-Scott Liska '09

Today was our first chance to visit the city after recovering from yesterday’s day of travel. It took a little longer than anticipated to get ready due to the fact that there were only two showers for the entire floor at the hostel. This wasn’t helped by the fact that one of the showers was occupied for almost an hour! I hope that this isn’t foreshadowing tomorrow morning’s preparation for our first day in the schools. Most of us already have to wake up at 6AM to make the hour-plus commutes to our host schools.

            After we were all finally ready to head out into the heart of the city, we walked to the Maxwell Street Market which interestingly enough is not on Maxwell St. The market, now residing on Canal St., is the city’s longest running open air flea market. I speak for almost all of us when I say that there was at least one thing there we had never experienced. From cow brain tacos to gas masks, there was something for everyone to buy.

            After the market, we traveled to the Chicago Historical Museum where we saw some interesting exhibits and learned some intriguing facts. Particularly cool exhibits were the actual bed that President Lincoln died in and an exhibit about the origins of the Low Rider car.

Practice runs on the public transportation system have hopefully prepared us for our first day in the schools. I think the city is becoming less intimidating as we progress through the week.