Best Friends Ever!!

Best Year____ Ever!!

Andrew Lemoine, a rising sophomore, wrote an awesome blog series highlighting why he loves Tulane. Check out his previous posts to hear more from Andrew!

            So freshman year is in the books, and boy was it one I will never forget. As a local kid from Louisiana I didn’t know what to expect by staying in state for college, but it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. New Orleans is one of the most unique places in the world. I think that this statement pretty much sums up my experience at Tulane this past year. Unique!

Best Friends Ever!!

            When I came to Tulane, another thing I was really looking forward too, was the huge diversity among the student population. Having a RA from Kenya, a suite mate from Thailand, and a floor mate from England, I immediately had the chance to experience so many new cultures and ways of thinking. I was so intrigued by how different everyone was. In high school, all students were from the same place. Most people held the same beliefs and ideals, and It was truly an awesome adventure to meet all the new people. Its so cool that in just one friend group, one person is, for example. from Louisiana, one from California, another from Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Oregon, Missouri, and Florida. Having that huge spectrum of people is just, that awesome. I don’t really have other fancy words to describe it. I think that your friends really help make your college experience what it is. Throughout getting involved through sports and other organizations on campus, I really got to see the entire spectrum of the many people on campus. And by doing this, I think I was lucky enough to have the best freshman year ever!!

Best Adventure Ever!!

Best Year____ Ever!!

Andrew Lemoine, a rising sophomore, wrote an awesome blog series highlighting why he loves Tulane. Stay tuned to hear more from Andrew!

            So freshman year is in the books, and boy was it one I will never forget. As a local kid from Louisiana I didn’t know what to expect by staying in state for college, but it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. New Orleans is one of the most unique places in the world. I think that this statement pretty much sums up my experience at Tulane this past year. Unique!

Best Adventure Ever!!

Trying to find the best word for it, New Orleans has the best... “Adventure”. It has just the most random things, and events that all sort of blend together in this big massive gumbo of the South. From meeting random famous people, to going to shows and random events, this short section is really just a few random experiences and events that have truly made my last year here unique.

  

Top and Far right, Roads closed after a couple days of rain.
Bottom left, Aubrey Plaza from Parks and Rec. after her comedy show in McAlister Auditorium

Left and Bottom: Cram Jam in our dining hall. A food party thrown by Tulane right before finals
Top: Woody Harrelson casually playing soccer on the Newcomb Quad
Middle, Ellie the Borden Cow on Campus.

Best Food Ever!!

Best Year____ Ever!!

Andrew Lemoine, a rising sophomore, wrote an awesome blog series highlighting why he loves Tulane. Stay tuned to hear more from Andrew!

            So freshman year is in the books, and boy was it one I will never forget. As a local kid from Louisiana I didn’t know what to expect by staying in state for college, but it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. New Orleans is one of the most unique places in the world. I think that this statement pretty much sums up my experience at Tulane this past year. Unique!

Best Food Ever!!

         So the one thing that everyone agrees on, is that New Orleans is famous for its food!! I can’t sum up m freshman year in New Orleans without slightly mentioning food. From the famous Café Du Monde in the New Orleans French Quarter, to Plum Street Snow Balls in Uptown, you cannot go wrong with New Orleans Food. When I got to campus back in August,  one of the things I could not wait to do was try as many foods as possible. Our course, on a college student budget, I was limited, but that didn’t stop me from trying! From going out to eat with friends, to cooking Sunday Family Dinners in our dorm’s kitchen, to we had the best time doing it! There are literally restaurants everywhere in Nola!! It is just like activities on campus. The hardest part isn’t finding a restaurant. It’s picking which one you want! All it takes is a little bravery, a longing for adventure and a huge appetite!!

Best Athletics Ever!!

Best Year____ Ever!!

Andrew Lemoine, a rising sophomore, wrote an awesome blog series highlighting why he loves Tulane. Stay tuned to hear more from Andrew!

            So freshman year is in the books, and boy was it one I will never forget. As a local kid from Louisiana I didn’t know what to expect by staying in state for college, but it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. New Orleans is one of the most unique places in the world. I think that this statement pretty much sums up my experience at Tulane this past year. Unique!

Best Athletics Ever!!

Ok, so...Maybe not. Tulane might not have the best athletics programs, but that doesn’t mean New Orleans Sports aren’t fun! Tulane plays our football games downtown in the Mercedes Benz Superdome, which is a blast! I mean, come on. Its the Dome!!!! Basketball and Baseball both play on campus, in Devlin Fieldhouse and Turchin Stadium respectively. Although we aren’t the most winningest program in the country, Tulane home games are so much fun to go too. Everyone loves to cheer on the Green Wave!!

Home Openers for Basketball, Baseball, and Football! Bottom: the opposing team has just scored

                       

            One of my favorite Tulane games to date, has to be a basketball game over Christmas Break. Tulane was visiting the University of Alabama in basketball, and I was visiting Tuscaloosa. Well due to my friend’s connections at Alabama, I got to go watch Tulane play the Crimson Tide!! Now of course we have a decent basketball program, but I was not expecting to beat an SEC powerhouse!! The game started off scraggly with Bama taking the early lead, and holding the lead for most of the game. This brought out many jars and sneers from the Bama fans sitting nearby. But, when the buzzer sounded, Tulane won with a come from behind win to beat Bama 53-50!! What an experience. From being nagged by Bama fans the entire game for wearing my Tulane shirt, to walking out of that game with the W, I truly had so much fun!! This game will forever stay in my mind as one of my favorite games ever.

    

My photobomb of the ESPN Announcers during the game!!; Victory is Sweet!!; Our seats at the game.

                       

            As far as my personal involvement in Tulane Athletics, I am a rider on Tulane’s Cycling Team. I was a runner and triathlete throughout high school, so it was kinda cool to put all of my focus on one discipline for a while. Joining the cycling team was one of my best decisions here at Tulane. The people on the team are so amazing, and I get to travel across the country competing against other colleges in one of my favorite sports! Our road racing season is in the spring, and we race against many colleges from throughout Texas, Oklahoma (where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain), Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana! Earlier this month, we proudly won our 3rd consecutive SCCCC Division II Conference Championship! I can’t even begin to say how much of an amazing experience it was to ride for Tulane this year. I got to meet so many new friends I wouldn’t have otherwise, and I got to travel around the South. Its definitely an experience I would never give back, and it’s one I can’t wait for next year!

            Aside from Tulane sports, New Orleans also has the New Orleans Saints, and the New Orleans Hornets! (Now Pelicans). I was lucky enough to go to games for both teams this year! In November, I went with 2 friends to watch the Saints Play the Atlanta Falcons. We get to Superdome, climb a ton of ramps, only to realize, we still hadn’t reached our gate. We kept climbing, to finally find our seats, on the very. top. row. of the Superdome. How much did we care? None! We had a blast. The Saints ended up beating the Falcons, ending their chance for an undefeated season! As for the Hornets game, one day my neighbor on my floor walks in with an email for the first 50 or so students to sign up get free tickets to a Hornets game! Well we all jumped on that, and got to see the Hornets play the Milwaukee Bucks. Of course, the first thing we thought was, hmm, I wonder how good/bad our tickets would be. We get to the New Orleans Arena, to discover that all of were getting to sit in Press Box seats, get free food, take pictures with the Honey Bees, AND, to put a cherry on top of the evening, get to be the tunnel for the players as they leave the locker room!! I felt like a kid in a candy store, and all of this came from just checking our Tulane email. 

Best School Ever!!

Best Year____ Ever!!

Andrew Lemoine, a rising sophomore, wrote an awesome blog series highlighting why he loves Tulane. Stay tuned to hear more from Andrew!

            So freshman year is in the books, and boy was it one I will never forget. As a local kid from Louisiana I didn’t know what to expect by staying in state for college, but it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. New Orleans is one of the most unique places in the world. I think that this statement pretty much sums up my experience at Tulane this past year. Unique!

Best School Ever!!

         So I was one of those kids that showed up to Tulane my Junior year ready to tour. I had no idea to expect and no idea what to look for. I had heard so much about the school and how awesome it was, but of course awesome to one person isn’t the same to another. And when I got to campus, “the wave” hit me!(see what I did there?) I immediately fell in love with Tulane. From that day on, I did not want to go anywhere else. Of course I had to apply to other places to make my parents happy, but it didn’t matter. I knew I wanted to go to Tulane; it is the best school ever!

            Tulane had everything I wanted, plus more! First off, campus is gorgeous. I walk out of my dorm in the mornings and just think, “Dang...this is why I came here.” It’s just that pretty.

I took this picture during my first ever trip to campus

  

Of course there are other things too: you know, academics, your education, “important” stuff like that. I am a neuroscience major, so I was really attracted to the research opportunities available for students. Every time I turned around I met some kid who did this is one lab and their friend did that in a different one. Throughout this year, I really just felt that students wanted to be here, they wanted to be involved in their studies, and they wanted to learn.

            And of course, just like New Orleans, Tulane is unique! There are so many random quirks that make Tulane what it is! I know this is kind of obvious, but it doesn’t snow in New Orleans...Ever. So how did Tulane fix that? Snow day!! Tulane brought in trucks that sprayed snow all over the LBC Quad. During homecoming week, my friends and I walk out of our dorms one night find a carnival on the quad. And not just small little booths with some games and a bouncy house. This was a full blown-ferris wheel and tons of rides-Carnival. And of course, I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked about the Mardi Gras tree. As per tradition, on the way back parades, students throw some of there beads up in a big tree on the academic quad.

            

            I know these are just little things, but thats what makes something what it is. There are so many countless experiences that all combine to make Tulane such an amazing place. I always say the problem is not finding something to go do, it’s trying to pick from all the things available. I could sit with you and talk till may face turned blue, and still have more to say about Tulane.

From left to right: Making masks in my dorm; my friend, Jesse, and the 16oz pancake in City Diner; students cover the LBC quad for Crawfest!; everyone hanging out in our dorm lounge for the Superbowl watch party.