Saying "Hey"

It has been said that meeting people is easy. It’s doing anything else with them that’s hard. While the cold didn’t keep the public from visiting the Philadelphia Art Museum, it sure as hell kept them running from the lens. Bundled up and anxiously moving to their next destination, tourists and Philly natives alike were feeling the winter stretch, that wonderful time that starts right after New Years and goes on through the holiday-less void between Martin Luther King Day and the First Day of Spring.

 

Jaisalexis and Ali, students from the University of Pennsylvania and Sorority pledges were the first people I encountered on the famous Art Museum Steps. Intentionally stranded by their future sisters without means of communication, the pledges agreed to talk to me in exchange for use of my cellular phone.

Jaisalexis, hailing from Laguna Niguel in sunny Orange County, California has resided in Philadelphia since the school year began on August 26^th. Unlike many Philadelphia natives, she appreciates the public transit system and the fact that most destinations are within walking distance. However, this did not make up for the fact that it was a cold, a fact that she was not too thrilled about.

Ali, fellow sorority sister from Chicago was in a rush by the time the lens was pointed at her. The remainder of her potential housemates arrived and twisted my arm to take a group photo (Ok not really. What can I say? I’m easily intimidated by large groups of women). After obliging their request and following a string of profanities from whom I assumed was the sister in charge, Ali was called away. We managed to get a quick portrait and as she went off with the flock she called out that she liked the art of Philadelphia, but overall the city was “dirty.” 

Jason Tobkin of Detroit was one of the first in a string of tourists that I would encounter at this famous landmark. He had arrived the previous night but had already assessed that the weather was not to his liking. When asked what he liked about Philadelphia, he was interrupted by his brother who answered that he was more than happy to have his butt handed to him running up the steps.

Marcel B from Brooklyn, New York also arrived in Philadelphia the previous night and had developed a distaste for the cold and the quiet as well. When asked what he liked about the city, he pointed to the lady on his left. I tilted my head and sighed effeminately. Adorable. It really is.

Marshall Hubbard from Huntington Valley has lived in the Philadelphia area for 4 years. He is a fan of the cheese steaks and the big city vibe, but wouldn’t take the traffic and the roads if they came to him on the wayside.

Jenn Hubbard, resident of Huntington Valley with her husband, has lived in the Philadelphia area for 27 years (her whole life). In that time, she has learned to appreciate the city’s history while her hatred of the subway also appreciates.

Brian Williams of Warminster has lived in the Philadelphia area for 24 years. He loves the opportunity that the big city offers but also has a hatred for it’s mass transit system.

Lenn Michelson hailed all the way from Germany to see the sights of Philadelphia. When I encountered her, she had only been in the city a matter of hours but was more than happy to oblige my questions and shrill girlish voice. Ms. Michelson was happy that Philly was smaller and quieter than New York but was not taken with the cold or the fact that the bridge she took was closed on her way over.

Jim Sempa from Perkasic Pennsylvania had only arrived in the city at noon made it clear that he was not a city guy. While he appreciated the number of things to do like the art museum and the zoo, he was not fond of the number of people in the city.

Rob Fio was decked out and grinning in a boxing robe when I approached him. A resident of Long Island, New York, he was as cuckoo for the architecture of the city as he was for running up the famous “Rocky Steps” in the attire he felt  was more than appropriate. However, the last call at 2 o’clock in the a.m. in the bars of Philadelphia did not ring his bell (I know. I gagged a little typing that too).

Tim Hill came all the way from New Zealand earlier that morning to see the sights that Philly had to offer. The self-proclaimed kiwi was a fan of the architecture but was not thrilled by, you guessed it, the cold!

Donn Ellright from Ashland Virginia was in the city for two days when we spoke. The history of Philadelphia interested him but he was not enthused by that most horrible of beasts: Philly fans.