Half-work Half-fun!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31

We arrived at the CS building early this morning for our final day of orientation and class information. We played a little community game as a group and then broke into practicum groups to talk about which Chicagoland community our group would be studying. My group, led by Sung Yeon will be studying Chinatown..the community, the people, the organizations that make up chinatown. After our practicum group meeting we all gathered together again to watch a movie on the city and the surroundings. I'd almost like to take that one home to watch again because it suggested different place to visit in each direction of the loop from the L. It also touched on the history of the city and how the people groups came to settle where they are today. I'm looking forward to the CHEAP food in Chinatown!

After classes Pam and I went shoe shopping for her. We knew already this morning that we would be partaking in a HUGE event for Janelle :) a Hip Hop dance class at the local gym. (We all received passes and had our orientation last night and also worked out today as well.) It's an amazing facility...pool lap lanes, bball court, tons of machinery, big class rooms upstairs, sauna and hot tub and steam room in each locker room, and the best thing is... wait for it.. that it's COMPLETELY FREE for one month!! Score. A student couldn't ask for more.
So Pam and I are shopping for shoes. She gets a good deal on some nice New Balance running shoes and we walk out of the store happy. Back to the apartment and we meet up with a few more people, okay 8 more people, and head off to the Shedd Aquarium. Took the train and busses to get there...and it's in the area of the Field Museum and Soldier Field. Very near the lake with some nice views of the city and the lake. We browsed and explored until around 5 and then headed back for some supper each going back to our own apartments.
Hip Hop started at 7, and I LOVED it! Loved it loved it. Awesome teacher, Leah, a spunky woman with long dark hair, petite little body, attitude, and explosion when she danced. We danced to the song Lose Control by Missy Elliot. Fun and crazy song, but we learned some clean coreography to go with it. Yesaah, I'll bust a move sometime if you ask for it.
We worked out a bit, showered and walked back to the apartment. Hung out a bit and then socialized a bit. It's Pam's birthday--the big 21, an important deal for americans because of the drinking age--so she went out as the last three socialized upstairs in one of the guys' rooms for a few hours.
I did a bit of reading of class stuff and now I'll head off to bed. I'm looking forward to my second night on my own bed. No more cracks between two beds anymore...my next mission, bedsheets and a warmer blanket. (Hopefully I'll get my next boxes by Saturday!)
G'night all!