So, I live in Brooklyn, NY, the second most densely populated county in all of the United States (after Manhattan, of course). I think most people knew those little tidbits, but what I didn't know was how special Queens is. Queens is where one of the schools I work at is (the other one is in downtown Brooklyn), and I've always had a very nice mix of cultures in my classes there. Now I know why!
According to Wikipedia:
Queens is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world with a population of over 2.2 million, 46% of whom are foreign-born, representing over 100 different nations and speaking over 138 different languages.[1][2]
(Italics are mine)
That's so cool! I went from Arkansas, which is, to say the least, not the most ethnically diverse place a girl could find, to working in literally the most diverse urban area in the world. I meet so many fantastic people there and am always learning about new cultures and languages, and it makes me so happy!
I have also learned that:
If each New York City borough were an independent city, Queens would be America's fourth largest city, after Los Angeles, Chicago, and Brooklyn.[3]
Anyway, sometimes I am just still wowed by what a crazy place I live in. I am sure I will get used to it some day! It still is funny to me sometimes how I've come to think of Brooklyn as not a very busy, bustling place (because I'm comparing it to Manhattan), even though it would be the country's third largest city if if weren't part of the greater NYC and its population is almost equal to that of the population of the entire state I grew up in. Haha. It's just hard to wrap my head around sometimes.
In any case, I hope all of you had a fantastic 4th of July! (And, for those of you from other countries, a great not-otherwise-special Wednesday!)
I spent mine at this crazy little music-fest/BBQ/intermittent water gun fight:
Early on before it got very crowded.
I spent most of my time with these lovely ladies, and, of course, we cheered on I Am the Third as they got everybody into the groove. (Really, though, everyone was dancing and they got asked to do an encore -- pretty cool!)
I love these girls!
Enjoy the rest of your day and, friends from back home, try to stay cool!
