Hello, my name is Merrill Ricketts.

I’m an Atlanta native living in Paris, France. This site is to share my experiences abroad with my friends and family. 

I titled my website "Lagniappe" for several reasons. When I moved to New Orleans, LA in 2013 to attend graduate school, I quickly learned that the inhabitants of the Crescent City spoke their own language. One of the words that I had never heard before was Lagniappe - which refers to giving a little something extra. It is a word that took me numerous tries to correctly pronounce, and my new NOLA friends were always happy to tell me when I was saying it wrong. I also felt that the word was appropriate for this site because I moved from New Orleans to Paris in June 2018. While the origins of Lagniappe are technically Louisiana French, it brings together two places that hold a special place in my heart. 

I hope my experiences bring a little something extra to your day :)