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!
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