Grand Finale in New Orleans...

Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana

When I last left you on Wednesday, I was in search of some more wholesome fun in New Orleans that didn't involve Bourbon Street.....the company gave us a half day to attend one of several tours they were offering that ranged from city tours, air boat tours of alligator infested swamps, to an afternoon playing golf.  I wanted something that was unique to the region that I couldn't get back home.  While going into swamps seemed adventurous, it was a little too much nature for me.  So, I decided on a tour of the Oak Alley Plantation.  First, the 1hr plus bus ride to get out to the plantation site was pretty interesting.....At the risk of sounding like an "East Coast snob," to say that people in rural Louisiana live a different pace of life from the Northeast would be an understatement.  There were so many neighborhoods along the Mississippi River consisting of small "match box" like houses with tin roofs on tiny quiet streets that seem more like pedestrian-only alleys.  I can't even imagine how far away is the closest Target or Wal-Mart, but I digress......The long bus ride was well worth the breathtaking view of the quarter-mile long Alley of Oaks when you finally pull up to the plantation.....The front doors of the main house open up to the picture-perfect view of all the 300 year-old Virginia Live Oak trees.  While this isn't the mansion that Gone With the Wind was filmed at, there have been several other films shot at this site.  The plantation was a great way for me to learn about some Southern history and culture along the Mississippi River....

Alley of Oaks

"Carnival"

Later that same evening, the company had yet another surprise in store for us.  We were instructed to meet in the hotel lobby promptly to walk over to wherever we were having dinner, but we would be bused back (which I found weird to walk there, but take buses back).  Turns out they hired a legit marching band with carnival characters and police detail to block off the streets for us (all 650 Merck Millipore employees) to parade from our hotel to dinner -- we're talking about Canal Street (a major artery) in the middle of rush hour traffic!

Police blocking traffic for our parade
(No, not me getting arrested, hehe)

I feel so short...

Metropolitan Night Club

Dinner ended up being at "The Metropolitan" nightclub which they rented out for the evening just for us.  Never seen so many of my colleagues from all over the world dance together like that before.....Those sales guys sure know how to party!  I just hope no one's camera snapped a picture of me out there on the dance floor and puts it in some slide deck for some future presentation, j/k!  No one wanted the evening to end....

Closing Ceremony

Thursday wrapped-up a week-long of meetings and poster sessions.  The closing ceremony and dinner kicked-off an evening of jazz that New Orleans is so well-known for.


After one more stroll on Bourbon Street, it was time to say "good-bye" to the Big Easy.  All-and-all, I was most surprised at how much fun I had in New Orleans -- I really didn't have high expectations for the city based on all I had heard and seen on TV, and I can confirm a lot of that is exaggerated.  While the city isn't for everyone, one can't dispute that New Orleans is definitely unique and has a lot to offer if you're looking for something new and different to experience for a place to visit -- you just have to keep an open mind!

Jazz Band

From all the photos and stories posted on my blog, I know most of you are thinking, did I get any work done on this "business" trip?  As cliche as it sounds, it was definitely an exhausting week of work hard and play hard and multi-tasking.  I'm so looking forward to a tranquil weekend at home to recover.  Nonetheless, I did have as much fun as all the photos indicate, which goes hand-and-hand with a major take-away for me this past week -- while 650 employees were invited to attend our GSM, many more colleagues could not participate.  All week, it never left my mind at how privileged I am in so many ways to be given the opportunity to work for such a cool company and surrounded by amazing colleagues.  And, given some of the sights in New Orleans, I'm even more fortunate to have grown up in Boston and be raised by parents and surrounded by family & friends that equipped me to seize on such an opportunity in my career....This week was really a reminder for me not to take things for granted and how lucky I am in so many ways and to just soak it all up while I can...


Until my next destination (already scheduled for ~2 weeks from now), I leave you with my favorite drink from the past week...Cheers!

Pat O'Brien's on Bourbon St has the best "Hurricane"
(and it's one of the better, non-sleezy, bars)