Expectations

This is the very first travel course I have ever been on. It's weird, it's almost like it's a vacation in a way. Just a very educational vacation. Since I am a big history nerd, I am very excited to hit all the touristy attractions. I think it's going to be a fun trip, but also reminding us how different the culture is compared to the one we live in. I mean I am completely unaware of what it is going to be like down there, but I think with all the history behind it, it is going to be one of the most unique cities I have ever been to. I've been around street performers in Chicago and Italy that I can vividly remember. In Chicago, I mostly see drummers playing on plastic buckets. Occasionally, I will see a guitar player in the subway, but I never hear anyone ever singing. It was the same in Italy, I never really saw performers singing. I never really experienced and appreciated jazz. Sure that could be because I never really grew up around it, but I already know this trip is going to make me appreciate it so much more. The people are truly incredible from the videos I have seen on Youtube. I expect to grow an entirely new perspective on jazz music. Personally, I have played flute and piccolo since I was in fifth grade. I already have an appreciation for music itself, but this is going to be entirely new.

As I said earlier, this is my very first travel course I have ever taken in my life. I took this class because I really truly want to experience as much as I can. It's entirely out of my element and I am going into it with a completely open mind. The people I meet are going to change me and I am going to let them. They have entirely different views from me and I want to learn to understand it. With this course, we are covering the architecture, neighborhoods, art, artists, catastrophes, history, music, population, and religion. We are literally covering the entire lifespan of New Orleans. It's so neat because we get to view the city through this lenses. Now, not everyone may not be as open as I am to the culture, but I think it's important to go in unbiased because that will help us understand it more.

I really want this trip to change me into appreciating more. We are so pampered up here in Illinois. I mean sure as you already know I have been to Europe, so I have seen how they live and what their culture is, but again that is the touristy aspect of it. I went to Europe and it was educational, but not an actual course. There was no blogging, but it was recommended. I think it is so important to write down your experiences because we get older, but our experiences stay the same. I think I am looking forward to meeting the people the most, not the tourists, but the waiters and waitresses. I want to really meet the people and develop conversations with them. I think the biggest thing I am looking forward to is the music and the musicians. With the history of New Orleans, music may be the only thing they truly have. I think just by listening to them we can learn the importance of music itself. As I said earlier, I am a musician myself, and I have an entirely different view on music than other people. Music is a culture in itself, so I think taking a moment to really dive into it down there will be one of the biggest things I take away from this trip.