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posts: 2,090
joined: 11-23-2008
So I'm from Louisiana.
Not however, New Orleans. New Orleans itself is like any other large city, hosting its own sectors and distinct cultures. However, crime is CRAZY in New Orleans, especially the gangs. I have no desire to ever go there for any reason, period. Pretty much everything bad you've heard about Louisiana gets worse the further south you go, so there's your warning.
Everyone in this state loves the Louisiana State University football team. Even my college, which had its own football team (which didn't suck TOO badly), sold more LSU junk than stuff for our own team. From what I understand when dealing with a lot of people not from the area is they expect all of Louisiana to be two things; backwoods retarded or partying alcoholics. I can't tell you how many times I've spoken with someone from another state and they ask me “you're not from here, are you” because I don't speak with a drawl or an accent. I let slip the occasional howdy though.
There are three things you need to know about Louisiana, that probably apply to all states bordering the gulf of Mexico; it's always hot, even in February except up in north Louisiana where it snows, and you will rarely find a meaner, more persistant breed of mosquito anywhere. Lastly, you will get hit by every hurricane if you live within three hours of the coast (Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, yes, but it tore up every place else too.)
The geography consists of four main things; forests, swamps, marshes and bogs. Go for one mile outside of any city and you'll be in one or more of them. I've never seen an alligator but there was a tiger on the loose a few years ago (a bengal tiger, actually. Loooooooong story). Civilization exists like a Miyazaki film; carved out of the wilds. The only open fields are for military bases, sporting events and farms.
The economy relies heavily on offshore oil rigs and timber. Our state was the second most poverty striken state in the union, though it might be number one now, and it was rated the highest for something else not good that I can't remember. Probably crime or poor hygeine or something.
We also have good food and Community coffee, the strongest stuff known to man. Our food, like our culture, is a blend of French, Spanish and English traditions thanks to the territory changing hands as often as it did. On that note, we have Parishes instead of Counties, and our laws are based off of Napoleonic Law.
We're friendly people, and that includes our assholes. Sure, they might be a dick to you but they'll help you out if you ask nicely. You can say hi to any random stranger and they'll greet you back, and the same goes with waving to people from your car, though don't expect to be best buds just from that. Men hold doors open for women, you CAN round up a posse if its justified, and people ride horses in smaller towns (like mine) as a pasttime.
We also inheret the American spirit, fostering independence and self reliance, but in the south family is important, especially considering the small sizes of our communities (my hometown has a population of about 8000.)
Now we DO have boondocks, we DO have hillbillies, we DO have a lot of black people to include both blacks and n—— (we do differentiate), we DO have a lot of parties, drug use, alocoholism and lately the FBI has arrested 10 people in my hometown for child pornography. We have a lot of immigrants from a large number of countries, most notably Mexico.
Lastly though, Louisian is laid back. No matter who you are, you WILL relax even if it means you're dead. Oh… coffins do occasionally emerge from the ground during floods.
