Bizzy - NOLA Influences

New Orleans, a place defined by the constricting water around it. Whether basking in the sunlight on the searing deck of a plastic white boat, looking down into the turbid, brown lake water, or lounging on a bench after a long day of walking around the old streets, seeing buildings older than the country we live in and watching new ships on a nearly ancient river, or walking outside in what feels like ninety-nine percent humidity, just waiting for the afternoon rain to start and that slightly grassy smell that follows, you know that this water in New Orleans restricts, surrounds, engulfs, and cleans. Water is everywhere in New Orleans and New Orleans seems more New Orleans-y when the water is around. It has developed the city into the unique shape it is and helps us to understand that there are things in the world much more powerful than ourselves. Water can be a harsh reminder to those of New Orleans that not everything is under our control, yet we still love it for the ways it makes our city unique.

Bizzy, age 17

Holly - Heat

The weather in New Orleans comes with mixed emotions.

Fall is a time when a street car ride down St. Charles

or an aimless walk in Audubon Park brings one both bliss and anxiousness.

The changing leaves draw one's attention to breezy weather and cool days ahead,

But at the same time, makes one restless for the approaching winter festivities.

Winter in New Orleans is a time when everyone is spreading holiday cheer.

The crisp, cold air and red noses of children fill everyone with joy as their

Favorite time of the year makes its presence known.

But at the same time, the bitterly chill that penetrates one to the bone

Leaves one awaiting the arrival of spring.

Spring's slightly warmer weather signifies a time when

Locals gather to celebrate art and music at Jazz Fest.

The slowly warming weather is perfect for walking in the Quarter

Or window shopping on Magazine on a lazing Sunday afternoon.

But at the same time, however, the mix of a temperature between winter's

Coldness and summer's heat leaves children and young adults patiently awaiting the summer.

Summer in New Orleans is when the locals do all they can to beat the heat.

Summer brings about sun-drenched days filled with laughter and melted snowballs as

People alike rely on Sal's and Hansen's to escape the unbeatable New Orleans heat.

The long summer days are filled with excitement and activities,

but it is the cool summer nights that make one long for the coming of fall.

Holly, age 17

Katie - NOLA Influences

To think one single place in New Orleans has influenced me is difficult.
But, there is one that has captured my heart and taught me so much
New Orleans City Hall.
The ugly office building with a “burn’t out” sign and ugly green walls has influenced me because it is a symbol for NOLA
Every day there is a new experience…
               A pushy man refuses to let you through the side door of the office
               The elevator does not work
               An Asian from New York introduces herself
               Discussions over college and British Reality shows surface
               The mayor sings to you while holding hot rollers for your hair
               The elevator is out again
               Someone didn’t do what they were supposed to do
               Someone came up with a revolutionary idea
               Someone comes to complain
               Someone is on a break
               Only two elevators work
               Was that a Mardi Gras Indian?
               Are they second-lining in the halls?
I have learned what it means to work hard and sometimes not get rewarded, to try your best and no one notices, but I have learned that at least one time while you’re there, you remember why you work for New Orleans.

 

Katie, age 17

Brooke - Heat

Ninety eight degrees on the south shore

Says our infamous Margaret Ore

She’s On Our Side trying to hide

From the sunbeam’s scathing stride

When the air thick with perspiration

From the humidity is in preparation

For bouncing around the heat in its atoms

Magnifying the swelter, the beat of our heart drums

It’s too hot to eat. too hot to sleep. too hot to fear

The hurricane season is near. Why do we even live here?

To get out of the heat you gotta get out of the kitchen

Oh don’t be coy. I’ll just sweat and go down kickin.

New Orleans is just closer to the sun

You can only enjoy it when the day is done. 

Brooke, age 17

Ashley - Heat

In New Orleans, the sun likes to shine and shine and burn

Lemonade stands line almost every corner

Splashing children fill the pools

The lines for snowball stands are out the doors

But worth the wait

Even inside, the heat seems to spread

AC thermostats read false numbers

Escaping the heat in New Orleans is impossible

Ashley, age 17

Grace - Heat

Escaping the heat is an idealistic affair.
Something that cannot happen without jumping in pools,splashing in
puddles or screaming air conditions,
However, there is a special recipe that can make the insides cool on a
hot summer day.
The freezing, soft ice and the smooth, cool syrup are the ingredients to
this goodness.
Sipping it through a straw, one drinks the cooled syrup.  On the other
hand, when scooping with the spoon, one consumes the frosty tasteful ice.

Either way, one can enjoy the delicious treat called a snowball.

Grace, age 17

Matty - Heat

The heat! It’s oppressive
104 in my car
104 on the porch
104 in the house
The dogs can’t walk straight
The birds give half-hoots and their whistling is waning
The trees don’t sway in the breeze,

they stand there looking at one another, saying “What? They want us to offer shade?

No, I think not.

It’s far too hot.”

And so we sit,
                Drinks slipping out of fists
                                Eyes closing

Beads of sweat pooling at the napes of our necks like Mardi Gras throws that weigh too heavy

Matty, age 16

Francie - NOLA Influences

What comes to mind when you hear the words New Orleans?  For me, it is
one word, SAINTS. It is not necessarily the team itself that has
affected me so much, but more the ideas of hope and prosperity this
team brought us after the hurricane.  The reason I love my city so
much is because we do not let anything bring us down.  The Saints were
the one thing that brought our city together and helped us tell the
rest of the country that we were going to come back stronger than
ever.  The topic of the Saints is also something that can unite very
different people together.  I do not know how many times I have bonded
with someone that I otherwise would not have talked to because of
their Saints attire.  The night the Saints won the Superbowl was
and is still to this day the best night of my life.  I cannot explain
the pure adrenaline and excitement I felt.  The Saints will forever
remind me of my beloved city and the incredible community that calls
it home.

Francie, age 17

Victoria - Heat

New Orleans…
The heavy, sticky air
Couples with the beaming sun
In a nearly lethal combination, to make
New Orleans
So hot, so humid,
That not even a breeze dares to show its face among us.
Among us, there is no escape, no safety. Only temporary remedies. To cure New Orleans
of its unbearable heat would deprive the city of one of its crucial elements; completely
escaping the heat requires escaping New Orleans altogether. Just like our food, music, etc.,
weather dictates the flow and spirit of life here.
When considering the cards that mother nature has drawn us in the past,
I’d take that heat any day.

Victoria, age 17

Chelsea - Heat

In the summer we strive to escape the heat

We flock to the holiday ornament shop

Cool and refreshing

Escape the heat

Down on the street

We eat and eat

Ice cold snowballs

From Hansen’s to Plum street

Escape the heat

Down by the fly

Mississippi by and by

Round and round

Cool and calm

Escape the heat

Chelsea, age 15

Leira - Heat

New Orleans Heat
You surprise me
When I walk out
Into the new day
And expect Wind
To whip at my legs
And give my lungs
Fresh cool Air
But instead I find you
Waiting for me
At every turn
Every corner
Ready to suffocate me
With your heavy hands
And then I drown
Since you brought him
Your best friend Humidity
Impossible to escape
You both surprise me
Why must you
I live in New Orleans
Deal with you
Every single day
But still
Although I complain
I'll be honest
New Orleans
Would never feel
Like Home
Without You

Leira, age 17

Megan - Heat

Escape the heat. The word escape scares me as if I am running from something. I certainly am not
running from New Orleans or the heat, not when I walk into an air conditioned room and need a
sweater. There is no need to get out of the heat when it is where you belong. My skin craves it. The
winter is something that scares me. If I could be scared of a season, this barren, cold, dry season would
enter my body with cold shrills of terror. Whether or not you prefer the warm or cold weather, there
is no reason you should want to leave New Orleans because of it. New Orleans can’t help it.  Blame the
equator or global warming, people like to blame things on that.

Megan, age 17

Meredith - Heat

Escaping the heat is nearly impossible.

Snowballs are a thought, but the wait is annoying

Swimming cools, but not when out of the pool

Going to the beach, is just more heat in disguise

Staying inside, wastes the summer

Embracing the heat is the only solution.

Meredith, age 17

Lillie - Heat

Escaping the heat
is an impossible feat
Whirling  around the dashboard,
palpable.
Seat belt metal is
perpetually burning.
Air-conditioning weakly
pushing warm air.
Windows down, sleeves rolled, hair up, shades on.
Escaping the heat is an impossible feat, but at least I stay cool.

Lillie, age 17

Brittany - Heat

In New Orleans, it is not possible to “escape the heat” it is simply radiating off the sidewalk, streets, and everything around me. New Orleans is located on the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana. New
Orleans is very humid with mild winters and hot, humid summers. The average July high temperature is
about 91 degrees and the average January low is about 43 degrees. Compared to most northern cities, this is very warm. Because us New Orleanians are used to dealing with such warm temperatures, we have many unique ways of attempting to “escape the heat.” Some people swear by sitting on their front
porch socializing cools them down instantly, others may retreat to the mall or a movie where it is about
negative 10 degrees inside. Personally, I think the crazier the person is, the more they are brainwashed
that sitting outside cools you down. I mean yes, it is possible to get more fresh air and a nice breeze if
you are outside, but do they forget the fact that they now have left the air conditioned home and are now outside where the source of the problem is? I think the reason people sit outside is because they can socialize. In New Orleans, most people are friendly and don’t mind having a nice conversation with a random stranger. No matter what a person’s “secret trick” is, if you currently live in New Orleans or are a New Orleans native, you know how to “escape the heat”, or at least cope with it.

Brittany, age 16

Lucy - NOLA Influences

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. 

Lucy, age 17