And some more of the baseball...

(In reference to the top photo) - To all of those who love and know me best...yep, I couldn't resist...

Baseball - A fun day out watching the Phillies vs. NY Mets

Continuting the weekend of all-American sport - Sunday saw a roadtrip to the baseball, with the Philadelphia Phillies (inventive) versus the NY Mets. The Philies lost 7-3, but that doesn't really matter as it was all about the fun of the baseball game. Hopefully the photos (one photo doesn't do it justice) have captured some to the fun, because it really was an entertaining day out.

So from the top - that's Miss America singing...the green thing is the Philly Phanatic - yep, I still haven't worked out just what it's meant to be (we thought maybe he's like Gonzo from the Muppets?!). And then some shots of the stadium - we were high up!

Penn vs Villanova - First Penn Band Roadtrip

Second game of the season - I think I now understand the basics of American football (basically you run the ball forward...and stop a lot). So here are some shots of my first field trip with the Band...Penn cheerleaders (one looked like Barbie I swear...), the moment the anthem was sung, the stadium and toast - it's a Penn tradition to throw toast in the third quarter break, there's a song that goes with it (you throw at the line about toasting...as in drinking, not making the food). The mess left at home games is impressive...as it was only the band doing it this time, it wasn't worth capturing.

Me in my lovely band polo shirt (note the red and blue - the colours of Penn) and a shot of Franklin Field (as if it could be called anything else)...

"This one time, at band camp..." - aka. PENN BAND WOOP!

Ok, work is taking away blogging time.

The big news is that the first Penn football (American) game of the season took place last weekend- we won, woop GO QUAKERS! - I still have no clue how the game works.

Of greater importance in connection to this is that I'm now a fully signed up member of the Penn Marching Band (a lot more informal than what you imagine) - as a result of this, I didn't get much opportunity for photo taking because I was playing jazzy show tunes (including "Don't Stop Believing" - oh yeah, we're so much cooler than "Glee"). I will put photos up later, but this is the half-show we did, so enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF8A5ek3iAg

Not a bad view

For all of you still wondering what Philadelphia properly looks like, this is the view from one of the high-rise halls of residence. It has a lovely rooftop lounge at the top, a prefect place to study...although this view is incredibly distracting...

(To give you an idea of distance, it would take me half an hour to walk to where the skyscrapers are...)

The reason for the epic fail on the photo-a-day attempt

My reading. Most of this is for tomorrow. Thanks Penn.

9/11

Yesterday was a great day - tourist time on the open top bus tour and a brilliant lunch in my favourite place in Philly: Reading Terminal Market (my new, slightly cheaper, Borough Market alternative).

But the photo of the day comes from the Old City and the biggest flag in the area, on a building across from Independence Hall - 9 years since 9/11...

Penn Convocation

Convocation time! My photos aren't great due to the light vs my camera - it's on YouTube if you want to watch the whole thing apparently. It's a big ceremony to welcome the class of 2014 to Penn, involving all the accademics in gowns, Glee Club (no Mr.Schu though) and an epic after-party full of the biggest deserts you've ever seen (or attempted to eat, but failed after the first bite).

Classes have started, but fear not, I will keep up with this every day. I may just have to start becoming creative in my photos.

High ho - it's time for proper work

The last photo from NSO - my Convocation ones have mysteriously gone wandering. I will do my best to find them at a more reasonable hour of the day. So for now I give you last night's Toga Party and the Penn Museum - this really was like dancing at the British Museum, there were mummies and Egyptian stuff in the middle of the dance floor :)

New Student Orientation (NSO) continues - (Freshers' Week)

Another social last night - this time in the Philadelphia Museum of Art (the Rocky one). Incredible. It would compare if the British Museum were to open up and serve a great dinner, have a dance floor and let everyone wander around everywhere. It's meant to be the most expensive college student orientation event in the USA. I could easily understand that.

The other picture (at the top) is from tonight's Pancake Dinner - yep, a party, with mini pancakes. Epic.

Time for Penn U photos!!! So, the campus centre, a giant ballon 'P' and the Library Social (though it doesn't really give the proper picture) - that event was held tonight as part of new student orientation week - an amazing party (and a free t-shirt!!!) Americans do their freshers' week in proper welcoming style. Plus there's me with Ben Franklin (the real one, not a statue!!)

More photos from the first few days, up to Aug 31st!

Penn is busy gearing up for the new term, so lots of new orientation stuff going on. I'll update photos of campus later on, and then I promise it'll be a proper photo every day, as opposed to 3 in one!

These photos show the giant eagle in the middle of Macy's/William Penn (the city's founder) on top of the city hall/Tomb to the Unknown American Revolution solider (and George Washington).

What none of these photos show is that it's mid 30 degrees Celsius here - heatwave!!!!