After two months, my internship at the Women’s Law Project has finally drawn to a close. Yesterday was my last day and today I moved out of our apartment and drove home.
I had a wonderful time this summer and I’m sad it is over. I will be back in Philly soon, however, as Customs Week is just around the corner!
I was quite surprised: I actually quite enjoyed this Philly culinary tradition!
July 4th is quite a big deal in the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed. It felt like we ran from event to event this weekend, yet there were so many other events for which we didn’t even have time. On Sunday, we went to the all-you-can-eat ice cream festival down on Penn’s Landing. The placed was packed with people and the proceeds went to charity.
On Monday, we went to the parade in front of Independence Hall. It was a ton of fun watching everyone go by, but it was super hot standing out in the sun. After retreating inside to cool down, we walked across the city to go to a friend’s Fourth of July barbeque. After that, we headed out to the JFK Parkway to watch the free concert and fireworks. The announcers said there were 100,000 people on the Parkway and I can believe it. The place was packed! I had a really great time listening to the music and then watching the fireworks. Getting home was a little tricky, though, as those 100,000 people all wanted to leave at once. We finally made it back and collapsed into bed after an extremely exhausting July 4th.
Watching the free concert on the Parkway.
Last night, Lizzy and I went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to watch a free screening of Rocky, on the famous art museum steps. There, we met up with some other Haverford students. It was quite a lot of fun, although it was quite hard to hear. Everyone cheered when, in the movie, Rocky ran up the steps we were actually sitting on.
Watching Rocky on the famous steps (sorry for the poor picture quality).
Over the last two days, we have been celebrating Lizzy’s birthday. Yesterday, we went out to Haverford and had dinner and ice cream with all of our friends. Today (Lizzy’s actual birthday) I made dinner and Kelley brought home flowers and some really nice chocolates.
It turned out quite nicely in the end, with only a few mishaps. Kelley improvised and made a flower vase out of an ice tea bottle. After a few technical difficulties whilst cooking tomato pasta and garlic bread, I felt a lot better after using some burn salve we luckily had on hand (it was bought last week after someone had an accident with an iron).
Lizzy with her birthday flowers and chocolate.
Today, Lizzy and I went to the Academy of Music and got student rush tickets to La Fille Mal Gardee. It was Lizzy’s first time going to the ballet, and she really loved it. It was also very easy to get student rush tickets, something I had never done before.
Lizzy standing outside the Academy of Music.
We also walked around near City Hall while waiting for the doors to open. I had never seen City Hall up close before: it is quite a cool building. Currently, the centre courtyard is under construction, and they have hidden the work behind murals.
One of the things I like about living in Philly, I’ve decided, is the huge variety of things to do in our spare time. I think the real problem is getting to do them all!
By the entrance to City Hall.
It’s in the low 90s today in Philly and I’m very glad our apartment has A.C.
Yesterday, Lizzy and I met up with our friends who are living and working at Haverford this summer for dinner. We ate at a diner on South Street, which was very yummy but had gigantic portions.
Standing at Penn’s Landing.
Little did I know when I applied for this internship that I would also be learning practical life skills, such as unclogging a drain. Last night, Lizzy and I stood in our very small bathroom reading the Drain-O bottle and debating what the instructions intended for us to do. We had finally worked out the instructions and had successfully poured the liquid down the drain when Lizzy dropped her toothbrush in the sink. After confirming that Drain-O is indeed toxic to humans, I gave her a new one.
Today, I walked around Philly with some friends. As it is Memorial Day, the city was filled with tourists looking at all the sites.
After a hot, but fun, first weekend in Philly, I am excited to start my internship tomorrow.
Standing behind Independence Hall (which is unfortunately covered by scaffolding right now).
Scarcely two weeks after moving out of Haverford, I am back in Philadelphia. I’ve moved into our apartment in Queen Village (with the help of my ever-obliging parents) which I’m sharing with Lizzy Wingfield ’12 and Kelley Neil ’12. On Tuesday, I will be starting my internship.
First, a little bit about myself. My name is Lizzie Douglas and I am a rising junior at Haverford. Back in April, I declared a History major with a concentration in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights. I have been interested in the law since high school and I am looking forward to interning at a renowned Philly legal non-profit. The Women’s Law Project does amazing work which you can read all about on their website.
This is the first time I will have ever lived in a city and I am really excited. We’re living near the Italian Market and I will be working near Chinatown and Reading Terminal Market. I also plan to visit many of the museums and historical sites in Philly (always the history geek).
But before I can begin my summer adventure, I have to unpack…