New Orleans is a very unique place, and once you are here for a while, it is definitely going to lead you down some strange roads. Here are some of the craziest things that become normal once you live in New Orleans. Let us know what you agree with and what you disagree with!
- Spend up to 20-30 hours not to mention over $100 building costumes.
Flickr.com / Erica Frank That’s just the standard if you are looking to get noticed. And spending that long or that much money doesn’t make anyone bat an eye.
- Get really defensive about how long we have lived in New Orleans.
Flickr.com / Bart Everson Once you get a New Orleanian going about their family’s history in this city, watch out. People are super touchy about all of that stuff! Everyone is an expert on what is ‘real New Orleans’ and they are very quick to call you out if they think you’ve got it wrong or you don’t have enough roots here to talk.
- Look people in the eye and saying hello as they pass you on the street.
Flickr.com / viewminder While in a lot of cities that level of camaraderie is strange, in New Orleans it is somewhat rude not to acknowledge the people you are around.
- Party on the streetcar.
Flickr.com / Reid Kasprowicz When it is a festive time, you can bet the party spills out just about anywhere…including public transportation.
- Have entire restaurants where there is nothing even remotely green on the menu.
Flickr.com / karmacamilleeon If it is originally green, like okra or collards, they are fried or stewed with ham and grease for so long, it’s not much of a menu.
- Allowing to-go cups from bars and clubs and drive-thru daiquiri shops.
Flickr.com / sister AE What can I say, we have a very liberal alcohol policy.
- Dress our sandwiches.
Flickr.com / Angela Rutherford It’s really the only way to eat a po-boy.
- Eat boiled crawfish.
Flickr.com / Billy Brown I actually still don’t really understand why this one hasn’t spread throughout the country. They are so good.
- And suck the heads….
Flickr.com / christy Sheffield Now that one I can understand why some are too timid…but wow it’s good.
- Hang beads from pretty much everywhere in the house—
Flickr.com / Tara Schmidt Whether it’s the posters of the bed, door knobs, the backs of chairs—those beads end up everywhere. Not to mention all the beads we leave up in the trees! Mardi Gras provides all year long.
- Ask people, where did you go to school? Meaning high school.
Flickr.com / NOLA Man It’s people’s high school alma mater that holds extra weight—because these schools were the anchors of their respective communities. Many people who grew up in New Orleans still spend a lot of their time with the people they went to high school with.
- Prioritize our own creativity and community life over individual achievement.
Flickr.com / carnagenyc Of course not everyone in New Orleans lives by this credo, but on the whole there is a much bigger appreciation for a life filled with celebration, great food, and self-expression than most places in the rest of the country.
How many of these things ring a bell with you? Do you have one or two that you think are the most crazy? Let us know in the comments below! We love to hear your feedback and ideas.
Flickr.com / Erica Frank
That’s just the standard if you are looking to get noticed. And spending that long or that much money doesn’t make anyone bat an eye.
Flickr.com / Bart Everson
Once you get a New Orleanian going about their family’s history in this city, watch out. People are super touchy about all of that stuff! Everyone is an expert on what is ‘real New Orleans’ and they are very quick to call you out if they think you’ve got it wrong or you don’t have enough roots here to talk.
Flickr.com / viewminder
While in a lot of cities that level of camaraderie is strange, in New Orleans it is somewhat rude not to acknowledge the people you are around.
Flickr.com / Reid Kasprowicz
When it is a festive time, you can bet the party spills out just about anywhere…including public transportation.
Flickr.com / karmacamilleeon
If it is originally green, like okra or collards, they are fried or stewed with ham and grease for so long, it’s not much of a menu.
Flickr.com / sister AE
What can I say, we have a very liberal alcohol policy.
Flickr.com / Angela Rutherford
It’s really the only way to eat a po-boy.
Flickr.com / Billy Brown
I actually still don’t really understand why this one hasn’t spread throughout the country. They are so good.
Flickr.com / christy Sheffield
Now that one I can understand why some are too timid…but wow it’s good.
Flickr.com / Tara Schmidt
Whether it’s the posters of the bed, door knobs, the backs of chairs—those beads end up everywhere. Not to mention all the beads we leave up in the trees! Mardi Gras provides all year long.
Flickr.com / NOLA Man
It’s people’s high school alma mater that holds extra weight—because these schools were the anchors of their respective communities. Many people who grew up in New Orleans still spend a lot of their time with the people they went to high school with.
Flickr.com / carnagenyc
Of course not everyone in New Orleans lives by this credo, but on the whole there is a much bigger appreciation for a life filled with celebration, great food, and self-expression than most places in the rest of the country.
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