What To Know About Moving To South Louisiana

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - By now, you have probably heard that SpaceX willl be investing millions of dollars in southern Acadiana when they build their spaceport in Vermilion Parish.

The massive project will create thousands of jobs and careers, and some workers in Pecan Island in the months and years ahead may not be from Acadiana.

As always, we will welcome those who move here, but workers from outside Louisiana will need to know a few things as they adjust to southern Louisiana culture and life.

One thing that I think those who move here to work at SpaceX will notice quickly is just how welcoming and nice people are in South Louisiana. Sorry to the rest of the country, but no one does southern hospitality llike the people in South Louisiana.

Now, let's look at a few things those not from Louisiana will need to learn after they relocate here to work in Vermilion Parish.

What to Know About South Louisiana

For starters, those who relocate to South Louisiana will need to learn that we do have drive-thru establishments where we can buy alcohol, including margaritas and daiquiris. But there's more to this.

Newcomers to Acadiana need to know you never puncture the lid with your straw until you get home. Keep the lid sealed so the drink you were handed through a window doesn't become an "open container."

Next, if you're moving here to work at SpaceX and attend any UL sporting events, don't wear the colors of other in-state schools. If you do, a nice Cajun fan may approach you in Ragin' Cajuns colors.

After that, they may even share a beer with you.

And then there's the city of Maurice, where many relocate to South Louisiana. Maurice has great specialty meat stores and bars, but you'd best watch the speed limit when driving through the fast-growing village.

I suggest that when SpaceX hires out-of-state workers, the first thing they should be told is to obey the speed limit, and maybe even drive a bit under it. IYKYK.

Then there's Mardi Gras, which newcomers will have to be introduced to. Look, Mardi Gras is no longer a one- or two-day event; it lasts for weeks. For someone who may have never experienced Mardi Gras in South Louisiana, it can be exciting, but overwhelming.

To those relocating to Acadiana to work down in Vermilion Parish, know this: Mardi Gras is a marathon, not a sprint. You MUST pace yourself, or you'll burn through a lot of your PTO early on.

a close up of a mosquito on a white surface — Photo by Rapha Wilde on Unsplash

And lastly, it's the mosquitoes. Many of us who grew up in South Louisiana were told mosquitoes come and go, but I don't think that's true anymore. Mosquitoes seem to linger year-round, even in winter, and if you move here, don't be startled by how big some are.

Down in Vermilion Parish, you may mistake some mosquitoes for small birds; they're that large. Just know that these pests will often remind you when it's time to retreat back into your house as the sun begins to set.