Bienvenue en Louisiane

Not much to report today. We are making our way East and the thought of seeing familiar faces (The Lieverses) and eventually getting home is increasingly exciting. We are a bit sad to miss the Gulf and some of the Atlantic coast line but we have traded them for shorter and more manageable driving days. After all, we're only 27, we can leave some of the States for another time :)

We had "breakfast" at our hotel before hitting the road. It consisted of plastic-wrapped apple danishes, cereal with warm milk and a rant from the hotel owner about racism, marijuana-smoking "kids today" and the dismal US economy. We later enjoyed a conversation in the van about the difference between racism and an understanding of the unique features of each culture. Otherwise, the drive was literally, quite straightforward. The landscape changed from desert, cotton-fields and watermelons to something akin to Ontario. We don't need to describe it any further - most of you live there. It was nice to find Autumn, though the colours are more earthy than Ontario's resplendent pallet.

When we got to our "home" for the night we were delighted to hear our host's Louisianan accent. In fact, we went back to the lobby to ask him questions about the city, not caring an ounce about what he was saying but how he was saying it. We decided since it was still early and bright to head into the city to try to soak in some Louisiana culture. We were hoping to find a Jazz band (+/- a funeral march). Well, we ain't in "Nawlines" and we couldn't find the crowds we were hoping for downtown, so we went to the next best thing...the mall.

It was nice to let Livi loose and watch her press her face into store windows to see the toys and pictures. There was a very nice carousel and she enjoyed riding a hopping bunny on the "spin". We opted out of Santa's lap as Livi would need more time to warm up than he could possibly give her. We grabbed some food and just enjoyed listening to conversations and people-watching (which is what we went there for). It was interesting to notice that, with only one exception, we did not see a single white person in a group of black people or vice versa. Again, we enjoyed a good conversation about cultures, segregation and whether or not this is a form of racism. It makes us thankful to be Canadian where various cultures are celebrated rather than segregated. On our way out of the mall, Livia was getting tired, so Dan put her up on his shoulders as usual. No sooner had he done so then a hypervigilant security guard told him that this was a safety risk and that he was going to have to ask him not to keep his child on his shoulders. Dan thanked him and acknowledged that he drops Livia on her head almost weekly this way. What would any of us do without authority figures telling us how to raise our children (or in this case, not raise our children)?


Tomorrow is Sunday and we are keen to find a church. Preferably one with a swaying gospel choir that sings "There ain't no mountain high enough..." and other well known hymns. We have a slightly shorter day planned as we travel out of Louisiana, through Mississippi and into Tuscaloosa Alabama.