There’s something I really love about being on Temple’s campus- fellow students who deeply care about current events and make strong efforts to raise awareness. Yesterday and today I was on my way to buy lunch and each time I was stopped by someone and asked if I was a registered Democrat in the state of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately I’m a registered Independent in the state of Connecticut, which does nothing for anyone.
The students were enthusiastic, kind, and endorsing Barack Obama. Other than the meager boys who stood around last semester mumbling things about Ron Paul saving America, these have been the only candidate endorsers I have seen thus far. Understandibly so…
Obama has come a long way since I was first introduced to his ideals two summers ago. At that time he was an enigmatic senator from Illinois, now he’s depicted as Christ on the front of the New Republic.
Regardless, I’m encouraged to see fellow students excited and tangibly participating in current affairs, even though the media has turned it into something I strongly abhor.
I suppose I will end there without ranting on and on about those devils- however, I have one more thing to say.
I’m sick of seeing the same person featured ALL OVER the Messiah College website on practically EVERY PAGE…
Over and out!
-Di

Raise Up Roofbeams, a band representing three Messiah College graduates played at the elite World Cafe in University City last night. It was such a pleasure to see these talented friends and musicians play at the venue after only seeing them play at Messiah and other Central PA locations.
It was my first time seeing a show at the swanky World Cafe, and certainly will not be my last. World Cafe is affiliated with Philadelphia’s public radio station, WXPN, and is nationally recognized as a hotspot for great artists from all over the world.

Check out the website for wonderful streams of studio sessions, interviews and a host of other informational blessings.
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=39&agg=1

The downstairs stage was hosting a famous belly dancer, but it was sold out
(I will unashamedly be using emoticons in this blog.)
However, if I do have the opportunity to see such a performance, I will provide a detailed synopsis for you to relish.

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.

The date is October 31, Halloween of 2007. It is brisk and chilly outside, as it has been for the last couple of weeks. I expect to see many strange characters walking the streets today (some in costume and some not), and one can only hope that there will be candy corn at Temple’s cafeteria.

Halloween is one of those holidays that Christians just do not know what to think about. Some say it is a harmless autumn funfest while others see it as synonymic with Satan’s birthday. For myself personally, I was never allowed to trick or treat past the age of three. Halloween was not really Halloween; it was October 31, and that meant going roller skating with the church youth group. I never felt deprived of classic childhood memories, which astonishes those who do cherish their trick or treating experiences throughout the years.

Now that I am twenty years old, however, it is appropriate to decide for myself what I think of the holiday. The excuse that my parents will not allow me to attend a Halloween dance does not fly anymore. My personal opinion of the holiday, then, is this: There are many fun things about it–the candy, the dressing up, the beautiful time of year. But there is also a dark side to Halloween, though it surely does not apply to everyone’s celebration of it. Dealing with scary demons and ghosts is not always harmless, and it makes me wonder whether the holiday is just another way Satan is making us trivialize the fact that there truly is spiritual warfare going on around us.

This may seem like an uptight, negative view of a beloved holiday that is supposed to be for children’s amusement. But history shows that this was not always the purpose of the holiday. It has been celebrated since 5 BC, but in very different ways by various cultures. To some, it was a pagan celebration of the dead, but to Episcopalian Christians and Catholics it was a day to “hallow” the memory of the saints. There was also the celebration of the holiday as simply the end of one season and the beginning of another, when harvest was over and winter was about to begin. One of the classic traditions of the holiday that has stayed in America is the saying “trick or treat,” which is not always as harmless as it seems. After all, the true meaning of the saying is “give me candy or I will prank you or harm you in some way,” and is that really what we should be teaching our kids?

A good question to ask yourself is whether Halloween brings out the best or the worst in you, or better yet, does it bring out the best or the worst in your relationship with Christ. And to that, each man his own.

It seems to have very suddenly turned to fall here in Philadelphia. Not too much more than a week ago it was so hot and humid that all you could stand to have on you was shorts and a tank top. And today, a hoodie sweatshirt and jeans are the proper attire. With the fans finally turned off in my room, I hear a lot more of the city sounds at night, especially the bird-like chiming of the crosswalk. I love the fall weather–it always feels so crisp and clean. I am looking forward to fall in the city, but I wonder if it will be as pretty as the country in the fall.

This new cooler weather made another day in Center City very enjoyable on Saturday. We showed friends from Grantham all the hot spots, and did some shopping as well. As for the story of the hat, it has a happy ending. I yet again got to the GAP fifteen minutes after it had closed and so had decided that the fates just did not want me to buy that hat. But upon arriving back to campus, my boyfriend presented me with an early birthday present. It was in a GAP box. Autumn love in the city.

This is my first time blogging and I’m not really sure what I am doing. In fact, I am not sure if I will even post this successfully. But I guess everyone has to join this modern age of the internet at some point.

I have been in Philadelphia for about 3 weeks now and I, a country Maine girl, feel like I am already falling in love with the culture of the city. My class schedule is FINALLY straightened out (I know a lot of students experienced a lot of scheduling stress) and I am happy to be getting used to once again seeing my boyfriend and friends everyday (when you live in the boonies of Maine all summer, it’s easy to feel like home life and college life are two completely different worlds).

There is so much to do in the city. There are no good excuses for being bored. In fact, I wonder what my friends and I ever did in Grantham to amuse ourselves (this coming from a girl who lived an hour away from the mall and movie theater all her life). The other night, for instance, a few friends and I took a subway to Center City with no particular plans in mind, just wishing to get out and explore the city. We ended up finding solace from the heat in the air conditioning of GAP, where I stumbled upon the most beautiful hat I have ever seen. It called to mind Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, a black wool hat that if tipped jauntily at just the right angle, looks classy but not you’re-trying-too-hard-to-be-chic. For sixteen dollars and fifty cents it could have been mine, but I was reluctant to spend the unnecessary money (I was in the I’m-a-poor-college-student frame of mind). During a delicious dinner at Cosi’s (I think that’s what it was called), a Panera Bread-ish restaurant, I decided that I should buy the hat and count it as a birthday present from my parents, as my birthday is a couple of weeks away. But alas, by the time we got out of the restaurant the GAP was closed and I could only gaze longingly through the window at the beautiful hat. The store had closed by 8 o’clock–why does the GAP in central Maine stay open later than a Philadelphia GAP on a Saturday night?

I am here in my little but cute office for the summer, my second week working as assistant to both Kate and Ryan. I’ve been doing some administrative prep work for the fall semester, when more than 75 students will begin at the Philly Campus– most of whom will be new MCPC attendees.

Speaking of new students, yesterday 29 Messiah students moved into MCPC housing for May term. Their course will focus on Latino culture in Philly, and they will all participate in some community service on a regular basis. Last night, they split into three groups and went out in the city to enjoy dinner at Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Columbian restaurants. I tagged along with the group that went to Plaza Garibaldi for Mexican food. We took the subway all the way to the Ellsworth-Federal stop in South Philly. My quesadilla was delicious; I just finished the leftovers about an hour ago for lunch. I enjoyed getting to know some of the May term people a little bit. They seem energetic about the next three weeks that they get to spend experiencing Philly while getting that cross-cultural credit.

Although this semester’s Common-Text Immersion Weekend began with being slammed by a snowy nor’easter, it turned out to be successful nonetheless. Students were able to engage themselves in the ideas of Shane Claiborne, as well as interaction with the author himself.

Friday night took the hardest hit of the snow storm, as icy/rainy/snowy conditions were had. MCPC students were still able to sit in on a talk presented by Shane Claiborne, though, in the MCPC chapel. Outings were scheduled throughout the city, but did not take place due to the conditions. Students found their own fun, however. Some even played in the snow on Broad Street!

Saturday’s scheduled Community Service also did not take place due to inclement weather, but students are encouraged to go back to Ray of Hope this Saturday instead, if possible. Focus groups with Shane Claiborne went from 2 pm - 5:15 pm. During these 45 minute sessions, Shane presented his ideas of simple living and New Monasticism at a more in-depth level. College students from other institutions such as Eastern University, Albright, and Wingate also joined in on the talks. Questions and comments were addressed, and much was elaborated on regarding Shane’s viewpoints as well as his book, The Irresistible Revolution.

Sunday was less driven by the Common Text and focused more on having a good time with fellow MCPC students, as a 76ers game was enjoyed at the Wachovia Center after a morning of Sunday worship at various city churches. Although the 76ers lost horribly, everyone had a good time.

Monday night’s usual community activities brought this semester’s 2nd Immersion Weekend to an appropriate close, as small group sessions helped individuals express their opinions regarding Shane’s ideas. Questions were addressed that encouraged analysis, growth, and reflection regarding simple living and “extreme revolutionary” ideas. It became obvious that each and every student benefited from the Common Text in one way or another. So take that, snowstorm!

Students enjoy the snow on Friday outside of MCPC.

Some venture into the city despite conditions.

Enjoying the game, despite a sad scoreboard.

That’s right, I’m 86% Philly. Yes! I love it here.

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!?