Life Off-Label

Last weekend I made my first trip to a national pharmacy convention and my first visit to New Orleans. Here’s a few highlights…

Since I was checking a bag, it only cost a little more to upgrade to first class on my flight from Oklahoma City to Dallas. I had my first taste of what it’s like to go cut in front if everyone in the security line, board the plane first, sit in the very first row, and not wait six hours to deboard. It was only an hour-long flight, but I still had time to get in a Jack and Coke. I’m an amateur with the first class drinking though. The guy next to me fit in two Baileys on the rocks and the guy across the aisle had two screwdrivers. Also, when I got to New Orleans, my luggage was one of the first ones to come out on the conveyer belt. Basically, the first class experience was the non-stressful opposite version my usual flight experiences in every way, and I wish I could afford to fly that way all the time.

I had a layover at DFW, and since usually when I fly into that airport I go home, I almost walked right to baggage claim before realizing I need to go to another gate. So I had some lunch and chilled for a couple hours at the next gate, only to wind up chilling a few more hours thanks to a delay because of maintenance issues. I know these things happen, and I’m glad they make sure the plane is safe before I board it, but it was really frustrating to sit in the terminal at DFW knowing I could be sight seeing in New Orleans instead. And it was really frustrating how poorly the staff handled it. They had that friendly “sucks to be you” attitude as if we’re at the DMV, except the DMV can get away with it because they’re a monopoly. American Airlines apparently forgot that we have other options the next time we fly. A friend on another airline had something similar happen and she got food vouchers while at the airport and a voucher for reduced fare on a future flight. What did we get? Nothing.

When we finally did board our flight and take off, I had a nice conversation with a pharmacist and his wife while on it. I ran into them again while waiting for a cab, and since our hotels were close we decided to split it. The cab took us to my hotel first, and when I reached for my wallet the pharmacist said he’d cover it. After I graciously thank them his wife smiles and says, “We were students once too.” I’ll make sure to pay that forward someday!

The exposition was massive and I accumulated a nice amount of free samples by the end of the trip. I liked how on the first night they made the atmosphere as stereotypically New Orleans as possible. Girls were walking around throwing Mardi Gras beads at us. People were wearing masks and walking around on stilts. There was a brass band performing some jazzy tunes. It was pretty awesome. I think one of my favorite booths was the guy in a 50s-style soda jerk outfit making Metamucil shakes. They tasted just like a Creamsicle!

I was told, if nothing else, I *had* to try Mothers and Cafe du Monde. So I did. Both had very long lines (because everyone else *had* to try them too), but both were so so worth it. This picture from Cafe du Monde makes me salivate every time I look at it. Oh, and note the obnoxiously excess powdered sugar. If you’re as graceful of an eater as I am, you might want to wear white pants.

Of course, being a nerdy pharmacy student, I had to visit the pharmacy museum. According to the curator, the pharmacy was owned by one of the first licensed pharmacists in the US. That’s pretty old. It’s similar to the one I visited in Guthrie, with a few more cool knickknacks and the largest mortar and pestle I’ve ever seen. Sitting on the floor, it was almost as high as my waist!

Bourbon Street. Ahh Bourbon Street. Okay, the thing is, after living in Austin and spending some uh… quality… time on 6th Street, Bourbon is not as big of a culture shock as it apparently is to other people. In some ways the two are similar. Both are streets with a bunch of bars, some of which are famous for signature drinks. Both are blocked off to motor traffic and smell of various body fluids. Many tourists come to party there and tend to get crazy. And I would feel just as uncomfortable walking alone on either of them. However, Bourbon’s street bands are a nice alternative to the Austin hobos, and though I’m not sure when Bourbon’s bars close (if at all), I know it’s much later than 2am. Like a good tourist, I tried both hand grenades and hurricanes while there, and found both to be wonderful. For the record, I got my hand grenade without ice, because I’m not a sissy.

Funny story about hurricanes in New Orleans. So a couple girls and I thought we would be cute and pose for a picture with the orange peels from our drinks in our mouths. After we take the picture, I set my orange peel down on a plate on the table. Upon inspection, one of the girls didn’t like how she looked in the picture, so we have to take another one. I pick the orange peel back up and put it in my mouth, but I notice it tastes a little funny. After the picture I take it out, and notice the bottom of it is black. No way… did they put a moldy orange in my drink? I look down, and my jaw drops as I realize that the “plate” I set my orange peel on is an ash tray. Yeah…

I actually did attend events at APhA though too. Mostly because my school requires it of me, but it was also an interesting experience to see how things go at a national level. Most people thought the House of Delegates sessions were boring, and I wouldn’t say it’s the most exciting thing I’ve witnessed in my life, but I thought they were interesting because the resolutions passed could ultimately affect national policy. The magnitude of how important those debates on the floor were made me at least appreciate it, even if painting my toenails is just as thrilling.

The weekend ended with an awards ceremony, and I seriously felt like I was at the Oscars. The crowd wasn’t that formal, but the presenters were in their tuxes and dresses, reading off cue cards and posing for pictures while music plays in the background with each award. My school has won a couple of those awards in the past, but didn’t get anything this year. I know it’s silly, but I’m competitive and not getting to partake in that celebration after hearing my school’s name called made me want to do more in my school’s chapter of APhA so we can win something next year. I suppose that’s the point… dangle some shiny award in front of our faces to inspire us to get more involved, and ultimately the communities we help win.

It was a great trip that went by way too fast, and I’m so glad I did it. Sure, I could have studied for an exam all weekend like most of my classmates, but I still passed, and that’s okay with me. At the end of the day, a memorable trip like this is worth much more than a few extra points on an exam anyway.