"Amazing and Different Every Year: A college undergraduate experience"
How I did it: I went to college in New Orleans and we had a Mardi Gras break. For me every year was completely different.
The First Year I was timid. I went to the uptown parades and stood at the corner of Napolean and St. Charles (across from Copeland's) and caught as many beads as possible. I would trudge back to my dorm with a sore neck from the weight of the beads.
The Second Year I was a little more daring. On Fat Tuesday, my friend and I followed one of the parades down from uptown to the quarter. We waded through a sea of people on Burbon Street watching women crowd surf across the people from bar to bar (and losing different articles of clothing as they went). I made it back to campus and had an 800 class the next morning. I didn't bother going home I just went to the lecture with my beads and put my last beer in the trash can outside the classroom.
The Third Year I had to flu and missed some of the parades. I caught the floats as they were making their way to their routes on the way to block buster and still collected a bunch of cups and medallions.
The Last Year I went to some of the parades that were earlier in the year. Then I took a cruise to Cozumel (5 days for 200 dollars) during Mardi Gras break. They had parties and parades in the streets for Carnival and it was a similar, but more rustic experience. This might have been my favorite time out of the four.
Lessons & tips: Wear flashing beads. The year I did this I got a million strands of beads and a ton of other stuff... I think it gives someone a target to aim at once it gets dark.
Comfy shoes for walking.
A buddy. Going by yourself to some of these parades is fun... but it can be a little scary if you get groped in a crowded street and don't have someone to run interference (I'm a guy and still got groped... must be as bad or worse for girls).
Resources: Tulane University for a dorm room close to all the action for four years straight.
Feb 13, 2009, 05:47AM PST
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