stronger community. In the end, you are not better off if you left, but a better person if you stayed and survived the disasters. 

Anonymous, age 16