Where I don't belong- Photo 402

Reading, Pennsylvania is on the top 10 per-capita most dangerous cities in America.

 Living just a few miles away for my whole life, I have grown with the understanding that this is not the place I want to be. I feel much more at home in Philadelphia then I ever have in Reading. Based on the nature of this assignment, I thought going into the city for an hour only accompanied with my camera would be the perfect thing to do. I set out to capture people in the environment, but with the tropical storm there were not too many people in the streets. I decided to present an overall feeling of this place I have never really called "home."

 

 I've never learned any Spanish in school other than the extreme basics. I can order a beer if that comes up, but mostly I'm lost when it comes to the language. The majority of the population in Reading is either of a Latino descent or flat out speaks mostly Spanish. There is enough of a demand that most of the signs on buildings are in both English and Spanish. It doesn't make me uncomfortable, but it certainly is difficult to understand just what you overhear while walking around.

  

 It's funny to remember one of the things that made this town so populated and important is on the Monopoly board game. I like to think about all of the people who must be mispronouncing the "Reading Railroad" spot on the board. The things that makes me feel out-of-place while following along the tracks are the vast amounts of scattered trash and the graffiti. Again, it's not something that makes me feel uncomfortable, just not something that feels like home. It just makes me consider the mindset of the residents when they can feel alright with just throwing their things on the ground. What kind of respect do they have for their "home?"

   When the rain opened up again heavily, I took refuge for the sake of the camera underneath a bridge. Something about fire escapes running alongside buildings just screams "city" to me. There are certainly many brick buildings in Reading which points to the age of the city.

 Getting yelled at by the cars driving by while trying to get shots along the roadside especially completed my experience of feeling like an outsider. The one thing one can notice though is the attempt in the "nicer" areas to create a feeling of home are the trees scattered along the pavement.

  In one of the older sections, it was refreshing to see the brick-lined alleyway. It reminds me of "Old City" in Philly where even the roads are brick.

Graffiti laced dumpsters lining the street definitely have the feeling of a non-homelike place. Walking past the men on the street corner all speaking Spanish added the additional touch until one of them was wearing a Penn State shirt. I guess that might help me feel at home most places across the country anyway.

 I did find this an interesting sight as there was hardly anyone on the street for several blocks. Normally there are people all over the corners and sitting on stoops. Kind of interesting to see a moment of almost solace in this busy place.

I enjoyed the pattern of the crates and took this picture without realizing that I was being watched. The man came out asking me about the photo and I just talked about the building for a moment. I actually felt a little more at ease speaking to someone because he asked me about my Phillies hat and how much I paid for it. I felt a little native when he asked me for directions to a local place! Don't be fooled by the grass there though. That was the very end of the patch in all directions.

  I saw this area as being quite representative of the town. I first noticed the little shed in the back but then the condition of the building around it just speak for the style of Reading. There is not much interest in beautifying. That is partially one of the biggest things that certainly makes me feel out-of-place.