Transportation

Being from the Midwest, I'm used to driving everywhere so coming to Philly has been a bit of a change for me. I have found that I can walk most places since I'm living just a few blocks from campus. The grocery store, CVS, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are all within walking distance in and around campus. Sometimes you may find that you need to go outside University City (Center City is the next place I frequently go) in which case you could use Philly's public transportation: SEPTA. Septa operates buses, trolleys and a subway all over the city. All you have to do is put in a token and you're on your way!

 

The University of Pennsylvania also offers some options for getting students to and from campus in the evening. For example, I have a night class which gets over at 9pm. Even if you live fairly close to campus not everyone feels comfortable walking home alone that late. In this case, Penn has buses that run East and West of campus and are free for Penn students. You can catch these buses at various points throughout campus starting at around 6:00pm. Penn also has security officers who will walk you home at night if you ask them.  Even before it gets dark Penn security are out walking, riding their bikes and driving around the area. I have found that Penn works really hard to make sure the area in and around campus is safe for students.

Intramurals

Penn has a wide selection of intramural sports. As graduate students you are eligible to play and it can be a great break from studying! Right now I am on a volleyball team with others in my master's program (IEDP/ECS). It is only one game a week for 5 weeks so its not a big time commitment. We don't have tons of skill but we sure have a lot of fun!

Choosing Classes

Wow, it is already that time of the semester to be thinking about and picking courses for the Spring! I feel like I just started this semester though :) Penn has an early registration period which begins a few months before the Fall and Spring semesters. This gives students the option to request early if there are classes they really want to take and those courses could fill up. One great thing about Penn though is that the first 3-4wks of the semester students can go and sit in on classes without being enrolled in them. This gives them the opportunity to "shop around" and see which courses and teachers they really want to take. This semester I actually changed one of my courses because after being in it for a few weeks I realized it wasn't what I was looking for. I had the freedom to drop it and pick up another class without any penalty. I'm really excited about a couple courses that are offered next semester so I'll use the "shopping" period again to check them all out and find out which one is the best for me. Too many great classes.. not enough time!!

Historical Philadelphia!

This weekend my parents came to visit and we went and did some of the many historical attractions in Philly. A lot of people come to school here but never go see any of these attractions and that is a bummer because they are really great!! And I'm not just saying that because I am a huge history geek ;) 

First stop: Independence Hall

    Major events that happened here include the signing of the Declaration of Independence; writing, debating and ratifying the Constitution; it was the home for the first decade of Congress and many more! Free tickets can be picked up at the visitor's center across the street. Open everyday!

Room where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Home to the Senate until 1800 when it moved to Washington D.C.

Next Stop: Constitution Center

Located directly across from Independence Hall this museum is a must see while your in the area. Admission is $14.50 for adults, $13 for students but it is worth it. The museum has a lot of reading so it is not really for younger crowds but you will learn a lot you never knew before. Right now they have an exhibit showing all the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs from 1942 (when the award began) to the present.

Next Stop: Elfreth's Alley

   Holding the title for "Oldest Street in America" this street has been continuously inhabited since the mid-1700s. Elfreth's alley is located off 2nd street between Arch and Race.

Other stops we checked out but I don't have pictures for:
Benjamin Franklin Museum (not to be confused with the Franklin Institute which is a Science museum). The Benjamin Franklin museum tells all about Franklin's life and achievements. Admission is $5.
Betsy Ross House It costs to tour the inside so we didn't do that, but it's pretty cool to check it out from the outside even. Betsy Ross' grave is also on the property. 
Liberty Bell you have to get in line to go inside and see the bell up close or you can peek through the window on the side and get a look that way.
 

So, it seems, it is that time of the semester for PAPERS!! While the undergrads got to have fall break the end of last week us grads didn't.  I spent the whole time working on papers. I have three due in a period of 7 days (its a wonder how I find time to write on this blog). I had a midterm paper for my class on Contemporary Issues in African Societies. The teacher gave us the prompt for the paper last week in class and it was due today. One week to research and write a 10-15 pg paper isn't easy let me tell ya! I did it though. We had to choose an African country then, use the readings and what we have discussed in class to evaluate the causes for three main issues in the selected country. I found the topic very interesting, even if it was a lot of work. My next paper is due tomorrow and after my class finishes tonight at 9 I'll go home and put the final touches on it. It is a research proposal for my Qualitative Modes of Inquiry class. Throughout the semester we have been learning how to conduct qualitative research and now we are going to conduct a study on our own. Finally, my last paper is due Monday and that is for my class on Education in Developing Countries. We have been learning about different development theories and for this paper we have to compare and contrast two of the theories. Although writing papers is not my favorite thing (in fact, it usually takes me a few hours just to write one page) I do get a lot out of the process. Writing really helps to organize all the readings and discussions we have had and draw actually meaning and application from them. That's pretty much the point of graduate school isn't it?

Something great about going to Penn is that there is flexibility to take courses all over the Penn campus not just within GSE. This semester I am taking two courses outside GSE. One is through the Fels Institute of Government called Leading Nonprofits. The other is through the Sociology department it's called Contemporary Issues in African Societies. While Education still remains my primary focus, I love being able to pursue other interests I have and in doing so I think it will make me more effective and marketable in the future.

The African Societies class has been fantastic so far. It is taught by a Nigerian woman and has looked at Africa from just before Colonialism to the present day. We read books mostly written by Africans and discuss the policies and practices which have led to the continent's current underdevelopment. I have been amazed to see how closely it relates to the classes I'm taking in GSE for the International Educational Development Program. It's refreshing to having classes where the professors don't simply take the prominent, Western view on everything but look at things from multiple angles.

Hiking Around Philly

With fall approaching and the leaves changing color, one of my favorite things to do is go hiking. I've been doing my research and there are a lot of great hiking and biking trails in and around Philly. Although Penn is located in an urban center, it's good to know that you can easily find some quiet, green space nearby.

Trails in Philadelphia 

• Delaware River Trail: The new trail is a multi-use waterfront pathway. For now, the first sections of the trail are open, and once complete, the multi-use trail will eventually run for six miles both on-road and off from Oregon Avenue in South Philly to Allegheny Avenue in Port Richmond, connecting the Delaware River waterfront to other regional and city-wide trails, including the East Coast Greenway and The Circuit.

• Fairmount Park: With more than 215 miles of meandering scenic trails featuring over two dozen historically significant sites scattered throughout, Fairmount Park is one of the largest metropolitan parks in the country, and a great start to any outdoor outing. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation maintains trails in many areas, including Cobbs Creek Park, Franklin D. Roosevelt Park and Tacony Creek Park.

Above information taken from uwishunu. More trails listed on website. 

Trails Outside (but near) Philadelphia

• Wissahickon Creek Gorge Orange and WhiteTrail: is a 6.58 mile point-to-point trail located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, mountain biking & walking and is accessible year-round.

• Ridley Creek State Park: encompasses over 2,606 acres of Delaware County woodlands and meadows. The gently rolling terrain of the park, bisected by Ridley Creek, is only 16 miles from center city Philadelphia and is an oasis of open space in a growing urban area. Ridley Creek State Park includes areas for fishing, hiking, biking, jogging and horseback riding.