On Saturday, May 13th, eight of my peers and I arrived at the Louis Armstrong airport in New Orleans. This marked day one of our 25-day bookpaking trip through Louisiana. Escaping the humid air, we squeezed into a white van filled to the brim without luggage. With my massive green suitcase riding shotgun, we ride over the elevated highways cutting through the swamplands towards Grand Isle, Louisiana. For two hours, I watch the overgrown houses that flash by my window, immersed in the melodies of New Orleans swing jazz in my headphones.
On December 12th 2022, I told my partner “I think if I could get on this trip, it would be life changing.” I saw this trip as an opportunity to learn about a new place and community, while simultaneously beginning to figure out my own identity. It is a rare experience to travel to a new place for three weeks with people I haven’t met before. It gives me the opportunity to be authentically me, free from judgment. Little did I know then, I was searching for an awakening, and what better place to start than Grand Isle.
In the spirit of bookpaking, I grab my copy of The Awakening and take a short walk to the beach on Sunday morning. I follow the story of Enda Pontellier, who had recently married into a Creole community. While reading, I couldn't help but relate to her struggle to find her place in this new environment.
In the opening pages of the novel, we get a sense of how Enda is different from her husband and the people she encounters on Grand Isle. Raised as an American protestant with modest ideals, Enda finds herself amongst a crowd that questions her traditional belief system. Robert, Adele and many of the people from the Creole community are affectionate and open. This clash of belief systems propels her on a journey to discover her true values in life.
Grand Isle is not your traditional beach vacation. It does not have white sandy beaches. There are no fancy restaurants or massive chain hotels. However there’s a charming simplicity to the town. There is one small grocery chain, a school and a church. At Jo-Bobs, the local convenience store, you can get deliciously seasoned chicken and a slushie for under six dollars. Meanwhile, the Starfish restaurant serves as a gathering stop for locals looking for some Louisiana staples.
Grand Isle with all its charm is not the first place I would think of to have an awakening. However, on this holiday island there are limited responsibilities and few distractions, which leaves a lot of time for contemplation. Similar to Edna, I have excess time to entertain long drawn out thoughts for the first time in months. At USC, I am constantly in planning mode, thriving for academic success. With the pressure of school I find it extremely hard to let my mind flow in and out of conversation. However, on Grand Isle I embraced the opportunity to let my mind run free during moments of rest.
As I walked along the beach, I immersed myself in Edna’s world. Grand Isle has changed a lot since the 1870s when Edna would have wandered along these shores. Renovated beach houses line the Gulf shore, displaying hipped roofs and colorful window panels. Every so ofte, I encounter an empty plot on land beside the beach houses, which reminds me of the destruction from Hurricane Ida. Despite the changes, I still feel the same warm breeze pressing across my back. As I walk further down the beach I feel the sand pick the bottoms of my feet like it would to Enda on her walk home.
Grand Isle is a symbol of independence for both Edna and me. Enda recognizes her freedom through small acts like listening to the piano, swimming and taking a walk on the beach. In these moments, she realizes the agency that she has over her actions. Similarly, I recognize my independence by being able to leave the house without needing to tell someone where I am going. I stay out on late nights walking with friends and listening to the waves. I take time to genuinely learn about the people around me, and learn about myself.
With her newfound independence Edna begins to live for herself. In Edna’s journey, I see the parts of myself that I neglected for so long, trying to conform to societal norms. Edna’s exposure to the Creole community embracing the things that she was raised not to do changes her outlook on the world. She realizes that breaking the rules can be liberating and that it’s more fulfilling to live on her own terms.
I had a similar realization on Grand Isle. I let go of my tightly planned days and began to do what feels right in the moment. I sat in the front of the house and enjoyed breakfast. I took long walks along the shore with bare feet. I napped in the middle of the day. I spent hours sitting and thinking about everything and nothing at the same time.
Similar to Enda, my story of independence and self discovery doesn’t end on Grand Isle. My journey will continue as I travel to the French Quarter in New Orleans. It will be an experience of learning and unlearning and I cannot wait for the next chapter to begin.