As we draw
nearer and nearer to Mardi Gras I can honestly say that my first January in New
Orleans has brought with it a whole host of new and unexpected experiences. For
starters, we had not one but two snow days earlier this month during which the
entire city appeared to be a ghost town from some post-apocalyptic novel. It
has been a strange experience for me to be confronted with just how unprepared
for cold weather this city is, I guess icy roads and sub-freezing temperatures are
such an uncommon occurrence down here that they do in fact merit a city-wide
shutdown as was the case this year. But thankfully the weather has moved
steadily towards the warmer end of the spectrum.
The other
hot topic of the month is of course the anticipation and excitement for Mardi
Gras that can be felt in every corner of the city. It seems like each passing
day brings with it more and more tourists, and I can only imagine how many
people will have flooded the city by next weekend. Although I am excited for
all the parades and to experience everything that is Mardi Gras in general, I
can’t help but mourn the influx of so many out-of-towners. Although my expressing
such a sentiment is ironic in itself considering the fact that I am technically
an “out-of-towner”. Maybe this is a sign that New Orleans is slowly but surely
becoming a place I could call home. I guess only time will tell, but I am
optimistic for the rest of the semester and I look forward to all that 2018
will bring.
