COLUMN: Leaving the streets of Philadelphia

From Delia Vallejo's, "Journey to Aztlan," Fall '97 From Delia Vallejo's, "Journey to Aztlan," Fall '97I have recently been overwhelmed by that funny feeling -- somewhat like sadness but not quite -- called nostalgia. What kind of sense does that make, especially since I haven't graduated yet? It's probably just the thought of not coming back next year. I am reminded constantly my days in Philadelphia are limited since the main topics of conversation among seniors are concerning new jobs, new cities and new lives. We live in a thriving and vibrant city -- like many other U.S. cities --where there are museums, theaters, and many tourist attractions. Philadelphia has so much to offer: we can visit one of the best art museums in the world located in our backyard; we can travel the world cheaply by way of great restaurants (Magnolia Cafe -- I will truly miss it); and we can enjoy a great night life by going to the many bars and clubs (two words define jazz -- Zanzibar Blue). We mustn't forget South Street -- how many of you have gone to that funky pottery store? We can't complain too much about the weather here either -- it's definitely bearable and often times we can enjoy a sunshine-filled day sitting on College Green. You have to admit, it is also kind of fun to switch from 35 degrees one day to 70 degrees the next. Running outdoors is possible all year, and it was the best way for me to learn all the streets in Center City like the back of my hand. Philadelphia's proximity to New York (and the cheap transportation there) and Washington D.C. is also an added bonus when we desire to explore other cities. Upon graduation, I'm definitely going to have to do something about my addiction to soft pretzels. In fact, starvation is imminent for me since my future city has no food trucks. I guess I can learn to survive. I haven't had a cheesesteak yet, but I still have a couple of weeks -- I dare not to leave Philly without the experience. We also pay no taxes on clothes here (it's 8.75 percent in Chicago), and Wawas are a blessing in disguise when you need that food run to pull you through an all-nighter. Honestly, Philadelphia's many attributes are simply too many to discuss. Philadelphia has also given me Penn -- the place where I grew up and discovered life. So much of the Penn experience is shaped by residing in Philadelphia. Living here has definitely changed my outlook on life, as it has for many of my friends, especially those who have never lived in a city. I value the education I have been blessed to receive tremendously. In retrospect, I could not have made a better decision as a seventeen-year-old in 1993 (have four years really passed?). I will certainly never forget all the people who have left permanent imprints in my memory bank. It will be nice to visit Penn in the future, but it will never be the same, knowing this is no longer my home. OK, I'll stop with the sentimentality. The last thing I would like to do is give the underclassmen a little advice. If you haven't taken the time to know Philadelphia, do it now. There is precious little time to do all that we would like in life, so seize all opportunities. After four years, I don't even notice the nasty sidewalk vapor that used to annoy me so. Maybe that's when I realized I actually liked living here, and I wouldn't put Penn in any other city even if I could. Certainly, nostalgia is not a bad feeling; it's about realizing there will be a desire to return to Philadelphia after I leave, but for one reason or another, it will not be the same.