It just gets better

Today I had my second Snowball - raspberry flavored this time. Photo is below. They are so tasty...shaved ice and flavored syrup! Nothing better on a hot day, and every day is a hot day here.

I went shopping after class with a new friend and after finding maybe the cutest best clothing store in uptown we headed out to find me a car. On the way I happened to mention i had never had a Beignet and so after a short trip down a one way street we bought three for $1.65. Picture friend dough but SOOOO much better. Wow.

We made it to the car dealership eventually and test drove a Prius...so not for me...I mean 1. if i am going to spend that kind of cash on a car I am buying a Benz and 2. I really don't want to save the environment. You all know why :). I am going to head back tomorrow and pick me up a little Yaris. Supper cute, wicked cheap and perfect for city driving!

I also learned some new jargon today:

messy: gosspier

"can't hold water on her chest": can't keep a secret

OMG: oh my god (duh) but used down here exclusively in replacement of oh my god because people are so religious here. it is pretty funny to hear all sorts of people seeing stuff and going "OMG"! hard to explain but totally hysterical!

Anyway, I'm out...I'll post some photos of my new car once I buy it tomorrow! Much love to everyone.

The things I have done

So this past week has been great. Work has been busy but I have been having a great time. his is such an amazing city. Full of great little restaurants and shops and nice people. This past week I have:

1. Eaten my first snowball. A yummy New Orleans snack that comes in like a million flavors. I had coconut and it totally lived up to the hype.
2. Ate fried chicken that was purchased at a corner store - no not like The Corner Store. It is just a purple corner store that sells fried chicken out of the back. It was incredible. And it hasn't made me sick yet! Go me for eating food prepared out of a corner store with no apparent kitchen!
3. Discovered (with the help of friends) several new restaurants and wine bars - including one that sells wine by the ounce, so you can try all sorts of wines in one sitting and compare and contrast- very fun
4. Ate the best, most authentic crepe that I have had since I was in Paris in 2000. OMG, I am still thinking about it it was so good
5. Stopped on the side of the road in the pouring rain and ran out of a car with a friend to by sugar candy from a street vendor called Royal Candy. We got soaked but it was worth it!

I am just keppin on keepin on...haven't yet figure out how to authentically work y'all into my day to day speech but I am working on it!

Being Present

So the really interesting thing about New Orleans is that everyone is ridiculously present. There isn't the planning that goes on in Boston. People don't think much about what is happening next until next happens. There is something really relaxing and calm about the city and the people.

Work is busy. I spend my mornings teaching and then have a short break and then am in class all afternoon. By the time I get home, finish lesson planning for the next day and eat dinner it's almost time to go to bed. Normally being that busy would make time feel like it is flying by...but here, it doesn't feel that way. I know I have only been here for about two weeks. Only left Boston 3 weeks ago...but it feels like a lifetime ago.

New Orleans isn't home yet. But without meaning to I think I found the place that allows me to just enjoy today...and not get caught up in the "what's next" thinking that has plagued me my whole life.

My New Career

So training is underway. I am practice teaching in the morning and then in class in the afternoon. I am surrounded by talented educators and people like me who have come from a variety of backgrounds and are all committed to making a difference for the children of New Orleans.

I have also secured a job as a 7th grade English teacher which I am very excited about. The school runs 6-12 grade and I will have the chance to help them get a debate team off the ground and participate in other student activities if I choose.

The city continues to be a learning experience for me. It is so hot here, which is an adjustment and people are very warm (also an adjustment from Boston). The French Quarter is brimming with tourists all the time and i have yet to find replacements for my go to restaurants in Boston...I am so missing the Mooo mac and cheese right now...I know I have only been gone for 2 weeks but it feels like forever. It feels like EMI and Boston and all that was like my life 10 years ago, which I guess is a good thing.

I want to thank all my friends and family who I have heard from since I left. While I am excited to be a new place, meeting new people there is no replacement for old, good friends...so thank you!

So you can totally drink on the street here

So I am moved in, something I couldn't have done without the support of my wonderful little brother...I mean who else was going to carry to TV and put together my furniture? The photos I have posted here show my new place in progress, once I get rid of the rest of the boxes I will take some better ones.

This city is incredible. Edward likened it to being the last stop before Hell and I think he may be right. It is as though everyone looking for an excuse to forget themselves descends on Bourbon Street. Live music, plenty of "gentleman clubs" and drinking everywhere, oh and gambling.

I went to a job fair today and met with all sorts of schools. There were some good prospects from my perspective and hopefully one or two of them liked me to. It is hard not knowing where I will be teaching but I have some time still. The Institute starts tomorrow and then I will have the chance to meet all the people I will be working with all summer. Hopefully at least a couple of them are cool.

Thanks to all of you who have Facebooked, emailed, texted and written. It is always nice to hear from friends when you are so far away.

On Top of the World and A Penske Truck

Tuesday June 2

So Pensacola Beach, not that easy to find, and even though the Target we stopped at was only 5 blocks from the bridge that takes one there, the employees (and we asked several of them) were unable to tell us how to get there. Truly bazaar.
It took two gas stations and a helpful local before we found our way but wow. So worth it. It’s like a giant sand bar shaped like a plus sign. Edward and I debated for a while about where we should spend the night, with him advocating for the top of the Penske truck and me for a hotel.
After climbing on top of the Penske truck and learning how unstable it was he changed his argument to the beach. He lost. Off to the most expensive Hampton Inn I have ever stayed at, Peg Leg Pete’s for dinner and then a late night swim in the Atlantic.

Georgia on My Mind

Monday June 1st

Savannah may be one of the coolest places I have been to. Edward and I arrived just before sunset and thanks to the very kind (and well tipped) valet we were allowed to park our Penske truck right out front of the hotel in their cab stand.

The city itself feels mysterious, historical and calm. You can’t help but slow down as you walk and take in the iron work, stairs carved into the sides of buildings and random other architectural details that make the city to unique place it is.

We had a great dinner, talked to the folks and headed to bed around 11pm with dreams of Pensacola Beach and a shopping trip to Target in our heads.

We got up early and explored the neighborhoods of the city in detail. We found a great diner for breakfast that was reminisent of the Franklin Trading Post, an old childhood haunt of Edward and I's.

We were on the road by 10am with hopes of finding ourselves on a white sand beach by sunset...

Counting the Cars on the New Jersey Turnpike

Sunday May 31st

After a great breakfast with the family (Rob, mom and Edward) at Moo...











and a stressful time at Penske we finally got to the house with our 16 foot (not 12 foot as was promised by the Penske people) truck.







With the help of my parents and brother along with friends Chuck, Deirdre and Joe we had the rental truck packed in about an hour.









Edward and I were off. An ambitious goal of making it to Woodbridge Virginia that night lay ahead of us. A location I had strategically chosen because of an Ikea location, and Edward was excited about because it got us through the Beltway during a non- rush hour time.

Edward fell asleep somewhere near Baltimore but with the help of some Red Bull we powered through and after a few precarious u-turns in our 16 foot truck we found a comfy place to crash for the night.

Our Monday morning Ikea trip was successful and since it turned out that all my stuff only filled like ¼ of a 16 foot Penske truck we had plenty of room for the furniture we bought. With the truck fully packed we headed on down to Georgia…