Freshman Year - Second Semester
So the freshman year saga continues. From the first week of school to the first week of second semester (where did the time go…), my love for New Orleans and Tulane grows exponentially as I meet new classmates, get to know my friends here on a more personal level, and experience this beautiful city in its entirety - not to mention making it through the first round of finals. Everyday is something new, and the excitement of each adventure makes it seem as though time is nonexistent. Until I look at my calendar. *GASP* The time is passing entirely too quickly here at Tulane, so I’d like to share with all of you prospective students, interested readers, or my mom and dad who may be the only people that actually care about the content of this blog, just how us students spend our precious minutes of each day.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
The people in your residence hall, particularly those on your floor, get a lot face time. And by that I mean you see them ALL THE TIME. This isn't always the case, but in a large and very social dorm, people are always looking to hang out, which is rather convenient with a common room. All freshman residence halls have their own perks, but I am rather obviously biased towards Monroe as it is my current home. From the very first week, my floor has developed a strong, family-like bond. We all had the opportunity to get to know each other through our large common room that separates the girls’ side from the boys’ side. Not all floors have common rooms, but those that do are filled with floormates doing homework, unwinding, watching TV, or my personal favorite - eating food. What kind of food? Everything you would ever expect from college freshman: Ramen, Easy Mac, Papa Johns delivery, etc. We are an exceedingly eclectic mix of students; from New Orleans natives to football players to Paul Tulane scholars to semi-professional Irish dancers - our floor sums up the definition of the most random group of kids ever thrown together on one floor. And we somehow made it work. We have movie nights, go to concerts, and frequent Bruff together. Wait…what is Bruff? DINING
Bruff is our on-campus cafeteria that is open from 7am-10pm most days. Convenient, right? Most freshman and some sophomores have a meal plan that allow them to swipe into Bruff anywhere from 1 - ∞ times a day (unlimited meal plans!!!!). Bruff offers a wide variety of options, both healthy and not, and you can always find something new. They have Milkshake Mondays and other special events such as Tabasco Day in which they gave out free prizes and special foods made with Tabasco products, and Cram Jam - a finals week favorite. However, eating in the same location, no matter how many options they provide, gets a little old from time to time, so my friends and I enjoy venturing off campus to try new restaurants. Whether its a snack or a five course meal, we are always enthusiastic about eating delicious and authentic New Orleans food. Some of the places we have ventured to include Sucre, Maple Street Deli, Amici, Arana, Lil Tokyo, Satsuma, and Commander’s Palace. But, my absolute favorite eatery I have visited (multiple times…) is District Donuts. The ornately decorated, and oh so tasty, hand-crafted pastries make for a truly life changing experience. |
| District Donuts |
SO… WHAT ELSE?
Let’s see… Directly across from campus is Audubon Park. Students love going here to run, lay out, play frisbee, or just lounge. The pond, surrounding tress, and beautiful landscape make for a beautiful atmosphere to relax in. The Audubon Zoo and golf course are also located here for those interested. The fairly temperate, warm weather allows for outdoor activities, festivals, parades, etc year round. At the beginning of the year, there was a large parade and celebration for Southern Decadence. With the high spirits, jocose dispositions, and colorful costumes all around, it was hard for anyone within miles to be in a sour mood. Voodoo Music Festival is another very popular event that occurred on Halloween weekend this year. During each of the three days there were unique live performances, beautiful light shows, and the an undeniable sense of unity through music for all art lovers alike. Aside from a few of my favorite bands (Zedd, Skrillex, Arctic Monkeys), Voodoo supplied fantastic food vendors from all over the country, cute local boutique tents, and eerie halloween decorations. The most recent festival I’ve been to however, was the Po Boy Festival on Oak Street. The street was blocked off and local food vendors lined the sidewalks, ready for all hungry students, locals, and tourists. Local bands played on several stages throughout the area as people munched on the famous New Orleans sandwiches. This next semester, I look forward to Mardi Gras and many other festivals!
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| At beautiful Audubon Park! |
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| Southern Decadence festival |
SCHOOL WORK
Aside from all the fun and quirky things we do in New Orleans, we also spend a good deal of time in class and completing our assigned homework. There are countless places on campus to study that provide a different atmosphere to fit everyone’s study preferences. When you need a break (on Monday and Thursdays), theWell has excellent masseuses come in for two hours and give students free five minute massages. Ahhhh-mazing right? Additionally, the majority of professors make themselves so readily available to assist with any questions students may have, so many students meet with their teachers outside of class for supplemental instruction. Tulane students pride themselves on hard work, integrity, and academic originality. We are a creative and innovative body that supports each individual and group and their respective goals. We collaborate effectively in all aspects to accomplish academic excellence and social success, which is why when you can’t find us in the library, we are off exploring and simultaneously learning about our surrounding community, interests, and forming life long bonds - a holistic NOLA experience that goes hand in hand with that of the classroom.
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