Here it is (a little belated, but whatever), my post for Blog Around the World. YAY! I'm pretty excited that Louisiana is the first state that's being represented (if only cause I'm selfish, and I like to go first (not that you would know that seeing as how I wasn't even prepared)). Anyway, before I really get into it, I'd like to get a couple things strait. First, I am not from Louisiana. I just happen to be living here at the moment. I am from Texas, so I have a couple biases. Second, I apologize for anything that I might say that may be construed in a negative light. I mean no offense. I'm just keepin' it real. Third, there may be very little cohesiveness to this particular post, it's just a compilation of what I think when I think "Louisiana"
Ok, here we go …
Let's start at the very beginning… I moved here a year and a half-ish ago. My husband was born and raised here (we live strait east of Shreveport on I-20), and when I finished college (pre-marriage) a semester earlier than him, I moved here so that we wouldn't have to do the whole long-distance thing anymore (I'll probably need to tell our story someday, but I've got a feeling that I'll probably be rambling enough in this post, so I won't get into that right now). It is definitely a totally different culture. I grew up in Lubbock, TX, went to school just outside Austin, TX, and then studied for a few months in Rome before coming here. To say "culture shock" would be a bit of an understatement. The first thing about this place that stunned me was the humidity. I mean, hello, I grew up in a city that sees rain like 5 times the whole year and is more used to sandstorms than rainstorms. In the summer it is like a sauna (no joke). There are seriously days when I walk outside and don't even know why I bothered showering (don't be grossed out, you would have the same reaction). I suppose there are the benefits, though… like the fact that my backyard looks like this…
Also, can we just say "bug capitol of the world"? I mean, seriously, this place must be the breeding ground for all the bugs in the world. Also, maybe it's just my house, but somehow the bugs here are these freaky mutant bugs, as in, grasshoppers that are a solid 5 inches long. I mean, come on, that is not normal. And speaking of bugs, one word, crawfish, aka mud bugs. Now, I know that there are going to be a great many of you who are appalled at my lack of interest in what seems to be the state-food, but seriously… I can't handle it. Moving on…
I will say, there are some things about this place that I've gotten rather attached to. I love love love the Magnolia trees everywhere. There's one in my front yard
It's beautiful to me.
Now that I've gotten totally off track, I mentioned culture shock earlier and haven't even come back to qualify that. It's just a very different life-style here. I'd gotten really used to my hippy-liberal-arts-tree-hugging-vegetarians-recycling-bike-riding-peace-loving life in Texas. I went to a little tiny liberal arts university, and I loved it. Then I moved here where it's more of a my-truck's-bigger-than-your-truck, I-schedule-my-life-around-hunting-seasons, that-vegetable-looks-a-little-sad-we-should-fry-it mentality. I'm not saying anything is wrong with that. It's just different. Most everybody is very nice (although, I think that's a general southern thing, cause Texas is the same way). They definitely have their accents, and there's no shortage of mullets (Josh and I saw the best mullet last night. The guy had to have been somewhere in the 6'3" range, 300 lbs, beautiful business-in-the-front-party-in-the-back. A good six inches past his shoulders, nice glossy curls, it was priceless!
Oh man, I never realized how much I have to say about Louisiana until I get the chance. Well, I suppose I should stop here for today… I do hope you enjoyed my little bit of "Impressions of Cajun-Land".
Y'all fell free to come on back ;)
*Edit* Oh, and I'd like to add one thing (mostly for Amy), while I myself haven't actually encountered one, I can honestly say that I live just down the road from a Gator Farm. No lie. They don't allow tours. That's all :D
32 comments:
Stopping by from BATW... I'm with you about the "mud bugs" - not for me. But I am jealous of the Magnolia trees! Thanks for hosting us today!
I agree with you on the difference in LA and other states in what they find of importance(hunting, fishing, etc) as compared to more important things, and I am from here!! I always did think this state was way out of my league and I should have been born up north somewhere, but I guess I am here to stay now.
Oh, and about that accent 'thing' haha read my blog on what I think about THAT...haha :D
You really get a feeling for how diverse America is when you move from one state to another, huh? I moved to North Carolina from Kansas, and it's been a world of difference!
Thanks for the almost virtual hug and the real encouragement. =)
Lauren, Just stopping by from BATW. Loved your post....too bad you didn't get to take a picture of the mullett! :)
You go girl! COngrats on being featured on BATW... & can I say I LOVE your Lay out! Need to tell me how you did your header! I am jealous!
Thank you for sharing your Louisiana with us. I hate big bugs too and I heard the humidity there is worst than here in Georgia - I feel for you.
Hello from Alabama, stopping by from BATW. LA doesn't sound much different than AL with many of your descriptions! Waaay too humid and waaay too many bugs! I washed my car yesterday evening. Let's just say those bugs sure do love water and dusk. Now I itch! Everywhere! But that's life! And magnolia trees are so awesome! We just cut a bunch of magnolia down from a neighbor's yard that was overgrown (with permission of course) and decorated the lodge where we were married! Free and beautiful. So in my next house I'll have a magnolia tree in my front yard, too, hopefully! Great blog!!!!
That was so interesting to read! I was an anthro major, and love hearing about cultural differences, especially right here in our own country.
I wish my backyard looked like your backyard. Wow.
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your honesty about Louisiana and am glad you're here! Come back anytime!
I'm a Tejana, too, but do LOVE the food over yonder in Loozyanna! I could do w/o the swamps and the gators, though. Thanks for the tour--I've enjoyed myself immensely!
I was born in Nachitoches!! My dad and his wife live in Mandeville and My uncle, his wife and my grandmother live in New Orleans. How fun. Believe it or not...I really miss it!!
Enjoyed reading your post about Louisiana. I've been there several times. My aunt once lived in Lake Charles. I've never been to Mardi Gra though!Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
From BATW! I love your header photo montage! Beautiful!
I think Loooziana might have to battle for Bug Capital of the World supremacy! But y'all definitely have better food. Thanks for having us over!
Stopping in from BATW. Your pics are beautiful!
You know when you described your tree-hugging lifestyle in Texas vs. the trucking, hunting lifestyle in Louisiana...I was actually surprised...I tend to think of Texas in the Big hats, big boots, hunting, trucking lifestyle...learned something new...
You know, it all goes back to "there's no place like home". I'm glad you've found things you like!
OK, what's the use of a gator farm if they won't let you tour? There's $$ in tours, people. My son STILL talks about the orange-popsicle flavored milk he drank at a dairy farm last summer. Talk about a booming small business. Can you imagine root beer flavored milk? Tastes like a root beer float. No kiddin.' OK, so what's the gator equivalent. Maybe that gator-guy would let you share in his profits...
Anyway, just stopping by. Been seeing ya for a while 'round, but good to finally meet you ;)
I am soooo with ya on crawfish and bugs.
But the green yard sure looks sweet.
just wait until BATW does Iowa. I promise no one will be packin' their bags. ;)
My husband was born in Texas and raised in Louisiana. It's not so easy for this bug-a-phobe to visit the in-laws! And I share your distaste for crawfish. At a big long table with hubs and all the in-laws... I'm the only one who doesn't have a big platter of crawfish. I'm sitting with my fried shrimp trying not to notice them popping off the heads and sucking out the insides. Yuck!
Too bad you didn't get a picture of that awesome mullet!
IL checking in...I've been a lot of places, but I don't think I've been to Louisiana...hmmm....field trip??
I love Magnolia Trees - reminds me of when I was little. Love your Blog!
What a gorgeous picture of your back yard!! Love it!
I forgot to say that I really like the name of your blog! (along with the definition and Scripture verse) A life of delight -- what a great vision for your life!
Pardon the ignorance but questions from a recent Texas transplant:
What's a mullet?
What are fat quarters?
Stopping by from Colorado. :) Great blog. I absolutely love your topper!!!!
Thanks for the Louisana-by-way-of-Texas hospitality! : )
A Gator farm? FOR REAL? Girl...I thought we were friends. You've been holding out on me.
The magnolia is gorgeous...you should frame that picture.
Here from BATW. Your blog is so cute, and I love the header with all those snapshots. I'm from Alabama, so I know all about that oppressive humidity! Especially in August. This time of year I start longing for fall and cooler weather, but it really won't cool off until at least November. But it is nice in the South that we can be outside nearly all year because it rarely gets too cold.
Oh man....except for the gator farm down the road you could have totally been talking about Missouri!!!
Hi from Hungary... I saw you on BATW and I wanted to let you know I got a good homeade bugspray recipe if you would like it... I used it this summer and it smelled good and worked... let me know if you want me to send you the recipe... julie
Thanks for giving me a "transplant" perspective--interesting to see a place from both the inside and the outside. My husband is from Georgia, so I'm sure a post by him about Minnesota would have looked a lot different from mine.
Thanks for coming to the fair with me!
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