Chicago Anniversary Food Tour!

On Thursday, Nate and I took the train to Chicago for an eating and drinking anniversary adventure. We consulted Yelp and Urban Spoon for the most affordable and highly rated places and tried to go to a few of them. Wandering around with an idea of maybe having a plan is one of my favorite things to do. Thank goodness for the $5.75 24 hour CTA unlimited ride pass. 

We started at Hannah's Bretzels, mostly because I love pretzels and wanted to try one of their fancy whole wheat pretzels. Also, we were going to embark on a sushi trek and needed something to hold us over before our long ride over to the shop. The pretzel was pretty good, except they called it a "bretzel" and described everything using the adjective "über."

 

I felt like Bruno was going to pop out at any moment and commit carbicide with us. 

After that we headed out to a place with one of the highest ratings for the Chicago Area on Yelp: Lawrence Fish Market. We went from the Loop all the way to Albany Park, but the journey was worth it. I wasn't sure what to expect. The place had such high ratings I pictured it being a fancy sushi place and looking exclusive. We walked up to a storefront that looked like a place you might pass by and ignore because it looks kind of shady. It is take out only and one of the only places to sit was an old van seat. 

Incognito pic... I was really nervous about eating the fish there.

We didn't call in our order like Yelp suggested but it only took about fifteen minutes for us to get our three rolls. If I would have known how DELICIOUS and fresh the sushi would be, I would have suggested we order a party tray and not eat anywhere else for the rest of the day. It was awesome. The prices were the cheapest I've ever paid for good sushi and the people there were so nice. 

There weren't any places to sit, so Nate and I took our sushi treasure box outside, wandered around the neighborhood until we found a foreclosed house, settled on the curb in front of the house, and devoured our fish. Our impromptu picnic was the highlight of this food tour.

You guys might think I'm joking, but I am seriously considering taking a day trip to Albany Park to get a party tray (only 30 bucks!), putting it in a cooler, and having a sushi party at our house. 

After that we wanted some German, so we headed over to Lincoln Square and spent the rest of our evening there. Before our German food, we had a Fat Tire and some more seafood at the Greek restaurant Barba Yianni Restaurant:

Sidewalk beer... the best kind!

Cold octopus and kalamari salad... pretty good expect for a lack of big octopus chunks. :(

Then we wandered around a little bit more and had another drink and appetizer at one of the cutest French restaurants I've seen: Bistro Campagne

My favorite kind of patio lighting. 

The food and atmosphere reminded me of eating in Paris. This is why I love big cities-- there are so many amazing food choices. I wish we had unlimited funds so we could fully eat our way through Chicago and then move on to other cities. I might be 300 pounds, but with all of the walking I'd probably keep it off. Or not. The unlimited funds will never come so we'll never find out!

Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in Belgium ale.

We washed down the mussels with an Old Tom Collins. I have found my summer drink. 

At this point, I was like, "Dude, can we really eat any more?" We had to celebrate the Hub's German heritage and decided to give it a shot at one of our favorite places: The Chicago Brauhaus 

Yum, beer. Or... bier?

We decided to split one pretzel and a sausage plate:

Did I mention that I love pretzels?

Homemade sauerkraut... I can't make it like this!

We couldn't finish the pretzel because it was as big as my upper body...

We wandered around Lincoln Square for little while longer until I made room for some dairy free gelato. I mean, we already ate our weight in appetizers and carbs...

As a lactose intolerant lady, I had to jump on the dairy free gelato. 

Then we headed back to our Priceline hotel (I do not recommend the Hyatt, but you take what you get on Priceline) and proceeded to fall into a food coma. 

We're just two kids full of love and a variety of meats.

We headed back to good 'ole Michigan the next day and I'm still full! Maybe for our next anniversary we will find ourselves exploring food in other Chicago neighborhoods. We talked about saving up for a NYC food adventure. We would have to count calories until our next anniversary and schedule at least three days for that kind of eating! We'll make it happen someday. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Exiled: Kalamazoo Teenagers Edition

If you have never seen or heard of the show Exiled on MTV, watch this:

MTV Shows

If it doesn't work, click here: Exiled... the most annoying show in history.

Every experience with students involved comes with its ups and downs. I've talked about the many ups, but now I'm going to talk honestly about a huge down for me: Sometimes I feel like I am living with the kids from the show Exiled. Here are some of the things I hear every day at least once and my usual response:

Student: It's SO hot here! UGHHHH!
Me: I know, and it's because we're in Senegal, which is a country in West Africa. It's usually pretty hot when you are by the equator.
Student: What?! Why is there no microwave? I wanna heat up my food!
Me: It's probably because we're in Senegal, which a developing country in West Africa. There aren't any microwaves in our neighborhood.
Student: What?!? There is no stove! How are we supposed to cook!?
Me: Well, we cook on a propane tank, which is what happens in Senegal.
Student: Why does this restaurant only have six things on the menu?!? Why is it taking so long? I'm hungry now!!
Me: That is what happens when you don't have industrial sized everything in your restaurant, which is usually what happens in Senegal.
Student: Where is the McDonalds?
Me: There is no McDonalds here.
Student: There are so many bugs here! Ugh, I'm gonna die!!!
Me: Yes, and that is because we're in Senegal, which is in West Africa. If there weren't bugs I'd be worried. You're not going to die. Calm down.
Student: Ugh, the power is always going out! I want to charge my iPod!
Me: It's probably because we're in Senegal, where the electricity is often going in and out. That can happen in a developing country.
Student: Why do we have to eat fish and rice every day for lunch!?! It makes me wanna throw up!
Me: Well, in Senegal, you have to eat something that will sustain you. That can happen in a developing country.
Student: Ew, your feet are dirty. Ugh, why are all the roads made of sand?!
Me: Well, it's probably because only a few of the roads are paved, like many of the places in countries like Senegal, which is in West Africa.
Student: It smells here!! Why is there trash everywhere?
Me: Well, who would pick it up? The Senegalese government can't pay for that.
And on, and on, and on. There are some things I can't type here.

Understandable the first two days. But now it is occurring every day. Every. Day. Thank goodness it is not from every student at the same time.

And the reason I keep saying Senegal is a country in West Africa to the students is because many of them are constantly referring to Senegal as "Africa" when Senegal is one of 54 countries on the continent of Africa. Note: Africa is not a country.

We'll get it some day. Until then, here is one of the many moments when I haven't wanted to shake a student by the shoulders until they understand what I'm talking about :)

Cooking together... I was just watching and then eating.

Cleaning up our wall so we could cover it after the graffiti workshop.

Troubleshooting the installation of the water purification system.

Being silly at Mame Yelli Badiane

Overlooking Dakar from the African Renaissance Monument

Drinking Baobab juice... mmmmmm

I'm telling you, I'm going to sleep for days when I get home. 

Love,

Jen

P.S. What? You wanna hear about my personal Exiled moment? Here ya go... it's my calf:

Wahhhhh, why do the mosquitoes like me so much?

The Students: A Short Introduction

Meet the 2011 Urban Youth for Africa students.
They are amazing, talented, kind, giving, and introspective young people. I'm lucky that I get to share this experience with them.

 Cranston.

"Hip-hop saves."

Age: 18

Expectations: This trip will be fun, worthwhile, and different.

Jasmine.

"Live now, live later, and laugh forever."

Age: 18

Expectations: It's going to be a lot of discovery for me. I'm going in with a clear mind. I'm going to conquer anything that comes my way."

Nate.

"We live by stereotypes and I'm gonna prove all of them wrong."

Age: 18

Expectations: This is going to be a real awesome trip. I hope at the end of it I'm going to be really glad I did this. I want it to blow my mind. 

Amari.

"Giving back is where it's at."

Age: 18

Expectations: I want to help out, put a smile on someone's face, show them something they've never seen before. I hope to see someone who is independent like me.

Amelia.

"I'm very generous, I will always want to give. I won't think a second about giving to somebody."

Age: 17

Expectations: To teach someone something new. To come back a changed person.

Ayriana.

"I'm just a cool person tryin' to figure out new things."

Age: 17

Expectations: To come back as a new woman. I just want a new experience, period. 

James.

"Family is everything and I will not be broken."

Age: 17

Expectations: I want to learn something that nobody here knows.

Matt.

"I'm a nice person... outgoing too."

Age: 18

Expectations: I'm thinking we are gonna be working a lot, getting to know Africa, and having fun.

There they are. 

Learn more about them and check their personal blog postings here.

Great song. Listen to it and pay special attention to my favorite verse. Even though these aren't my words, part of this verse explains exactly why I became involved in this program in the first place. 


Nas- Can you blame my generation, subjected gentrification,
Depicting their frustrations over ill instrumentation
Cause music is the way to convey to you what I'm facing,
Placing my life in front of your eyes for your observation
Now if you can't relate then maybe you are too complacent,
Athletes today are scared to make Muhammad Ali statements
What's up with your motto?
Will you lead? Will you follow?
Improve your values Education is real power
I reach em like Bono
So get rid of your self sorrow
Add some bravado
Get wealthy like Wells Fargo
Its truth, that I am you
And I am proof
Surviving through
We do what we gotta do
Yo we could break the cycle let nobody lie to you
Then maybe put our sons and our daughters in private school
Cause there's a mission we gotta finish before we leave
This generation is destined to do historic deeds. 

Peace,

Jen

Recap: Senegal 2010

Recap of  2010's trip:

Culture Shock: French Keyboards

Culture Shock: I'm there

Culture Shock: Marriage

Picture Post

Yoff and Mangoes

Happenings

E'cole de la Rue (School of the Street)

Music

Student Protest

Language

Teraanga

Africulturban

Culture Shock: Marriage Again

Ecopole and Realizations

Thinking is Dangerous

Back for the summer...

This school year definitely took its toll. You could see the stress of it all over my blog. I found that when I started writing an entry, it was usually negative or sad. Nobody wants to read that, so I stopped for a little while.

Tomorrow, I will officially start blogging about the 2011 trip to Senegal. This year I didn't start blogging a year in advance. Since I am officially "world traveled" I didn't think I had to blog about digging my passport out of it's lock box and going in to get a refill of malaria pills. It was cooler the first time.

Don't fret! I will still have lots of new and exciting things to blog about, mostly because this is my first time taking students across the globe and this is my first time working with organizations to put together a service project. This has been a huge collaboration with plenty of ups and downs. Oh the blogging possibilities.

I will preface my official travel blogging with a video. This is Matador, who is the hip hop artist who started Africulturban, the community center we will be working with while in Senegal. This video got me so excited to leave that I can barely sleep through a whole night.


Peace.

Click here if you want to read about why this is so important to me.

Urban Youth for Africa and Africulturban

Africulturban 2010

When I was in Senegal, all I could think was, "I want to bring students back here. I need to bring students back here. How can I get students to see this?" When I got home, some former students connected me with Urban Youth for Africa in Kalamazoo. The group already had a connection to Freetown in Sierra Leone, but I thought maybe we could work together to add another location and plan a trip for Summer 2012 to Senegal. If I have learned something in my years in the public school system, it is that you are better off and stronger building a project with a team instead of by yourself. There is less burn out, more motivation, and better results. 

With school and other business, the idea faded into the background for a little while. Over Christmas break we started talking seriously about planning a trip for this summer and adding Senegal as another place youth could travel to for Urban Youth. 

Now applications for kids are out and we are making plans to leave this July. Everything has fit together so well... I can only hope that this continues. My only regret is that I am not fluent in French or Wolof. I could really kick myself for not making the time to learn a new language. I feel horrible that Amadou at Africulturban in Pikine has to adhere to me and my language difficulties. It would be easier to work on the budget and itinerary if I was fluent! Oh well. I've got the Berlitz French book and online language programs at my disposal. I'm going to keep trying. I will Skype with him in French in the next 2 months!

All I can hope for now is that I do a good enough job helping to organize the trip. Everyone I've met in all of the organizations have been so awesome. It's a good feeling to find people with the same passion for students, travel, music, and social justice that I have. It's also an overwhelmingly good feeling to work together with people who share a vision instead of trying to do something on my own. 

This is true education because it is based in the reality of every day life, not confined within the four walls of a classroom. It is the practice of freedom: Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world." — Paulo Freire 

I'm excited. Can't you tell? 

I've Got Something to Blog About

Urban Youth for Africa

More to come soon.

Let's Be Candid

Hello from the iPod! I'm just checking in... We have been so busy the last few days that I haven't had time to do anything blog related.

I just need to put this out there and say it. Having your period in Senegal sucks. Imagine intense humidity (and I mean intense, stick to anything you touch, immediately develop a second skin of sweat humidity) and heat and couple it with cramps and a head cold. Then imagine having to take care of this in a bathroom with no wastebasket, toilet seat (and in some cases toilet) or sink. Yesterday I walked into a bathroom that was a hole in the ground, albeit a very clean porcelin hole, and walked out because I decided to just hold it. This is probably too much information, but, damn. It's really hindering my research here! I wonder what women in the villages outside of the city do during their lady time. I haven't really felt homesick until now.

I will return with a longer and definitely more positive post tomorrow (Nate's birthday, by the way). I am in kind of a funk right now, but if you are a lady, you know as well as I do that the funk magically disappears in 3-5 days. :)

Ready... I think

Nate and I left the house yesterday afternoon bound for the east side of the state. At one point before we left, I found myself pacing around the living room reciting everything that I absolutely need to get onto the plane. The scene played out like this:
pace, pace, pace
"Underwear."
pace, trip over dog
"Passport."
pace, pace
"Money."
pace, pace, pace
"Malaria pills."
Then, I almost opened up all of my stuff and went through it again, but then I checked myself with a few deep breaths. If I'm missing anything, I'll just buy it.

I can't believe I'm actually doing this!  I am really excited to leave tomorrow evening. I probably won't even sleep tonight. I'm trying to get Nate to go see Cyrus will me tomorrow afternoon so I don't wander around his parent's house talking to myself and pacing.

The next time I travel somewhere, I hope I won't feel so panicky. Just gearing up to travel for my first time has been really fun, so I know there will be a next time. Minus the panic, of course.

Dakar and the Last Day of School 2010

Here is the plan: No Mali. Instead, we will stay in Dakar, Senegal for four weeks. We are still leaving on Monday from Detroit. We are staying in our hotel for four weeks instead of two. Everything is working out! Woohoo, I'm still leaving in five days!

Well that's settled and I feel better. Today was the last day of school and time to say goodbye to the freshman forever since I will never teach them again. Sure, they'll stop by and say hello and I will keep close relationships with a few of them, but it's not the same as having them in class. These last days are always a little bittersweet for me. This is the worst part about teaching in the freshman academies. I teach all freshman all the time while upperclassmen teachers get to have them in grades tenth through twelve when they are cooler and more mature. Boo. A lot of my freshman this year were pretty cool though. I just wish I could teach (some of them) again. C'est la vie.

Some of my favorite times this school year:

At times this school year, I thought I was having a horrible school year and I felt like I was an awful teacher. However, when I think about everything the kids and I accomplished... it doesn't seem so horrible. I put my grades in today and the only kids who failed were the ones who don't come to school and that is an accomplishment in itself. I think I made this school year more stressful on my own by working two other jobs and taking master's classes at the same time. This is my vow for next school year: Calm down and stop working so many dang jobs.

I feel like there is a weight off of my shoulders. I'll miss the kids, but I'll see them in the fall!

Going away party

All right, some people might not think it's necessary to have a going away party for someone who is only going to be gone for 5 weeks. Well, since it is my first time ever traveling abroad I think it is VERY necessary. Plus, who doesn't like a party? Although it was steamy outside, fun was had by all. 

My best friend A.J. is quite the hostess and everyone had a blast in the backyard at her house. I am so lucky to have such amazing friends and family. Unfortunately, my Partner for Life (PFL) couldn't come because he was living the dream and playing gigs all over the state. We are going to try and spend as much time together as possible this week. 

I figured out how to use Picasa today. My picture posts are lookin' up! 

We find out what is going on with travel tomorrow. My fingers are crossed for good news and no cancellations.

Here's hoping,
Jen

Head wrapping and still anxious...

Visa? Are you out there? Visa? Ah, well, I hope to see you soon.

Tonight I had a ton of fun learning how to wrap my hair! Special thanks to the beautiful Zarinah and all of her skills and fabrics. I felt beautifully wrapped!

Choosing a fabric to wear with your outfit is like choosing a pair of shoes. 

Katie and Sarah checking it out. 

Zarinah knows what she is doing.

My first wrap!

Cool. I am totally doing this in Mali. Maybe with a light colored fabric the sun won't feel like it is burning my scalp off. 

Katie's bun style wrap.

Yvette's... love the colors!

Sarah had some kind of cool thing going on. It didn't look good on me, but it looked awesome on her!

See what I mean? Eek.

It worked for Yvette though. She looked amazing!

Today it was 90 degrees in Kalamazoo and I felt really nasty and sticky. Today in Mali it was 101 degrees. I need to buck up and get used to this heat!

I don't care about the temperature. I still can't wait to leave.
Peace.

Getting Ready to Leave

and I'm so busy.
I want to leave now! I do not feel like teaching for the next three weeks! What I want to do is brush up on my research and note taking skills, memorize some more French, and read the gajillion sources that have been recommended to me.  I'm waiting to get my visa (for Mali) and passport back. I found out yesterday that you are supposed to send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the embassy with your application. I've read and reread the directions and I see nothing about that on there! It's cool that with a $133 application fee they make you send your own envelope. Oh well, I did it today so hopefully I get everything back soon.


I've been meeting with the travel group quite often lately:

(Yvette and Santiago's dining room AKA our classroom)

Last night we talked all about Mali and I realized that I haven't prepared myself for Mali at all. I've been doing so much prep for Senegal that I forgot that the first place we are visiting is Bamako. I guess that is what the next three weeks are for. 


I've really been enjoying getting to know everyone I am traveling with. One of our recent meetings involved learning how to eat with your right hand:

It was fun, but very messy. Although I am sure it is going to happen, I am hoping that I don't offend anyone. When I do end up offending someone, I hope it will turn into a funny travel story that we can all laugh at someday. 


My "to do" list is getting smaller:

Get the rest of my malaria pills

Scan my yellow fever certificate and passport (save to a USB)

Make 3 copies of my yellow fever and passport 

Get copy of all prescriptions from my doc

Get a letter for why I need the prescriptions from doc

Make copies of project acceptance letter for travel

Send in for Visa to Mali

Email trip activities to my advisor so I can get credit

Get my Typhoid and Polio vaccines

Download all of my French CDs to my ipod

Figure out the packing situation

Figure out the budget situation (and money and exchange rates)

Go get my H1N1 shot

Buy the following: Deet, camera, permethrin, some kind of travel purse with lots of zippers, detergent packets, notebook, duct tape, camping clothesline, various types of hand sanitizer, waterproof hiking shoes for summer, non-ugly hat, first aid kit supplies (pepto, imodium, decongestant, motrin, neosporin, benedryl, girl time products), bath wipes, SPF 50, some kind of belt for my passport, pocketknife

                 

(My super sweet travel bag)

I'm going to exchange my dollars into Euros in the next few days. The exchange rate is almost as low as it ever will be at 1.26. I contacted my bank today and the nice ladies over at the credit union told me that they do not charge ANY fees for using foreign ATMs. Relief! Although the foreign banks might charge a fee, at least I know that my bank will not. Since I have made the decision to not use traveler's checks, this is welcome news. 

That is it for now. I will write more about my adventures in currency exchange soon. Until then, I am impatiently waiting for the school year to be over so we can FINALLY leave!

Nervous Troubles

My sister found an antique pamphlet called, "How to Fight Nervous Troubles."

This goes along with my current state of mind about the trip.

This school year has been a tough one. I'm working two mini-jobs on Monday and Tuesday nights and taking classes on Thursdays. I've got meetings for the trip a few times a month. I'm also a class advisor, which is more work than I signed up for. Wah, wah, wah. What I'm trying to say with all of my whining is that I'm really busy and my to-do list for the trip is getting bigger and bigger. I try to use my planner, but I don't think I've ever been so busy. On a side note, the house is a mess and it's not the way I used to keep it before starting my master's degree and I started never being home. Things are kind of rough around here.

Last night, we met for a travel orientation which added to my nervous troubles. I seriously need to set aside time to shop and look through my wardrobe. I'm going to post my to do list here and cross things off as I get them done. If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan of to-do lists.

To Do (Trip Prep)

Get the rest of my malaria pills

Scan my yellow fever certificate and passport (save to a USB)

Make 3 copies of my yellow fever and passport 

Get copy of all prescriptions from my doc

Get a letter for why I need the prescriptions from doc

Make copies of project acceptance letter for travel

Send in for Visa to Mali

Email trip activities to my advisor so I can get credit

Get my Typhoid and Polio vaccines

Download all of my French CDs to my ipod

Figure out the packing situation

Figure out the budget situation (and money and exchange rates)

Buy the following: Deet, camera, permethrin, rehydration packets, some kind of travel purse with lots of zippers, detergent packets, notebook, duct tape, camping clothesline, various types of hand sanitizer, waterproof hiking shoes for summer, non-ugly hat, first aid kit supplies (pepto, imodium, decongestant, motrin, neosporin, benedryl, girl time products), bath wipes, SPF 50, some kind of belt for my passport, pocketknife

One thing that helped me at the orientation is that we started putting all of our questions out there. It was nice to know that other people are feeling as nervous as I am. So while I felt nervous, I also felt VERY EXCITED. I couldn't get to sleep last night because I kept thinking about how I'm leaving in two months with a great group of people... this trip is going to awesome. 

The trip advisor gave me some amazing advice that has eased the nervousness: Accept, don't expect. I'm going to stick with that.