Yes! I'm at work!

Hello reader!So as you may have pieced together from my previous blogs or just read straight from the Duke Engage mission statement, the purpose of this program is to create opportunities for students to pursue an extensive civic engagement via internships anywhere in the world. And if you’ve ready anything from my past two blogs you’d know that I intern in New Orleans with Providence Community Housing a housing developer for the community (hence the name). But anyways, this blog today will not be about my job- which I do love and readily enjoy ( to my lovely supervisor who may be reading this now). I’m just going to tell all you readers out there about other fun things I’ve been involved in while in this beautiful city. I see that in my other posts I haven’t mentioned one recreational/ social activity that I’ve done during my more than four week stay. So ladies and gents- I’ll give you what you’ve all been waiting for- a recap of my exciting life (outside of work, of course)!!! In case you’re bad at detecting sarcasm, I am only joking. I’m sure none of you have been waiting anxiously for me to post this blog, let alone any of my blogs, but if you’re reading this right now you must be somewhat interested in my life. So here goes.

This summer 17 strangers were placed together in a beautiful mansion- also known as Loyola University and asked to live together for 2 months. Watch as people stop being nice and start being real. Real World: New Orleans Duke Engage Edition
Just kidding, Duke Engage isn’t exactly like MTV’s Real World. There are no cameras that follow us around and we actually have real jobs that we must go to everyday. But as far as fun things to do, New Orleans is definitely a place that never sleeps. So being a chronic napper like myself I find most waking moments in the city exciting and enjoyable. There past four weeks have been jam packed with all sorts of fun “extracurricular outings”- many of them Duke programmed and lots others are just organized by us. Duke Engage directors advised us to be brief with our blogs so since I’ve already surpassed the recommended 250 word limit, I will try to give you all a concise yet thorough recap of many of the fun things I’ve found to do in the Big Easy. I apologize in advance for the randomness that may accompany the following memory recall and stream-of-conscious writing.

Lets’ see…During these four weeks I have ridden the historic St. Charles streetcar a approximately 20 times before I accidentally wash my $55 bus pass that I left in my pants pocket, I’ve been Frenchman street- a great place in the French Quarters to chill and hear great live jazz (Snug Harbor) or to dance to reggae music with a bunch of drunken middle aged adults (Café Negril), I have yet to spot a celebrity but I’ve been given firsthand accounts from fellow Duke Engagers about their encounters with Bow Wow, Reggie Bush and New Orleans Saints, and Amanda Bynes to name a few, I’ve gone to my first club and partied past 3 am (The Republic)- I still get tired just thinking about it, I’ve eaten some of the best po boys at local “holes in the walls” ( Sol’s Seafood, Louisiana Supersaver), had world famous ham sliced and on a plate (Mother’s), walked down famous (or infamous, depending on what time of day it is) Bourbon St. on a Friday night seeing a diverse mix of tourists, locals, young and old- many drunken, some just crazy, but all having a good time, I’ve went to Free Jazz Wednesdays in Lafayette Park with some friends and got to see the famous Trombone Shorty and the Orleans St. jazz band, had my crawfish broil only to discover that I don’t like boiled fish and definitely don’t care for expending so much energy to be rewarded with such a small bit of meat, I’ve seen the New Orleans Lakefront and taken pictures in front of the beautiful scenery, got in front of an audience and danced backup for some friends ( good job Shantel and Sam) singing at an open mic night, “toured” the Ninth Ward on a tour bus and Bon Jovi as a guide (yes, this day was a surreal as it sounds), bargained with vendors at French Market, eaten beignets and $2 dollar orange juice at the famous Café Du Monde and this weekend I will be going to the best music event in the nation- or so the woman on the radio station said, Essence Music Festival to finally see my first share of celebrities.

So while my internship is the main reason why I’m here in New Orleans now I must say that I’ve had many other experiences outside of my job which have supplemented and enriched my “extensive civic engagement” that the creators of Duke Engage promised me I would have. So to all of you prospective Duke Engagers out there reading this- know that this program is not only extensive engagement its intensive fun as well. One of my fellows Dukies also here with Duke Engage made a very true comment the other day. A lot of the things I am learning about myself are actually happening right in the dorms, with new friends and on these “extracurricular outings on the weekends”. Thanks to all these experiences- I am working and definitely enjoying myself as well. And if you’ve noticed, this blog was posted before a little bit past 5pm. So before you even ask- Yes I’m at work!