9 Things People Need To Know Before Moving To Louisiana
1.) EVERY OTHER GAS STATION HAS REAL FOOD
When you come to Louisiana, you're going to eat like you're in Louisiana. You can gas up and eat up at the same time. Many local gas stations will have freshly cooked food daily such as Boudin and sausage links, boudin balls, pork and chicken crackling, fried chicken, ribs, and more.
2.) THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL WEATHER PATTERNS
Louisiana weather just is what it is. It's perfectly normal for it to rain on one side of the road, with the sun shining on the other. One thing you can count on it's always hot, so if you're not used to hot, humid weather DON'T COME TO LOUISIANA. For example - 70 degrees may be a comfortable temperature for most people, but not in Louisiana. That's because the humidity could be 80% or higher.
3.) THERE IS A FESTIVAL FOR SOMETHING SOMEWHERE
If you can think of it, we probably got a festival for it. There is always some kind of festival going on somewhere in the state for something. alligator, watermelon festivals, La Fete Des Vieux Temps, Cochon de Lait, catfish festivals, the crawfish, frog, or fur festivals. Just come hungry.
4.) NO PLACE IS THE SAME AS THE OTHER IN LOUISIANA
Every Parish has a different way of doing things. The further north you go the more drastic the change is and vice versa. People in Southwest Louisiana, talk totally differently from folks in the southeast.
5.) THE STATE SHUTS DOWN FOR LSU AND THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Louisiana football fans are not all exclusive to LSU and the Saints, but it's a good 80% or more. So, if you are partial to other teams. It's okay, we forgive you. Just keep your mouth shut, and you'll be just fine.
6.) EVERYONE IS GOING TO TRY TO FEED YOU
You will never go hungry in Louisiana, because somebody is always cooking something. In this state, just about everyone can cook a roux for gumbo from scratch. I have seen someone turn around and go back home in the middle of a mandatory hurricane evacuation to get a cast iron pot and butane tank to cook a sauce piquant at the hotel.
I'm sure the entire hotel ate well when he was done cooking. Many Louisiana dishes such as a sauce, jambalaya, or gumbo are dishes meant to feed a lot of people.
7.) NOTHING IS PRONOUNCED THE WAY IT'S SPELLED OR SPELLED THE WAY IT SOUNDS
Names of streets, places, and things are spelled differently than most places. For the most part, many street signs and places are in another language like French, Spanish, or Creole. Then there are family names such as Hebert, pronounced a-bear for no damn reason!
8.) MARDI GRAS IS BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL
If you have never been to a Mardi Gras, start small so that you can absorb the culture first. It's a lot, and folks, Mardi Gras is very serious to the people in Louisiana. The planning goes into effect a whole year in advance. Twelfth Night, Mardi Gras parades and balls, it's an exciting time of year. It's also a wild and crazy time and you are bound to see just about anything. Make sure if you have kids to only attend family-friendly Mardi Gras events.
9.) WE HAVE DRIVE-THRU DAIQUIRIS SHOPS
Yes, drinking and driving in Louisiana is a crime. However, they put a piece of tape over the hole in the cup. That way you aren't tempted to drink the alcohol until you get home or to your destination where it's safe and legal for you to consume. Pretty cool, right?