A Sample Study Guide using the type of questions found on state assessments.
For use with pages 1-10 of Why People Live in New Orleans

Geographers and other people use the term “region” to help us locate an area of land whose shared characteristics set it apart from other places. For example, geographers identify ten regions of the world, including the continent of North America, which is where we find the United States, Louisiana, and New Orleans. We also use “region” for smaller areas, when we say that Louisiana is in the southern region of the United States, and New Orleans is in the region of southeastern Louisiana.

Can you name other regions to which your location or New Orleans belongs?

Shared Characteristics: Physical

Physical features of a region are made by nature, such as land forms, bodies of water, vegetation, animals, climate, and weather. The three North American countries are Canada, the United States, and Mexico. They form a continuous stretch of land. The Rocky Mountain range runs through western North America, in both Canada and the United States. The range’s highest peak is in Colorado, 14,440 feet (4,401 m) above sea level. The mountains do not extend to Louisiana, but one of their resources often does.

What might the Rocky Mountains send all the way to New Orleans and what physical feature would carry it there?

The three countries of North America share the Pacific coastline. What other coastlines do these countries share?

Louisiana also shares characteristics with areas outside North America.

In fact, what do more than half the world and half the U.S. population have in common with the greater New Orleans area?

a. They all have frigid climates.
b. They are within fifty miles of coasts.
c. They have little water nearby.
d. They have very few natural resources.

Louisiana is part of another region that has been in the news a lot since April 2010, the Gulf Coast.

What are some of the physical features that the states and countries in the Gulf Coast region share?

Use what you’ve answered above, and information you’ve read in pages 1-10 of Why People Live in New Orleans to discuss these questions and support your answers:

1. What physical features of the New Orleans area do interviewed residents value?
2. What physical features make the New Orleans area important to people who live elsewhere?
3. Why should you and the rest of the world care about what’s happening to southeast Louisiana?
4. Who do you think should help decide about future oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? Support your answers with what you know about places and regions.
5. What actions can you and your classmates take that would help damaged physical features of your location, New Orleans, coastal Louisiana, or another region of your choice?  How will it benefit you?
6. If you choose a region other than your own, how could you connect with the people of that region to gain information and work cooperatively?  If you chose your own, how can you connect with other groups in that area who want the same results as you?

Donald and Helena Midkiff

Donald K. Midkiff is one of the residents I interviewed for Why People Live in New Orleans. When asked why he lives in New Orleans, he replied,

“King Tut! The New Orleans Museum of Art exhibit was a huge success with hours spent in line. Problem? No, not to the people of New Orleans. A spontaneous block party broke out in line with coolers of shared sandwiches and cold beer. ‘Watcha need, darlin’?’ Love, New-Orleans-style, is all about food, family, and events made special by total strangers.”

Gary Wallerman, co-owner of GW Fins mentioned similar thoughts last Wednesday at my book signing that he and co-owner Tenney Flynn hosted:

“At the first French Quarter Festival after Katrina we had a booth at Woldenberg Park. Here we were along the Mississippi River on a beautiful April day with lots of people enjoying the free music that the festival offers. I looked around at the smiles, the food, the music, the shared values, and thought, ‘This is why I came back to New Orleans; this is why we all love being here!’”

Like Gary and Donald, Read more…

Does a book signing at New Orleans International Airport the day after Mardi Gras seem an unlikely illustration of the city’s culture? Actually, it provided the perfect setting for the ordinary interactions that we locals think add extraordinary value to our lives. I sat at the table shown in the photo, with tantalizing books at my back, wearing and displaying beads from the season that culminated the day before, looking at the stream of visitors walking past the bigger-than-life statue of Louis Armstrong on their way back to Atlanta, San Antonio, San Francisco, Idaho, England, Belgium, and elsewhere. Many looked tired, but smiled when I asked the same question of each, “Did you have a good time?” To a person the answer was, “Yes!” Needless to say, that was music to this native’s ears, as was a particular reason mentioned, “the friendliness of the people.”

Throughout the book signing, I experience that friendliness firsthand in the delightful exchanges that come so easily in New Orleans among locals and former strangers, where in a matter of moments, through comfortable conversation, connections are found. “May all of your flights be safe ones,” I tell the pilot who is seemingly in a hurry. He slows down for a few moments. He finds out I used to fly for Pan Am and he for Delta. We reflect on the differences in the industry now, and then he is gone. I ask a policeman if he worked yesterday, and nodding, he happily reports that his beat on Mardi Gras was incident-free despite the large attendance. He moves on, but I recognize him when he passes a little later, because in that short, friendly exchange, he became a person and not a uniform. Two gentlemen walk up and read my author description on the poster. They nod to a young girl with them and say, “She wants to be an author, too.” The girl and I chat about what she currently writes. I mention that she can see children her age in my book, because they were among the people I interviewed to ensure multiple points of view. When her guardians so lovingly buy her a book, the written best wishes with her writing that accompany my signature hold the memory of our connection. A musician from Algiers, just across the river from New Orleans, warmly congratulates me on my book. He asks my opinion on future possibilities in our area and emphasizes the need to develop concrete strategies to build on the positive energy from the Superbowl win and new mayor just elected. He excuses himself as someone else seeks information about my book. During all this time I witness the respect and friendliness Luisa Chinchilla (standing with me in the photo) and her assistants give people who enter Hudson Bookstore, even those simply looking for airport information.

I felt quite at ease throughout the book signing, because these connections and others with airport employees and travelers were easy. There is a culture of openness to each other here. As resident Marilyn O’Connor says in Why People Live in New Orleans, “People are friendly. I can be at a shopping center and hold a conversation with almost anyone.” That obviously holds true for the airport, even the day after Mardi Gras!