2013 Senior Class Trip to New Orleans
For twenty Lester Prairie High School seniors and two chaperones, school started at 5am on Monday, April 15, 2013. This group was headed to New Orleans for their senior class trip. While most senior classes head to New York, this group wanted to do something different and memorable. As Zach Roth said, “I had so much fun on our class trip to New Orleans. I thought it was a great experience. We learned a lot of history and the way they do it down south. We had great food and lots of fun with my classmates. If you haven’t been there, go! It’s worth it!”
The first exciting thing they did, besides getting up early to be at the school at 5am, was fly on an airplane to Dallas and then on to New Orleans. For many of the students, this was their first time flying. Matt Alberts said, “The class trip was the best trip I have ever had. It was the first time flying for me so I thought it was fun. I also had fun touring New Orleans and seeing all of the old buildings and learning about the culture and the people.”
“I liked that we always had something to do and they kept us busy,” said Brenna Messer. “It was really fun flying with everyone and traveling around as a class. It was a great bonding experience and we had a lot of fun.”
Kyle Schultz remarked, “Our trip to New Orleans was by far the best vacation I have ever been on. The plane ride made things even better and we didn’t have to sit on a bus for 24 hours.”
After landing in New Orleans, the group was met by New Orleans tour guide, Kristin Giles and tour bus driver Mark Davis. Both were experts at their job. Kristin was well-acquainted with the history, culture, and the city itself. There was never a dull moment. Ashle Lukes said, “Everything was so well put together. Even though we were on the go constantly, it was a lot of fun! Our bus driver was amazing.”
Adam Feltmann said, “It was a very cool experience and we saw a lot of cool things; I will remember it for a long time.”
The group got to eat at some famous restaurants, including Hard Rock Café New Orleans, House of Blues, the Steamboat NATCHEZ dinner, jazz, and harbor cruise, and Pont Breaux’s Cajun Restaurant, formerly Mulates, the world’s most famous Cajun restaurant. The seafood and
Cajun food was a treat for many of the students. “The trip was really fun. The weather was great,”said Peyton Thiry. “We got to try many different foods.”
“The food was extremely delicious and the best seafood I have ever tasted,” said Kyle Schultz.
Jacob Paschke said, “The food was really good, especially the Cajun food!”
“It was really amazing how much different the Cajun food, life style, and language was compared to Minnesota and other parts of the United States. It felt like a whole different country,” said Alex Kaluza.
While it snowed here in Minnesota, the students were enjoying beautiful sunshine and temperatures in the 70's and 80's in New Orleans. The group toured such interesting places as the Musee Conti Wax Museum, Lake Pontchartrain, St. Louis Cemetery, Tulane University, Loyola University and the Garden District homes. They also got a somber view of the “before and after” effects of Hurricane Katrina. Students also got to browse the French Quarter for food and souvenirs, the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square, and a tour of Mardi Gras World, the largest float building firm in the world. Jacob Paschke said, “It was really loud and always moving in New Orleans. There was always something that was going on in the streets, whether it was planned, like their many parties, or just ordinary people doing stuff on the streets, like bands and dancers. I enjoyed every part of it.”
Ryan Quast said, “Although the scenery and the city of New Orleans was amazing, the way our whole class come together was a thing that I liked.”
“In New Orleans, I had tons of fun getting know how people live there. It was very cool!” said Heather Will.
“The trip was exciting. It kept us busy, but was still a lot of fun learning about the different people and the history,” remarked Miranda Buesing.
The group was also treated to such amazing and one-of-a-kind experiences as a Haunted Ghost Walk Tour, which began at Rev. Zombie’s Voodoo Shop; The National World War II Museum of New Orleans and a realistic 4-D movie/documentary about World War II; a guided tour of Laura Plantation, a Creole Plantation; a guided tour of Cajun country and Shadows on the Teche, a southern sugar cane plantation; dancing and listening to lively Cajun music; and a swamp boat tour of the Atchafalaya Basin.
Nick Bettcher said, “The ghost tour was very spooky.”
They also got to share a few moments of just having fun together while bowling at Rock-N-Bowl in New Orleans, and tasting the wonderful beignets at Café du Monde.
Everywhere this group went, the people from Louisiana commented about what a wonderful group of young people they were. The students of Lester Prairie High School were polite, well-behaved, and attentive while on the many tours of various, museums, plantations, and buildings. They did not complain, even though they traveled many miles on the walking tour of New Orleans. The tour guide, Kristin, had tears in her eyes as she left this group of young people. She said, “They are a wonderful group of young people, but each one has something to offer as individuals as well.” The hotel staff also commented on how well the students behaved in the rooms and hallways of the hotels.
By the fifth day, April 19, the students were exhausted and ready to return to Minnesota. But it was a tour and an adventure many of them will never forget. “It was very fun to get out of small-town Lester Prairie and to visit The Big Easy. The French culture, including the Cajun food and the lively music, was a great experience. This trip definitely brought our class closer together and helped us make memories we will never forget,” said Morgan Roush.
Peyton Thiry said, “It was awesome being able to spend a week with the class. I feel that we learned a lot and all had a good time.”
And finally, Ryan Quast said, “The whole class was brought together on the trip. On a side note, if they are planning to stop class trips, they should not. Many things are learned about, like other cultures. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.”
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