I’m sure every can relate with me, but last week was just one of those weeks. Two exams, a paper, and a ton of reading to do. Alas, I made it through. I am alive and well, with a great weekend behind me.

I saw Temple’s spectacular production of Urinetown, which two of our lovely MCPC residents, Nancy Markloff and Sara Leidich, helped with. They did a great job and so did everyone else involved. If you’re not familiar with the story of Urinetown, well, it’s a satirical comedy where peeing is a privilege. It really has to be seen to understand, and even then, it’s still possible not to understand it.

I was up at 4:30 a.m. Saturday to catch a bus to Washington D.C. to visit my folks. I spent the entire day catching up on the family news and looking at Smithsonian exhibits. A few are worth quickly noting:

The Hope Diamond is in a new setting. This may not mean much to you, but my family watched several documentaries on the likelihood that the Hope Diamond is the same diamond as the famed French Blue (which it is, most are convinced). Again, probably means little to most others. It’s also Warhol on the Mall this fall. I got to see his Shadows piece, which is a little different from his more popular pop culture artwork. Check out a picture here, but a trip to the Hirshhorn is well worth it. My parents’ favorite was the Ronald Reagan exhibit at the American Portrait Gallery. While I could definitely appreciate the exhibit, I wasn’t as emotionally impacted by the experience for an obvious reason-my age. Quite honestly, I saw enough art on Saturday to last me for the rest of the year.

On Sunday, the last day of the weekend unfortunately, I caught up on my sleep that I skipped out on all week and got scared with a great group of MCPCers in the Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary. We got there around 9:15 p.m. and didn’t get back until, let’s say, 1:15 a.m., but it was well worth the wait and $7 (thanks, PSAB!). Intricate theatrical costumes and make-up lurked around every corner, and well, some scares too.

It was just another week at TempleU and another weekend in Philly and a little bit (okay, a lot) of D.C. It’s all good.

-Elizabeth

I’m glad I’m here for another semester in Philadelphia. If I didn’t return this semester, I would have left with memories of Philly as nothing more than semi-challenging classes, irritating photo assignments, and monotonous routine. This semester is my second chance to feel at home. Sure, I learned a lot about Philly and got to know the city directionally the first time around, but that’s not enough for me to feel at home. I’m not sure that’s really enough for anyone to feel at home.

This semester is different for me, though. I suppose it helps that we have a great group of students this semester that, I’m going to say it, actually foster this community Messiah College is always talking about. It also helps when the MCPC courses offered are so stellar, that students actually delve deeply into an enclave of urban living and reach the universal. I’m sure I’m beginning to sound like a poster child for MCPC and Messiah College alike, but you’d be surprised at just how many of us there are.

I’m taking the Urban Eco-Footprints course with our wonderful adjunct professor Brandon Hoover. It’s the reason why I’m beginning to appreciate the city more than I ever have before. I knew about Mayor Nutter’s Greenworks project, but I honestly hadn’t seen much going on. Brandon’s class, however, has brought up several examples of sustainability throughout the city: green roofs, bump-outs, an active Water Department, and urban gardens. Messiah College is all about sustainability, right? What better place to learn about it than in Philadelphia, a city striving to sustain itself and reclaim its American pride?

Around 40 students from Grantham joined our class for a Philly sustainability tour last Saturday. We visited a farm ran by Urban Tree Connection, one of their many community gardens, and a northwestern part of the Fairmount Park system. I was excited for other students to learn about efforts in Philly that many people don’t know about. Even though the students were only here for a day, I don’t think it’ll be a day easily forgotten. If Philly didn’t make an impact, I’m sure the staff of Urban Tree Connection did, and if they didn’t, well…hopefully the tour reiterates what Brandon, Dr. Erik Lindquist, and Craig Dalen are trying to teach us all.

-Elizabeth Stevens

Let me please just start this post by saying, you don’t have to be “sporty” to get your Temple football on! Here at MCPC, we have an inside joke (and I’m outing it) about a guy who lives with us. We call him “Sports Jeff” simply because his addiction to sports is astonishing and possibly a little crazy. Although we may not all be like “Sports Jeff,” I think anyone would have fun at a Temple football game regardless.

Me (left) and Anne Fosnocht (right)

In Grantham, we are all quite familiar with our Falcons, and although the Temple Owls have arguably a less intimidating name, the football games are full of life. The Temple Owls are a Division 1 football team, and the stadium is an experience in itself. They play their games at Lincoln Financial Field–home to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fans at the Temple Owls vs. Akron Zips game on September 10

So, whether you’re an avid sports fan or a sit-at-home and contemplate the meaning of life kind of person, you should definitely check out a Temple football game. Warning: unless you are ready to give strangers high fives, exude extreme team spirit, participate in chants, or insist the ref “buy himself a new fancy pair of glasses for that call,” I suggest you don’t sit in the fan section.

-Abigail Saunders (junior, journalism major)