A Southern Lesson

Greetings from New Orleans, Louisiana my friends! Hola desde Nueva Orleans mis amigos! Mar7aba habibis! How are you all! I am fabulous! I am enjoying true Southern hospitality and great food, I'll just have to hit the gym harder when I am back in San Franny.

The Myrtles Plantation House

My journey began a few days ago in St. Francisville, Louisiana. I stayed at the infamous Mytrles Plantation, which was built in 1796 and has a reputation for being haunted. In all honesty, it was not the ghost stories that attracted me to it, but the Antebellum splendor of the house. The architecture is beautiful and everything in the house is from 1796-late 1800's. For some mysterious reason, I was to be the only guest at this Bed and Breakfast and I stayed in the Fannie Williams bedroom--which is supposed to be the most haunted room in the whole house!

I have always believed in an afterlife and in ghosts, but never really experienced anything with them, perhaps because I'm too focused on other things, such as fixing problems that we have in this life. Having the whole plantation (estate) to myself was amazing, yet chilling. It was amazing because this house showed great grandeur and wealth that the South had and it was chilling because most of this grandeur and wealth was the result of slavery. I felt like a Southern Belle and my bedroom chamber matched this notion. Right after I had checked in, I was escorted to the beautiful room. The hotel worker was telling me about the 3 ceramic dolls in the room and how some had real human hair, Before she even finished, one flew off and broke! I was frightened, but managed to keep my cool and saw it as a great welcome. Hahaha, I'm crazy I'm telling you! I had a few more "encounters", such as the temperature dropping 10 degrees in a matter of seconds and then returning to normal. The most intense was a grocery bag I had in the room was moving and making noise on its own! I remained calm and remembered that the ghosts in the room either belonged to 2 children or a Union soldier who died on the property. I offered the children ghosts some of my candy and gum and I talked out loud to the Union soldier about my life and about this "revolution". After I did this, nothing else bothered me and I slept decently.

The Fannie Williams Room

Walking the estate in the morning was amazing. I was able to feel the history of my great country and also mourn for all the slaves that were mistreated. I promised myself that I would learn from human history in order to help create a better future for my people. I faced this reality of slavery by visiting the old salve quarters (little sheds where they slept on the plantation) and listening to the stories of my new Southern African American friends. Then I headed to Baton Rouge and then New Orleans. The French Quarter was splendid and I made many new friends! I felt so Southern and everyone was kind. I was to become their "Californian" friend and I promised never to disappoint them!

Part of the garden

I have something to say to my American people and I would like for all my international friends to relate to what I'm about to say:"I am grateful to be learning more about and experiencing my great country that I love dearly. We may not be perfect and have dipped our feet in the waters of insanity from time to time. We may not always agree with certain policies or ways of life, but it is our duty to respect one another and at least attempt to understand each other's perspective.  We are so different, yet united by this land. It is yours and it is mine and I solemnly swear to wake up everyday and make an effort to better this country, as I hope you do. Once we have uplifted ourselves as a nation, we will be sane and able enough to help the world beyond monetary assistance and more on  a spiritual and humane level." Stay sane and humble habibis.