Chicago baby.

Hello!

So last weekend I visited Chicago for the first time.

OH my.

It really is wonderful! Definitely a favourite city I've been to so far, it's just got everything and it's so beautiful with the contrast of the man-made epic skyscrapers and buildings to parks and the pier at the lake!

It was a bit of an adventure too! Me and my friend got the Greyhound coach there... a rickety old coach turned up and we thought: 'Hey, this is where the adventure begins!' Man, we were right. About half way through our journey the coach was going up an incline on an interstate... very, very slowly. Very aptly, just as I had joked about how slowly we were going and how it'd be funny if we just stopped, just that happened.

Our coach broke down.

I know! It was pants at first since we were meeting another friend and this would mean she'd be by herself for however long this ordeal would last, but it did all work out in the end and ended up giving us a story to tell.

We had to wait for the recovery bus and since we had nowhere to go we soon started chatting with fellow passengers and joked the time away.

When the recovery bus eventually did pick us up, because our location was so dangerous, (we were over a train track and on a flipping interstate!) they had to call the state police to close down a lane of the interstate so we could walk around the front of the recovery bus to get into it. So after all this, I can officially say I've walked on an interstate and also declare that I won't be travelling with Greyhound in the future if it can be avoided!

2 hours later than originally planned we arrived in Chicago, we grabbed a taxi to the hostel which was SO lovely, and began to explore the nearby streets, where we witnessed a random and very short lived marching procession about the troops in the Middle East, before we found a pizza place to curb our travelling hunger until the following day where we would venture into downtown.

The following couple of days were spent exploring the city, it's truly wonderful! It has a good transport system, but to be honest a lot of the main tourist spots we wanted to visit are very central and near to each other that you can take your very own walking tour! Every time we stopped and gathered around our map within seconds somebody came over to us to see if they could help us with directions, the people were so friendly!

To end, I'll quickly list the variety of things we got up to!

-Millennium Park with all it's wonderful sculptures including The Bean!
-Sears Tower, we visited the 103rd floor of this building to see the landscape of Chicago at night time.
-Boat ride on Lake Michigan where we toured the city skyline and learned about it's history.
-Giordano's deep dish Chicago style pizza! YUM.
-Michigan Avenue in all it's shopping glory! (The magnificent mile is a stretch of supremely expensive shops, so you know... I just observed the architecture!)
-We went to a Cubs baseball game to experience a favourite American past time! It was fun to cheer and clap, and try and grasp the rules!
-Wandered around the city taking pictures of practically everything!
-To conclude our trip we visited The Buckingham fountain which displays an hourly show with lights and music and crazy jet propulsions, at it's climax the jet propulsions reach 150ft! Immense!

So all in all, it was amazing, and I already would like to go back and explore some more!

Cheryl

P.s. Shout out to the lovely Miss Gemma Chrimes as it was her birthday 2 days ago and I missed it! So... Happy birthday beautiful! This is for you...

DTP

Hello all!

This blog is to recount a personal achievement!

As an International Student this University requires you to submit immunization records to make sure you're healthy and whatnot, but they also sometimes request TB screening tests... Of course these involve needles. 

(insert heart palpitations here)

I've been putting off going to the Health Centre ever since I arrived, but today I finally plucked up the courage (after receiving many prompting emails!) and I went. It was nerve racking to say the least. 

I arrived and had to fill out a ton of forms, and then having done so, I had to do the dreaded thing: sit and wait in a surgery. I don't know what it is, or where this fear came from but I loathe any kind of medical institute, especially the ones that want to administer sharp pointed objects into my arm!

As I sat and waited the inevitable happened, my mind began to race through the scenes over and over again about what was about to happen; I literally had to force myself to think of trivial things to attempt to take my mind off of it.

Then her voice sung through the surgery silence... "Miss Culliford-Whyte."

I jumped out of my seat nearly knocking the adjacent one over, I greeted the nurse and began talking at her at about 120mph, explaining how I'd filled all the forms out, I have my immunization records, I don't think I have TB and if it was okay to leave now? 

She of course registered my nervousness and was so lovely and gentle. She reviewed all of my documents and agreed that I wasn't a high risk TB carrier (or however she termed it!) Great, I thought, I can go now then. 

Then she proceeded with the frightful three letter word... "But..."

There it was. I shuddered.

"You are way over due your boosters, it was meant to be administered in 2008, they only last 10 years. It's not bad, there's nothing wrong with you, but you'll still need to have it."

"Now? Like today? As in, you're going to do it right now?" I responded.

"Well, yes?" She replied, "Don't worry I'll be quick and gentle."

I never believe it when they say that, but she was actually true to her word.

Now, if you know me, or perhaps you may have gathered from this post, I generally don't respond well to needles, in fact I've been known to pass out a number of times, well, practically every time it happens! And this time I was by myself, in a completely different country, in a surgery I've never been to before, with a nurse I don't know and most importantly with no one's hand to crush. 

So, all in all it went well. She gave me some apple juice since my face drained of any possible pale colour it had in the first place and she told me to sit down for a few minutes before leaving. Of course I was reluctant to stay any longer than necessary in a room of such objects, so I politely excused myself and jokingly said good-bye with a wish to not have to see her again. I bounced too enthusiastically out of that room only to then have to quickly scoot to the bathroom so I could sit on the floor for a further 15 minutes to try to stop feeling woozy.

Okay, so it wasn't a completely smooth experience. But, I think it's still one to be proud of. I had my first injection all by myself, and for once I didn't pass out either! Result.

I'm hoping to adventure around the local town some more this weekend, and next weekend I'll be heading to Chicago, so watch out for some more stories! (Hopefully some pictures too!)

From Cheryl your Belonephobic.

Six Flags

Hello!

This weekend was Labor weekend, so we had Monday off (long weekends FTW!)

So, what do you do when you have a long weekend? You take a spontaneous road-trip to a theme park, oh yes!

Me and this lovely group of friends from church here headed up north towards Chicago (I saw the city skyline for the first time, it's wonderful!) to go and explore the 6 flags theme park.

It was SO much fun!

To ease me into the experience of American roller-coasters, my friends thought that the 'Raging Bull' would be a good place to start...

Now I like roller-coasters, but this was a beast! It was actually terrifying, although by the end of the day we'd been on it about 3 or 4 times, it's such a thrill!

We went on all sorts, the Batman was fun because you were kind of underneath the track if that makes sense; Superman was great too since they tilted you like you were flying, it was similar to Air at Thorpe Park if you've been there!

There was a backwards wooden one, called Viper, which I certainly didn't like, it was rickety and bumpy and well, just generally scary even though it was far from the biggest ride there!

My favourite one was perhaps Xflight, because it was really smooth and interesting because you were on either side of the track, so it felt more like you were flying!

I also tried an American treat called Dippin' dots. They're really cool and weird, it's basically ice-cream that's been frozen somehow into like little round BB gun pellet things, they spoon a mound into a plastic cup and you scoop them up; they taste just like ice-cream but have a different beginning consistency!

I'll include some links to YouTube of the crazy roller-coasters I experienced if you fancy a view!

Cheryl

P.s some of the voice-overs/screams in these YouTube videos are hilarious... enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MlXkF85e7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miwGyYCy-yw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM8DxuEoCrc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPpne1qsK94

What can you do, y'know?

Hello,

I'm writing this blog-post as a challenge for myself; I'm hoping that by documenting a more personal lesson online, you my lovely friends at home (if you don't mind!) can help me keep learning it when I return by reminding me of this very post.

I've noticed recently how since my chaotic arrival into the US (which while blogging about I managed to find amusement in the stressful situation!) I've actually started to worry less. Yes... you heard right!

Note the picture below.

I've found myself repeating these words to people when they are telling me about all the things they've got to do, and when I myself begin to recount the mental list of things I've yet to do or get to grips with. My Mum says this a lot to me when I splurge out my worries to her, but since living here I've begun to start taking things actually as they come. Shock horror I know! 

There are some things you've just got to do, like filling out forms and waiting in queues. There are some things that you just have to accept, like paying a lot of money for books and fees. 

But you know what... It'll all work out. 

It's definitely been a long time coming to start living this prepared, but chilled attitude out. I'm enjoying learning how to not stress and get worked up when things don't go smoothly, (which believe me as an International Student, there is always something to be done that you don't think is going very well!) but to instead just take things in your stride, because it will all work out eventually.

It's just the beginning of learning this stuff for me and if you're super good at this kind of thing, this post probably won't make much sense, but if you're used to worrying or fretting, like I certainly am, you can change that! I'm hoping to keep learning this and I hope it sticks with me when I come home; if not then it was definitely just the chilled out vibe I absorbed from laid back American flip-flop wearing students here. 

But honestly, I'm excited to learn more of these good life lessons! Our study abroad co-ordinator told us that we'd learn more about ourselves on this trip than anything else, I think I resigned that to an inspirational cheesy phrase send off; I thought I'd be learning about culture, travelling and people, but... he was right, in turns out you do learn all of those things, but you learn about yourself too.

Cheryl 

Culture Differences.

Hello!

So this post is about a few cultural differences that I've noticed so far, (plus anything else I remember as I type!)

1) People say 'right' a lot here. Like how we say 'yeah' in a conversation to show we understand and we're listening or that we agree with something; here 'right' is used to mean that. It doesn't sound that strange, but when one of my professor's is talking in a lecture, explaining something or another, and every other word is 'right' you definitely notice it!

2) 'Sure' is also another 'yes' substitute; however it is also often used when someone has just provided you with a service of some kind, i.e. in a shop or office, when you'd say thank you and leave, they'd just say 'sure.' Again it's a small difference, but when you're used to someone saying 'You're welcome' or something more formal and substantial, 'sure' can sound a bit nonchalant.

3) Swear words. I haven't quite figured out the different degrees of severity yet, but today my professor actually said BS; which of course I was shocked by!

4) I forgot to mention my Drive Thru' ATM experience. Yes, that was odd one. We pulled up to something that looked like a petrol station, filled out some forms and put them in a tube thing with our card, the tube whizzed up the system entered their office they sorted it all out and sent the money and the card back. It was crazy.

5) Sororities and Fraternities actually are a big deal like in the films. UIUC (the university I'm at here!) actually has THE largest fraternity and sorority community in the US!! Honestly, I see numerous people everyday walking around with specific Greek letters on their clothes, symbolising which group they are a member of.
   I was on the bus yesterday around campus and it went through the 'Greek Village' where the majority of the HUGE houses are that hosts 20+ students in a particular group. Practically everyday at university there have been chalk scribbles on the floor advertising each 'frat' group, because there is a short period of time in the beginning of this semester called 'rushing,' which is where new members are being recruited.
    I don't completely understand the process yet or what being in a group of that kind actually consists of; but I've heard that they do have the parties like on the films! One of my professor's actually advised us international students that if we were to go to a 'frat' party to ask around first, she said: 'You'll learn which ones not to go to fairly quickly' meaning that the activities you see on the films probably do actually happen in certain ones!

6) Eating out is a big part of the culture here, it's just so cheap to do so. It's a hard one to navigate, I haven't eaten out too many times since living here at the apartment, but I can understand why it is so popular. Food ingredients, 'groceries' or whatever aren't actually that much cheaper here than in the UK I keep forgetting about tax getting added on at the end, so things don't work out to be much cheaper. Whereas eating out in a restaurant is definitely a lot cheaper. It's hard to navigate because you want to eat healthily, so would prefer to cook yourself since you know what you're putting into a meal, but that ends up costing you more! It's a strange thing, but I'm definitely learning which ingredients are necessary and which are superfluous; whilst still getting an 'American dining experience' every now and then!

7) Tipping. I forget a lot! But what I have noticed (when I do remember!) that people are kind when they know you don't get it, or aren't used to it, and even if you give them less than what's expected because you're confused about coins, they appreciate your effort in trying!

8) MACS. I don't even know how to turn a mac computer on. I went into a computer work room intending to do some research online, but since I couldn't figure out how to turn the thing on, (and it was a silent study room!) I just sat and read my book instead.

9) People give directions in compass language. They say things like 'Oh! The Krannert Centre? That's just South of here.' I'm sorry.. South?! How the heck do I know which way I'm facing? Being someone whose geography is appalling and tends to get lost frequently, these kinds of directions don't help much! Maybe when I return home I'll actually be able to read a map and not walk in the wrong direction.

10) It's an imperial system here. The unit converter on Google has never received so many hits. Every time I cook something or even go on the treadmill, I have to convert things over; it's confusing!

So there we go, 10 differences/experience so far that I can remember! I'm sure there will be many more to come!

Cheryl

School

Hello!

So this Sunday I went to...
QUAD DAY.

It's basically a mahoosive freshers fair with all the societies booth's trying to recruit you for things. Of course in my usual intrigued fashion I signed up for only about... a billion things! I'm now paying the price trying to decide which ones to actually do! I signed up for practically everything from clay-pigeon shooting (I hear your screams, but I've actually done it before and not killed anybody believe it or not!) to a life drawing class with everything in between! I feel like I should do one recreational one, one academic'ish one and a volunteering one; but there are just so many options for each of those categories.

*Note America probably isn't an easy place for indecisive people!

Anyway, I'm nearly at the end of my first week of 'school' it's strange to say that, I keep saying uni and people don't get what I mean!

It's gone well. It's gone really well actually.

It feels weird at times thinking I have actually started back at university and it's August?!

 Of course as usual what comes with a new term includes hand aches from forgetting how to write and squinting from trying to concentrate when tired; but amongst all those usual habits of mine, lectures (if I can even call them that!) have gone wonderfully well.

I'm taking four courses here, (courses means modules!) two language ones and two literature ones, they're all very interesting and different, I like the diversity!

So far technically I have only been to lectures, the reason I'm tentative to call them that, is that they are actually quite small! Nothing in comparison to my Biology lectures last year at Liverpool with over 300 people in one room! For once, America is actually smaller than England in something! Go team GB.

One of my language classes is actually in what feels like a classroom with those American style chairs with the fold down desk things. My first day I didn't realise the desk bit folded up and down, so I proceeded to try and squeeze into it through the gap. I've now lost count the amount of times I've embarrassed myself, but hey! It's quite an interesting dynamic in that 'lecture' because you can move the chairs round and people tend to ask the lecturer more questions, in fact, in general there is definitely more active participation rather than just listening to a lecture like at home. You actually get marked on your participation! It is challenging, but once you get over people turning around to see who the Brit is, it's okay!

The other courses do have more of a lecture'y feel to them though, one great positive is that the chairs are like Odeon cinema chairs, so comfy and with another side table thing! (No popcorn though!)

Already I've had a load of readings and a 'response paper' to do.

The American system is a lot different.

It's more frequent with assessments in lots of different forms eventually I will have completed: response papers, projects, take-home exams, mid-terms, discussions and so on! There are so many different styles, once you've got to grips with what each means and what's expected of you from each, it really works well; it gives you a range of different approaches so it's not heavily weighted on one exam or one style. It'll definitely take some getting used to and a lot of diary planning will be needed, but I'm hoping these regular 'homeworks' as they call it, will get me into a good routine for when I come home! (Hoping being the operative word there!)

I figured out the library today, the undergraduate library is UNDERGROUND (although there are windows still?!) and there is a tunnel connecting the main library with the undergraduate one, can this university get any cooler I hear you say, I don't know, quite possibly! Sometimes I feel like I'm at Hogwarts and I love it.

That's all for now about education'y things. I've got to submit my paper. (#soamerican)

Cheryl

P.s New lesson learnt today, coupons are a big deal here, you can get some amazing deals!

ISSS at UIUC (International Student and Scholar Services at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) #mouthful

My first few days of 'school' have been a part of 'orientation week,' this is basically a week of seminars packed with information, all of which is good and very helpful, but has been slightly overwhelming! One thing I've already learned: this university likes acronyms; rightly so, a lot of the faculties have long names, but it can get a tad confusing when people just keep spouting letters at you!

To be honest, things have actually gone very smoothly, which I'm so very grateful for. I registered (they actually had my paperwork to hand!) and I got my identity card all within 1 hour; it felt amazing to get going so quickly and efficiently!

The last few days I have wrestled with my campus map though, no matter which way I look at it, I usually end up walking in the wrong direction! (Yet to try Mr Tribbiani's technique of  'going into the map!') My lack of direction hasn't been so helpful on a campus that is much like London, in that you think you can actually walk from A-B in 10 minutes, when actually, it's about 30! (if not more!) They actually have a bus system that goes around campus it is that big. However, I managed to scout out my buildings, which to my favour are right next door to each other in the main quad, and look how beautiful the English building is!

IT HAS PILLARS!

I'm going to end this post with just a few pictures of campus and its landmarks, it truly is beautiful. I'll write some more when I've started classes or when I've gone on any excursions!

Oh also, I tried an american sub from Potbelly Sadnwhich shop*, it was delicious!

 This is the student union! I can't wait to sit and read in here!

 This is the main quad, my buildings surround not even one whole side of this grassy student hangout!














                                                                               This is Foellinger Auditorium at the far end of the quad.

This is perhaps a favourite of mine, it's a statue to represent the university's motto of 'Learning and Labor'.

The inscription reads:

"To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings, and Her children arise up and call her Blessed. -Proverbs 31:28"

I thought this was a beautiful message to all generations that pass through the University. Sadly, it's being refurbished/cleaned at the minute, but when it goes back, (soon hopefully!) I'll get a few snaps of it myself. 


Cheryl












*http://www.potbelly.com/Company/OurStory.aspx (It's such a cute place!)