Make it happen!

When I knocked at Marc & Stephanie’s tiny city house door up to three or four little steps, I was welcome by Lola’s angry barks, by Marc’s shaggy face and by Stephanie’s invisible voice. As for me, I entered with my giant backpack which always makes me feel like an intruder. You can call it a big entrance! We sneaked in each other’s life like a storm. Our destinies collided with no for play, we immediately adopted one another.

I barely got out of my shower, Stephanie – now freed from her business woman’s phone – was telling me with enthusiasm and glitters in her eyes about her amazing day. She had just attended a self-development writing program, she was describing me how that experience utterly moved her; drifting from one thought to another like a virtuoso, she was suddenly telling me about her return from Chile and how hard it was to be back from that turning point place for her. How we got there, I couldn’t tell! I am almost sure she didn’t breathe for a good 20 minutes until she threw at me: “Your turn!” Caught off guard, my silence was loud. “Why are you here?” I asked her to precise what “here” she was talking about: at her place? in Philly? or in the US? All three, please! It was too long of a story for three minutes and a half, and those who knows me well can tell I need more than that to share my story. But Stephanie’s happiness was contagious and she had just given me everything of her, I knew she wouldn’t accept less from me. Therefore, after a deep breath, I gave her everything about me as well. Or at least of my journey. My fatigue had flown away thanks to this tiny crazy charming little dictator.

Marc soon joined us around a beer, our friendship was sealed. It is one of couchsurfing beauty, sometimes fates meet for a second without really understanding one another and they go back their separate ways. But sometimes, magically, it is the beginning of fleeting common paths on our parallel lives pictures. Thus, our strings drew a beautiful sunshine in Philadelphia during this winter weekend. It was not about a couple of strangers hosting me for a night anymore, we became friends.

Behind his born-yesterday-face, Marc is a bit deadpan, his insolent wit will always aim for the unexpected. You could think everything moves past him like clouds, but he just internalizes a lot. And to be honest, I sometimes wonder if it is a wish or a necessity because Stephanie talks and fells for two (and this what everybody, including him, loves about her)!
It might only be due to his glass man look but you sometimes wonder if there is one thing he doesn’t know. Marc is curious and happy, even when he hides it behind a sour face. He is Philly events’ king; he started « Parks on taps » in 2016 ( even Forbes wrote about him!), the idea is simple: the festival brings a beer garden to different parks throughout the city all summer long, providing fresh food, beers on tap, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages in a festive outdoor environment. In a country where the Prohibition ghost still hangs above societies, it is something! Marc pulls a few rabbits out of his hat: an imperial English bus, giant planets miniatures, etc, all that in order to make the city he has adopted and loves so much shine a bit more.

As for Stephanie, you can’t sum her up, you paint her with millions of colors on the city walls. I can only share some pieces of her here. As a matter of fact, she has kept me speechless for a couple of days, she has kept my post hanging longer than I wanted… As a matter of fact, I still don’t really know where to begin so afraid I am not to match the truth.
Stephanie is a bit like a firework in one’s life. She falls in sparkling rain on your path, making every minute full of joy. She is exuberant, talkative, smart, sassy, bookish, organized, generous, kind, smiley, altruistic, authentic. Everything and everyone makes her curious.
She lived in Chile for a while and was heartbroken to come back, she didn’t feel at home anymore. Thankfully, she brought Lola back with her, like a fluffy souvenir. Lola, their adorable doggy, who I will not forget to mention this time. Lola who adopted me to Stephanie’s jealous joy, she wouldn’t want to lose a tiny bite of her love.
Since she came back from Chile, Stephanie has worked in Natural History Museum, she has studied museums management, has written a blog, has met Marc and has traveled a lot. Stephanie can’t stay in one place, she needs activities, she needs words, she needs joy.
In the end, there is only one word to remember about Stephanie: JOY. With upper-case of course! Because, even when Stephanie loses patience, she keeps her “joie de vivre”; there always is a burst of laughter in her burst of tear. Her presence halos with a precious pureness, with no detour nor deception, you can only find with children; Stephanie then moves you to your soul. Like with them, everything is utterly simple with her; she says whatever pops into her head (sometimes at your own expense), therefore no silence has time to turn into a discomfort. She will tell you if she is sad she will tell you if is scared she will tell you if she is happy she will tell you if she likes you. Everything is crystal clear, with no filter. You can be her passing or forever friend, Stephanie offers you a precious and rare gift: honesty without guile.
Stephanie has a huge heart she shares without sparing, with enthusiasm and cheer, making her a marvelous host, an incredible encounter and a friend for life.

This why, livened up by two generous merrymakers, Marc & Stephanie, what started as a “one night stand”, happened to linger for three more. My thoughtful hosts made me discover their version of the city they came to love; already conquered by their cheerful and philanthropic souls, I fell in love with Philly as well. Their place is so perfectly set in South Philadelphia, then I was not only visiting touristic places, I was facing the organic face of the city. Thanks to Marc & Stephanie, I blended into actual Philadelphian life with joy.

Then, if you are around, I can only urge you to stop in Philadelphia – never mind arrogant NewYorkers who despise it, they don’t know what they are talking about -, I know you will be in good hands with my friends, they will fill you with joy and laughs. They will match this humble and loving city, they will love you back!

Go baby, go!

Stephanie’s contact