A Week in the Life of a Newberry Seminar Student in Chicago

What is the typical week of a Newberry Seminar student like?

Monday

Classes ran on a MWF schedule at the beginning of the semester. As the semester continued, the seminar tapered off. Encouraged to begin their individual research, students explored the Newberry Library. The Newberry staff worked right alongside each of the 16 students. Individual attention and interest from the staff encouraged each researcher to delve into unique areas of study.

Georgia Armitage (pictured in the back and center), developed one of the more unique projects this semester. Interested in architecture, She devised an in-depth case study on First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, Illinois. She evaluated the church’s explicit use of nature within the frame of Neo-Gothic architecture.

With plenty of one-on-one guidance from our seminar professors, Bill and Eric, projects like Georgia’s thrived. When we weren’t in class on Monday’s, our Tuesday’s were spent exploring the city of Chicago.

Tuesday

Available daily, Chicago runs free events all around the city. From winning free prizes in marketing campaigns in Millennium Park to strolling through the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Zoo Light Festival, we remained constantly entertained.

When Tuesday’s adventures would come to a close, Wednesday led us back to the library. Wednesday nights my roommates and I would bake. A lot.

Wednesday

After a long day at the library, carbs were a must. My roommates and I often bonded over food. A recurring delight of ours? Pretzels. With limited diets, homemade pretzels were among the few things we could all eat. That being said, our pretzels did not disappoint!

On Thursday’s we would present our research process to Newberry and the Chicago public.

 

Thursday

Our professors–exceedingly present in our research–would schedule time for the class to present their research findings. Presenting throughout the semester kept us in line. Although the checkpoints were few, we were expected to present substantial work. Personally, my public speaking skills drastically improved.

 

Alas! The weekend has arrived. One of my most favorite times, and below, you can see why!

The Weekend

I know many will say that Friday is not a part of the weekend. But with this off-campus semester, you made your own schedule. Boy, was I thankful for that! On the weekends, we could explore Chicago with complete freedom. From eating at hole-in-the-wall breakfast places to eating at high-end sushi restaurants, I was well fed!

 

 

 

 

My friends doubled as my adventure team! Walking around Chicago was one thing, but with our free public transit passes, the possibilities were endless. But, there were times where we just wanted to stay in the apartment. Relaxing in Canterbury Court Apartments was easy to do. The already fully-furnished apartments were comfortable and became a second home to me!

 

 

 

This semester was extremely difficult. I cannot express that enough. The intensive seminar and independent research study left you wary at times. But the end results were worth the long, tireless hours. I would not have traded this semester at the Newberry Seminar for anything. I will always cherish the people I met and valuable skills I learned.

Thank you, Chicago.

World’s Best Cup of Coffee

So…. Maybe I haven’t found the world’s best cup of coffee, but I have been on the hunt for Manly’s best cup of coffee! My goal for this term has been to try every little cafe, and there are a ton, and see which one had the best latte.

Mocha Mocha Mocha

I have been spoiled since being in Australia because they know how to do coffee here. Drip coffee, pressed coffee – any sort of non-latte does not exist. The closest thing you can get to that is a long black or Americano (which in my opinion are not worth it). Everywhere you turn, there is a coffee shop, so it is safe to say that I have been thoroughly caffeinated since the moment I arrived in this wonderful country.

There are several cafes within walking distance of campus, so I have slowly been making my way around town trying different coffees.

Manly Coffee Guild
Peanut butter latte <3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though most coffees are pretty equivalent around town, I have narrowed my selections down to these three:

 

#3. Muffin Break – cute coffee chain around Australia and it has the BEST version of iced coffee (coffee blended with ice cream, so like a frappuccino but way better).

#2. Fika – I am in love with this bright, quaint Swedish cafe. They have great coffee and even better cinnamon and vanilla buns. They top their mocha lattes with a Dala Horse in cocoa – can’t get much better than that!

and finally… (Drum roll please)

#1. The Roast Office – I am definitely in love with this place for several reasons. Their coffee is delicious of course! It is also the closest cafe to ICMS – I sound lazy, but if you had to climb the hill up to the school, you would understand too! The music choices are incredible every day, the cafe is the most adorable place in the world, and their banana bread is awesome. No, most of that has nothing to do with the quality of coffee, but its the best in my opinion, and I have spent many a morning in this beautiful place.

My excessive amount of visits to The Roast Office

 

Hostels for the Holidays

This past Thanksgiving was the first time I have spent a major holiday away from my family. Chileans may be familiar with “el día de la acción de gracias,” but it is certainly not celebrated here. Seriously, I couldn’t even find a box of stuffing or a butter ball turkey on the shelf of the local supermarket. It was definitely strange to be away from home on such a significant holiday.

All semester I have pushed myself to learn and adapt to Chilean customs and traditions. This is something I really enjoy doing and is a large part of the study abroad experience, but it can be exhausting being out of your comfort zone for so long. Sometimes you just want someone who understands, who you don’t have to explain things to, and who relates to the feeling of misplacement and homesickness on a day like Thanksgiving.

Throughout Thanksgiving day,  I  yearned to be with my own family on one of my favorite holidays of the year. I even felt guilt for not being home– who else was going to make the sweet potato casserole, or set the table, or take care of all those leftovers in the fridge? I can’t even bear to think of how lonely the dessert table must have felt without its most loyal visitor.

Despite my wishes, I had set very low expectations for my Thanksgiving in Chile. It was supposed to be a travel day from Puerto Natales, Chile to Calafate, Argentina. However, we ended up not being able to get seats on any of the buses, so we learned mid-day that we would be stuck in Puerto Natales for another night. After scrambling for space in a hostel, we finally found a couple spots in a dorm and made our way over.

We set our things in our room, met our American roommates, and I hopped on Instagram and began scrolling through stories of food spreads, full plates, and family games. It was practically taunting, but was the dose of FOMO I needed to realize I didn’t have to miss out on one of my favorite holidays just because I wasn’t in the US.

We went to the grocery store, bought chicken, instant mashed potatoes, and ingredients for pebre, a Chilean salsa served at nearly every lunch (so maybe our meal wasn’t exactly “traditional,” but it worked for us!). After preparing everything in the hostel’s shared kitchen, we took our plates into the living area and joined the other guests snacking on salami, peanuts, and other trail snacks as they prepared for their Torres del Paine treks. Realizing we were all Americans, everyone raised a glass in the air and exchanged a “Happy Thanksgiving!”

It sure wasn’t my normal celebration, but I certainly was thankful.

The Time I Felt Like a Prince

My spectacular view of the monument, royal gardens, and green mountains, looking from within the building.

I was on a balcony. I had a view. There were gardens, mountains, and pieces of art. A cool breeze was passing through. The only thing that was missing was my princely clothes and my crown. My visit to the monastery of El Escorial was like a fairy tale story. This giant monument is located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a charming municipality with picturesque mountain views and architecture that complements the scenery. I was taken aback when I learned that it was the residence of Spain’s austere King Phillip II. The ancient monastery includes eerie royal catacombs, a meticulously decorated basilica, gardens, courtyards, multiple rooms, and artwork from many centuries ago.

Our group finally was able to reach one of the upper floors where the king’s art collection was being displayed. A balcony with an open door caught my attention. “Awesome! A view!” was one of the first things that came to my mind. Little did I know I was entering my very own storybook scene complete with a gorgeous view of part of the castle-like monastery, artsy gardens bellow, and magically verdant mountains in the distance.

Walking past San Lorenzo’s colorful buildings on our way to El Escorial monastery.
A grand view of one of El Escorial’s facades.
A view of El Escorial’s surrounding buildings that complement its austere character.
A view of the charming, story-book town of San Lorenzo against the mountains.
The beautiful facade of the monastery’s basilica. Its outer appearance does not do justice to its marvelous interior.
A look at the old interior halls El Escorial.
A view of one of the monastery’s inner courtyards.
A side view of El Escorial monastery.
The charming streets of San Lorenzo.
An enchanting view through a window of El Escorial monastery.
The inviting streets of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
We stumbled upon a cute restaurant in San Lorenzo with a tree canopy.
Walking down a street in San Lorenzo.
A collection of colorful buildings in San Lorenzo de El Escorial greeted me when I arrived.

Life in the Castle

After a few months of living in our beautiful ICMS castle, I still haven’t been able to get used to the fact that I am in Australia. Yes, I am going to school, studying, hanging out with friends, watching Netflix, drinking an absurd amount of coffee – the usual things that college students do! But I am doing all of that in AUSTRALIA. Plus, I live in a castle.

Do I consider myself a princess?

Why yes.

Yes I do.

A hardworking, beach-going, coffee-loving princess!

 

Quick time lapse of walking up to the castle! I got really into time lapses this term…

However, sometimes castle life isn’t all its cracked up to be (I know what you’re thinking – that’s what all princesses say). It still is uni, and like at any college or university, some of the most important things are how nice your dorm room is and how good the food is.

My room is amazing with tall ceilings, gorgeous views, filled with TimTams, a Swede, and an Australian! My roommates are awesome and living the triple life hasn’t been as bad as I thought it might have been, and I’m grateful for that!

Daily struggle of climbing the staircase (Featuring my good friend, Sam).

Typical lunch – random combination of food and always cucumbers and kiwi (if they have them)!

If you like eggs, tater tots, rice, and bread rolls, then this is the uni for you! The food is pretty good most days, the very limited options can make it a little difficult some days (Ubereats is my hero). Something I personally miss is iceberg lettuce (arugula and that purple stuff is too popular here) and good old American ranch dressing!

I think the fatal flaw of living on campus is that I don’t have access to a proper kitchen. Anyone who knows me knows I love making cookies and birthday treats almost more than life, so not being able to do that has been a little difficult! Everyone be prepared for heaps of sweets the week I fly home…

But regardless, living in the castle has been more than just a dream! I get to look out my window and see the gorgeous Manly beach, walk down two flights of stairs for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and enjoy the warm breeze in the beginning of December! What more could I ask for?

More than a tourist

Well, that’s a wrap! I have finished my classes and exams and am off to do my own personal travel for the next month! I am currently writing from Puerto Natales (check me out on a map, I’m practically a skip and a hop from Antarctica!), which is a touristy city that the Torres del Paine trekkers base out of. I, too, will start an 8-day backpacking trip tomorrow, so I have spent the past three days preparing, packing, and meeting fellow trail mates.

Although I am still in Chile, I haven’t heard this much English since I was departing Detroit-Metro Airport back in July. Walking into stores, ordering at restaurants and cafés, and meeting fellow tourists— it’s assumed that English is the mutual language. Although I used to find comfort in the Chileans and extranjeros that spoke English, I have become quite stubborn with insisting on Spanish.

Being blonde-haired, fair-skinned, and blue-eyed, it is no secret that Spanish is not my first language. I have learned not to take offense when spoken to in English, but rather, see it as a kind attempt to communicate and connect with me in the way that seems fit. However, it is an act of self-confidence and discipline to reply in Spanish. I have found that when I do this, natives take interest… they realize I am not like any other tourist. It begins the conversation with where I’m from and where I learned Spanish, and I get to tell them about how I studied in Santiago all semester and am now spending the time traveling and getting to know other parts of the country. They are captivated and humbled, and I think more than anything it makes them proud to be where they are from. It is a special connection and a mutual understanding of the other. I am not just another tourist.

Climb on!

Prior to coming to Chile, I had planned on enrolling in a class at a Chilean university, in addition to taking classes with other study abroad students at IES. Although I decided to take all my courses through IES, I still wanted to find a way to get involved with Chilean university life. Initially, I enjoyed the empty planner and free nights to do as I pleased. However, the transition of being very involved at Hope to coming to a country that had no expectations or obligations for me was a tough one.

La Universidad Católica does a great job of welcoming and including international students (yes, even those who aren’t actually taking classes there, like me). There are plenty of free on-campus events, groups that offer trips and tours around Chile, and even an exchange partner program to practice Spanish with a Chilean Student practicing their English. Even more, the University offers “talleres,” which are just like intramurals. Being a Hope Intramural Volleyball Champion two years running (yeah, it was the less- competitive league…), I was ready to bump, set, and spike it with some Chileans. However, it ended up that the only option that fit into my schedule was the rock-climbing class, so I signed up!

For those of you who are not climbers, let’s just say that my annual summer camp wall climb did not necessarily give me the “climbing experience” that some of the Chileans in my class presented. The two course instructors were professional climbers and had just gotten back from a 3-month climbing trip in Spain! However, most students in the class didn’t have any experience either, and on the first day of class, they equally struggled to find a pair of climbing shoes that didn’t turn their toes into pigeon feet.

Throughout the semester, I climbed every Tuesday and Thursday. Not only was it enjoyable to be active and learn a new sport that I would be able to take back to the States with me, but climbing is relaxing enough that you can engage in conversation while off the wall. Secondly, climbing is not a sport you can do on your own! While on the wall, taking route and learning to belay in Spanish was not easy, but it certainly progressed my listening skills! Lastly, this experience really connected me into a Chilean community. Friends that I met climbing invited me to come camping, celebrate Fiestas Patrias, and go out on the weekends together! Making a Chilean community was certainly not as cookie-cut as Playfair and ice breakers at Hope, but my climbing community invited me in as one of their own!

So, a piece of advice to all those who plan to study abroad, don’t let your friendships and community be confined to the classroom! Go out and try something new. The best people you can find are those who share your passions, and it is an organic connection point that really begins a friendship. Climb on!

Zoom Out

Posing in front of spectacular view of Madrid at sunset.

What is the best way to capture the life and grandness of Spain?” I would ask myself. I can almost visualize the days flying by to my departure from this treasured land. How can I make it last? How can I portray a general overview of this place that greets me with a load of surprises?

One answer I have found is overhead shots of the cities. From such a high perspective, analyzing the “big picture” or capturing the general atmosphere of the places I have been to comes much easier. It makes the pieces easier to put together. That one moment I got lost in that one neighborhood will make much more sense when I see how its buildings fit in with its nearby locations. That one friend I met on that one street will become more memorable to me when I see the architecture and street life that surrounded our encounter.

“Zooming out” has really made me appreciate how interconnected my experience has been. It makes me see that whatever struggle I was facing at that time, outside my bubble, there was still beauty, life, and hope surrounding me, whether or not I chose to see it at that moment. Please enjoy these wonderful over-head shots of Spain and be reminded of how interconnected your experiences are with the world around you. Click on the photos to view in slideshow format with their descriptions!

View of Cibeles in Madrid taken from the town hall building.
A view of a street corner from the ancient wall of Avila.
A view of Avila’s Basilica of San Vicente and its surrounding areas.
A view of Avila from the heights of its wall.
A view of Madrid and its Catedral de La Almudena from a hill near the Debod temple.
A view of Callao, a section of Madrid’s famous street, Gran Via.
An over-head view of Callao, a section of Madrid’s famous street, Gran Via.
An aerial view of Madrid from the tower of Moncloa.
An aerial view of Madrid from the tower of Moncloa.
An aerial view of Madrid’s Complutense University from the tower of Moncloa.
A snapshot of some artful gardens taken from a bridge over the Manzanares river.
Me posing in front of a mountain view of Cercedilla, a town outside of Madrid.
A semi-aerial view of the picturesque gorges that surround the city of Toledo.
A view of Toledo from the one of its bridges.
A view of Sevilla from the enormous Las Setas structure.
A view of Sevilla from the enormous Las Setas structure.
A view of rural land on a scenic train ride from Sevilla.
Comically posing on a mountain overlooking Cercedilla, a town outside of Madrid.
Enjoying a picturesque view of Cercedilla and its nearby areas from atop a mountain.

Es una Broooma

I’m anticipating that when I get home, people will ask me what my favorite thing about Chile was. My answer for them will be this: the sound that Chileans make as they’re waiting for you to get their joke. It’s a very specific “aaaaah,” and it’s shared by basically everyone I’ve met! I love this particularity of their culture, and I appreciate that I’ve gotten to experience it on the daily.

Chileans have a remarkable sense of humor. They are always making jokes and teasing one another lightheartedly. My house, the church, and even my classes are absolutely full of laughter.

My two-year old brother loves to play pranks and poke fun at the rest of our family. He has a catch-phrase that he says all the time: “es una broma,” which means, “it’s a joke.” Or, with his cute baby-talk, it generally comes out more like “es una brooooooma.” I think it’s the cutest thing ever! Here’s a quick video:

The sense of humor is also present in their language. Chileans have added many words and phrases to the Spanish that I learned, which makes it their own unique dialect. As we say in my phonetics class, they speak chileno, not español.

Many of the “chilenismos” have to do with animals, which is pretty fun. For example, young men are called cabros (goats) and hacer una vaca (cow) is to raise money. Another one of my favorites is echarse el burro, which means to lose motivation to do something.

One thing Chileans do is call each other names. A lot are endearing nicknames–there’s the classic mi’jita (mi  hijita), cariño, or amor that even people in the grocery store will call you. There’s also modifications of your given name– I’ve gotten Moni, Mo, and Moquita. My friends are Isa Pizza and Juan Papa (to incorporate food). And also Chileans often use adjectives ironically, like feo (ugly) or gordito (fat). When I first heard my friend Rodrigo talking about his daughter, la gordita, I remember being shocked. But it’s actually a term of endearment, some light teasing. A reminder not to take everything people say completely seriously.

I tend to be an over-thinker and I value pondering deep life questions. But simply being in another culture has brought a lot of that to mind. So I’m thankful that I get the chance every day to laugh it off, take joy in relationships, and watch Camilo’s face light up when we fall for another one of his pranks.

Volunteering at Fighting Words

The social norms in Ireland are different than in America, even though there are still many similarities. For example, one thing I notice is that wherever I go there are numerous groups of individuals, whether Irish or of foreign descent, walking around. Many of them are tourists visiting the city, and when I pass by, I always notice the varying accents of the different groups. Moreover, when I walk throughout the city, I notice that individuals are casually strolling as they are talking, which is significantly different from what I experience in the big cities in America, where everyone seems to be in a rush.

More importantly, I see the different social interactions among children and adults at Fighting Words. Prior to coming to Ireland to study and volunteer, I did not really know what to expect from Fighting Words. I did some background research prior to starting, but when I arrived for my first day at Fighting Words for orientation, I realized it was a special place.

The first session was a refreshing experience for me. And every following session, the kids would have their own cliques or groups that talked a lot, especially during the initial story portion of the session. And then when they headed into their individual writing sessions, they would continue to talk, which is similar to my experiences being in class with my friends, especially in primary and secondary school, where I would always want to sit next to the boys and converse, even if I was supposed to be working.

The kids would always want to write the funniest, most outrageous stories to impress and make their friends laugh. It was hilarious sitting back and listening to the stories and reflecting on my own adolescence. I found myself being more interactive with the kids, talking to them, trying to get an idea of where they were coming from. However, since there is a new group of kids every week, it is hard to get to know them. I did have one interesting run-in with two boys in one of my sessions. It turned out that one of the boys was flying to America the next day and we talked about New York and President Trump and what we thought about him. The session ended before we could talk more, but that boy still is stuck in my mind.

In future sessions, I now have acquired better communication and small-talk skills to not only talk to my students, but also to kids my age, and also be able to adapt that conversation to speaking to adults. Volunteering at Fighting Words has been a breath of fresh air. It has provided me with an entirely new set of skills when I return to America, talking to my friends. It has been a great semester!