Falling in love with a new city is exhilarating and memorable in
a way that is hard to describe, though many have tried. Despite the fact that
literally millions of others have felt that same tug of the heartstrings upon
spotting a familiar skyline, it always feels unique and deeply personal to the
viewer. Books have been written about this strange one-way romance, most often
for cities like New York or Paris.
But there's an argument to be made for Philadelphia as one such butterfly-inducing, devotion-stirring city. Native sons and daughters and far-flung transplants alike have fallen under the city's spell, despite its sometimes grotesque and often downright inaccurate reputation.
To test this theory, PhillyVoice caught up with three college freshmen who just moved to the City of Brotherly Love. Somewhat surprisingly (at least to this writer), they all had overwhelmingly positive feedback to offer.
Prior to joining their respective schools this fall, each student had spent a little bit of time in Philly, so they generally knew what they were getting themselves into.
Before Katrina Filipkowski (right) decided to study illustration at the University of the Arts, she had only really spent time in Philadelphia for holidays, visiting the Italian Market at Easter or coming to see holiday lights during the winter. The 18-year-old’s view of the city changed after she enrolled in a class at UArts during high school.
"I never really liked Philly until then," the Stratford, New Jersey resident said, "and then I realized it seemed like the place to be."
Likewise, 18-year-old William Schmidt occasionally visited the city from Gloucester Township, New Jersey to visit friends and family or see a concert. He chose to attend Drexel University for its mechanical engineering and Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs.
"Literally, the first time I came I was like, 'I love this place.' The city’s absolutely gorgeous,” he said. “It just felt right."
Sinan Orhon, 18, visited Philadelphia several times before moving here from Florida, where he was recruited to join Drexel's men's tennis team and studies sport management.
"I knew it was a beautiful city," he noted. "I expected it to be crowded and very alive and also a little dangerous at nights, you know."
Though he moved to Florida eight years ago, Orhon was originally raised in Turkey, where he often visits on vacation. In comparison, Orhon offered an opinion of the city that may surprise the average Philadelphian: We're nice!
"Philly is pretty much the same thing as Istanbul, Turkey, except that here, people are nicer,” he said. “If you go to Istanbul, everyone is rude consistently."
Filipkowski arrived in the City of Brotherly Love Wednesday, Aug. 19; Schmidt and Orhon moved in a month later. Since settling in, they've all spent time exploring their respective campuses and the city at large.
"I've been making new friends,” Orhon said. "I know some people here already and have been meeting new people and hanging out with my teammates, just doing what we do.
"Then, the other day, I was at this tall building with a pool on its roof. It had this beautiful view," he said of evo, the apartment complex at Cira Centre South with a seriously drool-worthy vista.
"There are so many different little sections of the city; there’s so much diversity,” Schmidt said from his dorm at Race Street Residences. “I’m looking out my window now and nothing looks the same; every single spot has its own personality."
Their observations are a reminder that, to the outsider, there's a lot to love in Philly.
"I’m liking it more than I expected,” Filipkowski said. “There’s just so much to do. The art scene, of course, is very helpful for me, and it’s great to see so many other artists. I never knew there were that many other artists to see in the area.”
As a musician, Schmidt is looking forward to getting more involved with the local music scene.
"I really want to play a show in Philly,” he said. “I know there’s a small punk scene over here, and the alternative scene between Union Transfer and the TLA, Radio 104.5, and all that.
“Philly's one of the places to come to shows. I go to concerts here and meet people from all over. There's big diversity, huge crowds, absolutely amazing venues and so many different genres."
As the papal visit nears, both UArts and Drexel have cancelled some classes to minimize stress on campus. For Schmidt and Orhon, that means their first week of work has been cut short. Not surprisingly, they aren't too upset.
"I like it though, don’t worry,” Orhon said. “It’s like a day off, so it’s not overwhelming. It’s actually perfect for our first weekend."
When asked to describe Philly in three words, the freshmen offered spirited answers.
"Exhilarating, busy, diverse," Schmidt said.
"Fun, lively and exciting," said Orhon.
"Larger than life," was Filipkowski’s answer.
Yet they are getting to know the city's quirks.
"Yesterday I actually received a pamphlet about the world ending on Oct. 1," Filipkowski related, "so...that was interesting."