Fish and Fruit (and oysters!)

 Bad news yall: last night, Katie's fish Spotty went belly-up. I mentioned earlier that I felt guilty for shopping at Walmart. Ironic because I've driven there four times in the past three days. I had to go back today to return the fish, because apparently you have to take the dead fish back in order to get a new one. I thought that was absolutely disgusting, but somehow everyone at Walmart seemed to be totally cool with the idea. I figured it would be better to get it over with sooner rather than later, so this morning I scooped the fish out of the bowl and dumped him back into the bag he came home in. Drove him back to Walmart, just me and this dead goldfish in my car. Waited in the customer service line—gingerly holding the bag away from me—for ten minutes (apparently Walmart is busy at 9 o'clock on Saturday mornings?). The woman at the desk told me I had to bring her the new live fish as well as the dead one in order to make the exchange. So I went back to the fish tanks and found an employee to help me. She paged someone else to come, but no one came. So I found someone else to help me, and he paged someone else to come too... but no one came. By then I was going to be late to work if I waited around any longer, so I left. Just me and poor Spotty in the car again. I stopped by the apartment to drop him off, because no way was I leaving him outside in the heat (or in my car, ugh). Wrote a note to Krissi apologizing for the dead fish on the kitchen counter, and left for the market just on time.

After I got back from the market (which I'll talk about in a minute) I took the fish back to Walmart again and finally got the exchange made. If, by the end of the summer, I'm as familiar with New Orleans as I am with that Walmart, I'll feel quite accomplished.

On a brighter note, I LOVED being at the market this morning. It wasn't a full day of work; I was supposed to just drop by to check it out, but I ended up staying til the very end. I got there at 10 and met my mentor, Emery, at the welcome tent. She showed me around and introduced me to the rest of the team. The market has one other intern this summer, a Yale student named Tatiana. I spent most of the morning standing with her at a station she had set up for kids' activities—which we'll take turns planning this summer. We gave out samples of a heavenly fruit salad she had made with some of the produce from the market: peaches, blueberries, and mint leaves. She had also set up samples of three different blueberry varieties and lessons and games about eating local.

Within my first few minutes of being there, someone overheard me tell Tatiana that I go to Carolina. He asked where I'm from because he's from Winston Salem. Turns out he's my godmother's daughter's lacrosse coach! How random. And his wife has actually been to Tarboro because she has a friend who's from there. Such a small world!

When the market ended at noon, everyone pitched in to help break down and pack everything up, and the parking lot was clear by 12:30. I'm really looking forward to going back on Tuesday.

Krissi, Katie, and I spent most of the afternoon at the New Orleans Oyster Festival. SO fun. And the city has festivals like this all summer long! I want to go to all of them. From 1pm to 9pm, there was live music, loads of food (oysters prepared every way imaginable), oyster jewelry and oyster art, oyster cooking demonstrations, oyster information tents, and lots and lots of people. I tried pepper jelly oysters and charbroiled oysters; both were delicious. And I really loved the bands that played (especially The Benjy Davis Project). We're going back to the festival tomorrow for more music and oysters!

June 1st: the start of hurricane season!

This city is bursting with creativity. I spent most of my run this morning admiring the striking architecture of the houses lining the street. And I see such creativity everywhere: from the music to the art to the food to the way people decorate their shops and homes. And in instances that are hard to categorize as well: like the man I saw today riding a bicycle that he somehow attached a motor to so that he didn't have to pedal. Or the front porch showcasing a handmade skeleton-band display.* I don't necessarily understand all of the things I'm seeing, but it makes me happy to see such creativity in action.

I spent a good part of the afternoon exploring Magazine Street, stopping in every boutique and antique shop just to look around. That prevalent New Orleans creativity was obvious in the clothing fashioned by local designers and in the artful organization of the antiques. It was a really pleasant day, quiet because everyone else had work today but I don't start til tomorrow.

Krissi, my other housemate, arrived shortly after I got back to the apartment. We took a trip to Walmart before going out to pizza with a bunch of the others. Now all but one of us are here, and it's really fun just hanging out together. But we made it an early night tonight since several of us have to work tomorrow.

*

Day 2: The Mundane and the Exotic

As the title suggests, this day's activities range from the commonplace (grocery shopping) to the more unconventional...

I love all the unique local places here, so I felt guilty for grocery shopping at Walmart. But Katie and I wanted to buy pet goldfish, so I figured I might as well get everything in one trip. I did wait to buy my produce, though, at the Thursday farmers market in mid-city New Orleans. All day it was rainy but it was really pouring when I was at the market. Everyone had tents over their tables, because the market happens rain or shine.

One of the reasons I'm so excited to work at Crescent City Farmers Market this summer is because of what it makes possible. On a very basic level, I love fresh foods and eating healthy, so that aspect alone makes me happy. But beyond that, I love the personal interaction the market facilitates. Being able to hand cash to the farmer who grew the eggplant in my hand. Having the boy by one of the tomato stands teach me about the tomato varieties on his table. Talking to a woman about the ingredients in the soup she makes, and sampling the different kinds. Those things don't happen at Walmart.

Later in the evening, a couple of the other girls and I tried an alternative way of working out. The idea struck me as ridiculous at first, but then I decided why not try it: a pole-dancing class. A lot of my family and friends at home would be appalled by the idea, but doesn't the Bible teach that eating with tax collectors isn't the same as being one? Turns out the class wasn't at all about women flaunting their sexuality in front of men. There were no men there; the women did it for fun and a lot of them never intended to dance for an audience. There were women of all different body types, and it seemed that their main goal was to use this activity as a fun new way of getting in shape. The class is actually called "pole fitness" and we did a lot of ab work and other toning exercises. I don't think I'll be going back, but it was really fun. I'm always down for trying something new!

 Speaking of new, meet the latest additions to the condominium family! Names TBD