From NYC to NOLA

Hi I am Hoi, a Hong Kong born illustrator and beekeeper who recently moved from NYC to NOLA. When I was asked by Night Snack Club to create some images to describe the moving experience, I spent a while thinking about the right approach to these images. The process of moving has been rather difficult and surreal, but there’s also a slight feeling of calmness in there. It came from a sense of closure, leaving things behind, and having a fresh start.  

After 3 months of quarantine, I invited a few friends to my apartment in the last week before I moved. Every inch of our apartment was occupied by cardboard boxes but we were all still super excited to see each other. It was sad, but I am glad we got to see each other before I left.

On a bright Thursday morning, my partner and I handed a bucket of honey (it was way too much to take with us) to our building manager and moved the last of our belongings in the car. We were driving down to New Orleans.

We drove around 7 to 8 hours a day and on the first night we stopped at Charlotte and the second night we stopped in Florida. Our plan was to spend a day at the beach before we hit the road again but we didn't feel very comfortable going out since the number of COVID-19 cases was very high in Florida. So we basically locked ourselves in the hotel room when we were not driving.

We arrived in New Orleans on the third day. It wasn’t my first time here; we used to come every year, to enjoy the warm weather and the music. But this year it feels different. The city has been very quiet, restaurants are closed. Our new apartment has a small terrace, and from time to time, we stand on the terrace to feel the breeze and sometimes, we can hear someone playing jazz in the distance.

The city has been quiet since there is a second wave of cases here, so we stay indoors most of the time, but I am grateful that we are both healthy. We and can’t wait to see the city bloom again with amazing food and music!

Text & Illustrations by Hoi Chan