Hungry from the drive from Hudson to Philadelphia, we made our first trip to Chinatown on the day of our arrival. Coincidentally, the Honyu Folk Culture Festival was taking place there. The festival celebrated the 1189th birthday of the southeast Chinese god General Humin. He brought prosperity to the Chinese province of Fujian in the 10th century by opening the harbors and building schools. The general was celebrated as a god after his death, he and other local gods were celebrated with fireworks, music, beautifully prepared food and burnt silver and gold papers as money. We were looking at the prepared food and taking photos when a lobster started to move. We were frightened and felt very uncomfortable to see that the animal on the plate was still alive. We made our way to the stage and enjoyed the music. Hungry, we made our way to the Sang Kee Peking Duck restaurant, where I showed the other volunteers my new dish General Tsos Chicken, which I had discovered in the USA. They tried it and were also very impressed.

The volunteer from Spain is a big Rocky fan and was very excited to visit the famous Rocky staircase. At the Museum of Modern Art, we recreated the scene from the Rocky movie and ran up the stairs together. At the top, we enjoyed the view of the Philadelphia skyline and the Schuylkill River. Since the rest of us hadn't seen "Rocky", we made ourselves comfortable in the evening and watched the movie together. I was expecting to see a classic sports movie, with a heroic character who starts small, works his way up and comes out a big winner in the end. But Rocky is not portrayed as a hero, he is a debt collector, lives in a rundown apartment and the scene showing his "romantic" advances towards the pet supply store clerk feels overbearing. The chance he is given to make a name for himself in boxing is not a real chance, he is used and ultimately fails. The city looks run down in the movie and seems more of a warning not to visit. Nevertheless, City Commerce Director Dick Doran once said that no one had done more for the city's image since Benjamin Franklin than Rocky, played by Silvester Stallone.  In fact, in every store you come across an incredible amount of Rocky merchandise. I was delighted to have seen the classic "Rocky" once, but I can't really understand the fascination. 

Our AirBNB was located 13km or 15 minutes by car from the city center in the Tacony district. I haven't had much experience with AirBNBs so far and usually stayed in hostels on vacation, so I was curious to see what our accommodation would be like. We paid 230 dollars for two nights, so just under 30 dollars per person/night. When we arrived, I was very impressed! The apartment was perfect for our group. Two bedrooms, bathroom, open kitchen with living room and an outdoor area with barbecue, benches and beautiful LED's. The open kitchen was perfect so we could cook together, chat and watch American TV. Since we don't have TVs in Triform, smartphones are not welcome and there are no daily newspapers, we are pretty much cut off from events outside the community. So, like enthusiastic children, we first jumped on the remote control and watched the various news channels (CNN, Fox News, CNBC, ABC...). The AirBNB has licenses for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Paramount+, so we were able to watch movies ("Rocky", "Hamilton") in the evening.

https://www.airbnb.de/rooms/1081060724479023123?source_impression_id=p3_1712267269_6YVs8D7x4ZWqprDp

Independence Hall is the former parliament building of Pennsylvania. The building has a special significance for Americans, as it was here that the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787. In 1802, the Philadelphia Museum opened in the building. The naturalist and artist Charles Willson Peale exhibited stuffed birds, a collection of insects and rare minerals. Thomas Jefferson donated souvenirs from the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the museum. After his departure, the state frequently organized receptions for guests in the "Hall of Independence". Since 1928, the image of Independence Hall has been on the back of the 100 dollar note. 

In 1943, the building was designated a National Historic Site and officially became part of Independence National Historical Park in 1951. In 1979, the building was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The official statement summarizes the historical value well: 

"It was in this beautiful early 18th century building in Philadelphia that the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Constitution of the United States of America was formulated. These events, which took place in 1776 and 1787 respectively, were of national importance only, but the universal principles of liberty and democracy set forth in these two documents have had a profound influence on lawmakers and political thinkers throughout the world. They became the model for similar charters in other nations and can be seen as a harbinger of the modern age of government."

"The universal principles of the right of revolution and self-government, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence of 1776 and the Constitution of 1787 of the United States of America, debated, adopted and signed in Independence Hall, have had a profound influence on lawmakers and politicians around the world. The basic concepts, format and even the essential elements of the two documents have influenced the charters of government in many nations and even the Charter of the United Nations." 

The central building of Philadelphia is the beautiful City Hall. The 30-year construction began in 1871 and for some time the building was the tallest building in the world, until it lost the title to the Singer House in New York City in 1908. When it opened, the Victorian design divided opinion, but I think the building is very handsome.

Since 1894, the building has been topped by the 37-foot-tall, 27-ton bronze figure of William Penn, which is said to be the largest sculpture on the top of a building. This spire can be seen for miles around the city and represents the heart of the city. 

We didn't visit the inside of City Hall, but we did read the numerous historical plaques on the building. Interestingly, a plaque was added in 1983 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the German settlement of Germantown, founded in 1683, and the state visit of German President Karl Carstens in October 1983. 

Also honored is lesbian civil rights activist Gloria Casarez, who led the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative and was appointed as its first Director of LGBT Affairs. During her tenure, Philadelphia led the nation in LGBT equality. 

The Liberty Bell was made in London in 1751 (some say 1752) and hung in State Hall (now Independence Hall) in 1753. The inscription reads: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof". It was rung during the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. There is a crack in the bell, which can be seen in the Liberty Bell Pavilion, which runs around half the height of the bell and renders it inoperable. The crack is said to have appeared between 1817 and 1846, and since then the symbol of the bell with the crack has been an important symbol of freedom and democracy. Images of the bell were used in the 19th century in the campaign for the end of slavery. The bell was sent on a journey across the USA after the War of Secession to commemorate shared heritage and values. Broken and silent, the bell stands as a reminder of hope for a better future and our quest for freedom. 

After our guided tour in Philadelphia, we went to the Reading Terminal Market. The market is one of the largest and oldest public markets in the USA. Located at 12th and Arch Streets, the market opened in 1893 in a former train station concourse. Over 80 vendors offer fresh produce, meat, fish, cheese, groceries, ice cream, flowers, grilled cheese, baked goods, smoothies, crafts, books, clothing and specialty and ethnic foods daily. Two vendors are said to be descendants of the original 19th century traders. 

We walked through the market and looked at the many delicious but also expensive offerings. However, we already knew what we wanted to eat: Philly Cheesesteak, the famous Philadelphia dish. The "Carmen's Famous Italian Hoagies & Cheesesteaks" stall had already been visited by Barack Obama during his presidency, so we were really looking forward to it. It tasted wonderful! A tip from our tour guide that we would like to share: be sure to order "American cheese", as it is not artificially produced, tastes best and comes from American farms. 

For dessert, I treated myself to a chocolate pretzel with Reese's Pieces (similar to M&Ms). 

The inconspicuous "ruin", which is located in the immediate vicinity of Independence Hall, has important historical significance for the USA. The house was built in 1767 and was the headquarters of General Sir William Howe of the British Army during the British occupation from 1777 to 1778. Before Washington DC became the capital of the USA in 1800, Philadelphia was the capital from 1790 to 1800. The first President George Washington (1790-1797) and his successor John Adams (1797-1800) lived in the "President's House" at this time. Washington is still one of the most popular presidents today and many things are named after him, like the capital itself. However, the text panels in the house view him critically, as nine enslaved Africans are said to have worked for him in the house, which he brought with him from his Mount Vernon mansion. After John Adams moved out of the house and into the White House, a hotel and later stores were located in the building. Demolished in 1951, archaeological research was carried out in 2007 which recognized the significance of the building and led to the creation of this memorial in 2010. 

Christ Church is an Epostal church in the Old Town and was founded in 1695 as a parish of the Church of England. The people decided to build the most beautiful church in the 13th colonies, in 1754 it was the tallest building in the colonies. 15 signatories of the Declaration of Independence belonged to the congregation of this church at the time, making this place a meeting place for many revolutionaries. However, the congregation was not unanimous as to whether it should keep its oath of allegiance to the king or cut its ties with the Anglican Church. Rector William White led the congregation through this difficult time and founded the Protestant Episcopal Church after the revolution. During the war, he was chaplain to both the Continental Congress and the United States Senate.

We visited Elfreth Alley on our tour. This is a historic cobblestone street with 32 houses in the Gregorian and Federal styles. The houses were built between 1720 and 1836 and has the status of a National Historic Landmark. Craftsmen such as furniture makers, silversmiths, glassblowers and shipbuilders used to live there. In 1934, the Elfreth's Alley Association was founded to preserve the historic alley - fortunately, because we can experience Philadelphia as it looked more than 300 years ago in this street. 

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. A few years earlier, his parents had fled from England to the American colonies for religious reasons. As a child, he worked in his father's soap and candle store and later apprenticed as a printer. In 1728, he founded his own print shop in Philadelphia and became wealthy as a publisher. In 1731, he founded the first lending library in the American colonies, making it possible for a wider audience to read books. He became known as a benefactor, founding a university, a hospital and the first public fire department in Philadelphia. He worked as an inventor and scientist, researched the Gulf Stream and invented the lightning rod.  In 1750 he stopped working as a printer and went into politics, initially as a Philadelphia city councillor in 1751. In 1775 he took part in the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and during the War of Independence he persuaded the French as a diplomat to help them in the war against the British. He later negotiated the peace treaty with the British in Paris. After independence, he became President of Pennsylvania, and in 1787 he co-wrote the US Constitution.

Franklin Court is the place where his house once stood. This is where he lived while attending the Second Continental Congress and where he died in 1790. 22 years later his house was demolished. In 1976, the house was “rebuilt” in its rough outline, as its appearance has not been completely preserved. Next to it is a museum where the life of the founding father is recounted. Franklin was such a trailblazer for American society that he is still immortalized on the 100 dollar bill. 

Carpenters Hall was built in 1775 and served as a meeting place for the Carpenters' Guild. The first Continental Congress met here and adopted the Continental Association. This was an agreement between the American colonies which called for a trade boycott against British merchants. The Congress hoped that sanctions against British imports and exports would persuade the British Parliament to address the complaints of the colonies. In 1776, the independence of the Province of Pennsylvania was declared here and the militia was mobilized for the American Revolutionary War. During the war, the building was occupied by the British army in 1777. 

Originally planned as a town hall, the building was built between 1790 and 1791, but from 1791 to 1800 it housed the US Supreme Court. From 1800 to 1854 it served as a town hall again, after which it was handed over to the National Park Service for the Independence National Historical Park.

The Congress Hall served as the seat of the US Congress from 1790 to 1800. The second inauguration of George Washington in 1793 and his successor John Adams in 1797 took place here, and the Bill of Rights of the Constitution was also ratified here.  After the capital moved from Philadelphia to Washington DC, the building housed the Philadelphia County Courthouse, both the state and federal courts. After the buildings gradually fell into disrepair, in 1870 the Pennsylvania government decided to demolish all the buildings around Independence Hall. Fortunately, this was never implemented and the law was officially repealed in 1895.  In 1900, the American Institute of Architects initiated an appeal for donations to restore the building. In 1942, more than 50 groups came together in the American Philosophical Society and founded the Independence Hall Association. This association campaigned for the historic buildings in the neighborhood to become part of an "Independence National Historical Park". This allowed the buildings to be opened to the public and further restored. Since 1956, the buildings have been operated by the National Park Service, which offers guided tours of Congress Hall and other areas. In 2008, Barack Obama met with the National Governors Association in Congress Hall to discuss possible solutions to the economic crisis.

Our tour in Philadelphia started at the Betsy Ross House. I hadn't heard the name before, so I tried to research Betsy's story.

Betsy Ross met George Washington while praying together at Christ Church and was already sewing buttons for him as leader of the Continental Army. In 1776, George Washington, the wealthy Robert Morris and her uncle George Ross met at her home in Philadelphia. They asked Betsy to sew the first American flag. She ran the sewing shop alone after her husband, a member of the Pennsylvania militia, died in a gunpowder explosion in 1775.  One year later, the first flag of the USA was adopted at the Continental Congress in 1777. Thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, plus thirteen white stars on a blue background. A star was added with each additional state, most recently the fiftieth star with the accession of Hawaii in 1959. 13 stripes always remained, as these stood for the original 13 colonies. Blue stands for vigilance and justice, white for purity and innocence, red for bravery and resilience. 

However, it is disputed whether Betsy Ross is really the originator of the American flag. There is no contemporary record of the meeting, but it was reported by her grandson in a newspaper in 1870. Only that she was commissioned by the Pennsylvania State Marine Commission to make ship flags is documented beyond doubt. 

Our tour guide in Philadelphia had sparked our interest in the musical "Hamilton". According to him, the musical about Alexander Hamilton sparked a new interest in American history like no other medium, and many students became enthusiastic about the subject. Using hip-hop and R&B, the musical tells the story of the American Revolution and the rise of the emigrant Hamilton to become the first American Secretary of the Treasury and his dramatic social decline and death. As a history teacher, I couldn't wait to see this modern interpretation of American history.

After recently seeing the musical "Les Miserables" and being wowed by a musical for the first time (Week 32), I was fully picked up again with "Hamilton." When talking about the founding fathers of the USA, one immediately thinks of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Alexander Hamilton is rather unknown.

Born in the British West Indies as an illegitimate son in 1755, he lost his mother and father and moved to Boston in 1772. In 1774, he began studying at Kings College in New York City. He was a very political student and published many texts critical of British politics. During the War of Independence, he joined the New York Volunteer Militia Company and became George Washington's chief of staff.  As commander of three battalions, he successfully attacked Yorktown in 1781 and put an end to British colonial rule. He resigned from Congress in 1783 and worked as a lawyer and banker. He attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia as one of three New York delegates. In the first US cabinet, he was the first US Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1795, founded the Federal Reserve and still adorns the 10 dollar note today. Due to political differences, two parties emerged, the Federalists led by Hamilton and John Adams and the Democratic Republicans led by Jefferson and James Madison. Hamilton tried to intrigue against John Adams so that he would not be elected, but this became public and Adams became the second president of the USA after Washington. In 1804, Aaron Burr challenged Alexander Hamilton to a duel after an apology was refused. Hamilton lost the duel and died of his wounds a day later on July 12, 1804. 

In addition to this political level, his rise and fall, Hamilton's personal life is also portrayed. Hamilton was also involved in the first major sex scandal in the USA. During his time in office as Secretary of the Treasury, he had an affair with Maria Reynolds. Her husband discovered the affair and forced Hamilton to pay him a sum of over 1,300 dollars (a third of his annual income) to keep the affair secret. In 1797, he publicly admitted the affair. This openness was admired on the one hand, but on the other, the scandal damaged his reputation and contributed to him being denied higher political office.

The musical is a huge success in the USA - Pulitzer Prize, Grammy and eleven Tonys, plus ticket prices of up to 1000 dollars. The lyrics and music were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also played the lead role in the original cast and was even invited to the White House with the cast by Obama. In Germany, a translated version was brought to the theater, but was cancelled a year later due to a lack of audience interest. From a German perspective, it doesn't sound very exciting at first to see the rise of a finance minister unknown to us, his affair and political disputes with his colleagues in the form of a musical. In history lessons, we learn about the American Revolution, but without delving into American domestic politics. Therefore, without the help of my colleagues, it would have been difficult to follow the plot without background knowledge the first time around. The plot and the characters' motives are told in song form, so it takes even more concentration to follow the story.  I therefore recommend reading up on the topic before watching the musical. Then you will be able to follow the plot better and recognize the names. This effort is worth it, the songs are fantastic and it has reignited my interest in American history. Not only me, but also many American students were enthusiastic about the modern presentation of history through hip-hop music. A large part of the cast is deliberately made up of African Americans and Latinos. Of course, this has caused a lot of criticism in some circles that white characters are played by black actors. But how often were and are black characters played by white actors? I think the directors should have the freedom to decide which actors they choose for the roles. Give the musical a chance and let me know how you liked it!

The room where it happens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MswwLs1e2qc

Guns and ships

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D3zz6byFT4

The Schuyler sisters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POHVE9uCNAY

What comes next

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERYukmba5Vg&list=PLSOfHhku9XxiQuGTppcAc4NPRkja13MSK&index=14

In the morning, I was the first to get up and go for a jog to explore the neighborhood in "Tacony". The Delaware River Trail runs along the Delaware River with a view of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. The first settlers settled on the river in the middle of the 16th century. Philadelphia became known as the "Workshop of the World" and many factories were built on the banks. This was accompanied by major pollution of the river until the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 and work began to clean up the river. 

I really enjoy going jogging on vacation and exploring new places. When I got back, I prepared breakfast and waited for my colleagues to wake up. When asked where I would get the energy to do this, a colleague replied that I was German. That got me thinking about stereotypes and the actual characteristics of different cultures, and how you only become aware of them as soon as someone looks at you from the outside.