Prove Me Wrong, Louisiana

I'm off. Again.

June is turning into one big travel fest for me. I've been to New York and back, San Diego and back and today I head out for Louisiana.

I've never pictured myself going to Louisiana. Even prior to Katrina, New Orleans never beckoned me. The whole concept of Mardi Gras just didn't pull me in. Beads for boobs isn't my style. And the jazz? Well, sure. I'd go listen for a night, but I'm not an aficionado.

Images of a swampy bayou didn't call me either. As a Minnesotan, I've seen my fair share of mosquitoes. I don't exactly feel the need to travel in order to find more. And crawdads? Well, I'm kinda a picky eater. Digging through their petite little shells for a petite little morsel of meat ... again ... not my style.

And if I'm going to be completely honest, I have to admit that the North-South divide does lurk in my mind.

As I said, I'm a Minnesota girl. Born and raised. I'm a liberal, white, Minnesota girl (not exactly 'granola' but close) with an Asian husband, and even though the Civil War has long since passed, "The South" retains the ability to anger and frighten me.

So why am I going?

Because the opportunity came along.

Because I realize the irony involved in the fact that I would willing travel to Burma, but not to Louisiana.

Because I pride myself on having an open mind and refusing to travel in "The South" is not open-minded.

So stay tuned. Let's see if Louisiana can prove this Yankee chick wrong.