I think I lived off of Philly cheese-steaks for the last five days...
Updates!
I just got back from Philly and had an AMAZING time. I got a lot of things accomplished as well, so I'm feeling *slightly* less nervous for my move.
1. I found a place to live! I'm actually living in a BEAUTIFUL old victorian mansion that has been converted to studio apartments... it's unbelievable. Here are some pictures:
The area that I'm living in is extremely residential, but I think I'll manage... I'm actually looking for a change in pace.
2. I did all of the "touristy" things.. aka I visited Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's grave, etc. As a history person, I fell in love with Philadelphia's tourist destinations... much more so than Chicago's tourist spots, which mainly include high-end shopping.
3. I turned in some job applications in person... I've got my fingers crossed. It's honestly not an option for me to not have a job when I get to Philly. I've got to get something lined up ASAP!
My overall impression of Philadelphia:
The city itself is BEAUTIFUL. While downtown Philly isn't as tall as downtown Chicago, it has a lot more parks and green in general. Because Philly is so historical, it's impossible for it to go up as much as Chicago has. Once you get out of center city, you feel like you're in a city that was plopped down in the middle of a forest. Within city limits, there are hundreds of nature trails. Philadelphia is also EXTREMELY hilly and has a lot of cute little streams running through it. I thought that most of northern Philly felt very "east-coast." Everything about the area I'm living in is quaint... it almost feels like little summer towns in northern Michigan.
What worries me a little bit about my location is how highly residential it is. My Chicago neighborhood is considered a very residential area, but there are still 10 restaurants, 2 bars, and a grocery store all within walking distance. Where I'm moving in Philly, there are ZERO restaurants, bars, and grocery stores in walking distance... that's going to be a pretty big adjustment. While I drive to work everyday, I'm not used to having to drive to do anything else. Also, I'm little nervous about Philly's nightlife. While I'm not exactly a "partier" I really enjoy going out to some bars with a small group of friends. I hate clubs and bars so crowded that you can't move, but I really like pubs with good live music and good drinks on tap. I didn't see ANYTHING like that in Philly :( I'm sure they exist, however, and I'll just have to do some exploring when I get there.
Finally, I like how "east coast" the city feels. The streets are narrow and hilly, the houses are very old, but well maintained, and once you're outside of center city, you feel like you're in a vacation spot. I like that I'm less than two hours away from NYC, Washington D.C., AND the Atlantic ocean. I like that people "go down the shore" on the weekends... aka go to the New Jersey coast. I also kind of like they way they say "wuder" aka water. The city itself feels more blue-collar than Chicago and I'm excited about living in place that doesn't have such a high price-tag attached. Plus, I like that I can buy a Philly cheese-steak on almost every corner :)
Oh, and in regards to Drexel (you know, the whole reason I'm moving to Philly), I think I'll like the University. Drexel has a more urban campus than Loyola, due to the fact that it's located five minutes away from center city. Drexel's student body is about the same size as Loyola, however, the campus feels MUCH bigger. I still think that Loyola's campus is prettier, but I'm very content with Drexel. Because I'm no longer an undergrad, I'll only be spending a couple of nights a week on campus, so I'm not too concerned. My commute to class from where I live is only 10-15 mins, so that's another benefit.
Now that I've visited Philly, I'm eager to start moving, but at the same time, I want to make the most of the time I have left in Chicago. I only have THREE weekends left in the city (all of July, but one weekend I'll be at my cottage with Chris), which is absolutely crazy. I feel like I just got here and now I'm already leaving... where has the time gone?
I just got back from Philly and had an AMAZING time. I got a lot of things accomplished as well, so I'm feeling *slightly* less nervous for my move.
1. I found a place to live! I'm actually living in a BEAUTIFUL old victorian mansion that has been converted to studio apartments... it's unbelievable. Here are some pictures:
The area that I'm living in is extremely residential, but I think I'll manage... I'm actually looking for a change in pace.
2. I did all of the "touristy" things.. aka I visited Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's grave, etc. As a history person, I fell in love with Philadelphia's tourist destinations... much more so than Chicago's tourist spots, which mainly include high-end shopping.
3. I turned in some job applications in person... I've got my fingers crossed. It's honestly not an option for me to not have a job when I get to Philly. I've got to get something lined up ASAP!
My overall impression of Philadelphia:
The city itself is BEAUTIFUL. While downtown Philly isn't as tall as downtown Chicago, it has a lot more parks and green in general. Because Philly is so historical, it's impossible for it to go up as much as Chicago has. Once you get out of center city, you feel like you're in a city that was plopped down in the middle of a forest. Within city limits, there are hundreds of nature trails. Philadelphia is also EXTREMELY hilly and has a lot of cute little streams running through it. I thought that most of northern Philly felt very "east-coast." Everything about the area I'm living in is quaint... it almost feels like little summer towns in northern Michigan.
What worries me a little bit about my location is how highly residential it is. My Chicago neighborhood is considered a very residential area, but there are still 10 restaurants, 2 bars, and a grocery store all within walking distance. Where I'm moving in Philly, there are ZERO restaurants, bars, and grocery stores in walking distance... that's going to be a pretty big adjustment. While I drive to work everyday, I'm not used to having to drive to do anything else. Also, I'm little nervous about Philly's nightlife. While I'm not exactly a "partier" I really enjoy going out to some bars with a small group of friends. I hate clubs and bars so crowded that you can't move, but I really like pubs with good live music and good drinks on tap. I didn't see ANYTHING like that in Philly :( I'm sure they exist, however, and I'll just have to do some exploring when I get there.
Finally, I like how "east coast" the city feels. The streets are narrow and hilly, the houses are very old, but well maintained, and once you're outside of center city, you feel like you're in a vacation spot. I like that I'm less than two hours away from NYC, Washington D.C., AND the Atlantic ocean. I like that people "go down the shore" on the weekends... aka go to the New Jersey coast. I also kind of like they way they say "wuder" aka water. The city itself feels more blue-collar than Chicago and I'm excited about living in place that doesn't have such a high price-tag attached. Plus, I like that I can buy a Philly cheese-steak on almost every corner :)
Oh, and in regards to Drexel (you know, the whole reason I'm moving to Philly), I think I'll like the University. Drexel has a more urban campus than Loyola, due to the fact that it's located five minutes away from center city. Drexel's student body is about the same size as Loyola, however, the campus feels MUCH bigger. I still think that Loyola's campus is prettier, but I'm very content with Drexel. Because I'm no longer an undergrad, I'll only be spending a couple of nights a week on campus, so I'm not too concerned. My commute to class from where I live is only 10-15 mins, so that's another benefit.
Now that I've visited Philly, I'm eager to start moving, but at the same time, I want to make the most of the time I have left in Chicago. I only have THREE weekends left in the city (all of July, but one weekend I'll be at my cottage with Chris), which is absolutely crazy. I feel like I just got here and now I'm already leaving... where has the time gone?