The History and Culture of New Orleans: A GMC Travel Course
The City that Care Forgot. New Orleans is an American city unlike any other in the United States. Because of its location at the mouth of the Mississippi River, New Orleans became the most cosmopolitan city in the country by the late 1800s. A culture unto itself, the city is distinguished for its creole food, unique language style, and the cultural blend of music known as Jazz.
This course will explore the culture of New Orleans and what makes it unique through a study of its food, music, literature, architecture, Mardi Gras, and geography. We will also witness the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the city, as well as spend a day of service with Habitat for Humanity. View the photo show from the Spring 2007 trip.
- Travelers and students will:
- 1. Learn the history of the city of New Orleans
- 2.Understand New Orleans contribution to the general American culture including food and music, and literature
- 3.Learn the roots of Jazz
- 4.Understand and sample New Orleans cuisine
- 5. Understand the roots, traditions, and the importance of Mardi Gras to the city and its people
- 6. In the Mercy tradition, contribute to the re-building of New Orleans
- Travel cost ($850) includes:
- Round trip airfare
- Van service for the week
- Double-occupancy room (Single occupancy available for $50 extra)
- Continental breakfast each day
- Two scheduled lunches
- All tours
Itinerary: During the five day trip, we will have scheduled tours of the French quarter, three Louisiana State Museums, including the Cabildo where the Louisiana Purchase was signed over 200 years ago. We will also go to the Mardi Gras museum at the Presbytere and the Jazz museum at the Old U.S. Mint. We will spend an evening at Preservation Hall and several evenings sampling New Orleans cuisine in its various and wonderful restaurants. Lunch and a class at The New Orleans School of Cooking are included. A literary tour and a Jazz tour are also being planned. We will also spend a day of service with Habitat for Humanity building houses for those who lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina. A trip to the fabulous Audubon Zoo will be a highlight of the trip. Further details will be available to those who sign up. There will be ample free time to explore the city on your own.
Travel information: We will travel to New Orleans on Air Tran Airlines. We will be staying at the St. Vincent's Guest House, a restored Civil War orphanage once operated by the Sisters of Charity in the Lower Garden District. The guesthouse is clean, comfortable, historic, "no frills," and includes a full breakfast each morning. It is about three miles from the French Quarter, where we will travel each day by van. However, if you would like to come back early, you can do so taking a cab or taking the Magazine Street bus. We request that all travelers stay with at least one other group member and carry cell phones for safety reasons.
Most of the meals will be on your own so that you can enjoy the different tastes of the city. Lunches can typically be purchased for $7-$10. Dinners can range anywhere from $7 to very expensive, depending on your desire and your personal budget. We do plan to eat out one night at the famous Galatoires Restaurant where coat and tie/nice dress or pants attire is expected.
A full schedule will be developed as we get closer to the trip. For more information, contact Dr. Luquet.
Course Information: New Orleans History and Culture is a three-credit sociology course. In addition to the six days in the city, the class will meet on three Sunday afternoons, to be announced, to discuss readings and learn about the unique culture of the city. A safety lecture will also be given at these meetings. Students will be required to read A Streetcar Named Desire, A Confederacy of Dunces, and a book on New Orleans history and culture. Students will turn in a reflective journal of their travels, as well as a paper on the culture, history, or literature of New Orleans. Topics will be suggested by the instructors. Students will also give a five minute oral presentation in the city to be assigned at the Sunday meetings. We will have a guided literary and jazz tour, as well as museum and research visits.
Please note: This is a study course. While there will be ample time for fun, we will be concentrating on the history and culture of the city. The legal drinking age in New Orleans is 21 years old and it is enforced.
For more information: 215-646-7300 Dr. Wade Luquet @ ext. 165 |
