because an estimated three people read this blog and because i am a vicious procrastinator with a guilt conscience, i'll update this blog with a recycled e-mail that the said three people probably received anyway.
The week that I have spent in Philadelphia* is nothing short of incredible - the plethora of ethnic cuisine, a Phillies game with some 30,000 people, the intricate and convenient subway system, the intellectual buzz surrounding university campuses - there have certainly been no regrets for choosing to spend a semester here.
The Messiah Philly campus is sandwiched between two fraternities, hubs of underage drinking and dens of iniquity :) . Our sleep patterns are synchronized with the frats' party schedule; going to bed too early would mean tossing in bed for at least an hour listening to the ruckus coming from next door. But the presence of the Greek brothers have also elevated the hip quotient of our block so I shouldn't complain too much.
The irony that exists in Temple is that you enter a building to get some "fresh air". Someone commented that everyone at Temple was either flicking a cigarette with their fingers or pressing a cell phone to their ears. Buildings are smoke-free zones, thus the irony, although one would have to grope blindly in the nicotine haze before finding them.
Perhaps it's the environment change; perhaps it's the summer rust; perhaps it's the cold demeanor of the professors; I had expected my classes to be less challenging allowing for frequent escapades in the city. Judging from the number of books lying on my desk waiting to be read, my expectations have proven to be delusionary.
I hope the next few months go well for you.
Regards,
Wee Lee
* I will be spending a semester in Philadelphia, taking classes from Temple University while living at the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus. For photos, go to www.ofoto.com - username: simweelee02@yahoo.co.uk password: reddoor62
