Warming Up to the End of the Semester

by Cody Kaemingk

As the end of the semester fast approaches, we are finding ourselves surprised at how fast everything has gone by. This has created some panic amongst many in our group as we realize that many of us will not only be leaving Chicago, but also graduating from our various colleges. It’s a huge life change as we have devoted approximately 16 years of our lives pursuing education in some way and now we have to pack up the textbooks and put this all into action in the real world.

But before I get too sappy, I should mention that we are taking advantage of every single second of our time left in the city. The weather is starting to cooperate a little, although it is the typical unpredictability of the Midwest. One day it will be nearly 70 degrees, the next we'll be pulling out the winter coats yet again, but having gone to college around here many of us have become accustomed to this sad reality. This warming of the weather has allowed us to do all the outdoor tourist attractions that we hadn’t been able to do since arriving in January. It was fun to take a short walk from our apartment building along the lake to Navy Pier, where we were able to sit outside and enjoy a cup of coffee and ride on the famous Chicago wheel.

Another great thing about living in the city is the access to some of the best restaurants in the country. We have made our way around to various spots around the city, but a couple of the most memorable in the last few weeks have been Mindy’s Hot Chocolate and Antique Taco. I had been craving a good cup of hot chocolate (I know, odd) so we figured there must be a place here that specializes in it. Sure enough! Mindy’s Hot Chocolate in Wicker Park did not disappoint. It was the best cup of hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life, even if I had to pay $9 for it. The trip to Antique Taco was also worth all the ice we had to brave to get there. The seating was limited, but the tacos were worth the wait. They take fresh to a whole new level; tortillas, toppings, and sauces were all prepared or made fresh in-house. Just typing this makes me want to head back for more.

That being said, if you plan to attend Chicago Semester, prepare to spend money. Just about everything you want to do costs money in some way and you're only living here for a semester, so you want to be able to pack as much in as possible. This is something I was prepared for, but I don't think you really understand just how much everything costs until you get that first credit card bill or bank statement. Luckily, we're all poor college students, so we are able to agree to keep spending minimal.

As part of our Practicum groups last week we were able to visit various businesses or ministries around Chicago. This was a great experience because it's great to see the variety of office environments and how different businesses function. I had the chance to visit Divvy Bike, which is Chicago's ride sharing bike service. We were able to have a tour and have some questions answered about how their business functions on a daily basis. Divvy is an excellent solution to the growing problem of traffic congestion in the city, and it's a great supplement to the current public transportation system. It was really cool to see as a business major because I was able to compare their business model with others I have studied or toured over the years.

I think its worth noting that Chicago Semester is turning 40 this year, and its never looked better. This program has given so many students a great first step in their career path, and I can honestly say that it has been one of the best semesters of my college years. Sad to say that I probably only have one more blog post before the end of the semester, so get ready for the wrap-up in two weeks!​

Springing Forward

by Cody Kaemingk,

Hello again readers! Sorry for the brief absence, life has been a bit crazy lately so I’m going to try to catch you up the best I can.

Work the last few weeks has been awesome. I was able to work at the Chicago Auto Show and was given a pretty large responsibility of managing our staff presence there this year. This was a huge honor and it’s great to see the staff embracing my abilities even as an intern. I can see that it is a very stressful time for everyone as some of our largest clients are there, and I am thrilled to be able to represent this company at the auto show. Along with this auto show project, I am being tasked with various roles around the office that are more or less becoming “mine” and I am becoming the primary source of contact for issues involving certain accounts; again so cool to see them putting so much trust in an intern. 

Along with the daily grind of projects, it’s good to get a look into what makes a company great: its people. Some companies seem to know this better than others, and I have to say that eshots is one of those companies that sees value in its employees. They seek to challenge and develop them as employees and people while also being able to kick back and enjoy the lighter side of life from time to time. It’s good because it creates an environment of accountability while at the same time allowing us to bond as employees. This has been a learning experience for all of us on CS as we learn to work with people that have various management styles. Hearing the joys and frustrations of others in the program and learning how to navigate that territory during the very infant stages of our careers has been great as we try and decide where we will go next.

The CS art events are again keeping us entertained while opening our eyes to other cultures. We were able to attend a performance of No Place Called Home in the Loop. This play opened my eyes to the often overlooked problems that refugees from Iraq face on a regular basis – which is really a theme of the semester as a whole. Before coming to Chicago I think it was easy for most of us to overlook some of the problems of the world and focus in on our own lives on our college campuses. But with Chicago being such an international city, we have become more exposed to the hardships of other people.

Another great activity we were able to be a part of was feeding the underprivileged people of Humboldt Park with the giving volunteers of San Lucas United Church of Christ. It was great to see the love of Jesus being put into action by this ministry and to be a small part of it. These volunteers are building real relationships with some of the outcasts of our society and it was great to see the genuine looks of happiness on the faces of both the recipients and volunteers as we served a hot meal to people that don’t always receive one.

It has been amazing to have the weather warm up here in Chicago. It has opened the door to lots of exploration and travel around the city. It’s easy to see this city would be an amazing place to be in the summer with all the great parks and beaches. I can’t wait for all the fun community activities that happen once it warms up.

The Action is the Main Attraction

by Cody Kaemingk

We’ve been in Chicago one month. Wow. It is honestly flying by and I laugh when I think just how much all of our lives have changed in just a month. Just a little bit ago most of us were on our college campuses as seniors - big fish in small ponds. Now our roles are opposite. To quote the great urban philosopher Drake, we are starting from the bottom, working our way up in our respective careers. After being in school the majority of my life it’s a refreshing change that I looked forward to, but at the same time it’s like jumping off a cliff and not knowing what to expect below.

My internship started with a difficult choice between three great opportunities that all appealed to me for different reasons, but in the end I decided to intern at eshots, Inc. They specialize in collecting marketing data (to put it simply) and I can already see myself growing in my professional marketing and project management skills, which is exactly what I came to Chicago to achieve. The office environment is relaxed but there are so many dedicated smart people here that the learning opportunities are endless. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is the amazing location! Our building is located on the corner of E. Wacker and Wabash, right on the Chicago River across from Trump Tower. For those interested in action movies, this building starred in the movies Batman Begins and Transformers 3. 

Other than working, we have certainly had time to see more of the city. For our Diversity and Inequality class we ventured to the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago where some of the other CSers live. Here we were able to see some crazy cool murals from local artists and learn about the history of the neighborhood and the people that live there. Afterwards a group of us went and found a great authentic Mexican restaurant and socialized while having some great food. I’m looking forward to all the different places we’re going to get to explore and learn about through this class. Chicago is a city with all spectrums of people and learning about how all of this came to be and how it fits into the greater American picture is very interesting. This will also help me fulfill one of the activities on my Chicago bucket list – get authentic food from at least 10 different ethnic neighborhoods. 

We were also able to attend a production of Alice at the Looking Glass Theater, which was in one of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. It’s a building with a lot of history and the show greatly exceeded my expectations. I often caught myself wondering whether it was at a play or an acrobatics show. I have to admit that I often don’t give the arts as much of a look as I should, but because I knew Chicago had some world-class art, I signed up to do the art events and I’m so glad I did! I have no eye for art whatsoever, but while I’m in the city I figured I might as well check out some of the art that people travel the world to come see – and it’s so much cheaper than if I were to do them on my own. We have seen a play, gone to the Art Institute of Chicago, and are heading to a ballet this week; three things you wouldn’t have caught me doing before I came to Chicago.

I found out this week that I’ll get to be a representative of the company I’m interning for at the Chicago Auto Show, so I’m sure the next update will be full of some great happenings there, as well as some sweet car pics. Now I’m off to have another action-packed weekend in Chicago!