The Adventures of Jolee Sue Baydeaux

From the fields of tomatoes to the orchards of orange trees and the homes on the bayous of Louisiana, children had hard times coming from the bayous to attend school to better themselves. This is how the Cajun culture lived in the great parishes.

The Cajun people in the south of Louisiana lived mostly on food they caught from the waters in the bayous and picked fruit and vegetables from the fields they grew. They were very friendly and happy people, always partying, dancing, and singing. They loved to sing praises to Jesus, which was a very huge part of their lives. I chose my children to be the main characters and changed their names to sound a bit more Cajun.

It truly amazed me how children, whose only transportation to their school was boats, did so every day with a glad heart and never complained. Living in Cajun country was great, except during hurricane season. I just thought, with all the adventures and the family gatherings for parties and Sunday dinners, that they were wonderful memories we could keep in our hearts forever.

-- Charlene Debelo