Get to Know One of our Gambel Girls

A little over fifteen months ago, my partner and I packed up everything we could possibly fit in our cars and set off on the 20-hour drive to New Orleans from Washington, D.C. He had gone to Tulane for undergrad and ever since had yearned to return; and I, having grown restless for a change of scenery and work experiences away from Capitol Hill, was easily convinced to make the move.

To say I was nervous would be an understatement, but more than that, I was excited. To prepare we watched every travel show, movie or documentary that even so much as featured New Orleans so I could learn all I could about the city. And, I do think the countless hours of TV helped, to an extent, but I believe living in New Orleans is really just one of those things you don’t understand until you experience it for yourself.

October 2019 was when I made the switch from working remotely for my D.C. office and joined the team at Gambel — and that is when I would say my indoctrination officially began. Most of the neighbors in our apartment building were transplants like us, so really, it wasn’t until I met the Gambel Girls that I had friendly locals to teach me the ropes.

Here’s a few notes from my first 15 months…

Weather:

Before I moved here, the only two times I had visited New Orleans were in the middle of summer, so I knew it’d be hot. But it’s one thing to have a be hot for a weekend when you’re living it up in the French Quarter and another to be hot 24/7 — including when you’re dressed up with your hair done for an important meeting! That said, everyone was right — your body does adapt, and this past summer was far more bearable than my first. You learn to appreciate AC when you walk past a store and feel the cool air, and to really cherish the few months when you can break out your sweaters, boots and sometimes even a coat! And you really can’t beat sitting outside in a beautiful courtyard mid-January when your friends at home are experiencing a blizzard!

Networking:

Until I moved here, I thought D.C. was a big “who you know” city, but now I know that New Orleans really takes the cake in that regard. From my first day at Gambel I was encouraged to attend networking events and get involved civically. I’m convinced that there is no one more skilled at networking than Betsie Gambel, and would argue that few organizations have leaders and employees as professionally and civically involved as the Gambel Girls. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in my plans for broadening my horizons early in 2020, but I’m doing my best to make up for lost time! I recently finished the City of New Orleans’ six-week Civic Leadership Academy, and am looking forward to soon beginning NORLI’s nine-month intensive Regional Leadership Program, diving into important discussions surrounding regional issues with my fellow cohort members.

Pronunciation:

I learned pretty early on that having grown up outside of London and speaking British English would not be to my advantage when it came to pronouncing just about anything in New Orleans, or for that matter, Louisiana! I might think I knew how to say the name of a city or a road, but for the first couple months, nine times out of ten, I was most definitely wrong. I don’t think I’m alone in that though — you can move here having read all the blogs and articles, and know exactly how to pronounce Tchoupitoulas, Burgundy and the rest of the names you’re warned about, but believe me, those lists are far from complete. Shout out to the Gambel Girls for helping me out along the way!  

Carnival:

I don’t think anything could have adequately prepared me for Carnival season. From trying my first piece of king cake in the kitchen of our new Ridgelake office, to celebrating my first New Orleans birthday at Krewe du Vieux, or getting stuck behind a convoy of floats when leaving a meeting at the Louisiana Children’s Museum, my first Carnival was pretty all encompassing. I learned that catching beads is easy, shoes not so much, and at some point, you will inevitably take a throw to the head. And, just because you live on the parade route, doesn’t mean you need to attend every single parade that passes. It really is a marathon, not a sprint!

Those are just some of my takeaways, and I know there will be many more to come as I learn more of the intricacies of life in the wonderful city that is New Orleans. From the smell of gardenias when walking in the Garden District, to the roar of the Superdome when Kamara runs for a touchdown, or one of those glorious New Orleans afternoons that feels like it will never end, I truly can no longer imagine life anywhere else. So, to my dear New Orleans, thank you for having me. And to my Gambel Girls, thank you for making it feel like home.