Blah, Blah, Blah

I sure write a lot of useless information in these posts. ah well. not many people read it anyway.
So today is Friday...let me tell you about my day yesterday.
I had three interviews yesterday, starting at 9am. It took me a while to figure out the bus system at 8:15 in the morning, but I eventually got to the Field Museum of Natural History interview at around 9:20, twenty minutes late. oops. That interview was really rushed but it sounded okay..I wasn't too excited walking out of that interview and it seemed like if I worked there I wouldn't get much experience in other departments at the museum. I'd also get lost in the 600-some employees that the museum has.
I'd get more one on one internship attention at a smaller place, I'm sure.
The next interview was at Easter Seals. It's the headquarters of a place where they work to educate people how to deal with people with disabilities, and they have offices all around the country that have different focuses: children development centres, centres that focus on adult care, after school and preschool programs, PT, Speech Therapy and other developmental things like that. Very very interesting. I know I'd like it there because of the professional atmosphere, the people who work there, location of the office, and values of the programs. Love it.
My final interview was at the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. I really liked the laid-back atmosphere but it seemed a little too casual for me. I liked the events they needed planning and they are desperate for volunteers. They also have a good mission as an organization and have friendly people. Easter Seals is still my number one though!
After the interviews we took the red line to a catered dinner at a community church and finished off the night with a little message and some singing as a group. Good closing to a busy busy day.
I had a looong chat with Chad on the phone, worked out, and then went to sleep. One more interview!

Finally, caught up on my posts. It takes a while to write my feelings on EVERYTHING thats gone on around here since so much has happened already.
Today was not so early, but I was really excited about the intervew I had at 10am. It was just down La Salle street at a place called Smart Resources. I immediately loved the place. It has bright red walls, business casual environment, cool younger employees who are organized and driven like I am. Not too bad for a first impression. I interviewed with the president of the company and another employee to talk about me, my resume, my experience, my likes and dislikes in a company, and their goals and values of their company. I have to say that this is my first interview where I've ever felt so comfortable. I didn't trip over my words, I was able to breathe, I was able to think clearly. I didn't feel threatened at all and they didn't grill me or shoot any unbearable questions my way either. SO nice to talk with them about the company. That's how every interview should be...sigh, I wish.
I'll see about tomorrow. I have three interviews scheduled throughout the day.
So after the interview I picked up a sandwich from Dunkin Donuts and evaluated my interview a little more in the hospitality suite.
This afternoon, after all our interviews were finished with we had to find housing for our time in Chicago.
I hooked up with Kate Lesage, Angela Van Veen [from northwestern], and Pam Groenewegen and we found a nice little apartment near state street about a block away from a red line stop and a grocery store. We had to really hurry because apartments were going fast...other chicago semester people were sighing leases already when we got there and there were only a limited number of apartments...only one that would fit four people. We looked at two apartments all together, the one we chose and another smaller one, a suite. I'm happy with what we chose. The street looks like it has some neat night life too. I'm REALLY looking forward to moving into that apartment on Saturday. yay! :) :) :)
Right now I'm sitting at the computer at the CS headquarters. We just had some pizza from Giodannis or something like that and some Eli's cheesecake. It melts in my mouth and has crunchy chocolate stuff in it. I think it's a chocolate bar. A movie is playing in the lobby area and I'll go to that after all my research is finished with.
Three interviews tomorrow...did I mention that already? Well, I can't think of all three off hand but the first one at 9am is at the Field museum of natural history. I've heard mixed messages about this place, but I might like it.
So now I'm on to facebook to add Katie to my friends list. Aaaand then research.
--until tomorrow--

Tuesday: Day 2

I woke up early to get some breakfast, work out, and get my U-Pass before our first session at 9am. This U-Pass really is amazing. I kept hearing about how great of a deal we're getting on it and I didn't really realize how much of a deal until I heard Uncle Dave talk about how MUCH transit costs in the city. We got this University Pass for only 70 dollars...for all four months that we're here. It works at any city transit, all except taxis basically...busses, trains, etc.
Our session at 9 was about our interviews and how to go about asking questions, how best to answer questions, etc. All of it I had heard before in class with professor Attema. I felt very prepared for these interviews coming up.
The next session at around 10 was about housing and roommates in Chicago. How to go about looking at the rooms and how many to put in a room, etc. We got to see a general location of where the apartments are around the city...most located very near or in the loop downtown.
We had a short break and then walked a few blocks from the hotel for a big group picture. Not so fun because I sat in bird poop and got my gloves all stinky and dirty too. sick. We left from the picture location with another different small group to go to a restaurant of our choice wherever we wanted. We all had our U-Passes so we really could have gone anywhere.
Our session after lunch was all about how the buildings and streets are labeled. North, South, West, East of State and Madison streets. We got two huge maps with street names and transit systems and we went over the quickest routes to take from a starting location to a destination. Good to know, and VERY USEFUL. We had another short break, but not long enough for a nap just yet at 2:00.
We got into different groups again and received our envelopes with our interview sites at around 2:30 and talked a bit about them with Leslie, our co-ordinator. I was given 5 interview sites. Most of which are located in the loop, conveniently enough!
From then until supper we were able to do some research about the companies for our interviews, either information they had on file or information from the internet.
at 4:30 we dragged our tired bodies back into the Walnut room for an alumni panel discussion. The three Chicago Semester alumni talked about their expectations and how it played out on their experience with the program. They gave us pointers and things to keep in mind about the program as well.
At suppertime we all got into different groups and went to a restaurant of a different ethnicity. I was in the group for the Ethiopian restaurant. So we took the Red line to get down to Clark street again and walked a bit past Clark's restaurant, the one I was at before.
We got in there and looked at the menus, [which we didn't have to do becaues the server picked our platters anyway] and decided on two platters, a spicy one and a mild one.
I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't like this food, but I tried some anyway. The server came out with some crepe-like bread, which I thought would be good. But it ended up being some sour-dough/vinegar-like crepe bread. yuck. We were supposed to tear off pieces of this bread to use to scoop up the food from the big platters. Yah, no silverwear. And because I didn't like this bread anyway it wasn't too good. I tried some brown dogfood-like chunks in the middle and they tasted like sweaty armpits...it ended up to be lamb. Poor lamb. I'm not a fan.
The mushed up chickpeas were okay, but my favorite was the chicken. It was actually bearable, although spicy, I ate it with my fingers.
After supper we calmed our spicy tongues with some ice cream or doughnuts from dunking donuts next door. Now that goes down a little better than lamb.
We took the red line back to the hotel and had more time to research our companies and prepare for interviews. It was another late night...I went to bed around midnight.

Monday Monday (da daaa da da da da)

I woke up early after a wonderful night sleep and oh man, I was so excited already at 7:00 in the morning! Had some coffee, went for a tan, and then left by 10am in Uncle Dave's Huuuuge van with all of our boxes and luggage in it.
After a stop at McDonalds and a surprisingly delicious quarter-pounder with bacon and cheese, we arrived at the Hotel Allegro in the heart of Chicago. We unloaded very quickly and said a quick goodbye to Uncle Dave and the incredible Ms. Frizzle van.
We left our two carts (!) of stuff with the bellhop and walked around Randolph street with Katie Helder and Rebecca Oldenkamp. Just talked about Christmas break and our expectations for the week to come.
Our first session was at 3:30 in a big room on the first floor called the Walnut Room. We were all in alphabetical order at the tables to start the mingling process and get to know people. Our session was a general overview of the program and what to expect in orientation in the coming weeks. We all got folders with schedules and info sheets.
Supper was led by a Chicago Semester employee who would introduce us to the transit system and some downtown walking. We split into different groups to meet more people. My group was led by Michael Sider-Rose....very nice person and interested in everything we said! We took the red line train (aka "El" train) and ended up at a place called Clark's, a weird era of a restaurant. It was laid out like a 20s burger joint and painted 60s colors, and played 70s, 80s, and 90s music. Crazy. [Music kind of like in the hotel, actually.]
Monday night after supper was a session on safety in the city and then a social hour in a suite on the 19th floor to hang out and talk with more students.
I worked out and then went to bed..I was so tired!

Day before departure...

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Went to Mars Hill with relatives. I really enjoyed that. Non-denom and very good singing. Also an awesome speaker/pastor. It's SO crazy that that church is in a mall!
Uncle Dave and Aunt Irene and I went out for lunch to the Cracker Barrel, then back home for some packing and then off to the gym to work out for about an hour.
Pam and her parents made it to the house around 4:15 or so, and then we just hung out and watched VH1 all night basically. Good to relax before the busy week ahead!