So, I've finally settled into my sweet lil apartment in Baltimore, successfully attended the first few days of classes, made some very good friends, garnered enough reading to last me a lifetime (ah, the eternal pleasures of being a graduate student!).
Baltimore as a city seems to have a rather jaded voice. You hear about the sketchy neighbourhoods, the pollution scares, dark alleys, muggings and so on. Yet after coming to this city, I've also noticed how friendly people are, how beautiful the water looks through the big bay window at the Aquarium, the relatively clean and safe streets in Charles Village. I am not blind though. I do see the boards nailed shut in certain areas, the fact that people tend to travel in groups, and stay home after 7pm (unless you drive, and are with a group of 3 or more..lol).
Yet the city seems rather alive. My perception might be biased because of the people I interact with, whether it's at my apartment, the local student community in my area or the larger student community at grad school. Everyone seems friendly, welcoming and always willing to offer information. The key is to ask :) . In that regard, I guess it could be said that it's the same elsewhere. However, I like this city. I love Toronto (I know I'm biased, it's been home for a long time now!), yet this city will always mean something unique to me.
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