A professor from the University of New Orleans once noted that newcomers to the city would be interested to find "the locals talk funny, but seldom have Southern accents." This is one of the strange, yet defining aspects of a varied metropolis. People from around the country can find peculiar familiarities varying from things like fresh Italian markets, soul food restaurants and St. Patrick's Day parades. Various religious denominations are represented in the city including Lutheran, Greek-Orthodox, Jewish and the historically dominant Catholic congregations around the city.
Although the city is still rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, the mayor's office has published reports that things are looking up. The famous Canal Street streetcar - the hardest hit line during the hurricane - is back up and running. Additionally, in February 2006, the mayor's office reported that although the city's population initially dipped, it is back on the rise. Tulane University recently acknowledged that the reopening of their campus alone has brought 25,000 students back to the city.
Most of the time, New Orleans has a very agreeable climate. Summers can be a bit humid at times but the average lows in the winters rarely dip below 40degrees and the average highs in the summer rarely hit anything higher than the low 90s.
Aside from its vibrant culture, New Orleans is also rich in educational resources. There are about fifteen universities and colleges in and around the city and numerous museums and libraries as well.
If you need a break from academia, and you have somehow managed to tire of the various cultural festivals, mélange of sights, array of fiery foods and the jazz that fills the air, you can go check out a New Orleans Saints football game. The Superdome - which housed thousands of displaced residents during Hurricane Katrina - has reopened, and the NFL and team ownership have committed themselves to staying in New Orleans after rumored moves to nearby venues such as San Antonio. Not only that, but the Saints helped raise the moral of the entire city by almost making it to the championship game in 2006. It was only the second time the Saints had ever even made the playoffs