Encounter

This time, in order to make the air ticket affordable, I actually thought that I could experience a little British style through Britain. I bought a plane ticket from London to New Orleans with a transit time of 10 hour.

I was disappointed at first, because I thought British Airways would provide transit accommodation like UAE or China Southern Airlines, but it turned out that there was nothing but staying at the airport. In addition, London Heathrow Airport is far less warm than Singapore Airport. There are hard chairs everywhere, and the cold wind blows in from nowhere, making me tremble. I can't find a comfortable seat, don't want to study at all, and can't sleep. In short, the experience of this turnaround is a very unforgettable failure experience.

The service of British Airways is OK, but I'm not used to eating. The strange salad is so cold and sour that I can't eat it. A cup of chocolate sauce for dessert will make your soul tremble; The bread with the meal is tasteless, and there is no suitable sauce to dip it in.

The British love for tea and drinks is also reflected in the plane. Drinking water is provided once before meals, and most British passengers around choose to drink it. Small bottles of wine were mixed together, mixed with ice cubes and lemons, which dazzled me. When I asked for orange juice, the stewardess even asked, "Would you like some red wine?" . She thought I didn't order wine because I didn't see any red wine on the cart.

There is also a very strange drink, which is made of tomato juice and wine and tastes unimaginable. If Mr. Chen were here, I would definitely order this special drink for them to experience together. There are also drinks during meals, including coffee and tea. Most English people drink tea, and I sometimes drink tea with them. English tea with a small packet of sugar and a small piece of milk on the plate is delicious. But it is very different from China tea, especially the green tea I usually drink. It tastes a little astringent and lacks the fragrance of tea.

There are many details on the British Airways plane that make people feel great. One of them is to fix the hand sanitizer bottle in the bathroom on the inclined base, so that if there is any residual hand sanitizer after pressing, it will just drop into the washbasin below, which is clean and tidy.

After a long journey, I watched some English dramas on the plane and slept a lot. Although the journey is long, it is finally over. This time, I deeply realized the fatigue of long-distance travel by plane. I always want to take my father and grandmother out for a trip when I have time and financial resources in the future. After this time, I hesitated to take my elders out for a trip. I'm afraid it's only convenient when you settle down somewhere. You can rest for a few days after flying. After all, traveling is really tiring.

Before this trip, we had actually decided to get married, but in my mind, we always lacked a sense of ceremony and proposed marriage.

Teacher Chen and I studied together in Singapore, and got along for more than four years. When we were about to graduate, we naturally got married. But in addition to everything going well, I will inevitably expect a little romance in my heart. Every time I tell Mr. Chen that I want to propose or that I won't marry him, he either says "marry me" or "propose to me". I am very dissatisfied with this, but I have no choice but to choose my own diamond ring, clearly put forward what I want and ask him to accompany me to buy it. This is the way to communicate with this straight man in science and technology.

The night before I bought the diamond ring, it was February 6, 20 18. I saw the poster at AAAI venue that day until 8: 30, and we decided to go to a restaurant near the hotel for dinner. I ordered a pot of oysters and a shrimp meal. I'm used to the taste of oysters. I remembered that I had changed a lot under his influence, so I said it and casually asked, "Have you changed under my influence?"

He replied, "Because of you, I have a goal in life".

As soon as this word came out, it was moved to gush out and hit people's hearts directly. Tears filled my eyes. Looking at the affectionate teacher Chen opposite, listening to him talk about how I made him make many changes, tears in his eyes could not help but come to my eyes. He asked me if I would marry him, and I screamed in my heart that I would, but I couldn't open my mouth. Because I know that whenever I open my mouth at this time, I can't help crying and can't help myself. After a long time, I calmed down a little, and finally I can say I do.

Our hands are tightly held together across the dining table, and his eyes are deeply imprinted in my mind, which I will remember for a lifetime. In this way, the long-awaited proposal, not surprisingly, surprised and moved me. Some scenes in TV series are so unreal, how can the heroine say I do with a smile without any waves?

In New Orleans, we happened to meet a carnival, and when we walked back to the hotel from the conference hotel at night, we met a parade. The streets blocked by traffic are crowded with excited people, including young people and many middle-aged and elderly people. They circle in twos and threes, laughing and playing, and some even move on recliners. There are temporary stalls selling snacks and drinks on the roadside, with bottles in one hand and cigarettes in the other.

As the drums and music approached, a parade appeared in the middle of the road. A team of ostentatious floats arrived, and the body was covered with exaggerated graffiti. People wearing strange clothes stood on it cheering and throwing all kinds of trinkets, including brightly colored beads and trinkets. The crowd in the street cheered even harder and attracted the attention of the car by screaming. I raised my mobile phone by the roadside and couldn't help cheering and screaming together. Just then, some dolls fell off the float. I reached out and grabbed a pony, so I took a closer look at it made in China. It seems that fate is great. When we meet thousands of miles away, I can take it back to China.

The float is followed by a performance team, playing all kinds of musical instruments together, which is a bit like the entrance ceremony of various classes in domestic universities during the sports meeting. A large number of boys and girls in bright clothes are singing and dancing, walking and performing. It's a little embarrassing to look at the down jacket wrapped by myself and the cool clothes of the little actors.

Back to the hotel, I saw a brochure introducing the parade at the front desk. Originally, there was a parade on June 6, 65438+ 10, which could last until the beginning of March, and the route was different every day. Before we booked the hotel, we didn't make a good strategy in advance. We just chose a hotel that is close to the conference hotel and the price is relatively affordable, but we can just cross a lively parade route and witness an American-style carnival. This kind of activity is probably rare in China. Maybe some cities can see similar lion dance performances during the Spring Festival.

New Orleans is a typical tourist city, and its positioning is probably similar to that of Lijiang in China. Extensive historical buildings, comfortable environment and climate, delicious objects and leisurely living atmosphere constitute this tourist town.

It is true that she is a small town. We met in the downtown business district, lived near the French quarter, walked around to see the city's landmark attractions, and took a taxi for 20 minutes to reach the suburbs. Only the business circle in the whole city can see the higher floors, and most of them are hotels where many tourists were born. Hilton Hotel has a small three-story building and a new 20-story building, which are connected by a corridor. Standing in the corridor, the old rails are at your feet. City trams jingle slowly every day, and the slow speed represents the rhythm of the city.

Outside the business district, many old buildings left by the French colonial period, low floors, rich colors and elegant details fully show the traces left by romanticism. Today, the French quarter has become a must for tourists to visit New Orleans. Walking leisurely through the straight driveway, you can see exquisite works of art in the window and gorgeous graffiti on the old wall everywhere.

Pushing a restaurant away is a fresh and delicious thing. Because it is located at the bend of the Mississippi River, near the mouth of the sea, it is rich in seafood, especially oysters, lobsters and crocodiles. In addition, we tried several French dishes, all of which were delicious.

At night, Bourbon Street in the French quarter is especially lively. On both sides of the street are bars with different characteristics, including jazz, folk songs, blues, classical rock and various music bars. Among them, there are new bars full of singing and dancing, full of music and hissing roar, which can make people feel free; There are also traditional bars that are soothing and quiet. Ordering a glass of wine and sitting around the table with three or five friends is a good time to chat. It is also a good pastime to sing with the gentle and deep voice of the resident singer occasionally.

We walked along Bourbon Street to the end and found the oldest local bar recommended by our friends. Unlike the hustle and bustle elsewhere, it can almost be described as quiet here. The shabby little house has several doors wide open, and passers-by are always welcome to enter. The tables and chairs inside are also very simple and even worn out. Under the recommendation of the waiter, we each ordered a glass of wine and chatted freely in the dim environment.

In the innermost corner of the bar, the Super Bowl is playing, but at the last critical moment, countless advertisements are inserted. Although we didn't understand it at all, we cheered and sighed with the locals. By the end of the game, the number of people in the bar gradually increased. At this time, the night is getting deeper and deeper, and more and more people like nightlife.

When melodious music started, we found a huge piano in the dark corner under the TV. A middle-aged uncle's fingertips danced flexibly, and melodious music slowly penetrated into the crowd. His deep voice sounded and he sang a tune familiar to the local people. There is a circle of people sitting on the bar around the piano. They sing and beat time together. The atmosphere is getting better and better, and more people join in, leaving their seats and standing outside the bar for several laps. The singers on the piano frequently interact with the surrounding audience, and the wonderful songs are uninterrupted, and we are reluctant to leave. The bar was still lively until we left late at night.

The living conditions of local young people also make people feel stress-free. They really enjoy life. In the French quarter, I saw many young men and women who took tourists sightseeing by bike. They are full of energy. When they walk forward, they will stand up and pedal their bikes. I remember it was the same when I was in middle school, especially when I was riding a bike downhill or getting home. I was in a particularly carefree mood and liked to stand up and feel the wind blowing.

These young people who make a living by cycling are also very happy. When you are tired, park your car in the street, have fun with your friends, eat, drink and play with your mobile phone, and enjoy life infinitely. I don't think the cars and houses here will be too much burden for them. After all, it is a vast and sparsely populated place. In addition to the business district, there are low villas everywhere. The small house was built neatly and the exterior walls were painted in different colors. Looking around, a small street is as colorful as a rainbow. I can't wait to take a picture in front of every house and go back and spell it into nine squares.

There is a French market in the French quarter, where there are all kinds of special stalls. Take a closer look, they are all made in China. I think these things can be found in Taobao. After a food stall, the girl selling drinks is wiping the cup and singing with a small speaker, regardless of whether there is business or not. New Orleans is such a magical place. People from all walks of life live a happy life.

This trip also made us realize the goodwill and deep human feelings from strangers.

Mr. Chen told me that when he was transferring at Dallas airport, a cleaner saw him dozing off in a chair and brought him a pillow and quilt. On the last day before departure, when we were looking at the map and looking for a shop in the lakeside shopping mall in New Orleans, a cleaner came over and asked us what we were looking for and provided detailed instructions.

When we were taking pictures in the French quarter of New Orleans, an old man with a cane passed by and praised us by the way. After we politely replied thank you, he bluntly said that he hadn't eaten for a long time and asked if we could help buy a McDonald's hamburger. We thought about it first, and it should be safer in the city, so we went to McDonald's with him.

Chatting on the road told me that he was a veteran and came to New Orleans more than ten years ago. Now I have no income and often go hungry. In fact, judging from his clothes and mental outlook, he is not poor enough to beg for a meal. Maybe there are many tourists here, or maybe the locals here are helpful, so that he can live a good life without working.

We are also one of these soft-hearted tourists. After buying hamburgers, Mr. Chen returned all the change to the old man. After getting rid of the fear of being cheated, we are actually willing to help others, which may be one of the reasons why we are together.

In the afternoon after the meeting, we invited some friends to experience the classic amusement projects. We watched crocodiles by boat in the wetland. I heard that I can get in close contact with crocodiles, and I really look forward to it. It only takes ten minutes to get out of town by taxi.

There are neat villas next to expressway, which extend to the distance on the empty Yuan Ye. There are green lawns in front of and behind every house, and cars are parked in front of them. We laughed and said that this is really a villa living in the country and enjoying the convenience of city life. I think many people in the city live near here and drive to work. Commuting time of more than 20 minutes is more convenient and faster than most big cities.

Unfortunately, the weather was bad, and our scheduled tour time happened to be a thunderstorm, so we had to cancel it for safety reasons. Back to the city, just got off the taxi and the heavy rain came in a hurry.

The crocodile tour was replaced by a graveyard tour at night. On a dark and windy night, although the rain stopped, there were still waves of wet and cold cool wind that made people tremble. A bus full of foreign tourists took us to the suburban cemetery. The tour guide tried to impress us with terrible legends. Unfortunately, I was a little sleepy and dizzy along the way, and I couldn't wait to climb back to the hotel bed to sleep.

The meeting and trip in New Orleans ended in a hurry, and I specially gave Mr. Chen a mobile phone before leaving. The most important gain of this long journey lies in a lifelong commitment. Although it is only a few days, its proportion and memory in our life are far greater than ordinary days and years.