With the protests and riots erupting in the City of Baltimore, I wish things turned out differently.  I wish America is as fair and as equal-opportunitied as our Forefathers had envisioned.  I wish there is no race profiling.  I wish the reversal of the death of innocent people.  The Baltimore I knew many many years ago, while attending Johns Hopkins University in the early 1990’s, was a radically different city from what is depicted in the news media of recent days.

Growing up in the bustling cities of Taipei and New York, I was struck by how tranquil and serene Baltimore was on my first day of college.  After the pre-requisite orientation activities, I spent my first free afternoon in Baltimore walking around the city.  I noticed there were benches everywhere that had the inscription, “Baltimore, The City That Reads”.

I was greeted by strangers who said “Hi”, followed by a bright smile and, “have a nice day!”  I was amazed at how friendly people were in Baltimore.  People of Baltimore were cordial and respectful.  The pace was slow and the mood genuine.

By 9pm, a time when I would expect to find many late dining spots in my former childhood cities, there were no dining options to be found around our Homewood campus.  It was a city that slept early and woke up early.

Johns Hopkins Homewood campus was a wonderful place where students developed intellectually and socially in a safe and nurturing environement.  I didn’t understand why Hopkins gained a reputation of being a cut-throat pre-med campus.  When I attended Hopkins, my friends and I helped each other with lecture notes, and formed study groups.  We enjoyed many extracurricular activities and put out spectacular annual campus-wide Spring Fairs where everyone in town was invited.

Many weekends were spent roaming around Inner Harbor.

Now I see anger and frustration from Baltimore.  The previously cordial and respectful people have had enough.  Baltimore, I wish you well.  Stay safe!