Down in the Bayou

Over the break I did the bayou immersion trip and it was definitely what it said it was. I immersed myself in the culture of the southern region of Louisiana down to the evidence of a trillion mosquito bites all over my body. But, the difference I found between the synthetic world and the natural world was definitely more profound on that trip than usual. By day I was in the fields planting and learning about the earth and its natural beauty disappearing, and at night I was popping movie theater butter popcorn watching Pirates of the Carribean. Such a drastic change from the normal land ethic of New Orleans where we do not respect and embrace the natural world and try to preserve it as much as southern Louisiana. I believe it is due to the fact that their land i.e. what they live on, is washing away directly in front of their eyes versus the neworleanians who are most likely thinking about how they’re going to get jazz fest tickets. It so much easier to immerse yourself when you’re right there in it than to embrace it back in the comfort of our air conditioned houses/dorms. What I took away from this trip is the knowledge to educate others on costal restoration and the fight we have against the disappearing coastline and barrier beaches.