What diversity feels/looks/tastes like

If asked, I'd say that Lexington offers its share of diversity. You'll see people from different nationalities opening businesses and taking prominent positions in public education, primarily at the University of Kentucky. While there is still a clear "majority" background within the the people here, overall I'd characterize Lexington as fairly open to newcomers from different ethnic backgrounds.

Then I came to Boston.

At least once a week I'll walk along the streets of Harvard Square and hear a language I can't recognize. People will drop paint-thick accents of all kinds, including South African, Caribbean, Brazilian, Italian and Irish dialects dripping off the edge of every letter. The Berkman Center also has interns from all over the country and across the world — Texas, Ohio, New York, North Dakota, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Hawaii, Connecticut, Kentucky, Switzerland, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, on and on and on. For someone who is used to being in a school where at least half the students are originally from Kentucky, it's quite amazing to see a group who represent so many different states and nations.

Boston also has several neighborhoods that offer distinct flavors from its many immigrant populations: Chinatown, the North End (Boston's "Little Italy") and South Boston (Boston's "Irish Town"). Unfortunately, from what I've heard, I wouldn't recommend traveling in South Boston alone in your first trip to the city, but Chinatown and the North End are both in very nice areas to walk and shop. This is not to say that South Boston doesn't have much to offer — but alas, Boston is a big city and you should always watch your surroundings.

Today I decided to see a little of the North End for myself and visited the Trattoria II Panino. I wanted to see what food really tasted like in a restaurant where the waiters speak Italian to each other and bill the restaurant as (supposedly) the first Trattoria in Boston. I wanted something that at least seemed quintessentially Italian, something that may not taste the same once I leave an Italian neighborhood.

I wanted gnocchi. Tiny, pillow-shaped dumplings of potato in tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Now, I can try to describe to you what it tastes like. They are incredibly soft, holding their shape right until you bite into one. They taste much like pasta except firmer, richer, and maybe a little saltier. They are the ultimate comfort food.

But really, I find pictures sum up food experiences very well. Wouldn't you rather see food then hear me tell about it?



And afterward, I wasn't leaving without tiramisu. It's not for certain if this is truly Italian or not, but I knew that a place in the North End would probably know how tiramisu should taste after enough years of getting credit for the dish.

Once again, I could describe it to you. The ladyfingers have been soaked so long in the liquer that they make a solid layer together, just the right amount of sweetness balancing with a coffee flavor that I love in tiramisu.

Or, I could just show you.



Amazing. Ah, Boston. I will definitely miss the huge variety of people, culture, food, and sounds of this city.