What I've Learned about Lafayette

I've learned a lot while living in Louisiana. It certainly is a totally different part of the world...and I LOVE IT! Here's what I've learned thus far about this fabulous city.

1. The locals here truly are the nicest people in the world! I've met just a small handful of rudeness, and they stick out to me in a mighty way. That's how lovely Lafayette folk are! Truly delightful!
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2. Everyone here likes to drink and party. When we moved here, our most common "welcome" was usually someone saying, "Welp, if you like to drink booze and party 'til dawn ,then you've come to the right place!
3. Along with drinking and partying, eating is another favorite pastime of Lafayette people.
4. The food here is absolutely delicious and unique and so tasty. Of course there's cajun food all over the place, but the Greek and Lebanese food is quite popular as well. I had only rated Greek food a time or two in my life, but now I've had it several times. De-lish.
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5. They like to mix French sayings and english when they talk. You'll often hear people say what sounds like "sha" when they're saying something like "how cute!" or "no way!" If you run into really Cajun folk, then their speech is all over the place! And I LOVE it!!The wealthy want you to know just how wealthy they are. I know that's everywhere, but I've noticed it more here than anywhere else.
6. Dinner parties and events and festivals and social activities and big galas are HUGE here! I feel like every other week, there's an event going on. Back in October when Camie came to visit, there was an omelette festival. I mean, really? In April they have Festival de International (I think), and apparently that's a really big and fun event. I'm pretty excited and would love visitors to come during that time...hint hint.
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7. If you go to someone's house for a dinner or anything, you better bring a hostess gift. Everyone brings hostess gifts around here. For anything and everything. So if you come visit me, then you best bring me something fabulous. FABULOUS, I say! Just kidding :)
8. If the weather drops below 50*, the ladies whip out their Ugg boots. We can't handle the "cold" down here.
9. Everyone here LOVES Swamp people! I figured they thought it was an annoying show, over exaggerating the Louisiana stereotype, but they just love it here. So do I.(source)
10. Of course Catholicism is huge here. Everyone is Catholic. I have literally met 2 people who are protestant. Not that that matters one teeny tiny bit, but that's just very new to me.
11. With that, as religious as people are here, there is not too much of a moral code. They talk about religion A LOT but there's not a lot of action put into the words. And I know that applies to every city and nation, but I've noticed it a bunch here.
12. Omigod rolls off of tongues like the word "and". Omigod this and omigod that. It hurts my ears.(source)
13. Most hospitable people ever live in Lafayette! I think the people I've known for 5 months that we've lived here would give up and drop anything and everything to help me out. The hospitality here is astounding.
14. The style can be very gaudy and showy. Lots of rhinestones. Lots of patterned jeans. Lots of "stuff" on clothes and jewelry.(source)
15. I'll end on the note that I started with. The people in Lafayette, LA are the NICEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD! From the gas station to the nice restaurant to the maintenance man...everyone is friendly!

All that to say...I LOVE IT HERE!

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Come visit me!

Love you guys!