rolling down the river..

"When I find a well-drawn character in fiction or biography I generally take a warm personal interest in him, for the reason that I have known him before--met him on the river."

-Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

the first excursion during our month-long trip will be a dinner cruise down the mississippi river leaving from memphis. i have tried to do some reading on these, and it seems that what you do on your cruise varies depending on your boat, company, time of day, etc. however, they all seem to provide a glimpse into the history of the river, from it being the lifeblood of the cotton industry long ago to one of its present day purposes of being a venue for casinos (which must be located along the river or gulf coast as stated by mississippi law). while on the boat, we may also hear some blues and eat food that showcases the favorites of our area (maybe some good memphis barbeque?). this will be the first taste of america for the koreans who will arrive earlier on this day, and i feel that this will give them a complete picture of several aspects of southern life. i also know that i have much to learn as well.