My New Orleans March

Spring has sprung here in New Orleans! Flowers a blooming and the sun is shining. Everyone keeps telling me that these couple of weeks in late March and early April are the reward for a New Orleans summer. I'm definitely going to enjoy it while it lasts.

March has been a busy and exciting month. We're now more than halfway through the YAV year. It's hard to believe it. I'm still having a wonderful time with all of my roommates. St. Patrick's Day was a week ago and we spent it hanging out on the neutral group on Napoleon Ave. watching the parade go by. I tried to take more pictures at this parade to make up for the fact that I didn't take many during Mardi Gras. The St. Patrick's Day parade was like a smaller than last month's parades. There were large sections of men walking and exchanging flowers for kisses. Following them were large floats with people throwing food to the crowd instead of beads. I caught some Ramen and Lucky Charms. I also caught a cabbage and some carrots. You're supposed to be able to catch the ingredients needed to make an Irish stew at home. We honestly haven't yet cooked out cabbage. 

St. Patrick's Day also happened to be Super Sunday this year. Super Sunday is the Sunday closest to St. Joseph's Day (March 18). On Super Sunday all the Mardi Gras Indians meet at a park in Central City. It's a great opportunity for the public to see the Indians and take pictures. Unlike on Mardi Gras morning, they are out to be seen. I was able to take a lot of wonderful pictures of their costumes. Each costume is hand made without using any glue and can weigh up to 70 pounds depending on the type of designs. 

My parents were in town last week. We ate a bunch of wonderful food and went to a bunch of great museums. It was a definitely a great week. Some of my favorite parts included going to the zoo and the botanical gardens. We also went to a couple of St. Joseph's altars. 

So those are basically the best parts of March for me. We're now heading towards Easter. I hope you are all having a wonderful spring and Holy Week! 

I also want to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has donated money to my fundraising. I have reached my fundraising goal of $6,500! Thank you all so much! If you would still like to donate, feel free to. Any additional fundraising will go to support the program and my house. 

Love, 

Valentina