As I approach my 4-month anniversary with downtown Baltimore, many people have been asking me about my feelings towards the city... I figure the best way to express my mixed emotions is with a few mixed anecdotes:
- Zachariah is the man who sells roses and teddy bears at the intersection of North Avenue and Mt. Royal. I see him everyday when I walk to and from work. He always greets me with a big smile and a "Hello! How are you? You know, you remind me of my daughter, she is very smart!" I've never seen him actually sell anything to anyone. It's a shame. He's really nice.
- The selection of FM stations in Baltimore is worse than in Kenai. But I listen to NPR when I get ready in the morning, like I did when I was in college. Schools here are delayed because of "fog warnings." It wasn't until recently that I learned what in the world that was all about.
- I've had to say "No, thank you, I don't drink" more times in the past 4-months than I have in my entire life.
-Why don't the grocery stores keep their shopping carts inside the store? It took me 2 months to train myself to grab a cart before I enter Safeway.
- I thought I was such a burdened undergrad, always packing around instruments everywhere; but this morning a saw a MICA student in orange tights carrying 3 canvases, a sleeping bag, a bag of laundry, and a backpack. You'd think with their crazy tuition prices, each student would get an alpaca to aid in transportation of personal items and art materials.
- Women here are really serious about their boots. It's December and it hasn't even snowed; your $200 boots are pointless. It's the female equivalent of wearing sunglasses indoors.
- I know that when I leave, I'm going to desperately miss my friends at the City Cafe. They're some of the best people I've ever worked with.
