This is a project for photography in which we had 26 words and had to portray them through pictures. Here is my take on the words... 

i came down to Louisiana for Mardi Gras. This place is like a whole different world down here. It is flat- very flat- and in February, i am regretting that there are no shorts in my suitcase. It is so hot here that if you aren't drinking water constantly, you should plan on overheating. Parts of this place are very beautiful. The lakes here are nice, and some of the houses are mansions overlooking lakes and they are built on acres of rolling hills (which are most likely man-made seeing as the tallest thing in Louisiana is the freeway.) When i got here, i thought that perhaps i would hear some southern accents, and the food may be different. But in a place where football is a bigger necessity than breathing and rabbit hunting is a daily activity, i never really knew how much of a culture shock i would be in for. I really am in a different world... The confederate flag is still considered acceptable, marching bands are HUGE, and public highschools are named after Confederate generals. The civil war really wasn't that long ago. Not to mention (coming from a very white state) the number of 'people of color' here is outrageous- something that i envy, because their culture is so rich here. Despite the fact that we are in a "post-slavery" society, people here are still very racist and i am sure may people wonder what would have happened if the south had won the war. I am scared to wonder such things. People here have a different lifestyle. They walk more slowly and seem less stressed with everyday life, and yes Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras is really something to see- if you are mature enough to handle it. New Orleans is one of the coolest places i have seen. The archtecture is very awesome and the people there are all very different and very cool. I never knew that fried pickles would be good, either. They did. You can still see pieces of broken shells on the streets and rusty chain-link fences form Katrina when you walk through the French Quarter, and there are still many trailers that families lived in after the storm. This trip has been quite eye-opening so far, and i appreciate where i live a little more now that i know some places are still very un-accepting.