Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened...

I am leaving Chicago tomorrow. It has been an incredible and emotional three months, but I don't regret spending the semester here.

We had our last activity as a program today. We had a lot of laughs and reflected on our experiences this semester. It is really difficult for me to say good-bye to so many wonderful people.

I don't even know how to explain all the emotions I am experiencing right now. I am looking forward to the summer and senior year at Ripon College, but I am also sad to say good-bye to this exciting city and wonderful friends. I have grown so much this semester. I have so much more confidence and such a different outlook on the world.

I will miss Chicago and all of the wonderful friends I've made, but the memories and experiences will stay with me forever.

Thank you to all who have supported me over the past three months. I hope you've enjoyed reading my thoughts.

Time to say goodbye

This week has been bittersweet.

The baseball game was so much fun! I met Chris at his house (which is beautiful). We chatted for a while and then walked a few blocks to Wrigley Field. We were both a bit overwhelmed when we got inside, but found our seats easily. We had really awesome seats- right along the first base line. The best part of the evening- I ate a Chicago-dog at a baseball game!! :) It was the best hotdog I have ever eaten! The Cubs lost against the Brewers, but we still had a great time. There is so much history and tradition at Wrigley Field...what a great way to spend an evening out in Chicago.

I had to say goodbye to everyone at my internship on Wednesday. It was really hard to leave, especially when I had to tell my reading students that I would not be able to tutor them anymore. It broke my heart. My supervisors took me to a Jamaican restaurant a few blocks from the office for an amazing smoothie before lunch!! (It was a good thing that they didn't tell me about this place before.) I cried when I finally had to leave after T-GRO. It was so difficult to say goodbye to these wonderful people who have become good friends after only two short months.

I gave my independent study project presentation on Thursday and then went to Zeva's house for seminar. All of us girls had a lot of fun just chatting after class was over. We were supposed to go on a Mural tour for Core Course. My roommates, Matt, Casey, and I went to Pilsen. It was raining and storming, so we didn't get to finish the tour. I was really dissappointed by that.

Heidi is leaving tomorrow and I am really sad about that. We have done everything together this semester. I am going to miss having her around. It is going to be really difficult saying goodbye tomorrow. After she leaves, a few of us are going to the zoo and maybe some shopping and then Chinatown for dinner (one last time).

I am excited to go home on Thursday, but I am going to miss Chicago and all of the people I have met here. It's really strange to think that I will probably never see most of the students on this program again. I hope I'm wrong about that.

I'm getting married!! :)

I had an amazing weekend in Ripon!!

Here's the story...

So I thought my parents and sister were visiting me in Ripon so we could celebrate my dad's birthday as a family. Well, I was completely wrong. We stood outside in the wind and cold to see Bruce finish the half-marathon with his parents and a lot of our friends (I thought it was really nice that a lot of our friends came down to support Bruce). Zac and Bruce finally finished the race(after beating my time by 14 minutes). I ran over to give Bruce his sweatshirt. He grabbed my shoulders and asked me if I remembered what we had talked about. I shook my head no. He then started to dig through one of the pockets in his camelback. He said, "we talked about when the time was right..." He pulled out a black box and got down on one knee. By this time, everyone had formed a large circle around us. He looked up at me and said, "Eliza Nora Cherry, I love you. Will you marry me?" I said, "yes!" The people behind me didn't hear and someone yelled, "so what's her answer?" I looked at the crowd of people and said, "Yes!" Since my parents, his parents, and our friends knew about this, there were a lot of pictures taken (I'll hopefully get more sent to me soon).

I am the luckiest and happiest girl in the world!! This weekend was absolutely perfect! I was able to see a lot of people, hear Bruce sing with the men's quartet, and see his jazz concert on Friday. Saturday we got engaged and then hung out with our families and friends. Sunday we went to brunch in the commons. Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye, but I really have nothing to be sad about. I will be back in Ripon in just two weeks!

Earth Day

The Cubs are playing the Brewers next Tuesday at Wrigley Field and guess who will be there?! Me!! I am so excited to go to a baseball game in Chicago!

Today was a good day. The weather was beautiful and class was good. We were in Uptown at the Chicago Committee on Worker Issues. We were at the Center for Neighborhood Technology in Wicker Park for Precept. Since it's Earth Day, we took a tour of this building because it is a "green" building. We were able to learn about some programs that are being created to help people "go green." After Precept, we all went to Cold Stone for ice cream. What a great end to a day of class! Heidi and I did laundry tonight...the last time we'll do laundry together. :( I am going to try to get some of my work done so that I don't have to worry about it this weekend while I'm in Ripon!

Baseball!

I am really nervous for a presentation I have to give on Thursday! I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm still worried. I went to my internship today. One of my reading students is doing so well! I am still trying to get tickets for the Cubs game (against the Brewers) next Tuesday. I will be going with Chris Zahn (for all you Ripon people). I'm really excited and determined to get those tickets. I ordered tickets online today, but my order was cancelled due to the high demand for tickets. I called the customer service rep and he found me two more tickets (slightly higher priced, but still in my price range). I hope to receive a confirmation e-mail soon! I really want to see Wrigley Field (and not just from the red line) and eat a hot dog at a baseball game. I'm not sure I care much about the game itself, although this should be a really good game.

I am finally starting to enjoy my time in the city- the weather is great and I am realizing just how much I've learned this semester, not only academically, but personally. I think that I will be sad to leave when the time comes. It will be especially difficult to leave my internship. I've built such good relationships there in such a short time. It will, of course, be great to be back in Ripon with my friends.

Beautiful Weekend

I really enjoyed core course on Friday. We went on a "Toxic Tour" in Little Village (South Lawndale) and then to the Garfield Park Conservatory (see pictures above). What a beautiful place! I went out to eat with my uncles and aunt Friday evening. Saturday morning I went to the Maurice Lenell cookie factory with my uncle and then out to lunch with Amanda. After lunch we went shopping in Logan Square. I bought a pretty new dress from the Gap Outlet...yay for cheap clothes! I was pretty bored last night, but that's okay. Heidi and I went shopping in Wicker Park this afternoon. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!

Busy, busy, busy

A lot has happened over the last two days, so I'll start from the beginning.

I went to my internship on Wednesday. I had a really good lesson with one of my reading studetns. He is really catching on and I am so excited for him! TGRO was fun, too. I got to play outside in the park with my student and another tutor and his student because they got their homework done. It was so much fun to just hang out with my student. I got pizza from a little pizza place on the corner near my internship for dinner. It was so good...and really cheap. I chaired the last meeting of the Planning Committee. Not a very good turn-out, but that happens. I just home someone decides to take over leadership. I've put so much work into the committee over the semester, I don't want to see it fall apart.

I didn't go to my internship until 11:30 today, so I had some time to get some work done this morning...I am feeling much less stressed about homework now. My supervisor and I went to parent-teacher conferences...boy, was that fun. I ended up having an interview with a woman from Beyondmedia in Rogers Park after work for my issue project. I had such a wonderful time talking with this woman. She shared her personal story with me and then shared information about her former position at the Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers and her current position. She was such an inspiration to me. After the interview she even invited me to Beyondmedia's open house. Sadly, it won't be until mid-May, so I won't be here.

I got a letter from Bruce today, which always makes me happy. I also found out that I will be living in West Scott with Alicia next year! I am so excited about that.

The weather has been really great here. Tomorrow we are going on a "toxic tour" for core course and then to the Garfield Park Conservatory. I am really excited about it. Saturday I am going to visit my uncle and Sunday will be a homework day, unfortunately. I am also very excited to go to Ripon next weekend!

P.S. I will add more pictures this weekend.