A professor from the University of New Orleans once noted that newcomers to the city would be interested to find "the locals talk funny, but seldom have Southern accents." This is one of the strange, yet defining aspects of a varied city. People from around the country can find peculiar familiarities varying from things like fresh Italian markets and soul food restaurants. Various religious groups are represented in the city including Lutheran, Greek-Orthodox, Jewish and the historically dominant Catholic congregations.

Although the city is still rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, the mayor's office has published reports that things are looking up. The famous Canal Street streetcar -- the hardest hit line during the hurricane -- is back up and running. Additionally, in February 2006, the mayor's office reported that although the city's population initially dipped, it is back on the rise. Tulane University recently acknowledged that the reopening of their campus alone has brought 25,000 students back to the city.

Most of the time, New Orleans has a very agreeable climate. Summers can be a bit humid, but the average lows in the winters rarely dip below 40 degrees, and the average highs in the summer rarely hit anything higher than the low 90s.

Aside from its vibrant culture, New Orleans is also rich in educational resources. About 15 universities and colleges dot the city and surrounding areas, and numerous museums and libraries are available as well.

If you need a break from studying, and have somehow managed to tire of the various cultural festivals, range of sights, array of fiery foods and the jazz that fills the air, you can go check out a New Orleans Saints football game. The Superdome -- which housed thousands of displaced residents during Hurricane Katrina -- has reopened, and the NFL and team ownership have committed themselves to staying in New Orleans after rumored moves to nearby venues such as San Antonio. Not only that, the Saints helped raise the morale of the entire city in January 2006 by winning their first divisional playoff game in the team's history. It was only the second time the Saints had even made the playoffs

Sources:
(http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans)