Oh hello, I’m Diana, a new addition to the blogging family at Philly campus.
This is my second semester at MCPC, life here is quite peaceful and fulfilling.

The MCPC students spent the morning of Martin Luther King Jr. day volunteering at the elementary school around the block. I worked at the giant quilt station. There was a little girl I noticed when we first arrived, she was running around and behaving loudly. I like children like this. When she sat down at the quilting station we quickly became friends. Her name was Shante (pronounced Shan-tay)

Shante’s 10-year-old attention span lasted about 5 seconds, so to keep her in one place I rapidly interrogated her about her life and interests. Here are some things she revealed.
- The Cheetah Girls (a Disney channel movie) is one of her favorite programs to watch on television. The word “cheetahlicious” is a popular alternative to “cool” or “neat”, and is frequently used among the other girls in her school.
- She attends church with her older cousin, and does not enjoy it. She goes to the corner store before church starts and buys snacks to eat during the service. I asked her if her mother attends as well. She said no, and her reason why is not appropriate for this blog.
- She has asthma, and sometimes needs to use a breathing machine. I told her I had the same condition when I was her age, but then I grew out of it so she probably would as well. She said “No, my mom has it still.” I stood corrected.

With each quilt square we decorated, my fondness for Shante grew. I understand why volunteers always tell stories about the kids they work with, and am more aware of the potential to be an incredibly positive influence on the life of a child.

As we were on our way out of the school, it took me a few minutes to catch Shante’s attention as she chased her little friend around the gymnasium. She was quite sad to see us leave. My roommate Bethany and I agreed to send her a little note and invited her to go out for pizza with us sometime at the shop next door to our house.
In regards to the note…
“There better be candy in it.” Shante answered.

Yesterday I was riding the subway back to campus from Center City (I’ve noticed that riding the subway almost always gives me something to write about…). Across from me were two college-aged guys. From inevitable eavesdropping, I gathered that they were probably South Philly natives. Their discussion during this particular SEPTA ride was quite amusing. It went something like this:

GUY #1: “Hey, have you see my myspace lately?”
GUY #2: “No…”
GUY#1: “Oh… well have you ever taken that ‘How Philly Are You?’ quiz online?”
GUY #2: “Yeah. I’m only 76% Philly”
GUY #1: “Ouch. I got a 94%. I was so mad… I should have 100%!”
GUY #2: “Oh… wow, that’s rough, man.”
GUY #1: “I know! 94%… how is that even possible?! I’m not putting it on my myspace unless it’s 100%.”
GUY #2: “Good call.”

I found this conversation hilarious yet thought-provoking. I couldn’t believe that such a true Philadelphia native would only score a 94%. Even moreso, I couldn’t help but wonder… How Philly was I?! I couldn’t possibly be half as “Philly” as either of these guys… I’ve only been in this city for 7 months. These guys have been in this city for their whole lives! I couldn’t possibly measure up. Still, my curiousity got the best of me, and I raced to my computer to take the life-defining quiz.

I’m not really sure what ishkabibbles means, but it turns out I am only 54% Philly. I think I’m OK with this, though. Life goes on, and I am learning more everyday about the city of Philadelphia through my experiences at MCPC. I may not know all the words to the theme song of Fresh Prince of Belair, or know how to pronounce Passyunk, but I am tying my best.

For more ways to know if you’re a true Philadelphian, check out this list taken from Philadelphia Magazine’s November 04 issue.

Now will someone please tell me what a Mummer is!?

The spring semester Philadelphia Campus students arrived on Saturday, ready to start their urban adventure. Parents and families pulled their cars onto Broad St. right in front of the campus and the Residence Life staff swarmed to help unload.
After lunch, the students had their first meeting together - who are we and what are we getting ourselves into? Meanwhile, the parents met with Timothy Peterson, the campus director, to answer their questions and provide details about the typical Philadelphia Campus experience. I love watching parents’ shoulders relax and the nerves decrease during this session.
Then, it was off to campus tours to see the amazing facilities at Temple University, all within easy walking distance of our campus. Unfortunately, the TECH Center, with its 700 computers, specialized labs for video editing, graphic design and music composition and 24-hour Starbucks was closed on Saturday so students had to wait until Monday to check it out.
Then, the city exploration began. We started with a safety session led by one of Temple’s police officers. For those students who are not familiar with the small ways in which to keep yourself safe (such as how to carry your bags, where to look when you’re walking, what neighborhoods to travel in), this is a valuable lesson in city smarts.
Next, the Philadelphia Campus staff took groups of students on their first SEPTA subway outing. We answered questions about how to read the street signs, how to get on the subway in the right direction and other important traveling tips. Most students rely on public transportation when they study in Philadelphia because it is a hassle to have a car. It is a great way to feel connected to the people of Philadelphia.
The destination is always exciting - good food. I took a group to Vietnam Restaurant and we talked a lot about all of the dishes with lemongrass. If you aren’t familiar with lemongrass, as many of these students weren’t, I’d suggest shopping for it at Reading Terminal Market. Eating with chopsticks was a successful experience for almost everyone.
Then it was home in time to watch the Eagles game at Ryan’s apartment. (Ryan Wilson is the Director of Community Life). It was a disappointing loss, but a classic Philadelphia moment.
On Sunday, students attended local churches and got a feel for the variety of cultures that exist in our neighborhood. Worshipping in a new way can be eye-opening. They continued their worship experience at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and our students participated by cleaning up an empty lot and renovating a local business. After napping and showering, it was time to get down to business and learn about the logistics of learning and taking classes at Temple University. The students got a taste of Dr. Peterson’s teaching style when he inspired them with a discussion on academic integrity.
Then it was off to sleep (maybe) in preparation for class to begin on Tuesday. The semester is officially underway. Students are coming in my office everyday to say how much they love it here already. I’ve had parents call me to say how pleased they are with the program and the stories they’re hearing from their children. This promises to be a great semester!