Good morning 6:30 a.m! I woke up at 4:30 a.m. this morning. It’s been a really rough week of school work and no sleep,  and last night I was completely delirious and my functionality was very limited to say the least. I decided to lay down at 8:30 last night so I could get up early to formulate a debate against bioprospecting and write a paper about green designs. After putting a pot of coffee on, making some whole grain toast and peanut butter, and sitting down with my comforter in the never ceasing to aesthetically please Quiet Dining Room, I checked my e-mail. Of course my 9 a.m. class, the one that required me to get up at 4:30 a.m, was canceled.

My reaction was laughter. I know I use that as a defense mechanism quite often, but how can you not laugh at irony? God’s really funny sometimes. Maybe for some people, the e-mail would be a relief. YAY BACK TO SLEEP! But for me, back to sleep is never an option after 2 sips of coffee and psyching myself up for a productive day. After laughing and trying to conceptualize what the heck I was now going to do with myself, I smiled and realized this is exactly what I needed.

I needed this morning for myself. I needed this morning to be reminded that God is there, he’s working, he’s giving me much needed extra time to get my work done, and most importantly, giving me these lovely, 6.5 hours to mentally get myself together and begin to again appreciate my life. Before everyone else wakes up, I’ve been given this extra time to prepare for the day, something I haven’t had the opportunity to do in a very long time. <3

I can’t believe this semester is almost over. I love Philly soooooooooooo much. Whyyyyyy do I have to leave? I’m going to depart from here as a completely new individual. But no worries, I assure you I will be back. I only live 30 minutes from North Philly in Jersey, and Eastern is about 30 minutes in the opposite direction. I’ve been to the city plenty of times, but I’ll tell you, you don’t REALLY know Philly until you spend time living here. And when you spend time living here, you don’t EVER want to go back to where you came from. The suburbs are no longer fulfilling, the thought of driving makes me angry, the thought of strip malls and suburban sprawl makes me sick,  WALMART– don’t get me started, the lack of diversity and salient segregation– disheartening.

There’s nothing like being able to finally talk about racial reconciliation outside of an all white classroom. Getting the chance to be a minority is an eye opening experience to the reality that so many individuals face every day in a Euro-centered white dominated society. Being the “oppressor” in an African American classroom and addressing real heart wrenching issues that force everyone to get out of their comfort zone are key steps to making any sort of progress. Stereotypes can be broken, presumptions can be falsified, tears can fall, forgiveness can happen, and hugs can have great mending potential.

I’ve been blessed in incredible ways by the people here and at the sites where I’ve been spending a lot of my time doing Field Experience. I have been changed in ways I never could have imagined, and re-learned a lot of things that I thought I had a really good grasp on already. I will continue to optimistically enjoy my last month here, for what use is it to focus on the end?

For even a rainy day in Philly is beautiful. I wish I could put my emotions into words, but no matter how hard I try, it doesn’t seem to explain how incredibly passionate I am about this city. I’ve been people watching since 4:30 a.m. and enjoying every minute of it. There is literally always something happening every single minute of the day. That’s something I’ve never been able to experience anywhere else.

Tonight all the students here will be going out to dinner, thanks to the resident’s director and the Student Activities Board. Where my subsidized $15.00 will take me, I can only imagine. Immersed in Japanese, German, or Irish culture? Perhaps. Though it is windy, probably cold, and a little on the wet side, the people I will be spending time with, and the excitement penetrating throughout the streets of Center City will keep me warm and enthralled.

Beloved Philadelphia,
I have found a home in you. <3

There’s something about sitting in an aesthetically pleasing room, in my bed by the window, facing one of Philadelphia’s most eminent streets, Broad Street. I try and concentrate on my screen as my curiosity drives my peripheral vision to catch glimpses of all the speeding cars driving by. I wonder what is going on outside in my immediate surroundings. I can only imagine what kind of beauty, grace, love, and joy are taking place from the northern to southern ends of the city, all occurring on this very street that lies just outside my window. I envy the street for its all encompassing power…for its ability to bring people of varying socioeconomic status, class, race, and ethnicity together.

Though I feel the persistent beat of the city, pumping like a heart, trying so hard to make me go, go, go, and miss all the simple, magnificent moments, I fight against the propulsion, and attempt to be present. I am present. I have peace of mind. I am so extraordinarily thankful for my time here. I am appreciative of all my encounters. I am appreciative of my life.

Being in Philadelphia has finally given me the ability to give real, tangible meaning to the word community. In just a month and a half, I have seen community in a whole new light, and in a multitude of forms. I have learned what it is like to live in an intentional community, what it’s like to feel like I am an imperative component of a larger community, and that community can be created out of people with absolutely nothing in common if there is a driving force of love. Dictionary.com has yet to acknowledge my 3rd realization.

Every morning I am greeted with a “Hey, how are you this morning?” Initially I think to myself “UGH, it’s 7:30 in the morning, I wish I could hibernate in my bed right now. Are you serious?” After a deep breath, I am able to conceptualize the reality. Someone is initiating love. Someone that I barely know truly cares about how I am doing. This simple act changes my attitude for the whole day. “I’m doing great,” I reply. “How are you?”
This feeling of being cared for is replenished daily. I sometimes am asked what’s in store for the day, or at dinner time how my day went. I’ve never had people who barely know me ask me questions that were so conspicuously out of genuine care. It’s refreshing to know that not all questions involved with greeting, that we feel almost obligated to ask when we come into contact with another human being, have become regurgitated words without significance.

I think for once I have found peace. My experiences here have led me to have feelings that are contrary to the stereotypical descriptions of the city (loud, impersonal, chaotic, industrial, fast, crime filled, individualized, etc.). I have found that all the noises blend so beautifully together that I inexplicably have quiet. My encounters have been some of the friendliest and most smile provoking that I have ever had. I find order in the way different components of the community work together towards a common purpose. I’ve found there to be an endless surrounding of nature, flowers, trees, an urban garden and some of the most people filled parks. Lastly, I have found a plethora of nonprofit organizations, churches, and individuals working towards peace and justice. I smile and breathe with contentment at the hope and love and reconciliation that occurs daily. I am at peace.

So before I begin writing to you about my experiences this semester at MCPC, I feel it is necessary to give you an adequate introduction in regards to who I am and why I am here. For starters, I will include a relatively important factor that you may want to know: I’m actually not a Messiah College student. I’m a junior at Eastern University. Technically, I’m a full time student at Eastern, Messiah, and Temple, which essentially just sounds really cool. In reality, I am currently studying here at Messiah Philadelphia campus and Temple University. Thanks to Messiah, the program here invites any student from any school to join the family and spend a semester in the city. I decided studying what I like to call “pseudo abroad” was much more enticing than doing the cliché abroad semester that most college students participate in. Sure England would be an intensive and beneficial learning experience, but the city of Philadelphia is just 20 minutes from Eastern and can offer me a life altering experience that’s completely out of my comfort zone without traveling the 3500 miles. I believe being intentional about escaping your comfort zone not only makes you a much stronger person, but gives you a plethora of opportunities to seek spiritual guidance, and to make a difference in the lives of others whom you would have otherwise not encountered. I promise you will never regret these encounters.

So I am here because I am a Sociology major who is particularly interested in understanding the dynamics of the city. When you learn about the perpetuation of the injustices that have existed and created urbanized ghettos, and you begin to understand the reality that there is an intolerable amount of human beings living under the poverty line, you begin to ask the question WHY??? After years of oppression under slavery, and the perpetuation of years of unequal opportunities for Blacks enforced by the law, there is still an ever increasing pattern of Blacks falling far below Whites in annual income, wealth, and educational achievement. I refuse to settle with this reality.

Where my passions will lead me, I do not know. But for now I will serve the “least of these” that reside in North Philadelphia. This semester I am involved in a Field Experience course through Messiah where I am involved with the organization Project H.O.M.E. I spend every Thursday and Sunday helping out at the Kairos House, a transitional facility for mentally ill homeless people. I teach knitting and yoga, and spend time playing games and serving in whatever way the residents need me. On Fridays, I am involved with Project H.O.M.E’s Honickman Learning Center, an after school program for the children in the neighborhood where I teach 4th and 5th grade boys and girls the basics of yoga. Working on both the preventative and recovery sides of homelessness helps me get a more holistic understanding of the vicious cycle. I am so thankful to have this opportunity, to impact as well as to be greatly impacted.

Throughout this semester, I hope to share with you some of the personal challenges and blessings I face, the knowledge I attain, and the vast amount of exciting opportunities that the wonderful city of Philadelphia allows me to partake in. I hope you will feel a little bit closer to what life is like in this diverse city, a little bit more in love with all it has to offer.

I’ve grown a thick skin for the corporate Liberty 1 and its minions of time travel. I once read in a book that UFO’s are human tourists from the future. I want to suspend time of all its wires and mathematical equations and live in the moment with you. Meet me on the corner of Berk’s about 20 feet past the bus stop.

This is Philadelphia, not the product of a dream. The bright lights and loud noises keep you awake at night but only for a little. It’s not long before you join the dark side and run rampant in the streets, or at least learn to sleep with the noise. Broad Street is so bright that you can read a book at night. My first thought is, “Why would you want to read a book outside at night?” My second thought, “Why would you want to read a book?”

If time travel were possible, I would travel back to this morning and sleep in longer. Or maybe put on a different shirt, and maybe some socks.

Logan Square is my house for book reading and people watching. I frequent the place often, in an attempt to understand the pulse of life. Behind each smiling face there is disease. There is optimism and pessimism. There is a story to tell and most likely it will make you cry. Or tear up. Or disturb you. Or haunt you. There is also hope that lies in the eyes of each person I meet. Hope for change, because human beings are never content. I wouldn’t be surprised if Heaven used the same exact slogan.

Where we can meet, it always rains. I found out it’s the giant air conditioner on the top of the Temple building that spits water from 200 feet up.

Now I am writing this blog 2 minutes before I wake up this morning. Each thought and each word that I would write was known in my head by my “god-self” circling the electrical expanses of my mind. These words were already formed in secret at the beginning of time. I knew I would write this, I just didn’t know I would write this.

-minion number 1

I have good news: I found God. Much to my surprise He doesn’t sit on a jewel embedded chair with velvet cushions and a sparkling crown circling his skull. He doesn’t have three rings on one hand that shine with two times the power of the sun forever. He resides directly over 95 north bound just east of Philadelphia right by the Ben Franklin Bridge. Whenever I drive that, no matter what, a perfectly timed song comes on the radio that fits exactly how I’m feeling at the moment.

For inspiration, I spent the morning youtubing animal attacks caught on tape and the animal collective. This blog is the result of the unsure and unassuming screams of victims and the helplessness of onlookers mixed gently with psychedelic music and the sound of the keyboard.

If I were to describe the city of Philadelphia in one word it would be
“therawenergyofpeopleandlovemixedwithdifferencesthatmakeusfullyuniquebut
fullyhuman.” The above line was so clever I am having a hard time following that up. As human beings, if we could truly write how we feel then there would be no trouble writing; everything would fit together like puzzle pieces. Words are not the only things malleable. Human beings can learn to break the divide of race, and religion. Let’s start in Center City and work our way outwards.

Rittenhouse Square remains a haven for dogs and musicians. The place is littered with each. Much to my surprise, the sounds mix very well.

Writing this blog is the equivalent of ripping my guts out through the hole in my face. It begins by feeling awkward and strange, somewhat uncomfortable and frustrating, possibly even embarrassing. The strange part is that it gets easier. Once I am snaking my large intestine out through my mouth it cannot possibly hurt as much as when I initially began. I get used to the pain, no matter how painful. Don’t be mad, but its true.

I write this blog for many reasons. I write this for my boss because, well, she asked me to. I write this for you alum’s who live vicariously and shamelessly through these writings. I write this so that you may connect to a word or sentence that creates a small warm feeling located conveniently above your diaphragm and below your heart. I want to watch that warm feeling spread like racecars through your veins and burst through your fingertips. I write this for my mother to shock and awe her with my vulgarity and creativity. Just kidding, the dirty words get edited out. I write this for Lauren to impress her because I am constantly looking for ways to put a smile on her face. I write this for my friends so that I can temporarily create a portal into the life that I now live. I write this for the people who barely know me and are bored at around 4 o’clock on a Friday afternoon. They happen to stumble across my facebook page because of something clever I wrote on their friend’s wall; and because I obnoxiously advertise my new blog posts and because you (the reader) are already exhibiting all signs of being a stalker, you decide to click on it. You know me from high school or college and decide to deepen our friendship without me even knowing. I write this for students who are contemplating coming here. I want to open up the fabric and let you look inside.

Can I talk about the skyline without making you want to rip your eyeballs out of the cavity of your head? Believe me; I am tempted to do the same. Here’s the thing, the Comcast building and Liberty One do something funny with the light that comes from the sunset. They project an image on the horizon that is absolutely beautiful. The colors blend perfectly.

-the racecar driver

Philadelphia stoops are as addicting as cocaine. With beautiful weather and the afternoon sun setting, I swear I must have died and gone to heaven. Heaven could very well be a set of steps accurately placed at the corner of Carlisle and Diamond. I wouldn’t be mad about that. You talk about concrete streets like it’s your job and I’ll write about concrete streets like it’s my blog.

Last night I was sitting outside when I heard a loud crash. An eerie cloud of dust and the result of metal against pavement rose from the earth and cluttered the sky above the road and below the street lights. What followed was a motorcycle skidding 50 yards down the street and the rush of onlookers to the scene of impact. Without warning this mans life could have been compromised as a sacrifice for the city? Is death something we can understand? Or maybe we can handle a broken leg, or the peeling of skin?

The style of my blogs must change a little bit; they became ridiculous and incoherent. I can’t say I blame the powers to be for being upset. So for all of you out there that religiously read my blog (Lauren, and maybe Sean) I apologize.

Have you ever heard a song that gives you rhythm to write? I write in perfect rhyme with a song in my head and on my speakers. This is where I lose all control of the wheel. Can you imagine a rusty bicycle with a missing spoke that can take you all over the world? Or maybe a strawberry tart with a black heart? I can and I believe it. The city holds many secrets that I refuse to give you. You must come here and find it out for yourself. Use the map from the dharma initiative and you will know where it is. I long to float on a river that runs the length of Broad and Market combined. I want it to drop me off at the Flying Monkey where I take that down to Penn’s landing and watch the cars drive by.

MAOILKWRUWESK

Are you ready for the end of the world? Sometimes I think the only redeeming thing about this city is the iced coffee at Saxby’s on a Monday morning. I couldn’t be more wrong, McDonalds is way better and cheaper. I write this blog out of frustration to create something creative. I swear the pavement stores the suns heat and releases it during the knight in shining armor. This is the 180 degree opposite of what I am supposed to write about, but who wants to follow the rules anyways. I’ll burn the toast on purpose if it gets a reaction out of you.

The big news in my life, I put a new ringtone on my phone. Call me. Apparently there is a shortcut key on your keyboard to turn your font italics incase you don’t have time to move the mouse 5 and a half inches to the upper right of your screen (unless you have a mac and then I believe its your upper left). I found this out by accident just now because I suck at typing and in my flurry of messy hand movements, I managed to hit something that turned my font to the dark side. What bothers me the most is that I will never know how I did that. If someone could tell me that would be great; no just kidding I don’t care.

I had a spiritual experience last night. I was driving my little pink car into the city on 95 with Kanye West blasting from the radio off of Keri Hilson’s new single “Knock Me Down.” The window was open as the wind had its way with my flimsy hand at an exact speed of 73 mph. Out of the corner of my eye I caught the skyline in all its shimmering beauty. It seems as though each light burned bright into the night sky adding to an overall display of raw human power. It was all too surreal and for a second I had thought I had died and gone to heaven. Heaven could very well be a Kanye West outdoor concert with perfect weather. Yes, you can quote me on that.

“Grapevine Fires” by Death Cab for Cutie refuses to leave my playlist. Maybe that’s a good thing.

-mark

My first assignment: blog about May Term. What seemed like a relatively easy assignment has kept me staring at this computer screen for some time now. I am struggling to correctly translate each feeling I experienced onto paper, er, I mean computer screen? Well whatever it’s called, this is a lot harder than I thought. So, with my new favorite band “TV on the Radio” playing on continuous loop thanks to YouTube, my vehicle for free music, I begin this blog.
May Term was different for me because I came into it not as a student but rather a Community Life Assistant (CLA). My job: make sure people have fun in Philadelphia. This was the best job ever because I had a blast over these past two and a half weeks. I’m going to be honest, May Term is INTENSE. Your mornings are filled with class, afternoons consist of community service and nights are everything from going to the top of Loews Tower until we get kicked out, to grabbing dessert in the city, hanging out on South Street and going to Condom Kingdom (it’s not as bad as it sounds, but it is…don’t be upset) to hanging out at jazz clubs, to trying cow tongue at one of the many ethnic restaurants that populate Philadelphia. I want to tell you everything that we did but time does not permit me to, well actually it does, I have all day but I don’t feel like telling you, I need to leave some things a mystery so you guys will actually want to come here.
I can’t help but think about the expectations I put on myself when something like May Term starts. I somehow always gauge exactly how much fun I will have, whether I will leave feeling satisfied or disappointed. And somehow my expectations are always shattered. I firmly believe that it’s not until we truly step out of our comfort zone, and allow ourselves to be stretched, that we can grow; whether that’s spiritually, mentally, or whatever else you’re failing at in life right now.
I am not going to post a listing of my ten favorite spots in Philadelphia and accompany a nice little picture to go along with it. I refuse to try and sell you on the city. I’m going to tell you how I am feeling and you can take it or leave it. If I am pissed off at the city and its terrible traffic patterns I will tell you, if I am kept awake by the constant sound of cop cars and drunk people yelling I will tell you, if I am riding my bike down the street and glance up at the skyline and my breath is taken away, even if it’s just for a second, I will tell you. If I see the raw love of Christ that is only preached about on Sunday mornings but never practiced I will tell you. This blog is my chance to be real with you. I refuse to spoon feed my ideas; I want you to work for them. In closing, I hope that you will somehow be attracted to this blog like a car wreck; it’s terrible but for some reason you can’t look away.

-mark

One thing that I love about being in Philly is there are always options. Whether it is what show to see, where to study, or a new area of the city to explore, the options are endless. One of my favorite choices to make is where to dine on campus. The following are my top ten favorites:

10. Japanese & Korean Food. [In front of the Biological Science building] This is my personal favorite Asian food on campus, seconded by the Temple Star off Broad.

9. Einstein Bros. [In the SAC] It’s the real thing and worth the wait. Try the Tasty Turkey!

8. Starbucks. [In the Tech Center and the Barnes & Noble on Cecil B. Moore] Classic and necessary, the Tech Center Starbucks is open all night during the week.

7. Auntie Anne’s. [Outside the main cafeteria of the SAC] New this semester, but the pretzels are already perfected. Skip the outside vendor pretzels and stop by the SAC; the honey mustard sauce alone is worth it.

6. Mister Softee. [Berks Mall, in front of the Library]. On a hot day, nothing beats this ice cream truck permanently parked on campus (without the pesky amplified jingle)!

5. The Bagel Shop. [Berks Mall, across the street from the Bell Tower] The line forms for a reason. The bagel sandwiches are excellent, but there is also a variety of snacky items to fit any appetite.

4. Nuaji Sushi Bar. [In the SAC]. The sushi here is actually amazing. Do not let the fact it’s located in a cafeteria scare you, this is my favorite light lunch (or dinner!) option.

3. Owl’s Nest. [One house away from MCPC]. Location, location, location. Best for late night munchies, but convenient all the time. Skip the pizza, the toasted sandwiches and fresh salads are excellent.

2. The Creperie. [On Norris, between Beury Hall and the arts building] At 5$ for a savory crepe and a drink, this is by far the best vendor truck, and, I may venture to say, the best eating spot on campus. The crepes are large and packed with filling, the options are incredible, and it’s even open till 8 pm!

1. Insomnia Cookies. [Located next to the SAC, but they deliver!] Three steps to cookie heaven. Order Online. Answer the door (and pay). Eat delicious, warm, melty cookies with milk. The idea is genius, but beware they are addicting.