"Hot date with my city"

In a Sex and the City episode, Carrie is telling Miranda what wonderful things she plans to do all around NYC that day. Miranda then asks her "Hot date with your city?" "Yup!" Carrie answers.

I have always watched TV shows in which the characters are comfortable living in an urban setting with awe. I grew up and went to undergrad in a pretty suburban area, so watching people hail taxis and ride the bus and subway to get places always seemed so cool. But I also felt that this urban lifestyle was so removed from everything I knew, and therefore not for me. I never understood why someone would WANT to live in a city, because (in my mind) why deal with the noise and the crowds and the grime and the smog if you can live in a suburban area where there is actually grass and trees all around and not just in a park?

It's funny how life works out. I always thought that I would pursue the avenues of life in a surburban setting, because that is what I'm used to and love. Now I live, work, and go to school in urban Philadelphia. How did THAT happen?! When I first moved here I succumbed to culture shock and chose to stay close to campus and my apartment rather than explore. This is all starting to change, however.

This past Thursday I went to see a Phillies game with P.K. (who is the Pastor at the church I work at). We took the subway down, which was the first time I had taken public transport in Philly. He had season tickets, so the seats were absolutely amazing. Although I'm not a baseball fan, and although I was overwhelmed at first with the thousands of people, the size of the sadium, and the city itself, I realized that I was enjoying myself and wanted to come back again. Needless to say, my reaction surprised me. I'm not a city person, nor a baseball fan. So why in the world did I want to come back?!

The next day I was talking to the Pastor at work. I had heard about a church in a more suburban area that was in need of a youth minister, and someone had urged me to apply. I told the Pastor that maybe once I finish my Masters and I'm more settled in two years I'd want to apply for a similar type of job.

"Oh, in two years you won't want a job like that," he said matter-of-factly.
"Why not?"
"Because you won't want a suburban church. We'll break that out of you. You'll want to stay in a city."
I laughed. "You think so?"
"Oh, yeah. You'll be a city person yet."
I laughed again, but this time the wheels in my brain started to turn. Would I really become a city person?

I had a few friends over on Friday night, and they slept over since two of them take public transport and didn't want to do so at 3am. Kate had to work, so she left around 10:30 on Saturday morning. That left Heather and Jason, who take the subway and bus back to their apartment downtown. They told me that I HAD to come with them downtown to go to this amazing place in Chinatown that has all-you-can-eat vegetarian dim sum. I hesitated, because I knew that if I went I'd have to take public transport back to my apartment all by myself. "Come on!" they exclaimed. "You've lived here 6 months and barely seen Philly!" I realized that they were right. Why was I so scared? I should see the city I live in. So I went.

It was such a great experience. Chinatown was great. The restaurant was cool, and I got to go to the underground supermarket (which is really underground) and see lots of Asian delicacies. And although I was nervous about taking the subway back alone, Jason and Heather pointed me towards the northbound train and it was fine. I found myself appreciating taking public transport alone. I appreciated the freedom it afforded me to move around the city with (somewhat) ease. And I realized that I wanted to explore Philly more, and maybe even go by myself. My fear of the city started to seem silly. I live in the city, so I should see it!

So maybe the Pastor is right. I am starting to like living in Philly, but I am not fully convinced of an urban lifestyle. It will be tough to break my suburban outer shell. But perhaps I am an urban dweller underneath? Only time will tell.