blackgirl on mars: notes on a life in copenhagen (or how my alienation brings me closer to people).

It's been a week now since I have returned from my trip to Amsterdam with 21 of my 7th graders. There was a moment where we didn't think the trip was going to happen: Mother Nature decided to do some talking up in Iceland, and for once, the whole world just kind of shut up and listened. Or tried to. Although many of my kids were nervous about whether the flight was cancelled or not, I took a "let's take this one step at a time" approach. Luckily, all worked out and in the end, on the evening of Friday 23rd we met at the airport and took off for Amsterdam, volcanic ash and all. I love Amsterdam and not for the stereotypical reasons. First of all, it IS a beautiful city. The architecture and structure yells innovation and is inspiring. The cosmopolitan atmosphere speaks to my soul and every time I go there (now 5 times) my heart can't help but whisper, I moved to the wrong city for to me, a city that lacks diversity is an anemic city. It also doesn't hurt t...

Today I gave my grade 8's the assignment to go out and photograph the world around them as though it was the first time they were seeing it. After looking into the life of Gandhi and talking about protest and being heard, they decided that the way they wanted to make a statement is through photography. So as I was on my way to meet them, on this beautiful Spring day, I decided to join in on the fun: Istedgade is but a sliver of a street and is Copenhagen's "Red Light District" (the meatpacking district is right around the corner...) Here on Istedgade sex shops, heroin abusers and illegal gangsters share sidewalks with mothers pushing strollers and the hippest of the hippest eating sushi and drinking lattes. Istedgade runs right into the backside of the Main Station, ensuring that those who want alternate fixes can find the quickest and easiest way to them. Next weekend I'm off to Amsterdam with my 7th graders...easy how time creeps up on you. farvel, the lab