My perceptions

           I tried to come to Baltimore with as few preconceived expectations as possible. I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into, and I didn't want to add to any of my anxiety with having one set plan for what Baltimore would be like. Before coming to Baltimore this summer for SuperKids I have only been in the city one other time, last summer when my sister was looking at colleges. But then someone told me that The Wire was all about Baltimore, so of course I had to watch an episode. That was probably not my best choice, because then I drove into the city expecting a scene to play out right in front of me at any second. While that hasn't happened so far (thankfully!), the students in my class have taught me very quickly the realities of their young lives are nothing that I could have imagined growing up in a quiet suburb of Rochester.    I do find myself loving Baltimore, and every time I get lost (which is almost daily) I find another beautiful park or really cool looking store that reminds me what a cool city Baltimore is.