Chicago seems like it was so long ago. I guess in reality it was only 2.5 months ago, but so much has happened since then. After graduation on May 8th and spending a week in Allerton in with my family (and Joe was home, too!!), I packed up my little car and moved to Minnesota to job hunt! Why Minnesota, you ask? Well, for one, Austin is from Minnesota. :) And most of the people I know from Minnesota have been pretty dang awesome (Esther, Chey, Sara, Toenies). Plus, I read on MSNBC that Minneapolis was the best city for "young professionals" to move to. Because I still want to be in or near a medium-sized city, it seemed like a good fit. Finally, and very importanty, Austin's family offered to let me stay with them while I job hunt/ apartment hunt.
So, I moved to Minnesota in mid-May. I am very thankful and amazed at how quickly things worked out. After lots of job applications, hours working on my resume, and several interviews, I landed a job I love and that utilizes my social work and psychology education. I am a Mental Health Advocate at a group home for adults with Severe and Persistent Mental Illnesses (SPMI). Some of the diagnoses of our clients include Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and PTSD. I have 12 clients on my caseload, but when I am at work, I am in charge of a building with 22 residents. Some of the residents are able to go out into the community and hold jobs; others are not and spend most of their time on the property. My job responsibilities include administering medication, writing referrals for appointments, making appointments for the residents, monitoring and progress noting their mental health status, being a listening ear, handling conflict when it arises, and working with ILS workers to make sure the residents are getting the best care we can offer. I have a great schedule; I work 4, 10 hr. days; 4 days on and 4 days off. Though it makes for a lack of consistency, I love it! Though 10 hours sounds like a lot, it goes by super fast and at the end of the day I still have things I could do.
I also love the 4 days off in a row. I spent one set up at a lake with Austin and his family on vacation. We went fishing, kayaking, tubing, and hiking. I also spent 4 days down in Allerton with my family. On my last 4 days off, my family came up to the cities and we went to the Mall of America. Then I took Austin to Star Wars in Concert.
One other exciting thing going on: yesterday I signed a lease for my first post-college apartment. I have a nice studio in Little Canada, just north of St. Paul. It is in a quiet area, only 17 minutes from work. I move in August 1st. In the mean time, I am still staying with Austin's relatives, which has been a good experience.
Now you are updated on my life. :)
I hope you are doing well. Have a great day!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Social Work Journal
For my social work seminar, we had to write a reflection paper on the topic "the city as the context for faith and learning." What follows is the reflection I wrote, which summarizes many of the things I have learned and thought about during my time in Chicago. Just thought I would share it. :) I'll post another update on what I have been up to the last couple of weeks later on this weekend. Enjoy!
Lessons in Social Work in a Windy City Classroom
When most people think of a classroom, the images that come to mind may include desks, a white board, lectures, note taking, and possibly, naps. But, according to dictionary.com, a classroom is “any place where one learns or gains experience.” With this definition, my suspicions are confirmed: this semester, Chicago is my classroom. I am the student and the people I meet on the street, the other tenants in my building, the clients and staff at my internship site, the CS staff, and even the people on the subway are my teachers.
During my undergraduate education as a social work major, I remember learning about the six core values of the social work profession, as laid out by the NASW: the importance of human relationships, service, social justice, integrity, competence, and the dignity and worth of people. But I have learned more about these values in the last month of city living than during my entire three and half years in a traditional college classroom setting.
The first value is the importance of human relationships. Being in Chicago, I find it amazing that a person can pass by literally hundreds of people on their commute to work without really having a meaningful interaction with anyone. It is very easy to get lost in the busy-ness of city life and to neglect relationships. Remarkably, it is possible to be in a crowded subway and yet be totally alone. During my short time in the city, I have learned that even when surrounded by people, I must be intentional with relationship-building because we all need each other. I need the people who run the CTA, the lady checking me out at Jewel, and the individuals who clean the kitchen at my internship site. We are all interconnected and should value our relationships, whether they are casual friendships or professional alliances.
The second social work value I have been learning about in Chicago is the dignity and worth of people. There are two men who are outside of Walgreens almost every day selling the Streetwise magazine. Their names are Andres and Sean. For the first couple of weeks I lived here, I walked by them every day without even acknowledging them. I feared making eye contact because I knew they would ask for money and I do not have a lot to give. But one day I talked to them. I learned their names, asked them about their day, and gave them some Valentine’s Day candy. Come to find out, they are not scary guys; in fact, they seem quite nice. Though I do not know their stories yet, I would love to learn them and I plan on stopping by and saying hi to them more often. After all, they are human beings who deserve dignity, respect, and Valentine’s Day candy. Just like every other person I pass throughout my busy day. Even if I cannot help them much financially, I can be a blessing to them by acknowledging them as the treasures they are—human beings created in the image of God.
This leads right into the next social work value I have been contemplating in a fresh way in my new city classroom: social justice. I find it interesting that on the “El” I see people from all walks of life; some men have business suits and briefcases, while others carry their belongings in a garbage bag and look like they have experienced more than their fair share of troubles in life. Sometimes I wonder where social justice is, or if it really exists for some people. I wonder what it would look like if all of the resources of the city were redistributed equally to all people. How would it change the futures of the children I see walking down the sidewalk? How would it impact the rates of crime? What would it to for Andres? What kind of city would Chicago be?
I am also learning a great deal about service. I am given many opportunities to serve during my average day. I get to serve the clients and staff at my internship site by helping with daily tasks such as loading the dishwasher, organizing files, and folding laundry. I serve the kids by listening to them when they want to talk and helping them resolve conflict. I can serve people on the subway by giving up my seat when someone else needs to sit down more than I do. Then I can come back to my apartment and can serve my roommate by cooking dinner or taking out the trash. In a city of almost 3 million, there are dozens of ways to serve people every day. The key is to keep my eyes open and take action when I identify those opportunities.
The fifth value I learned during my undergrad studies in social work was competence. I enjoy the fact that I have the opportunity to put my social work knowledge and skills into practice. I feel so blessed for the education I received and believe that it prepared me well for a career in social work. But I am also learning that in many ways, experience is the best teacher and real life situations require more competence and common sense than just book smarts.
Finally, as I continue my internship, I am reminded of the importance of integrity, the final core social work value. In one of the best movies of all times, Spiderman’s uncle tells him that “with great power comes great responsibility.” I know that by working with children in a residential setting, my actions and example will impact them. I must always make sure that I am modeling behavior and character that overflows with integrity.
For me, the city truly has been a context for faith and learning. Reading textbooks and listening to professors have their place in the sphere of education. But to truly learn, one must get out of the four walls of the classroom and claim all of life as their classroom, every person as their teacher, and every second an opportunity to learn.
Lessons in Social Work in a Windy City Classroom
When most people think of a classroom, the images that come to mind may include desks, a white board, lectures, note taking, and possibly, naps. But, according to dictionary.com, a classroom is “any place where one learns or gains experience.” With this definition, my suspicions are confirmed: this semester, Chicago is my classroom. I am the student and the people I meet on the street, the other tenants in my building, the clients and staff at my internship site, the CS staff, and even the people on the subway are my teachers.
During my undergraduate education as a social work major, I remember learning about the six core values of the social work profession, as laid out by the NASW: the importance of human relationships, service, social justice, integrity, competence, and the dignity and worth of people. But I have learned more about these values in the last month of city living than during my entire three and half years in a traditional college classroom setting.
The first value is the importance of human relationships. Being in Chicago, I find it amazing that a person can pass by literally hundreds of people on their commute to work without really having a meaningful interaction with anyone. It is very easy to get lost in the busy-ness of city life and to neglect relationships. Remarkably, it is possible to be in a crowded subway and yet be totally alone. During my short time in the city, I have learned that even when surrounded by people, I must be intentional with relationship-building because we all need each other. I need the people who run the CTA, the lady checking me out at Jewel, and the individuals who clean the kitchen at my internship site. We are all interconnected and should value our relationships, whether they are casual friendships or professional alliances.
The second social work value I have been learning about in Chicago is the dignity and worth of people. There are two men who are outside of Walgreens almost every day selling the Streetwise magazine. Their names are Andres and Sean. For the first couple of weeks I lived here, I walked by them every day without even acknowledging them. I feared making eye contact because I knew they would ask for money and I do not have a lot to give. But one day I talked to them. I learned their names, asked them about their day, and gave them some Valentine’s Day candy. Come to find out, they are not scary guys; in fact, they seem quite nice. Though I do not know their stories yet, I would love to learn them and I plan on stopping by and saying hi to them more often. After all, they are human beings who deserve dignity, respect, and Valentine’s Day candy. Just like every other person I pass throughout my busy day. Even if I cannot help them much financially, I can be a blessing to them by acknowledging them as the treasures they are—human beings created in the image of God.
This leads right into the next social work value I have been contemplating in a fresh way in my new city classroom: social justice. I find it interesting that on the “El” I see people from all walks of life; some men have business suits and briefcases, while others carry their belongings in a garbage bag and look like they have experienced more than their fair share of troubles in life. Sometimes I wonder where social justice is, or if it really exists for some people. I wonder what it would look like if all of the resources of the city were redistributed equally to all people. How would it change the futures of the children I see walking down the sidewalk? How would it impact the rates of crime? What would it to for Andres? What kind of city would Chicago be?
I am also learning a great deal about service. I am given many opportunities to serve during my average day. I get to serve the clients and staff at my internship site by helping with daily tasks such as loading the dishwasher, organizing files, and folding laundry. I serve the kids by listening to them when they want to talk and helping them resolve conflict. I can serve people on the subway by giving up my seat when someone else needs to sit down more than I do. Then I can come back to my apartment and can serve my roommate by cooking dinner or taking out the trash. In a city of almost 3 million, there are dozens of ways to serve people every day. The key is to keep my eyes open and take action when I identify those opportunities.
The fifth value I learned during my undergrad studies in social work was competence. I enjoy the fact that I have the opportunity to put my social work knowledge and skills into practice. I feel so blessed for the education I received and believe that it prepared me well for a career in social work. But I am also learning that in many ways, experience is the best teacher and real life situations require more competence and common sense than just book smarts.
Finally, as I continue my internship, I am reminded of the importance of integrity, the final core social work value. In one of the best movies of all times, Spiderman’s uncle tells him that “with great power comes great responsibility.” I know that by working with children in a residential setting, my actions and example will impact them. I must always make sure that I am modeling behavior and character that overflows with integrity.
For me, the city truly has been a context for faith and learning. Reading textbooks and listening to professors have their place in the sphere of education. But to truly learn, one must get out of the four walls of the classroom and claim all of life as their classroom, every person as their teacher, and every second an opportunity to learn.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tigers, Picasso, and everything in between
Happy New Year! No, I am not two months late. I am talking about the Chinese New Year! Last Sunday was the first day of the Year of the Tiger. To celebrate, I went to the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown with Sara and two other friends. I posted pics on Facebook. It was fun. There were a ton of people there and some rather interesting floats and costumes. Afterwards, we went to a Chinese gift shop and then ate at a Chinese restaurant. I ate a whole plate of peanut noodles with chopsticks! I was quite excited about my accomplishment; I have never been successful with chopsticks before.
Thursday night for our art event we went to the Art Institute's modern wing. I am not a big fan of modern art, but had an enjoyable time nonetheless. I saw a lot of Picasso's work. I plan on going back to see some of the other art later this week, since it is free all of February.
Last night there was a progressive dinner here at the apartment building. Three apartments made appetizers, three made main dishes, and four made desserts. They had a variety of good food and it was nice not to have to cook. :)
My internship has been going well. Getting up at 5:30 doesn't even phase me anymore. I am working 3 morning shifts a week and one evening shift, so I get some variety. This past week I was able to sit in on a staffing meeting for one of the clients with the case manager, therapist, foster parent, unit supervisor, and DCFS worker. That was interesting. I also got to accompany a couple of clients to appointments around town. This week was a little stressful, too, with some of the kids. They require a lot of patience. While I do enjoy the work and look forward to going in each day, I have not been convinced that this is the kind of work I want to pursue after graduation. I miss working with the elderly. I guess I have only been here for a few weeks, so perhaps I will change my mind in a month. :) It just kind of freaks me out that in <11 weeks I will be a college grad and still don't know what I want to do yet...
Thursday night for our art event we went to the Art Institute's modern wing. I am not a big fan of modern art, but had an enjoyable time nonetheless. I saw a lot of Picasso's work. I plan on going back to see some of the other art later this week, since it is free all of February.
Last night there was a progressive dinner here at the apartment building. Three apartments made appetizers, three made main dishes, and four made desserts. They had a variety of good food and it was nice not to have to cook. :)
My internship has been going well. Getting up at 5:30 doesn't even phase me anymore. I am working 3 morning shifts a week and one evening shift, so I get some variety. This past week I was able to sit in on a staffing meeting for one of the clients with the case manager, therapist, foster parent, unit supervisor, and DCFS worker. That was interesting. I also got to accompany a couple of clients to appointments around town. This week was a little stressful, too, with some of the kids. They require a lot of patience. While I do enjoy the work and look forward to going in each day, I have not been convinced that this is the kind of work I want to pursue after graduation. I miss working with the elderly. I guess I have only been here for a few weeks, so perhaps I will change my mind in a month. :) It just kind of freaks me out that in <11 weeks I will be a college grad and still don't know what I want to do yet...
I have missed my friends at Dordt a lot this week. It's been hard to connect with the other students here, mainly because of all of our different schedules and interests and stuff. It is easy to get lost in the big city. I am trying to get connected at a small group at Park (the church I am attending) but it hasn't happened yet. I guess that could be something you could pray about.
I get to visit my cousin next weekend! She lives a couple of hours southwest and I get to take the train down there. :) It will be so good to see them all again. I think that is all for now. Until next week...
Saturday, February 13, 2010
More Adventures in Chi-town
With TCI training behind me, I am finally working full shifts on the unit with the kids! On Monday and Friday I worked the morning shift (7-3:30). Waking up at 5:30 wasn't as bad as I feared; I almost enjoyed getting up that early (key word: almost); must be my dad's blood in me. The shifts went well; yesterday I was able to spend some 1:1 time with a couple of the kids. Now that I have been around for a couple of weeks and know the routine for the most part, I feel like my role has shifted more from observer to staff, which I am very happy about. In fact, yesterday one of the clients, who was slightly frustrated when I redirected him from what he was not supposed to be doing, commented, "Man, you are starting to sound like a staff!" I took it as a compliment. The kids are great; I am really enjoying getting to know each of them as individuals. I meet with my supervisor weekly to discuss how things are going and what else I would like to do during my time at Rice. One of the things I am doing is focusing on one kid each week, getting to know that particular kid, and doing 1:1 activities with him. I am super excited about this. :)
On Tuesday I had one last day of orientation; this time it was at the main Children's Home + Aid office (CHA is the head organization over Rice). We learned all about the history of the organization, other services that are offered, professional boundaries, and employee benefits. Most of it was rather interesting.
I had my first social work seminar and Values and Vocations classes this week. I have a feeling both with be beneficial, academically and personally. There are 5 other social work majors and an instructor in my social work seminar. Each Monday night we meet to discuss things that are going on at our particular sights, as well as other social-worky (I made up that word) stuff. In the Values and Vocations class we will be discussing the relationship between personal calling and social conscience using "insights from modern psychology, scripture, liberation theology, and the mystical traditions of the world" (quote from syllabus). I look forward to the class readings and discussions.
On Thursday night we had our first art event. Chicago Semester students had the opportunity at the beginning of the semester to sign up and pay a very cheap price for weekly art events, which I did. This week we attended two performances at the Goodman Theatre. They were both one acts on the topic of loss and reflection. I cannot honestly say I enjoyed the event this week, but it was kind of a cool experience.
Last night, one of the CS students won a party at a dueling piano bar called "Howl at the Moon" and invited all of the CS students. It was fun to hang out with the other CS students and enjoy the entertainment, free food, and cheap drinks. I ended my Friday night watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" with Sara. I must say, it is quite funny. If you looking for a light, unique movie that is good for both kids and adults, I would recommend it. :)
For the rest of the weekend, I must complete my Learning Contract (contract between me, my supervisor at Rice, and my field instructor on the things I want to do during my internship) and other homework for classes. I hope to do some exploring as well and attend the Chinese New Years Parade in Chinatown tomorrow. :)
Have a great weekend. :)
On Tuesday I had one last day of orientation; this time it was at the main Children's Home + Aid office (CHA is the head organization over Rice). We learned all about the history of the organization, other services that are offered, professional boundaries, and employee benefits. Most of it was rather interesting.
I had my first social work seminar and Values and Vocations classes this week. I have a feeling both with be beneficial, academically and personally. There are 5 other social work majors and an instructor in my social work seminar. Each Monday night we meet to discuss things that are going on at our particular sights, as well as other social-worky (I made up that word) stuff. In the Values and Vocations class we will be discussing the relationship between personal calling and social conscience using "insights from modern psychology, scripture, liberation theology, and the mystical traditions of the world" (quote from syllabus). I look forward to the class readings and discussions.
On Thursday night we had our first art event. Chicago Semester students had the opportunity at the beginning of the semester to sign up and pay a very cheap price for weekly art events, which I did. This week we attended two performances at the Goodman Theatre. They were both one acts on the topic of loss and reflection. I cannot honestly say I enjoyed the event this week, but it was kind of a cool experience.
Last night, one of the CS students won a party at a dueling piano bar called "Howl at the Moon" and invited all of the CS students. It was fun to hang out with the other CS students and enjoy the entertainment, free food, and cheap drinks. I ended my Friday night watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" with Sara. I must say, it is quite funny. If you looking for a light, unique movie that is good for both kids and adults, I would recommend it. :)
For the rest of the weekend, I must complete my Learning Contract (contract between me, my supervisor at Rice, and my field instructor on the things I want to do during my internship) and other homework for classes. I hope to do some exploring as well and attend the Chinese New Years Parade in Chinatown tomorrow. :)
Have a great weekend. :)
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Week one of February
Each morning as I ride the "el" to work, with my travel coffee cup in one hand and the daily Chicago newspaper --the "Redeye"-- in the other, I find myself feeling very adult-ish. :) It is kind of weird, but I am really enjoying it. :)
All week at work I did the TCI training that I described in my last post. It ended up being rather enjoyable; the instructor and other students managed to make a 30 hour training go by very quickly. Many of the things we learned were a review of things I had learned previously in some of my social work classes (particularly Fundamentals of Social Work... thanks Prof. Olson if you are reading this!) while some were new skills that will come in handy not only in this job, but in other parts of life as well. Basically it was on listening skills, handling conflict and crises, and helping the kids learn coping skills to prevent crisis situations. We also learned a variety of restraints, but I will not be using those skills during my time at Rice since I am just an intern (which I am OK with). All of that said, we had our test on Friday and I passed. :) I am officially TCI certified, which may come in handy for future social work jobs as well as my time at Rice.
I did not have a lot of free time during the week due to the readings we had to do outside of our class times and the journaling I must do after each day of work. I spent most of my evenings at the apartment with my roommate, Sara.
However, yesterday (Saturday), we did get out and explore the city a bit! :) We went down to Millenium Park, saw the "Bean," and did some shopping. I put some of the pictures up on Facebook and will have the rest up as soon as Facebook lets me (it's been weird). We also enjoyed listening to some musicians in the subway. I love riding the "el" (short for "elevated train," though some of the trains also go underground).
This morning I attended Park Community Church, which I think I will be returning to. I enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, the worship time, and the message, which was both convicting and thought-provoking.
Tomorrow I will have my first 7-3 shift on the unit, which means I will be up around 5:30 AM!! I am sure I will adjust. Coffee is my friend. :D Tomorrow evening I have my first social work seminar, which is a part of the Chicago Semester program. I am excited to get to know the other students in my group.
That's all I have for now.
Have a blessed week! :)
All week at work I did the TCI training that I described in my last post. It ended up being rather enjoyable; the instructor and other students managed to make a 30 hour training go by very quickly. Many of the things we learned were a review of things I had learned previously in some of my social work classes (particularly Fundamentals of Social Work... thanks Prof. Olson if you are reading this!) while some were new skills that will come in handy not only in this job, but in other parts of life as well. Basically it was on listening skills, handling conflict and crises, and helping the kids learn coping skills to prevent crisis situations. We also learned a variety of restraints, but I will not be using those skills during my time at Rice since I am just an intern (which I am OK with). All of that said, we had our test on Friday and I passed. :) I am officially TCI certified, which may come in handy for future social work jobs as well as my time at Rice.
I did not have a lot of free time during the week due to the readings we had to do outside of our class times and the journaling I must do after each day of work. I spent most of my evenings at the apartment with my roommate, Sara.
However, yesterday (Saturday), we did get out and explore the city a bit! :) We went down to Millenium Park, saw the "Bean," and did some shopping. I put some of the pictures up on Facebook and will have the rest up as soon as Facebook lets me (it's been weird). We also enjoyed listening to some musicians in the subway. I love riding the "el" (short for "elevated train," though some of the trains also go underground).
This morning I attended Park Community Church, which I think I will be returning to. I enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, the worship time, and the message, which was both convicting and thought-provoking.
Tomorrow I will have my first 7-3 shift on the unit, which means I will be up around 5:30 AM!! I am sure I will adjust. Coffee is my friend. :D Tomorrow evening I have my first social work seminar, which is a part of the Chicago Semester program. I am excited to get to know the other students in my group.
That's all I have for now.
Have a blessed week! :)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
First Week in Chi-town!
What a week it has been! Monday through Wednesday were full of orientation stuff-- meeting other students and the CS staff and having classes on city safety, public transporation, roommates, and internships. Thursday and Friday were my first two days at Rice. :) After a tour of the facility, I learned more about the programs and services offered, met the staff, and spent some time on the unit getting to know the boys. There are 5 units at Rice and I will primarily be working on the unit for 10-13 year old boys. There are 9 boys on the unit. All of the kids have some type of mental illness or severe behavior problems, so I can already tell that this is going to be a challenging internship and that I am going to learn a lot. I am very much looking forward to it and am excited to learn and grow. I already like the kids and the staff I will be working with. Much of my time will be spent directly on the unit with the boys, but I will also be sitting in on group therapy, including art therapy. This coming week I will be taking Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training, which will involve learning about how to de-escalate situations when a kid is having a crisis and how to safely restrain a kid who is out of control. Hopefully it is training that I will not have to use very often.
Yesterday I finally moved into my apartment! :) I am living in a studio apartment in the Gold Coast area with one roommate. It feels good to be settled in and no longer have to live out of a suitcase. The apartment is very cozy; our closet is bigger than our kitchen and our beds fold into the wall! :) I really like where we are at--the CTA and many stores and restaurants are within walking distance and my roommate is great! It is going to be a great semester...
Yesterday I finally moved into my apartment! :) I am living in a studio apartment in the Gold Coast area with one roommate. It feels good to be settled in and no longer have to live out of a suitcase. The apartment is very cozy; our closet is bigger than our kitchen and our beds fold into the wall! :) I really like where we are at--the CTA and many stores and restaurants are within walking distance and my roommate is great! It is going to be a great semester...
Monday, January 25, 2010
The beginning of a new adventure...
As a senior in high school, I was on my first college campus visit at a strange reformed school in the middle of a cornfield in northwest Iowa. I remember meeting with the head of the social work department and learning all about the program and why I should attend the Dutch school. During the meeting, I asked the man: "Are there any off-campus programs in a big city?" He told me that, in fact, the school does send students to Chicago each semester to learn and work and grow. I told myself at that time that if I chose that school, I would do the Chicago Semester.
Here I am, a little over four years later, laying in my hotel bed in Chicago after my first lond day of orientation for the 2010 spring semester of the Chicago Semester Program! :D I can't believe it is finally here! It seems like it was just a few months ago that I sat in the social work pod for the first time, learning about Dordt; but at the same time, it feels like it was lifetimes ago.
All that said, my first day in Chi-town has been long and fun, full of new people and experiences. My parents drove me here on Sunday because I had some appointments this morning for my internship. Orientation started this afternoon. I have already used the CTA several times, walked down the Magnificent Mile, eaten awesome ethnic food (Middle Eastern--really good!), and been solicited for money. I love the diversity and busyness that I have seen already.
Tomorrow is another big day of orientation stuff. The biggest thing is that we will figure out who we are living with and where. We are currently staying at a hotel and will move into our apartments on Saturday. There are 88 students participating in the program, from 12 different schools (13 students from Dordt). Wednesday we will visit our apartments, sign our leases, and finish up orientation. I start my internship on Thursday! I am very excited!
That is all for now. I will try to keep this thing updated, at least weekly. Love and Prayers.
Here I am, a little over four years later, laying in my hotel bed in Chicago after my first lond day of orientation for the 2010 spring semester of the Chicago Semester Program! :D I can't believe it is finally here! It seems like it was just a few months ago that I sat in the social work pod for the first time, learning about Dordt; but at the same time, it feels like it was lifetimes ago.
All that said, my first day in Chi-town has been long and fun, full of new people and experiences. My parents drove me here on Sunday because I had some appointments this morning for my internship. Orientation started this afternoon. I have already used the CTA several times, walked down the Magnificent Mile, eaten awesome ethnic food (Middle Eastern--really good!), and been solicited for money. I love the diversity and busyness that I have seen already.
Tomorrow is another big day of orientation stuff. The biggest thing is that we will figure out who we are living with and where. We are currently staying at a hotel and will move into our apartments on Saturday. There are 88 students participating in the program, from 12 different schools (13 students from Dordt). Wednesday we will visit our apartments, sign our leases, and finish up orientation. I start my internship on Thursday! I am very excited!
That is all for now. I will try to keep this thing updated, at least weekly. Love and Prayers.
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