Category Archives: NOLA

Thoughts Thus Far

I’ve been in New Orleans for roughly a week and it has been quite a time. First, the basics. I am living with two other first year students in a small house about a mile and a half from campus. I have my own room and bathroom, and the house has a front porch and backyard. As far as quality of accommodations are concerned, they are really great.

For the past few nights I’ve been more or less going out to various bars/houses and meeting my classmates. Though many of them are from the South, (TX is especially heavily represented,) I’ve met people from as far away as Africa. No doubt we know how to have a good time, judging in part by the amount of liquor consumed. Although this has been fun, I’m getting tired of not really having an academic task. My other concern is that since our class is so small, it will be like high school all over again. Indeed, a party being hosted by upperclassmen later this week explicitly references law school as akin to high school. So let’s talk about my version of high school.

For me high school was a confusing time; I was coming to grips with my sexuality, dealing with a difficult family situation and trying to figure out how in the world I fit in to it all. I don’t look back at HS in horror as do some; I was involved with many satisfying projects and had some good friends. But I was never quite home in high school. So when the high school references start flying, my hackles rise.

I am not a crazy, outgoing and loquacious guy, and no one has ever accused me of being “easy going.” I am often painfully serious, brutally sarcastic, a tad obsessive, and frankly, an introvert. I may be more White than Mingola. Now don’t get me wrong… a night in the Quarter or at a local dive could lead to temporary attitude adjustments. But at this stage in my life, I have become more comfortable with the fact that I will always be a bit apart, and that, perhaps, I seek to impose such a condition upon myself. This has worked pretty well for me, so long as I don’t take it too far, and I hope that it will continue to do so.

By constantly striving to be more open and better articulate my desires, I will no doubt come across kindred spirits, as I have before around the globe. Time, however, works in mysterious ways, and I have only recently realized that my control over such matters in minimal if not insignificant. Though this attitude may not land me a spot at the “cool table” (to continue the HS analogy,) I feel that it will serve me well. So if you are looking for something to drink to during these sad and bloody days, how about one for our own awakenings, even if our waking lives are but a dream.

Not so major announcement

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I’m still alive – in fact, I’ve been feeling very alive these past few weeks, so excuse the lack of postings. A brief update: I have secured housing in New Orleans; I will be sharing a small house about a mile from campus with two other guys. The process was not easy but it seems to have worked out well. I have met a wonderful guy, someone with whom I can be myself. I got to see a bunch of my very good friends in a special place. Not all is well in the world, but Fortuna’s wheel (too often down,) is now up. Any suggestions?

Caveat Emptor

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I returned from New Orleans early this morning not having accomplished my goal. The main reason I went down there was to find housing with three other guys. Although we spent an enjoyable evening eating and listening to great music, and found some very nice places the following day, I decided to withdraw from the group. I did not make this decision lightly. The three other guys (one of which I had met during the admitted students weekend) are all great people. My decision was based on a largely gut level reaction which told me that I would not be a good fit within the group. I discussed this feeling with some family and friends, and received reinforcement to trust my instincts.

This has been very difficult, but I am at the stage in my life (25 going on 26,) where I need to be entirely comfortable and at home in my surroundings. Although I am still trying to define just what that is, exactly, I feel like I do have a better understanding of what it is not; this, my working definition, is something I may not have been able to articulate a few years ago. I can only hope that those guys understood and were not offended.

Although it is a bit crushing to be nowhere further along tangibly on the housing front, I did get a better idea of what to expect housing-wise when I make my next trip down there to try again. Though I’m not yet sure what form my next housing attempt will embody, I’m willing to try again. I can only hope I “have right.”

Be Nice or Leave

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Yesterday was a full day in NOLA. I arrived at Union Station on Monday evening at about 8 after a long but very pleasant train trip. I took the Amtrak Crescent from Penn Station (NYP) all the way to New Orleans (NOL.) To make the long trip more bearable I upgraded to a sleeper car, otherwise knows as a Roomette. Calling it a room is a bit of a stretch, but the perks of taking first class sleeper service make the trip worthwhile. In addition to having a dedicated attendant (snacks / turn down service / baggage handling / chatting / etc…) all meals in the dining car are included. Was the dining car akin to the white glove pullman service of the past? Well, not quite, but the food was good and the company (seating is communal,) lively. I had one particularly pleasing conversation with a couple heading down for a notary conference; I always look forward to meals on trains as you find that everybody has an interesting story; I was able to practice my questioning/discovery skills which hopefully will serve me well in my future endeavors.

We saw two places yesterday, neither of which was perfect. Today we have a few more appointments. The two guys who I had yet to meet are good people and I think that we will be able to live together without too much drama. Since I missed it last time I was able to stop by Perlis on Magazine St. Talk about a good store… it’s preppy heaven. I picked up a fleur-de-lis belt which is very NOLA and very cute.

The hilight of the day, though, was the evening’s food and entertainment. We ate at Jaques-Imo’s, a New Orleans institution famous for, among other things, alligator cheesecake. I had crawfish etouffee which was some of the best and most flavorful I have ever tasted. My dining partners were likewise pleased with their crab stuffed catfish and roux.

After a pleasing meal we headed over to the Maple Leaf which, though it appeared to be a regular bar, slowly began to fill up as the time approached for the main act. As the anticipation and energy grew, seven men took the stage and the Rebirth Brass Band started with a bang. If anything is typical to New Orleans it is the tradition of the brass band, and as far as brass bands go, Rebirth is known as one of, if not the best. And let me tell you, this reputation is well deserved. These guys are first class showmen, and their songs had the crowd (me included) jumping and jiving. Their fantastic cover of Steve Miller’s Fly Like an Eagle was out of this world groovy. I danced for what seemed like hours, and would highly recommend Rebirth to anyone visiting NOLA.

We’re about to head out for our first appointment, so please send some good vibes to our housing hunt!

New Orleans Visit

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Tulane Law School, the institution I’ll be attending next year, will reimburse prospective students up to $300.00 to come down for a visit during 3 scheduled visiting days. After a good deal of Expedia searching, I was able to secure a plane ticket from Boston to New Orleans for exactly said amount, all fees included. The catch was that I’d have to fly down on Thursday and come back Monday. Since I’ve been pretty good about my vacation days (think just a few for emergency mid-week ski trips,) I could spare to take a few days off of work.

To make the most of my time there I decided to stay with a few different current students; this way, I figured, I’d get some insight into how law students really live. Through the wonders of Facebook I was able to contact some students, mostly 1 and 2Ls. On this front the support was tremendous. I lined up three hosts and another guide.

After being met at the airport (funny aside, my bag was delivered later that night by Continental thus freeing me from lugging it around that night,) my first guide and I headed directly to a bar review. For those of you unfamiliar with law school lingo, a bar review is pretty much just an occasion for a student group to sponsor food and booze at a local dive. That evening’s bar review was sponsored by the Lambda Law group and the Women in Law group. After some time chatting with current and prospective students, my host and I left for some dinner. Later that night I made it over to the place I’d stay Thurs and Fri night and after hanging with the roommates hit the sack.

The following day, Friday, was when all the official law school stuff happened. My second host and I took the St. Charles Ave. streetcar to campus and then parted ways. During the day I meet a bunch of current and perspective students, sat in on a class, toured the library and ate a good lunch with faculty members. All in all Tulane organized a solid program.

After the program ended, of the guys I met during the day’s events and I went for a drink at a nearby student watering hole. We decided to be roommates and discussed housing options. Early in the evening a group of students involved with environmental law were staging a play so we decided to check it out. It was surprisingly good, if a tad polemical; the audience seemed to be mostly other law students, and the refreshments (beer and sandwiches) certainly helped buoy everyone’s spirits. Following this play we made our way back to my second host’s place and then joined him at a phat (I know, I never say that,) party at a revolving bar overlooking the city.

On Saturday, my task was to check out the housing available around campus. My potential roommate and I got together and meandered around the neighborhood, calling numbers on for rent signs and poking around a bit. He had to leave that afternoon, so we parted ways. I eventually made it over to my third host’s place, and after a delicious sushi dinner, took an early night (little did I know that I was halfway to being sunburnt to a crisp.)

On Sunday I continued to apartment hunt, and although some promising leads were followed, the perfect place didn’t materialize. That evening I connected with my fourth host and we went with a friend of his to the Bywater to hear a law student playing with his band. The place was very cool; it looked like a ramshackle dump from the outside, but on the inside there was a great vibe. They sold wine out front and then you’d take it back to the rear courtyard where a local restaurant had set up a portable kitchen. The offerings, ranging from duck to collared greens, were being sold as part of a fundraiser, and I learned that each week a different city eatery was featured. All in all it was very cool.

Then before I knew it it was Monday morning. I flew my sunburnt self to Boston and then I was back in Maine. The bottom line is that I feel much more relaxed about this transition I’ll make in August. In addition to knowing a few current students, I got a very positive impression of everything surrounding the school and its inhabitants.

Thanks to everyone who helped me get this far. I hope this next chapter in my life is as exciting, if not more, than those that have come before.