Our first full day in the Chicago was blessed with incredible weather and even better adventure. We kicked off the morning with a presentation from Tiffanie Beatty in which she shared her wealth of knowledge regarding how to best utilize the Chicago public transit system. We learned how the tragic fire of 1871 devastated the Chicago landscape but had also given the city a chance to implement one of the most highly organized grid system of public buses and trains we see today. The next phase of our day allowed us to utilize these newly acquired skills in exploring the vibrant community of Chicago’s Chinatown. As we romped around, our senses were continually bombarded with the many novel sights, smells, and tastes that this had to community offer. The assortment of exotic spices, fresh fruit, brewed teas, and seafood was enough to make one’s mouth water, making the wait for lunchtime nearly unbearable yet extremely satisfying. During downtime, our group had a chance to make our way to see President Barrack Obama’s beautiful red brick house but unfortunately, the secret service carried out their job admirably leaving us to admire the structure from a distance. Next, we had an incredible opportunity to visit the Cambodian Association of Illinois where one of the only Cambodian cultural museums in the US is housed. During our visit, the exhibit on display was put together to honor the millions of Cambodians who lost their lives under the oppressive rule of the Khmer Rouge. We learned about the history of how their forces came into power as well as the atrocities that occurred under their command. Despite the history of tragedy and hardship, the Cambodian community was adamant in dedicating the memorial to a brighter future rather than the gloomy past . Images of the lotus were scattered throughout the exhibit to symbolize that beauty and new life can grow from the pain and destruction experienced by these individuals throughout history. The most moving part of this experience came from gazing at the tall panes of glass etched with the names of victims and set before a ceremonial urn that held native Cambodian soil and water. Our evening plans led us to the Neo-Futurist Theater where we were graced with the company of Barrel of Monkeys performing a show entitled “That’s weird Grandma”. This group consisted of individuals who had a passion for performing as well as teaching theater to the next generation. The hilarious program we watched was entirely written by elementary school students with whom Barrel of Monkeys works with in developing skills such as creative writing. As we returned aching from laughter and ready to retire for the night, spirits were high and hungry for what Chicago had in store tomorrow!
Aleksey Kozlov
Junior