New Orleans is the best city in the world to be a student in

You know that feeling where your heart swells with sweet emotions and you feel like you might burst?

Every night when I look out onto the New Orleans skyline from my window in my dorm room, all I can think of is how blessed I am to be here. What did I do right to end up here? How luck am I to be in the greatest city in the world?

That view, for me, will never get old.

But it’s not the things I can see I cherish. It’s not the bright Superdome lights that come through my window, and it isn’t the billboards that face my room that sometimes have legible font even from miles away. It’s what I know lies below that twinkling display, on the streets of my city, our city.

Moving here from a small town in Long Island was a bit of a culture shock in the best way possible. At home, I had great friends and great times, but there was a constant question being posed, “What should we do?” And, honestly, there was never a particularly thrilling answer.

Photo taken at Po Boy Festival

My hometown is amazing, but New Orleans could be the love of my life. It seems there is never a dull moment and there is constantly something happening.

Today, I went to Whole Foods and accidentally ran into a parade. Where else in the world is that even a possibility?

What I’m trying to say is that no matter what time of day it is, no matter the weather, you can always find something to do in New Orleans, and one of my favorite things is their festivals. New Orleans is said to have more festivals than weekends in a year, you don’t even have to travel far from campus for some of them, although a good chunk of them are indeed held downtown (totally worth the trip, just saying).

Photo taken at the 2016 Homecoming game

I found most of the festivals I’ve experienced this year have occurred in three distinct places – uptown (on campus or less than a mile away), City Park, or downtown in the French Quarter.

Uptown events are awesome because you don’t have to pay for Uber or wait for the streetcar to show up an hour late. Plus it’s a great way to connect to our immediate community and the campus community as well, which is so important when trying to make the most of our time here.

Tulane Homecoming 2016 – the event included a free carnival and free concert put on by Hoodie Allen on the LBC Quad

Po Boy Fest – Oak Street

City Park events are kind of a hike, I’ll admit it. The streetcar takes forever and Uber charges definitely add up. However, the events tend to be so extravagant, it’s worth it. I would absolutely recommend making the trip if you hear about something going on there.

Voodoo Music Festival – City Park festival grounds

Downtown events are also sort of inconvenient, but they’re an experience! If you’re willing to wait for the streetcar and it’s working properly that day, you may have a near free ride (just $1.25 for a oneway RTA pass) and if not, you can just grab an Uber and cry silently about your credit card bill this month.

But like I said, downtown events are when New Orleans and its history truly come to life.

The Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival – Lafayette Square Park

Mardi Gras – enough said

Essentially, in the words of Frank Sinatra, my “Little town blues are melting away” and I’m learning to embrace the city I’m living in now and all the things that come with it.

New Orleans has truly earned the title “Festival Capital of the World” and if you’re not taking advantage of some of the wonderful experiences this city has to offer, then you should definitely hop on the St. Charles streetcar and roll with whatever the Big Easy is offering to you that day.

McAlister Drive, Tulane

One of the most wonderful things about Tulane is its location and the way the administrative staff encourages the students to not only experience but to become a part of the surrounding community.