Sunday, October 28, 2012

Center City or University City

Lately, every trip I take to Center City has been triggering the 'should I live here' debate in my head. University City has its charm but after a while, you get tired of living in the peaceful, campus-y atmosphere. Having had lived out of campus, in the busy environs of a city for a while now, living on campus or in University City has its charm for a while. Soon, however, there is the possibility that you might start missing the exact things that angered you about the busy city.

Technically, I live off-campus. Close to school, but off it anyway. Its not University City, its technically West Philadelphia. Thats another thing I don't get - this whole university city - west Philadelphia divide. When is it University City and when does it become West Philadelphia? And why call it University City in the first place? It is technically West Philadelphia. Irrespective of what you call it, it continues to be the same place.

Everytime I go to Center City - either for a night out with friends or for some event - I realise how much I miss being in the 'real' world. The world with tall buildings, adults with jobs, restaurants at every corner and just the feeling of not being in school. Don't get me wrong - being in school is great, but after a while you start yearning for people and conversations beyond what school can provide. Living in Center City could be a way of keeping in touch with the world outside school.

Friday, October 19, 2012

When to come to Grad School

Recently, I was asked a very interesting question: how do you decide when to go to grad school? Considering this is my second stint at grad school, I'm not sure if I'm the right person to answer this question (because obviously 'always' seems to be my one word take on it!) but I'll still try. 

I decided to get back to school because of two reasons. One, I had, over the course of my working life, changed my career goals. In fact, I'd changed careers entirely. So I felt the need to specialise in what I aimed to do now. Two, I love school (in general - not so much when I have a gazillion papers due). These reasons made grad school look like a perfectly good reason. 

Most people are caught up in the whole 'experience' 'no experience' debate. There is really no one, correct answer for that. Some people thrive at grad school after a few years of experience while others are good to go straight out of undergrad. It really depends on the kind of person you are and also on if you were lucky enough to figure out just what you wanted to do early or a little later in life. 

Another thing people often forget is that there's no judgement involved in going to grad school 'early' or 'late'. In fact, there is no early or late. Whatever time you decide is good for you is a good time for grad school. I have classmates who are 40 and some who are 21 and I think each one of them deserves to be here! What really matters is what you want out of your degree and grad school and the level of clarity you have about your end goal.





Friday, October 12, 2012

A night at The Philadelphia Orchestra

So yesterday was a super exciting day for me! I finally submitted two papers I'd been working on for the past week, met with a few people who gave me some clarity about my way forward and went to the orchestra!

So first things, first. My assignments. Nineteen pages of hardwork, all finally came together yesterday! One click of a button, and it seemed like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. Funny how that always happens with assignments - they're never really off your mind till you hand them in. And so I did! All I have to worry about now is how badly I did.

Yesterday was also the day our IEDP Proseminar class was taken by Dr. Elizabeth King, Director of Education and Human Development at The World Bank. Dr. King spoke about The World Bank's new 'learning' based approach, as opposed to the previously misunderstood 'education/enrollment' based approach. She also mentioned the new (and improved) focus on education for girls in the most rural of areas. And finally she mentioned the hiring process!

The best part in all of this was that I got to be one of the lucky few who was invited for an 'intimate but casual' lunch with her and Dr. Wagner. It was like christmas came early. No, not because of the food (even though we did go to the Inn @ Penn!) No, it was so because of the conversation we had with both, Dr. Wagner and Dr. King. The most important part of the conversation for me was when they spoke about the pros and cons of getting/not getting a PhD and how relevant that was to our field. All in all, a rich conversation, full of advise for the worried Masters student!

And finally, the grand finale to my day - The Philadelphia Orchestra that plays at the Kimmel Centre. One, a bunch of us got to get out of the University City bubble and be a part of the city again! Such a welcome change! And two, we got to see/hear some good music - FOR FREE!!! Yes, we got to see The Philadelphia Orchestra for free. It was 'Student Free Night' and a bunch of us had booked our tickets way in advance (and rightly so!) so that we could bring in a little culture to our lives. It was a refreshing change from dreary routine!
So all in all, another busy yet exciting day - something that I'm getting used to at GSE!

P.S. - Did I mention there was FREE FOOD at the Philly Orchestra?? :P





Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Of Philadelphia and cheese steaks!

Hello hello! And extremely sorry for the long absence - have had a crazy week! Between going to the Social Security Card Centre on a holiday (Columbus Day, darn!) and trying to make it to SHS before they put me on hold for spring registration (how crowded is that place!!), its been a crazy week. Add to this classes, readings and two papers due on the same day and you have the recipe for the perfect week. Now, that I'm beginning to recover a little (my Social Security Card is on its way! Yay!), I have plenty to write about here!

First, I want to start with Philadelphia. My recent, reluctant trips to Centre City have sparked quite an interest for the city in me. I think Philadelphia is underrated. Almost no-one mentions it as the 'place to see' in  tourist guides and travel books. And I totally get that. Philadelphia isn't a tourist-y sort of place. You'll be hard put to see people walking around with cameras and clicking photos in front of City Hall here. It hasn't got the New York busy-centre-of-the-world feel either. Philly is more of the place people come home to after a crazy weekend in NYC. Don't let this give you the impression that this city is some not-so-busy, in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind of place, though. Philly is a city alright! Tall buildings, honking cars and all included. Its just a home-y city. Its not a crazy-pace, loud-lights city, its a calmer (and cheaper!) NYC in many ways, without trying to copy it. (In fact, NYC and Philly have some sort of an enmity. Apparently, you aren't supposed to praise NYC in front of a Philadelphian.)

What is more fascinating about this city, is its history. Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin, first capital of the United States - a quick google search will tell you all about it. And you can feel the history too. In University City and Centre City. The old Penn buildings with the air of history around them, drive the point home. And if you get tired of all the history and old buildings, just look over to the high-rise buildings in centre city! For a 'taste' of the good life, take a walk in and around the Italian Market. Or China Town. The restaurants here are AMAZING and cheap. And remember, you cannot forget to try the Philly Cheesesteak and soft pretzels while you're here. Its blasphemy! When talking about food and Philly, its impossible to not mention Reading Terminal Market. The fresh produce at this place is just out of this world. Okay, so I'm going to stop talking about food now, because its making me hungry! But I will leave you with an image! :p