clarsen's blog

    I first visited Philadelphia a few weeks ago with a friend for a quick day in the city with light shopping and Shake Shack.  My first impression was that Philadelphia was simply like a smaller, less crowded, and slightly cleaner New York.  I quickly felt at home there thanks to the familiarity from the similar architecture, known stores, common and slightly disgusting smells, and recognizable street layout.  Visiting for a second time yesterday I noticed much of the same things I had previously; engine oil near parked cars, a subway system nearly identical to that of New York, sidewalks covered in gum, many museums and galleries, and small parks and gardens. 

       Play, like nearly every other person, was a giant part of my childhood.  Playing simple games like “house”, “tag”, and “hide and seek” did not just help to keep me active and alert but it taught me social skills and how to interact with my peers.  “House”, where my friends and I imitated a stereotypical family scenario in a house, added to my knowledge of how a “proper” husband and wife, son and daughter, or uncle and aunt should behave.  

       Now that loss of play is becoming more and more common, parents are rightfully worried with how their children will learn to be sociable especially when they are spending a large chunk of their time online. A friend of mine obsessed over World of Warcraft, a popular online game, during his sophomore year of high school.  When recalling his high school experience he used to always say that it was almost as if there was a gap in it because he couldn’t remember any of that year.  In my opinion, online games are not only a waste of time but they also are not memorable or rewarding in any way. 

    My mother introduced me to art after she and my father got divorced thinking it would be a therapeutic and meaningful way for me to release my feelings.  As a toddler, she ensured we visited MOMA, The MET, El Museo del Barrio, The Guggenheim, and The Museum of Natural History often.  My favorite by far, however, was The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and home to one of the largest medieval art collections in the world.  I spent the majority of my childhood living in Washington Heights where The Cloisters was located.  Manhattan, to me, is synonymous with medieval art and more specifically with the works exhibited at The Cloisters. 

   Although I was born in Midtown Manhattan, I soon after moved to Texas with my mother and father.  After they divorced, however, my mother and I moved uptown to Washington Heights where I made some of my earliest memories and experiences with New York City.  My favorite event by far was “The Medieval Festival”, hosted by The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park, where I saw jousting, puppet shows, jesters, and live music.  It was certainly the flame that ignited my love of medieval festivities and art. 

One of the most difficult things about coming to Bryn Mawr was leaving behind my five year old Golden Retriever, Phoebe, with whom I share a very strong bond.  I adopted her when she was nearing eight weeks old from North Shore Animal League after what felt like a lifetime of begging my mother to adopt a dog.  Growing up in the city (where our apartment did not allow dogs) my mother actually banned me from visiting pet shops in fear that I would break into a temper tantrum while demanding a dog.  So, five years ago when my mother announced we were moving to our house in Long Island, the first thing that came to mind was that we would finally be able to get a dog.  Before we had even finished unpacking or settling in we had adopted Phoebe.  My high expectations of finally becoming a dog owner did not dissapoint.  Phoebe and I have been nearly inseparable since.