Reflections On A New Orleans Fall Day

Walking home from orchestra today, I felt the most comfortable and at one with the campus since my arrival in mid-August. With a trombone on my back, Tulane flip-flops on my feet, and a smile on my face, I thought about how I was so miserable here at first, how much I love Massachusetts, but reminding myself that I wouldn't be regretting the choice of jeans because of the weather down there- my parents have already used the wood stove. Just yesterday, many girls in bikinis were sunbathing outside my window. This climate is a lot more comfortable, but I am going to miss the foliage this year.

I got sad news this week that my grandfather is in the hospital because his heart rate is unsteady- guess heart problems run in the family this week. They're probably putting in a pacemaker on Monday, but it's just hard to be halfway across the country and not be able to visit him. I am trying to think positively about this whole situation. I am at one with the world.

On my walk earlier, I also thought about my future plans. Right now, I'm taking it easy, exploring classes that sound interesting, and finding myself. My favorite classes are music and human sexuality (I've always been for sex, drugs, and rock and roll I guess), but I feel Russian is getting up there, too. The only class I really don't like is biology, which may be a big clue that I do not have a future in medicine. I think I'd be happiest teaching and writing, playing trombone and euphonium, saving the world with my words, and doing political activism. If well behaved women rarely make history, maybe it's time for me to do what's right in my heart and not what I'm supposed to do. I think I have a future in academia ahead of me- a music history professor? Or English? Something humanities-based- I've always loved those classes. Psychology- I could be a counselor. In short, I am keeping options open and all over the place. I love marching band so much too. That's really my favorite thing I do on campus.

All I know is that for the first time since I moved here, I can honestly say I love it here.

<3may

In Sickness and In Health

So this has been the most intense week ever.

I had a bad reaction to a medication on Sunday night that landed me in Tulane Pediatric Hospital. It was really scary because Andrew and I called TEMS (the tulane EMS service) and they had to come with their oxygen tanks and everything and take me to the hospital because my chest pain was bad and I couldn't breathe. Thank God I'm doing so much better- I feel fit as a fiddle now- and am off the medication that made me sick.

That made me miss some classes in the beginning of the week, but now I'm back in the swing of things. I played in the Tulane/SMU game last night (we won!), and I got to meet some cool band kids from SMU. Tonight, the marching band and kappa kappa psi (my co-ed music honors fraternity) are taking them to the quarter:-)

All of this medical excitement did make me a little extra homesick this week. I'm so used to being in Boston and having my primary care physician easily accessible. I'm used to my mom taking care of me and taking the pain away. It's very different, but it's all a part of growing up.

Classes are going well- I've already changed my major from public health to music and (i think?) psychology. I decided I'm much more interested in mental health, and I'd really prefer to be talking through things with people than giving them medications. I am thinking about becoming a counselor, but things are still very up in the air. Right now, I'm taking bio, harmony (music theory), russian, human sexuality, and four credits of bands. Besides a few difficulties in bio, things are going fantastically.

I miss everyone back home, but I am starting to like it a lot here. And I have tons of Tulane pride, I'm excited it's homecoming week. And not just because I get to see Reel Big Fish:-)

Love,
May

My First Week: Results.

Hey there everyone!

I am quietly typing away on my little macbook while my roommate sleeps in the bed next to mine (she's a heavy sleeper, so i probably won't have to worry about blogging whenever I need to). She moved in yesterday, from Texas. I am in the TU marching band, so I've been here since the 15th.

Band camp was a lot of fun, but I probably worked harder than I ever have. The heat down here is much stronger than anything one experiences in the North, plus, if you can believe it, the humidity is stronger than the New England air I grew up on. In Massachusetts, I would typically reapply sunscreen at my lunch break during whatever outdoor activity I participated in. In our marching band, we take water breaks about every hour or so, when I would always reapply, and I still managed second-degree burns. I did not know it was physically possible to blister from a sunburn, but it is (I personally thought that my legs were infected with the bubonic plague).

Everyone has a nice outlook on life so far. A lot of people are in strong spirits. One night, I had a political debate with a friend who's polar opposite me politically (conservative Christian while I'm...not), but it was so civil! We loved talking for hours on end, and we critiqued each others parties, but never got mad at each other- even when talking about sensitive issues like abortion, gay marriage, and separation of church in state. Back home, these civil political debates did not happen in my circle of friends- but this is one of the many reasons why I chose Louisiana- to be around people who are different, but still have my oasis in the city of New Orleans.

One minor thing I noticed that's different about New Orleans is how everyone drives. I've never driven here, but am fluent in my comfort zones of Mass and NH (okay, I avoid 128). Here, the cars don't always stop for pedestrians like you can trust them to do in Boston, but everyone drives a lot slower. It's an interesting concept.

I miss everyone so much, and I can't wait to come home to Fitchburg with a host of new ideas in how to revitalize the city.

Love always,
May