Stop Required

Since it was so cold outside we did not go on our scheduled tour of Logan Square for Precept this morning. It was a little sad, but I'm sure we'll get to do that sometime. My roommates had their internship meetings canceled this afternoon, so we ended up all staying in today. It was nice to have a relaxing afternoon. When we finally decided to look for something for dinner, we realized that we had nothing to eat. Katie, Jessica, and I decided that we would go to Dominick's to buy food. On the bus on the way there a man got on who had an expired CTA card. He ended up arguing with the bus driver for quite a while before the bus driver finally made him get off. We were going to get off at that stop, but decided that we would just go to the further Dominick's to be safe. Grocery shopping is difficult here for a couple of reasons. The Dominick's at the bus stop nearest the brown line is two stories. Of course, they put everything that people actually need (cheese, bread, snacks) on the second story. So here I am carrying this tiny basket FULL of groceries up and down the stairs. After I finally get through the check-out I still have to manage to board the bus and take a seat (luckily I got one, although it was almost 9p.m) without dropping my bags, purse, or CTA card.

One more quick story...Yesterday, when we were on the train on our way to Michigan Ave, a man was walking back and forth between cars asking for money. I, of course, sat with my mouth wide open while I watched him open the door that said "do not open unless in case of emergency." Such adventures.

Tomorrow we have class pretty much all day. In the evening we are going to have a hotdog bar potluck and I am so excited for that! I absolutely love hotdogs and have been looking forward to having real Chicago-style hotdogs! More adventures coming soon...

It's the little things...

I feel like a million dollars each time I successfully board the bus or train and manage to help my roommates find our destination. We weren't even late for class this morning! I went with my roommates, Jessica and Katie, to find Katie's bank downtown. We got a little turned around, but managed to make it back to the Urban Studies Office in time for my internship interview with Dorothy. We plan to pick up a few groceries when we get off the train at our stop. Conveniently, there is a Dominick's right across the street from our bus stop. I am excited for tomorrow because my precept will be hearing a speaker and then taking a walking tour around Logan Square. It will be nice to finally see the neighborhood. I am having a great time in the city. It is a little overwhelming sometimes, but I'm doing well so far.

Stop Requested

I moved to Chicago today. It was quite the experience moving in...we were parked illegally on a very busy street in order to unload my many boxes. We made it, though. Our apartment is HUGE!!! I will post pictures soon. I am sharing a room, but we have so much space that it should all be fine. We had our first precept meeting tonight at our apartment. There are nine girls in our precept and they all seem really fun. After precept a couple of my roommates went to the store. I had a chance to really get to know my roommate, Heidi. We made a pizza tonight for dinner and then went to Uptown with the other Logan Square aparment to meet everyone. It was my very first experience riding the CTA. It wasn't too bad, but I was very confused as to what direction we needed to go. Luckily, my roommate Amanda has been here for about a week and pretty much knows her way around the CTA. We made it to Uptown by taking a bus and then the red line. On the way back to our apartment we were a little confused as to what bus stop we had to get off on, but we made it. The bus driver was really nice and actually let us off the bus on the side of the street, not at an actual bus stop. Tomorrow begins our week of Orientation. We have things to do from 9:30 until 4:30 tomorrow. I'm very excited about this semester and all of the adventures I will have with my new friends.

Housing Details!

I am excited to move to Chicago in about one week! My apartment is on Sacramento Avenue in Logan Square. I've heard that this apartment building is quite nice (three bedroom apartments and air conditioning). My uncle lives in Chicago and I will not be too far from him. I have been in contact with my roommates (all four of them) since last night. They all seem very friendly and excited to be in the city. The topic of cooking came up in one conversation today and I felt obligated to let them all know that I am a terrible cook. They seemed to take that rather well. I'm so excited to meet my roommates in person and get moved into my apartment.

A friend here on campus gave me a tutorial on public transportation this afternoon. It doesn't seem too difficult in theory and I'm sure I'll catch on quickly. The remainder of my time in Ripon will pass quickly and the time will come to say good-bye to everyone, but until then I have one class to attend and some errands to run.

~Eliza

Frustration and Anxiety

The past couple of days have been quite frustrating. I STILL have not found out where I will be living, even though I was told I would know mid-week. The "not knowing" makes me extremely nervous. I am trying to stay positive about everything, but it's becoming more and more difficult. I am in Ripon for another week so that I can go to my sociology senior sem class and have another meeting with my advisor regarding my senior sem project, which I will be completing while in Chicago. I am happy to be here, but I am getting anxious to leave for Chicago so that I can start my own routine. Hopefully I will know the details about housing and roommates soon...until then, I will try to be patient.

Update:
Just a couple of hours ago I found out where I will be living. I will be in Logan Square and I have four roommates. I have been placed in the "Women in Chicago" class. I am feeling much better about the program and am glad that I know a few more details.

~Eliza

23 days to go...

Hello everyone!

While a lot of my friends have left, or are leaving soon, on their adventures, I am still waiting to begin my own. I leave for the Chicago Urban Studies Program on January 27th. I am so excited, but at the same time very nervous. It will be a whole new experience for me to live in an apartment in the city. I have never taken public transportation by myself either. It will be quite the adventure, I'm sure. I will be sure to share all of my adventures with you here!

~Eliza