JCT Does JVC: My Texan Adventure: There's No Place Like Home

As usual, I'm inspired by my students to write another blog post! John's Hyphenated Americans class got me again, and I've had a few days to ruminate on this one particular topic. It's something that I have written and thought about quite a bit throughout the last four years, and I was really interested in the way that the seniors were discussing it.

Home, and location, are things that I am constantly thinking about in relation to my identity. John posed this question to his seniors: Does location have anything to do with identity?

I have been struggling to answer this question for the past five years. While I had traveled a lot over the years with my family, college was the first time I was really living somewhere else. College is obviously a time of self-discovery, and as I was in my search for truth at PC, I suddenly realized that a large part of the truth about who I am has to do with where I'm from and where I am.

I have realized over the past few years that you can take the girl out of Philly, but you can't take the Philly out of the girl. I have not stopped being a die-hard Phils phan, checking the KYW website for news, or reading Philly.com. I always refer to the Philadelphia area as home, and while Providence definitely became my second home over time, I could never abandon my first love.

Philly is the first city I fell in love with. As a kid, I lived for the days I'd spend in Manhattan, and while I still love New York, it just isn't the same. Philly has something indescribable about it- it's the feeling you get walking down Broad Street on a chilly December day on your way to go see the lights show at (formerly) Strawbridge's, or on a sweltering summer day walking through Old City. I have always marveled at the diversity of Philadelphia, and the pride that Philadelphians have in our home.

Most people say "water" like it has two o's and a d in the middle of it. I love that. We eat water ice, and I'm not talking about a glass of water with ice in it or Italian Ice- water ice is different, and it's awesome. We can absolutely trash talk any other city without honestly knowing very much about it, and we're proud of that. As I have found myself living in different cities with people from all over the country, I have become increasingly proud of that- and not at all remorseful.

We go down the shore, and while we don't actually live there, we feel like we do. This past week, I found myself distracted so much by all of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. So many people lost their homes, and I think we're all in a state of shock still... and everyone here kept on going like nothing happened. They're not connected to the East Coast.

I'm an East Coast girl for sure... living in Texas. It's a culture clash, which most often just leaves me laughing. I don't get Texas yet, and I'm ok with that. In time, maybe I will, but I know that the East Coast is always waiting for me. I miss East Coast cities, the pace at which we do things, and the appreciation for fall.

At school on Halloween, I wore a blue and white gingham dress and red high heels, and braided my hair, as a little homage to Dorothy. I realized how fitting that costume was for my general feeling- I know I'm doing good work, and I'm having fun, but there's no place like home.

So what does location have to do with identity? I think that when you're removed from your home, you get a better sense of how home is an integral part of your identity. I did, and continue to understand just how much I love all the Philadelphia/East Coast things about me. It makes you more fully aware of who you are. Location and identity are definitely linked. East Coast, I'll see you in seven weeks from today!

My dad gave me these ruby slippers to remind me that there's no place like home right before he left. I love them!

On Saturday night, we went out in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. I scrapped my Mary Poppins idea in honor of Frauline Maria... I have confidence!