Pace yourself. Sure, you may have come down for a weekend, get your share of beignets and giant sized beers, but living here full time provides access to indulgence around every corner. Drive through daiquiri shops are littered all across tha New Orleans metro area. Greasy, fried foods and an abundance of bars that are open into tha wee hours of tha night and morning could be heavy in tha heart, and cholesterol. Pace my friends, pace.Slow down. Not to be confused with pace yourself. New Orleans is known by many nicknames and one of its more common ones is Tha Big Easy. That means locals take it nice and easy, except on tha freeway interstate, highway. slowing down takes some getting used to. Get ready for more holidays than normal, especially during Mardi Gras season
Expect tha unexpected. Living in a hurricane-prone city, you learn quickly that nothing is promised, so expect change. In other words, be flexible. At one point you could be on your way to work, and the next stuck in a never-ending pothole Uptown. Or anywhere in tha city for that matter. A second line could start in tha middle of a 5pm commute home and now your journey home just got extended by 25 minutes. Don’t fret. Enjoy tha free street concert and grab a daiquiri before you get to your front door.
Pack daily for crazy a$$ weather. Have you ever been to tha Caribbean? Spent time in a place where tha weather was “bipolar “ as many New Orleanians describe theirs? If so, get very prepared and ready for tha climate in tha city to change within a minute. I’ve been caught umbrella-less two too many times and suffered torrential downpours all over my clothes on tha way to a business meeting or event. In New a Orleans I’ve heard many natives mention that a “day is not complete without a little rain in tha city.” Pack an umbrella and layer up on clothes when possible. Because we all know tha heat in New Orleans is enough to make you wanna strip.
Freshen up on your pleasantries. Here in New Orleans, on a daily basis, I speak to at least six or seven strangers per day. Get used to smiling and engaging in the basic morning, afternoon, and late day greetings when you move to New Orleans. People here, particularly in grocery stores love to talk to you, and even spread a little bit of their personal information to you or any other complete stranger.
It’s tha openness and freedom of tha people of New Orleans that make is such a hot spot for transplants and tourists by tha millions each and every year. Pack your suitcase, drink a lot of water, and stay awhile. Tha city of New Orleans has a tech industry that’s brewing and bustling, loads of entrepreneurial ventures waiting to be uncapped
