Adventuring in New Orleans

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Beignets and Hot Chocolate at Cafe du Monde |
Last week, we had our Mardi Gras and "Spring Break." The brief respite from academic endeavors was certainly welcome. I only vicariously took part in the wild Mardi Gras festivities. After the break, I got to hear the many adventures of my classmates and their hedonistic galavanting during Mardi Gras. Only after Mardi Gras did I feel it was safe for me to go out and experience more of New Orleans. One of my friends came to visit me and we did a "Scavenger Hunt" tour (by Crazy Dash) in the French Quarter and we both got to experience our first beignets! And we had them at Cafe du Monde, no less! (Yes, I have been in New Orleans for over six months, yes this was the first time I had beignets.) We enjoyed sightseeing at the Moon Walk and treated ourselves to an epicurean delight going on a cruise up the Mississippi on the Steamboat Natchez. I was very impressed that it is a genuine steamboat, just like one that Mark Twain would have ridden! The only other steamboat in America is in Louisville, Kentucky. To end the break, my sister came and joined us for my Baby Shower, which was a marvelous way to reenergize before resuming my studies once again.
Adventures in Research
My volunteering work has been going very well. I go work for the Anesthesiology Research Department in data collection every Tuesday morning from 0900 - 1200. The tedium is rather insipid, but I am able to learn a great deal. As I collect the patient data, I am also able to see what procedures were performed, and that is definitely my favorite part. I never have a clue what any of the procedures are, but that is why there is the great world wide web! When I do not know what a procedure is, I google it to find out what it is. (Most of this is from Wikipedia or WebMD)

(Volunteer hrs- 21 hrs)