Souhern Ways

Being a northerner in a southern city is an interesting experience; culturally, intellectually, physically, mentally, and just about any other capacity you can think of in the holistic sense. There is quite the cultural shock when coming down to a city like New Orleans. People operate differently here, not only is there the southern way of doing things, but there is also the New Orleans way of doing things. So much of the past three weeks has been a learning game of not only my job, but also the socioecopolitical aspects of living here. For example, I have learned that when considering the sociogeologic way of saying south for Louisiana and New Orleans, one has to say that this is the "deep south" because the way they treat just about everything in relation to the rest of the south. I would almost call this city a patchwork city, because there are so many elements in this city that shouldn't fit together but some how they just do.

The concept of "southern time" can be considered here, in that in the north, we do things fast and try for as much efficiency as possible, that is not how it is done down here at all. Down here in Louisiana whatever it is you are trying to do will happen in good time. Hurry is just not a word said down here in New Orleans very often. Another contradiction needing mentioned would be the way that Louisianans handle politics, which is to say they really just don't, and when they do it is dirty and quite scandalous in the eyes of a northerner. People are both extremely political and extremely apathetic here, they care about things that effect them, but when it comes to doing it efficiently or in a way that would make sense to the rest of the country, that is just not their way. Learning about the southern way of doing community organizing has come into light with the concept of slow and unorthodox in how things are handled. Our spiritual director's husband put it the best about the people of this city, "in New Orleans, they don't care who you are, what you do, how you act, just as long as you stay interesting."

As a lover of culture, this city is heaven for me to try and understand and live in, because there are so many different types of people, and aspects of life that I can look at when I am doing my day to day. I think the most interesting part of New Orleans is that when one thinks about all of the cliche southern ways or the tourist things to do, they really aren't because the weird quarks that we think of when in New Orleans are true and they are the life force of this city. There is literally something for every type of person here. I want to say that New Orleans is a feast for the sensations, literally every sensation that you have can have a hay day in some part of the this place. The food is amazing, the sounds are great (ranging from jazz and zydeco to the people talking and singing), you can smell
just about anything while on the streets, the old architecture blending with the ramshackle dirty look of the town can astound any eyes, and lastly you can embrace just about anyone here with kindness and a warm handshake or hug (New Orleanians have no problems with personal space.)

I think what keeps any person here is the people, they are so welcoming and embrace any one with whatever their quarks may be. Just about every person I have met in New Orleans has been friendly, welcoming, and nice all around. Any time you walk down a sidewalk, you always get either a hand wave or a hello or good morning, afternoon, or evening. No matter what it is, the people love having visitors and implants coming in and out. I have to say, I am becoming a southerner, and most definitely on southern time.