When I think of Philly, I think of my mother in the kitchen making fresh injera. I think of the small stores that sell international spices, I think of convenience. To me, Philly doesn’t have a standard smell or food because of the huge ethnic diversity apparent in the city. There isn’t any one thing that can describe Philly, it’s can only be seen as Philly. The home to countless Ethiopian restaurants, Halal food trucks, and corner stores.
To most people, West Philly is the home to Clark Park, University City, and countless of restaurants. Many would identify this region of Philadelphia through landmarks and memories. I think of the places where I see people the most. For me, it has to be the shopping plaza on 58th and Baltimore. The Family Dollar is the center of a lot of interaction. People go there to buy their supplies for their homes, certain easy access things and overall supplies. I remember one time, I was standing in line to buy a hair brush for my mom. The line was extremely long since there was only one person working the front. All around, people were voicing their complaints. My brother, who was next to me, also started to complain about the long wait. All of a sudden, the woman standing in front of me turned and looked at us.
“They need to start adding cashiers because this line is ridiculous!” She exclaimed. I nodded my head in agreement. Taking my nod as a conversation opener, we began a random dialogue. It wasn’t strange because she recognized me as the girl who rides the same trolley as her every morning. A simple scanning of a face can be the start of something new. All over Philly there are spots that people go to connect. Sometimes we don’t even look for a reason to meet people, it’s just fate.
Recently a new Dunkin Donuts opened in the Cobbs Creek Shopping Area. It is obvious that Dunkin Donuts wanted there to be a place where people can sit and talk over a cup of coffee in my area, so when I first saw the interior of the new place, I was extremely happy! There were two single leather seats in a corner that were placed so that you would have to look at one another. There were also booths, tall tables with even taller chairs, and chairs that faced towards the glass walls. It was the perfect setting to meet people.
To most people, West Philly is the home to Clark Park, University City, and countless of restaurants. Many would identify this region of Philadelphia through landmarks and memories. I think of the places where I see people the most. For me, it has to be the shopping plaza on 58th and Baltimore. The Family Dollar is the center of a lot of interaction. People go there to buy their supplies for their homes, certain easy access things and overall supplies. I remember one time, I was standing in line to buy a hair brush for my mom. The line was extremely long since there was only one person working the front. All around, people were voicing their complaints. My brother, who was next to me, also started to complain about the long wait. All of a sudden, the woman standing in front of me turned and looked at us.
“They need to start adding cashiers because this line is ridiculous!” She exclaimed. I nodded my head in agreement. Taking my nod as a conversation opener, we began a random dialogue. It wasn’t strange because she recognized me as the girl who rides the same trolley as her every morning. A simple scanning of a face can be the start of something new. All over Philly there are spots that people go to connect. Sometimes we don’t even look for a reason to meet people, it’s just fate.
Recently a new Dunkin Donuts opened in the Cobbs Creek Shopping Area. It is obvious that Dunkin Donuts wanted there to be a place where people can sit and talk over a cup of coffee in my area, so when I first saw the interior of the new place, I was extremely happy! There were two single leather seats in a corner that were placed so that you would have to look at one another. There were also booths, tall tables with even taller chairs, and chairs that faced towards the glass walls. It was the perfect setting to meet people.