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! 

Ready, Set, ChicaGO!

by Cody Kaemingk

Hi everyone! My name is Cody and I will be giving you some insights on the adventures of me and my fellow CSers (Chicago Semester Students) as we venture out into the city for the next three months. I am a Business Administration major at Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA and have enjoyed it immensely. I am originally from Lynden, WA; just 5 minutes from the Canadian border on the coast of Washington state, so you could say I’m slowly working my way East. As a second semester senior, I believe the Chicago Semester program is the perfect transition from the college life to the working world, and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that it will present.

My adventure began at Midway two weeks ago Saturday where I landed and was amazed at how easy it was to find the CS recommended shuttle to Canterbury Court Apartments. Upon arrival at Canterbury, I was greeted by the friendly desk staff where I completed all the necessary lease paperwork and signed my very first rent check. I received my room key and took a short ride up to the third floor in the coolest old elevator I’ve ever seen and entered my room to find a great view of the city.

My first thoughts about the apartment were positive. I was told that the apartments weren’t the newest in the world so I expected nothing too fancy, but was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness and spaciousness of my 3-person apartment. The kitchen leaves a little to be desired as far as size and storage goes, but it should be just fine for my limited cooking skills. One thing I didn’t expect was the lack of available plug-ins, but a quick trip to Target for a power strip and extension cords solved the problem. The rest of the move-in went smoothly, and I was settled in the apartment after just a few hours.

Sunday night kicked off CS orientation with a few quick tips about city navigation and some pizza from Lou Malnati’s – which was spectacular! You always hear about how great Chicago deep dish pizza is, but words don’t do it justice. The CS staff was great and helped make a very new city feel like home. Yes, we had to play those awkward get-to-know-you games, but they really are the best way to break the ice.

The next day consisted of a variety of different activities geared toward learning the city’s neighborhoods and cultures, as well as how to navigate our way around the public transit system, which was something I was honestly worried about, but after a few days and some missed train stops you learn pretty fast. Interview placements were announced the next day, and we were given time to research our sites and complete some practice interviews with the CS staff. The rest of the week consisted of interviews for the general students, and lots of free time to explore the city.

I was very pleased with the internship sites I received. All of them matched my requests in different ways, so choosing my site after hearing they were all interested was difficult. I ended up picking a company that specializes in collecting marketing data and I couldn’t be more pleased. Starting this internship confirms my thoughts that the Chicago Semester program was a great decision. Stay tuned for updates on my first week in the office and more adventures around the city, and be sure to check out all the sweet pics from the group on Instagram using #CSSpring2015.

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

by Nikki Howard

Happy December, readers!

And Unhappy Last Day to all of my fellow CS students. We had our farewell party on Wednesday, and I’m pretty sure I can speak for everyone when I say that we’re stunned at how fast this semester has gone. It’s amazing how we’ve all changed in these three and a half months.

In August, I was convinced that at some point I would get myself so lost even the internet couldn’t save me. In September, I decided to go visit a recommended coffee shop on a whim, so I got on the Brown Line for the first time. Now, I barely use the transit app that I was glued to for that first month. Getting lost was one of my top worries, so it’s amazing how anticlimactic it all was.

It left me more time to worry about properly taking it all in, and I made sure to do the best I could.

For one thing, Chicago during the holiday season is honestly so beautiful that I’m actually debating whether I preferred the fall or winter portion more. And for those who don’t know me well, I detest cold weather. I detest hot weather. Fall is the perfect season for me, so this is pretty big.

And to those of you debating whether or not Chicago Semester is something for you, I would recommend yes. Yes, yes, yes. You’ll get an advantage with job searches after college, you’ll get to explore a culturally diverse city to your heart’s content, and you’ll learn so much about yourself. Do you enjoy living in a big city? Are you good at adapting to the situation? Are you comfortable with your internship field? If anything, do it for the food. (Just kidding—maybe. Not really. Everything is so good.)

So, to finish out my last blog post, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you, Chicago Semester, for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you, to my internship site, Open Books, for accepting the awkward quiet me and then the awkward blabbermouth me once I got more comfortable. I’ll miss everyone at my internship and Chicago Semester, and I wish them the absolute best in life. Also, to everyone reading this: visit the Open Books bookstore sometime. It’s amazing.

Thank you for these wonderful months, Chicago—I hope to come back soon!

Nikki

P.S. If someone ever came up to me and asked: What was the worst thing about your time in Chicago? I would have to answer drinking Swedish Christmas Soda. Nowhere near enough sugar. I know American soda is unhealthy, but why’s it gotta taste so good?

So Much To Do; So Little Time

by Nikki Howard

Hello, readers!

All of us students here at Chicago Semester sadly only have about 3 weeks left, and I’ve noticed a trend of slight panic over all the things we haven’t yet done. Chicago is a huge city to explore, and I’m 100% sure there’s always something new to find. I’m trying not to feel too much like I missed out on a lot of things because I know I would never truly get to them all. I mentioned it in my last post, and I’ll say it over and over: Plan out where you want to go and make time for it. Weekends are wonderful for us because it’s a chance to have down time after a busy week, but I know I’ve been lazing about too much during those times. Try to find that balance between relaxing and exploring! Going out and finding a new place to eat is a good way to do that, for example. Or even just find a place to eat dessert if you can’t afford the whole meal. Here’s a delicious cupcake I bought at Molly’s Cupcakes, and they average around $4. It’s a pretty well-known bakery, so that’s not too bad.

When you feel like having a more adventurous day, pick a neighborhood and go visit it. I just happened to visit Chinatown last weekend, and I absolutely loved exploring the area. Which also reminds me—don’t stick to the most advertised street in a neighborhood. Go off the beaten trail a little bit, and you’ll find some hidden gems that many often miss because they stick to the popular streets that have been designed to be tourist-friendly. When you look up Chinatown, for instance, you’re pointed toward the main street that has that big welcome sign over the entrance. It was fun to explore, but I have a feeling if my roommate and I hadn’t wandered away from that street, we might not have enjoyed it as much. We found a lot of the typical tourist shops, of course, but there were also a lot of marketplaces to go into where they had more cultural appropriate things that weren’t modified to fit the American standard.

So don’t be afraid to be your own tour guide if you visit Chicago, and just be safe about it.

Before I end this post, I wanted to include a picture of some lucky cats that have been sitting on the bookcase next to my desk, silently cheering me on. I never really looked at them until after my trip to Chinatown - funny how that works.

5 Things You Should Know About Chicago Semester (and the city)

by Nikki Howard

Hello, readers!

Has fall been passing by so quickly for you all? When I think about how I’m getting down to almost one month left in Chicago, I feel so rushed and nostalgic even though I haven’t left yet. Crazy! Anyway, since I’ve been here for a good amount of time now, I like to think that I have some helpful knowledge of the city. I’m no expert, for sure, but I have definitely had some experiences. So, here’s a list that can help future CS students (or even people visiting Chicago for some points).

Things Nikki Was Not Prepared For:

• The puddles. You know how in the movies sometimes there’s a scene where a car drives by in the rain and causes a huge wave to drench someone? In Chicago, that’s real life. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid those waves by pure luck, but it’s hard sometimes when the buses rush past. Also, rain boots are your best friend. Wearing wet shoes at work all day is not enjoyable.
• The food temptation. If you haven’t heard it before, which I’m sure you have, Chicago has amazing food. You can google great Chicago food and get an endless list, ask colleagues for recommendations, or just explore areas with specific types of food. Everyone has some place to recommend, and it can get overwhelming when you’re trying to keep a budget. Dangerous but delicious.
• The smokers. Honestly, I have never been in a city with such a huge population of smokers, so it has been a bit of a shock. It’s not like that makes me hate the city, though, it’s just something you have to learn to work around. If you’re walking behind a smoker, take a few steps to the left or right so you don’t catch their smoke drift. Cross the street if you can. People have the right to smoke here, but that doesn’t mean you have to expose yourself to it.
• The busy-ness. A previous CS student mentioned a lot about how busy she was during her semester, and I now realized how true her statement was. Our weeks are really a busy schedule: full work day internship, classes on Wednesday, exploring on weekends. It doesn’t seem like that much since it can fit into three points, but they’re definitely extensive activities. Planners and to-do lists are your best friend when you’re trying to organize your time!
• The internship: When you sign up for CS, you usually have a pretty good idea of what you want to do. It’s hard to deviate from that after thinking about it for months beforehand, but I really encourage you future CS students to be open-minded. I went through my three interviews, had two that were more of what I was originally planning to do, but then actually went with the third because there was just something about it that interested me. It’s been an amazing experience because I’ve learned new things that I’m interested in, and also re-affirmed some things I don’t want to do. It’s a wonderful balance of do’s and don’ts for future jobs, which is all I ever wanted.

Those are some of the big things that I’ve learned so far this semester, and I hope they help someone at least! And since I always love to include visuals, I’ll end this update with some photos I’ve taken and captions.

Puerto Rican art from the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture seen during our CS group trip to Humboldt Park

Sugar skulls being sold at the National Museum of Mexican Art for Dia de los Muertos

The beautiful Auditorium Theater where CS saw Joffrey Ballet's Swan Lake

New Month, New Adventures

by Nikki Howard

Happy October, readers!

Chicago has had a very nice fall so far (with the exception of last Saturday’s near winter temps), which has been pretty awesome. During our orientation we were advised to do most of the tourist stuff first, so that’s what a lot of us have done during our first month here. I’ve been to Navy Pier, the Bean, Millennium Park, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Park Zoo, Buckingham Fountain, The Field Museum, and the Art Institute to name a few. Even if they’re considered things for tourists, they’re still a part of Chicago’s history and it’s important for everyone to see and enjoy them! One thing I’ve heard both tourists and natives rave about is the Architecture River Tour, so I decided to try it out a couple weeks ago. The tickets were a bit pricy, but the weather was gorgeous and perfect for a boat ride. After going on it, I’m so happy I decided to take a risk. The tour has been of my favorite things I’ve experienced so far. The city looks beautiful from the river and it’s really fun to get to know more about the buildings you pass all the time.

The coolest thing I learned: there’s one apartment building that has balconies specifically designed to give you the best view possible. It’s been named Aqua because of the wavy look the balconies give it, and it’s just so interesting to look at. Also, it was designed by a very talented female architect named Jeanne Gang, which is awesome in its own way. I would attach a picture, but I was in too much awe to lift my camera. I will include a picture of the Chicago Tribune building, however, because it is such a classic Gothic style that was inspired by French cathedrals. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Chicago, but I also love to look up at that building and imagine I’m in France. 

Another big thing that just happened this weekend is a new tradition called the Great Chicago Fire Festival. It’s a big celebration created to focus on the rebirth of Chicago after the fire and a way to join together the neighborhoods of the city. They had three sculpted buildings to burn in the evening and fireworks to follow. Maybe I lost some of that celebration spirit because I’m not from Chicago, but the idea kind of seemed strange to me. I still wanted to experience it, however, and I wasn’t alone, so a group from Chicago Semester got together to go. Unfortunately, weather wasn’t on the city’s side. It was cold, rainy, and bleak that day, and that rain also got on the sculptures that had been built. Instead of going up into a blaze, they burned slowly in the interior and barely showed on the outside. We watched them for about ten minutes before leaving because of the cold. While our experience wasn’t the best, however, we were witnessing the first festival of this kind to ever be put on. Of course there would be mistakes! If it wasn’t for the rain, everything would have gone a lot better, and next year I’m sure they’ll be more prepared. 

So here’s to new traditions and clear skies!

First Time Living in the Second City

by Nikki Howard

Hello, reader! My name is Nikki, and I’m a student at Briar Cliff University currently attending the fall section of Chicago Semester. I am a Writing and English double major hoping to further my education through an internship and the worldly city of Chicago.

I arrived at my current housing, Canterbury Court Apartments, a couple Sundays ago in the morning to avoid the terrible city traffic. If you’re ever moving into somewhere in a big city, arriving in the morning on a Sunday will give you less stress. Life Tip #1. Anyway, the apartments are small and old-fashioned, but honestly a big step up from dorm living because of the kitchen, closet, and bathroom. The kitchen and bathroom are self-explanatory, but the closet is a pleasant surprise with how large and spacious it is—at least when you’re the only person in it. Two people trying to get dressed in that space is difficult, but one person is a perfect fit. If you can’t tell, I’m pretty excited about the closet.

Moving into the apartment was a breeze because of the awesome staff on hand, so there’s nothing very interesting to re-tell about that. I’m saving you from lots of boring stuff, trust me. We all know how moving into a place is exhausting but exciting at the same time. So after all of that stuff, the Chicago Semester staff and students met for a pizza dinner get together, which is much more fun to talk about. I tried authentic deep dish pizza for the first time, and I also got to meet the people I’ll be hanging out with for the next three months. I thought it was a really nice way to start the new chapter in our lives by experiencing the culture of Chicago and sharing it with others. Overall, it was a pretty brief dinner and meeting, but that was actually really nice after the long day. I still can’t tell if I’m lucky or un-lucky to be on the second floor with a concrete wall view, but the muted outside noises at night definitely benefit my sleep schedule.

The next morning was our first day of orientation, so we all did our best to make it to the Chicago Semester building on time. We were given very detailed directions at the pizza dinner, so overall it was a big success. The first day of orientation was a lot of information about Chicago; how to live in it, how to get around, how to stay safe, and how to get the most out of our experience. If you thought reading that was hard to follow, then imagine a whole day worth of information—and then imagine hard copies of that information being given to us in beautiful folders I like to lovingly call in my head: ‘Everything You Need (and Just Realized You Need) To Know About Chicago Semester And Living In the City.’ It’s long, but it works. I kept that close to me during the whole orientation, and that was the key to successfully learning everything.

While orientation was the main focus for those first few days, I made sure to still get out and familiarize myself with the area. Canterbury Court Apartments is located in a very commercialized part of Chicago, but it’s also comforting in that way because there’s so many familiar things like Walgreens, Starbucks, FedEx, and (my favorite) Barnes and Noble close by. It’s also just a ten minute walk from the main area of shops on Michigan Avenue, which has basically everything. It’s not the heart of the true Chicago experience that we’ve all heard about, but it’s still a large part of the city that is fun to check out, and it’s a good way to start your exploration. 

Exploring the City

by Brett Jasper

Being in Chicago so far has been unbelievable! There’s always something happening if you’re willing to leave the apartment for a while and maybe get a little lost. In fact, it’s almost overwhelming how much you’re surrounded by diverse people and culture. This being the case, you have to be really careful with how much money you spend because it goes quick here, and as college students, were not the wealthiest group. But I figure experiencing Chicago to the fullest is at least a cool way to go broke.

I was lucky enough to start dating someone from the program so I had someone to go on adventures with. Steph and I spent the first few weeks putting our transit cards to good use. We got lost a lot at the beginning, thanked heaven that we have smart phones loaded up with Google maps, and slowly started to understand how Chicago transit works. From this point on we were free to explore the entire city.

We got all the touristy stuff out of the way first. We visited “The Bean” and paid $20 each to go to the top of Willis Tower, despite the fact that it was too cloudy to see anything. We visited the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute, Navy Pier, and a bunch of other places, and what we realized was that a lot of the “touristy” stuff isn’t a great idea in January, though we still had fun.

So where were we to go from here? We’d seen the popular stuff and the rest of the city was pretty overwhelming. So what we did, and what might be a good idea for others, was to pick out one or a few Chicago neighborhoods that seemed interesting and just got to know that neighborhood better. We became regulars in a neighborhood called Wicker Park. It’s full of young, mustached, creative-types who like to put stickers on things. Our favorite place there is a coffee shop called the WormHole. It’s got kind of a loose sci-fi/80s movie theme happening and the WiFi is very fast indeed. We also got addicted to a small chain of donut stores called Glazed and Infused which features just insane donuts such as the bacon maple long john. These are only for hardcore donut junkies so be careful.

There are always bands playing in Chicago, too, and most concerts are fairly cheap if you don’t mind indie music. We waited outside in freezing temperatures for an hour and a half to see a free Airborne Toxic Event show. If you look hard you can find cheap and amazing things to do all the time in Chicago and I’m excited about what the rest of this semester will bring.

Chicago: Getting Orientated

by Brett Jasper

Orientation during the first week was interesting. After some introductions from the Chicago Semester instructors and general info, we got a crash course on how to navigate the city and avoid danger, which is mostly common sense and trusting your instincts.

We played a few icebreaker games, which I generally don’t enjoy, but all in all, the program did a good job of helping us get to know each other. The activities I found to be the most helpful were when we were broken up into small groups and sent out into the city to have lunch or dinner together. Phil also taught us how to use the “conversation stack” (Google it) to help us avoid those awkward conversation lulls that tend to happen when people first meet.

A few days in we found out where we would each be interviewing for internships and were given times to meet individually with Chicago Semester instructors to help us clear up anything we needed clarified. We also had mock interviews with instructors to prepare us for the real ones in the coming days.

There was plenty of downtime and research time during this period where we were able to get to know each other even better. With only about 50 students in the program, you’re bound to meet everyone eventually. And commuting to and from the office gave me a feel for how long it takes to get to places in the city. The office is located in the Loop, which is basically the hub of downtown Chicago where all the trains meet and “loop” around a few blocks.

Chicago: The Awkward Meet And Greet Stage

by Brett Jasper

Hi everyone. My name is Brett Jasper. I’m from Ontario, California, but I attend Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa where I studied fine art and graphic design;  I’ve been living in Chicago for the past few weeks, seeing the sites, checking out interesting eateries and coffee shops, and spending way too much money.

I arrived a few Saturdays ago, flew into Midway and took a shuttle, eventually arriving (after getting slightly lost) at the doorstep of Canterbury Court Apartments on North State Street just off Division. It’s a bustling, touristy neighborhood right in downtown Chicago. When I got up to my room on the sixth floor I was immediately blown away by the view and, simultaneously, horrified by the lack of a kitchen and second bed. I soon realized, though, that they weren’t missing – just hiding in closets. It’s definitely small but two people can easily make it work. It’s only three months, anyway.

Our first day after arriving, we met with the entire group at Lou Malnati’s pizza just down the street from the apartment. For the first few days, for me at least, it was hard to get comfortable. In this whole new place with a crowd of strangers, it didn’t really feel like home. This out-of-place feeling didn’t last too long though. It was actually pretty easy to meet people. While some students did have friends in the program, it seemed like most came alone, so everyone was kind of in the same boat. Also, this group is pretty good at posting to the Facebook group when fun things are happening, so everyone can get involved.

Final Words

by Katie Flood

This whole semester has flown by so fast! I cannot believe how I have grown throughout my time here in the city. I came in asking a lot of questions and in general being a very confused person. I still have a lot of questions, but I have learned to find peace within the confusion. This semester has taught me so much about how to function living in a new place and how to act in a work setting. I am leaving this semester feeling ready to enter in to the “real world.”

As a way to celebrate the end of the semester, the program planned a dinner for us at a restaurant called the Parthenon in Greek Town. This was a wonderful way to end the semester. We all sat and ate a family style meal and reminisced about the adventures that we had this semester. It’s really sad that this was the last time we would all be together. I cannot express how blessed I have been to have been able to have such an amazing experience.

As I look towards the future, or returning home and then to campus, I feel a mix of emotions. While I am excited to see my friends and family, I am not ready to leave the city. I would easily move back, and I really hope that this becomes the case. There is so much life and potential for this city, even amidst the brokenness. I love urban life and living in the city. I cannot wait to come back!

What Is Sketchy?

by Katie Flood

Prior to my arrival in Chicago, I was hesitant to move to Pilsen because I was afraid that it would be sketchy. I grew up in the suburbs surrounded by perfectly landscaped yards and paved roads that are repaired frequently. Everything always looks nice, AKA, not sketchy. But since my arrival in Chicago my idea of “sketchy” has changed significantly. While there are parts of my neighborhood that aren’t glamorous, I feel safe and welcomed in these spaces. This doesn’t mean that I’m not cautious, but it really has made me question why and how we categorize things as sketchy.

            Merriam Webster Dictionary defines “sketchy” in three ways:

                        1. “not complete or clear”

                        2. “done quickly without many details”

                        3. “likely to be bad or dangerous”

I think that a lot of times we focus too much on the third definition. We see a building and define it as sketchy based on its appearance, which is not incorrect by the first two portions of the definition, but then we automatically assume that because it wasn’t well made or is missing parts of it, that it is a place of danger.

I know that this is the mindset that I take when I look at things, but I also see myself working my way out of that mindset through my exposure to parts of the city that are automatically deemed as sketchy and therefore are unapproachable. I think that when coming to Chicago it is important to focus on the assets that each community has, rather than defining them by the problems the community faces.

Being a part of the Urban Intensive Track during my time in Chicago has given me the opportunity to expand my horizons and learn to appreciate the beauty of various neighborhoods throughout the city.

As a class we have visited Uptown, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Englewood, as well as many others. I love that I get to experience neighborhoods that I probably would not have made an effort to visit outside of class time. We chatted with different organizations such as Breakthrough Urban Ministries and Erie House.

One of the neighborhoods that I have grown to love is Chinatown. I have gotten to know this neighborhood through my internship and my personal exploration. This weekend, I took my friend to visit. We explore the shops, walked around the main streets, and found some delicious food for dinner. I love that I am able to be so invested in such a vibrant neighborhood.

On a completely different note, make sure you bring an umbrella!

A Walk Around The Neighborhood

by Katie Flood

This week, the Chicago Semester students all participated in the Pilsen Plunge. Basically, we spent our class day touring through Pilsen. I am one of the six girls who chose to live in La Casa student housing in Pilsen, so for me this was a great chance to explore my own neighborhood.

The day started off with a lecture from Maria Bucio, who works with La Casa as a part of The Resurrection Project. We all learned about why and how La Casa was formed, and the extreme effort they take to help their residents succeed in college.

We then headed on a mural tour of Pilsen. Pilsen is covered with murals that show the history and culture of the neighborhood. We went to a school down the street from La Casa that showed different historical figures in Mexican history. They were painted on the panels of windows by students at the school. This was my favorite part of the day because I learned a lot about the murals that I did not know before.

As the day went on, we went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant and listened to a speaker talk about the history of the Pilsen neighborhood. It was interesting to see how much Pilsen has changed over the past few decades.

Our last stop was the National Museum of Mexican Art, where we had a tour of the Day of the Dead exhibit. We looked at all of the different altars and Day of the Dead themed paintings. I was particularly struck by the altar honoring the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy. This altar featured the faces of all of the victims, with a mirror on the the bottom, reflecting the faces of featured above. The tiled mirror was lined with rolled green scrolls, which we later learned were prayers that had been written by the students from the school that created the altar. I was touched by this method of honoring those who were lost in such a tragic event. 

The Pilsen Plunge made me stop and think about how very little I know about the neighborhood that I live in. I told myself that I was going to make more of an effort to explore my area while I am here.

Two of my apartment-mates and I decided that we were going to take a walk around our neighborhood after we got back from our internships. We picked a direction that we don’t normally go down on 18^th street, and found many small little shops, restaurants, and even a small grocery store just down the street from our apartment building. It’s amazing what you find when you just head a little bit away from your normal route, not to mention I can now go to that small market for some basic produce when I don’t feel like walking to Jewel or Cermak Fresh Market.

I really appreciate living in a neighborhood that continues to blow my mind. I’m excited to continue to explore during my time here in Chicago.

3 Life Lessons I Have Learned

by Katie Flood

My time in Chicago has been precious. Each moment has been filled with learning experiences that are helping me grow. One of the most important things that I have learned, or more so, that I am continuing to learn, is the importance of time management. I’ve always been the type of person who has been very on top of things and have, for the most part, had good time management skills. However, my schedule in Chicago is very different from what I am used to, and I’ve had to make a few adjustments because of that.

1. Sleep

          Since I have to leave for work around 8:30 in the morning I have had to adjust my sleeping schedule. While on campus, I was normally able to go to bed between 12 and 1am, I will usually hit the hay between 10:30 and 11:30. I know this probably makes me sound very lame, but being exhausted at work is not fun.
2. Homework

          When I was at school, I was able to get homework done in large chunks on days where I would only have one class, or during large gaps between classes. Work life is different. The majority of my work has to get done on the weekends because I can only manage to do a little homework on the days during the week when I am working. I’ve had to adjust my study habits in order to accommodate my new lifestyle.

3.  Me Time

          Being in a new city is exciting, full of adventure, but also vastly overwhelming at times. What I’ve realized is that it is important to take time to be by yourself. I’ve gotten into the habit of leaving for class on Wednesdays and hour or so earlier than I need to. Then, I have time to just walk around the Loop area for a bit. Sometimes I go to the post office, or do other errands. Most of the time I end up grabbing coffee from Intelligentsia, one of my favorite coffee shops in the city. This is time that I look forward to, and I am glad that I have realized its importance.

I’m still continuing to learn how to be an adult in the “real world,” and Chicago Semester is helping me bridge the gap between college and career. I’m looking forward to seeing how much I have grown and learned at the end of the semester, but for now, I’m glad I have figured out the importance of sleep, adjusting my study habits, and Me Time.

Adventure Around Every Corner

by Katie Flood

After living in the city for just around a month now, Chicago still continues to amaze me. There is never a lack of things to do and sometimes you find yourself in the midst of a cultural experience without planning.

           

Last weekend was Mexican Independence Day and the town of Pilsen celebrated this holiday right outside La Casa. I was hanging out in my apartment when I started to see crowds of people lining up outside on the street. I had not realized what weekend it was, so it didn’t occur to me why there were people lined up for a parade. I jumped at the opportunity, ran downstairs, and found myself in the midst of an Independence Day celebration. After the parade, the community made its way to the little plaza outside of my building, where there were folk singers and dancers, and vendors. My friends and I spent the entire day being immersed in this traditional holiday that was literally happening right outside our door. My Chicago experience has been filled with sporadic moments like these and those have been the moments I have enjoyed most.

This weekend, my friends and I decided to cook a meal together. We all chipped in a little bit, and created some yummy turkey enchiladas. It was nice to sit down and have a proper meal with friends. Although I like living and working on my own, I usually end up cooking individual meals for myself, so it was nice to eat with other people. My friends and I decided we liked this experience so much that we were going to try and make this a regular occurrence.

On Saturday, we had ourselves an adventure and headed to the Apple Festival in Lincoln Square. We browsed for a little bit, and explored the new area, then decided that we wanted to do something different; go to the Taco Festival in Lakeview. We stayed for a short-while in Lakeview, and then hopped back on the train and headed down towards Chinatown, where we browsed the shops, bakeries, peeked in the public library, and took some very touristy pictures. We then ate a delicious dinner at Portillos, a Chicago-area favorite located near the Gold Coast. Together we covered a lot of ground on Saturday. It was exciting to see so many places in such a short period of time. It was a great way to spend what would have otherwise been an average Saturday afternoon.

My weekends here in Chicago are always filled with excitement and good company. 

The Start Of An Adventure

by Katie Flood

Hi everyone. My name is Katie and I am currently a senior at Hope College studying Communications with Spanish and Leadership as minors. I grew up in Glen Ellyn, IL (about 40 minutes from the city), but my family currently lives in Wixom, MI (close to Detroit). I am part of the UIT (Urban Intensive Track) program, which is a special track of Chicago Semester that focuses on being immersed in the neighborhoods of Chicago.

As a part of the UIT program, I was given the opportunity to have alternative housing. While the majority of the Chicago Semester students live in the Gold Coast, my apartment-mates and I live in Pilsen, a Spanish-speaking community, with vibrant roots and culture. The six of us live in La Casa Student Housing, which is part of The Resurrection Project, an organization that seeks to help build up the communities of Chicago.

Living in Pilsen has been quite an experience so far. Since it is mainly a Spanish-speaking community, the majority of the businesses have their signs in Spanish. I love this aspect because I studied Spanish during my time at Hope, and it’s a great way for me to keep up with the language. There is also a plethora of Mexican bakeries and restaurants. Everything is decently priced (you can get a pretty good meal for around $7) and really yummy. When I moved in, my parents took me to a restaurant called Nuevo Leon and we enjoyed a brunch of Huevos Rancheros, which are eggs, with rice and beans. You then load the eggs, rice, beans, and add a bit of salsa onto a freshly made tortilla. It’s mouthwateringly tasty. Aside from food, Pilsen is covered in murals. These works of art are everywhere from at the EL stop to on the sides of buildings. This area is also home to the National Mexican Museum of Art, which I plan on exploring soon.

As far as internships go, I interviewed with a company over the summer. Most other students go through the interview process once they get here. I accepted a position at Pui Tak Christian School as an After-School Program Intern. Pui Tak is a small school located in Chinatown. It’s very hard to describe Chinatown, but basically it’s very vibrant, colorful, and filled with shops and restaurants. Going to work everyday is like entering into a new world, even though it’s just a 20 minute bus ride away from my apartment.

When I’m not working, I have been spending a lot of time getting to know my apartment-mates and exploring the city. Over labor day weekend, we spent the day at the beach, ate dinner at a Thai Restaurant, went to Jazz Festival in Millennium Park where we listened and danced to various performers. There is never a lack of musical events in Chicago (not to mention that Jazz fest was free).

The past week or so has been eventful, full of excitement, and overwhelming with new learning experiences. I’m enthusiastic about exploring the city while gaining skills in a work environment.