Tale of Two Cities

Traveling to different parts of the world has been a dream of mine since I was a young child. With that, I have always known that I would be a part of the Navy. Being in the Navy has since afforded me the opportunities to select where I desire to be stationed and subsequently has expanded my horizons. I lived in New Orleans for a little over 3 years and have now been living in San Diego for a solid year. These are by far, two of the most culturally and economically diverse cities I have ever had the chance to visit and live. Both cities have long and colorful histories, however they are still very different.

I have experienced both positives and negatives and realize that these cities share many common traits. While exploring both cities, I began to notice a high military concentration, with all five branches calling them home. Military personnel, me included, seem to flock to these cities because of the exceptional amount of culture and outdoor activities available. Both cities offer water sports, city parks for running and walking, picnic areas, fishing, sailing and even hunting, to name a few. While in New Orleans, I took every opportunity to explore my outdoor options and I am now doing the same in San Diego. Another similarity I’ve experienced is that both cities have a liveliness that is thus far unmatched by any other city I’ve visited or lived; the people I’ve known are upbeat, passionate and have a zest for life. Both cities share raving professional football fans for either the Saints or the Chargers and support the teams very enthusiastically. These cities can also pull together in a case of tragedy and emergency. In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the city was devastated and nearly destroyed. Within weeks, the city pulled together as a whole and started rebuilding each other’s homes and livelihoods. The same can be said for San Diego and the October 2007 wildfires. Hundreds of volunteers poured into Chargers Stadium to assist in any way possible, giving fire victims comfort and hope in their time of need. New Orleans and San Diego also share an element of criminal that only emerges during these periods- looters. After both of these tragedies occurred, hundreds of homes were looted by criminals who preyed on another’s absence and misfortune. Another byproduct shared was the quick rise in rental prices. Within