The first week I spent doing touristy things and not-so-touristy things but still pretty touristy. I visited Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, The National Gallary, as well as the Camden Town and Portobello Street Market. It has been amazing to see all the places I have seen in pictures for so long.  Everyone is quite nice to help as well.

Blending in as a ‘local’ at least for the semester has been a bit difficult given my accent, but I found my favorite coffee shop to study at as well as my favorite coffee shop to chat at.  The best news I had at school was the Badminton Team which I quickly signed up for and went to my first practice in 2 years. Everyone is really great and its great to hit around again.

Senioritis has kicked in already for sure, I dont really feel like doing any work for any of my classes… but then again who does when theres a beautiful park around the corner I can go read Harry Potter.  I am taking two great classes on London and the other two general education classes… they make me desprately miss my Marketing classes back home.

Homesickness comes and goes depending on the day. I would kill for a deep dish pizza and the beautiful Chicago skyline close by. (and a U-Pass for that matter) but, I will be home soon enough!

A tearful goodbye, a 7 hour flight, and here I am across the pond. What have I done?

This semester, I am attending the University of Westminster through Interstudy, a program I found through months of research.  I will be taking mostly general education credits to fulfill what I need at Columbia as I explore the UK and Europe.

Fun Right?

Yes, also a bit intimidating. Chicago is the Third largest city in the United States with just over two million people. London over 7 million people, and they have added one more until December 17, that’s me!

My arrival was fairly smooth. My first adventure was taking the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station where I was to be picked up. Only a bit of confusion, but I made it through okay. Interstudy sent staff to pick us up and keep us awake through the day to beat the JetLag. We went for lunch in Chinatown and the rest in the program were equally as tired, so I didn’t feel too bad for being a bum. I made it until about 8pm London time, that is about 2pm Chicago time. Then I fell asleep for a really long time.

In day 2 of our London orientation, we traveled to the Tower of London. But not before our morning coffee at a cute café called the Kitchen. definitely a destination I will be traveling to again. We went to a pub for lunch and from there, the students in the program were on their own. I did some shopping for supplies and headed home to connect with people back home. Oh the Joys of Skype!

Over the semester, I should be putting all my updates here. Keep checking back from more!

This semester, my whole life has changed. For so much good and not so good, and all reasons I choose  not to get into via the internet. But, surrendering it all to the Lord has been huge for me. Something that I once feared so much, I now have full freedom in. Yes, the Word tells us we are free, and we are free in SO many ways through Jesus. All I can do is praise him for the continued work he is doing in my life, through school, work, and relationships. (Specifically with that last one, the amazing guy he has brought into my life quite suddenly, and in the best way, has encouraged me more times than I can count just in the  last few months)

Persevearance is another lesson I have learned through the semester. I was stuck at an internship doing alot of tedious work, as well as doing alot of tedious paperwork within classes. It was a struggle to stay on task and actually push through to the end some days. Perservearance alone I cannot handle, perservearance with the Cross, that is the only way I have made it through.

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.- Romans 8:37

With that all being said, I am currently preparing to depart this fabulous city for a few months traveling to New Orleans, New Jersey, Michigan, and London… all before december. Be on the look-out for my “Suitcase Living” updates on this blog here as I journey to many different places within the rest of the year.

Finally, I must add a word about this fabulous city. I love this city, and this semester I have experienced this city like never before. I have reached a point where it is weird to drive in a car, and I enjoy having the ability to jump on a train to get me to where i need to go. ( As long as its not -10 outside) I have been able to really LIVE in this city and experience it. Coffee-shop hopping on the regular. It is a good place to be, I will be sad to say goodbye for so long.

Also, a belated post on the stairclimb coming this way SOON.

This past year, I have become a cupcake connoisseur. And that is ironic seeing as cupcakes are not my favorite dessert, cookies are. (Hence Cookie Tuesdays)But, cupcakes do come in a close second. I mean a mini-cake… with frosting, and fabulous toppings? Please, give me more!

The convenience of Cupcakeries popping up all over the place… I have fallen into the fad. I have a feeling this fad will soon turn into the next Frozen Yogurt shop, but while it lasts, I will take part in this.

Now to say what cupcake is best, that is a challenge that  lies within the cupcake. I prefer a moist cupcake, and just the right cake to frosting ratio. Not too much frosting where, if there is not a glass of water near by, you will surely choke to death, and not too little where the magic of the frosting is lost. This is a difficult ratio to achieve.  And on a personal note, I prefer a fruit flavored frosting…strawberry to be specific.

And thus, I am on a mission, to find my perfect cupcake.

So far, I am pretty loyal to Sprinkles on Walton in Chicago. Though I have had their other cupcakes.. the Strawberry cupcake, I believe, is a little piece of heaven, sent down in pink and whole grain, with a cute little sprinkle on top. My heart does flip-flops just thinking about it.

That being said, I am also open to suggestions. So here-in lies the Great Cupcake Debate:

 What and where is your own little piece of cupcake heaven?

I spent many hours hard at work this semester, pushing myself twards some sort of unforseen goal. This is a time for growth and learning, growing on what I have learned in the past. Slowing down was not an option these past few months, any seconds I had were full of something… not sure what, just something.

These past few days I have had many seconds that allowed me to think through how unbelievably lucky I am. I have had some oppourtiunites this semester that have pushed me and slowed me down. I loved having friends from New Orleans come and visit me this semester. There is nothing I love more than just hanging out, especially in the City that has my heart . I loved getting to roam around the city going to shows, plays, and other artsy things. I even attended my first Chicago baseball game this semester. (I can mark that one off the bucket list)

This semester has been full of challenges, growth and change. I am now kicking back and enjoying my time off from everything, trying to catch up on Mad Mad men, my reading list  and letter writing.

Through all of the struggles this semester, God has been good and faithful. This is just one of the verses that God showed me this semester that really helped me in knowing that I have a higher hope in Him!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. -James 1:17-18

My freshman year of college, I remember going to the lights festival for the first time. Kelsey and I woke up really early in the morning. There was another layer of snow on the ground. It was a pain, but beautiful, making our way through it to the brown line stop.

One other most vivid memory I have from that day is it was terribly cold; I swore I would never do such a thing again.

Two years later, Im back out on Michigan Avenue, just as excited as the 5-year-old next to me as Mickey lights up the Magnificent Mile.

This year, I got to go with three fabulous ladies. It was really wonderful. My apartment is located right near where the parade floats wait before makin the trip down Michigan Ave., so we were able to get a sneak peek of the floats. Stopped at Starbucks for some christmas drinks, then wandered down to Tribune Tower, where free cheesecake was a must. It was a blast just hanging out.

There really is nothing like Christmas in Chicago. This year, it seems like the holidays are really in the air. Unfortunately, I will be chatting with mother nature soon about this odd weather. It should really be snowing by now.

1) That is sometimes how I spend most of my day it feel like, sitting on some sort of public transit.

 2) The CTA is where people come together, it is where cultures collide, it is where the strange becomes ordinary.

 For one of my classes, we have to analyze advertisements. Surprisingly enough, most of mine do not come off of the many I see on the CTA, but I needed an outlet for one particular ad that I have seen.

If I am going to and from the north side from where I live, North and Clybourn stop on the redline  is unavoidable. And usually I do not mind the long stretch between the two stops, but now that Apple has taken over advertising rights at that station, I wish the stop did not exist at all.

If you haven’t been that way, I am going to describe it to you. It is like they placed the sun in the subway platform. One minute you are in the darkness of the subway tunnel, and next Apple’s radiant light is shining through the windows of the train-car. I can’t even tell you what the sign says because I am blinded at that point.

Apple bought exclusive advertising rights to the North and Clybourn station. Seems like a great idea seeing as the news store is right outside the stop. And a great idea if they didn’t try to blind their consumers. Most of us use iPods, iPads, and every other Apple product  in between for the little bit of peace we can get on the train. 

Yes Apple, I know you are the ruler over all innovative technology in the world, but please turn down the lights.

IT was a Friday night, last Friday to be exact. I had just gotten out of work, it was about 12:30 a.m. My late Friday night plans included visiting my wonderful friend Sarah, as it was her last night in the Windy City.

I walked to Michigan Ave., It was a beautiful night, but strangely not many people out. From the other side of the street, I watched the bus I needed to pass speed by. That always tends to be my luck, but I didn’t care so much, knowing that another one was bound to pass by in a few minutes.

A few minutes came.

A few more minutes came.

And more minutes on top of those minutes.

I was frusterated.

Usually, taxi drivers do the awkward pull up next to the bus stop. Do the look, look away, look, wave for person to come in. It really does drive me nuts. Why would I want a taxi If I am waiting for the bus? It just doesn’t make sence to me.

Anyway,

So 12:45am, that’s just about what happened. I started to get annoyed, but instead of this time just being quitet and awkwardly attempting not to see that big yellow cab sitting right infront of me, I shouted from the sidewalk “Unless you can give me a free ride, you can keep going sir.”

“Sure,”he said.

“Okay, whatever, Have a great night,” I replied. Hoping he would leave and my bus would come soon.

“ Where are you headed,” the taxi driver asked.

I told him, and he said I could really just walk it if I wanted to. I whined back that I didn’t want to, I just wanted to get where I was going.

This was a 5 minute conversation. I finally gave in. My feet hurt, and I was tired, tired of arguing with this frustratingly persistent taxi driver. My better judgment was impaired by exhaustion, seriously, this could be the dumbest thing I have ever done.

“So what are you doing out so late?” he said.

I told him where I worked, and that I was a student at Columbia.

“So how has your day been?” I asked, trying to attempt to be kind. I typically don’t talk too much to my taxi drivers.

He informed me that today was his holiday and explained that it was the end to Ramadan, and that he had been celebrating with is family all day. His shift had just started and he was sad to have to part from the celebration.

“My daughter didn’t want me to go,” he said. “ But Ill be back in a few hours, you gotta work, you know?”

My destination was not to far, but the conversation we had lasted for what seemed like hours. We made it to the Sheridan and I reached for my wallet.

“No, please put that away,” he said.

“What?” I asked in complete confusion.

“I saw you at the bus stop and thought ‘what if that was my daughter?’ I know you were not in a dangerous area, but all the same, my daughter is the same age, and you are a lot like her. So please, this ride is on me,” the taxi driver said and patted me on the head.

I left the cab, confused. He drove away, and I realized I had never gotten his name. So to the taxi driver that gave me a ride last Friday night. Thank you.

My freshman year of college I did my fair share of commuting on the Metra, but it was only on weekends, and I was still intimidated by the city and the people moving everywhere. I did not take the time to survey my surroundings.

This week, I was provided that opportunity. I had my doubts in the beginning. I thought right away, I would stand out in the crowd, everyone would know that I was faking it for a week. (I suppose, not that it mattered anyway.) I did not want to wait an hour to go to and from the city, twice day on the train. What on earth was I supposed to do with all that down time?!

Monday came around and my wonderful brother got up quite early to drive me to the train station. I planned on making the 8:22 train that would get me into the city around 9:45. Lucky for me, my brother Ian is quite the driver and I was able to make the 8:16 express. Something people would normally rejoice over, I began to dread the next two hours I had to burn.  As I sat on the train, I began to formulate a plan of what I was to do once I arrived in Chicago. Staying on the train was not an option, and I didn’t want to spend money…. I then decided that it would be best to decide when I arrived and peacefully enjoyed the rest of my ride. I ended up sitting outside the station by the river reading on an absolutely beautiful day. Maybe this commuting thing wouldn’t be so bad.

It was about Wednesday where 8:16 and 8:56 became my favorite time of day. I was able to sit in the peace, still somewhat in wake up mode, and really start my day.  I thing Souljaboy puts it best, in the morning I tend to “hop up out the bed and turn my swag on.” Literally, I jump out of bed and begin my day without time to wake up or even think for that matter.  This week I loved getting that hour to sit, turn on my iPod, and sort out my thoughts.  And I think this is a sometimes unspoken reason why so many people have chosen to commute.

The afternoons tended to be a different story. I think that train chasing should be an Olympic sport, and if it was, I would win.  Not that this was my least favorite part of the day, I do enjoy the adventure and adrenaline rush of running to catch a train (or bus for that matter) but, I could do without.

I moved into my apartment Sunday, and Monday morning I was sad that my wonderful brother was not able to give me a ride. It was nice spending that time with him, even if it was in silence because we were so tired. I have much shorter commute from my apartment, and I enjoy that and will be enjoying that even more when classes start.   I give props to all you guys who do this for real and thanks for letting me pretend for a week  (and not running me over in the race to your cars).

Ahhh… sweet home Chicago

Check out some of my favorite pictures from the summer here: Best of Summer 2010 

I am now sitting in my favorite Caribou Coffee shop,  sipping a skim caramel latte with extra froth. It is a comforting thought to know when I walk outside, I will not break into sweat instantly. At the same time, I kind of miss it.

Okay, well, really I don’t miss sweating at all… but hopefully you are getting my point.

This time last week, I was at my last work site with my group. Saying goodbye to my homeless friends in the quarter and chatting about what God has been doing in our lives and how He is continuing to work in each of us, no matter where we are at.  And its true, though I am back home in Chicago, He is continuing to work in my life in many ways.

Reliance and Trusting in the Lord, for everything, was definitely something that God taught me over the summer. It was at least once a week where I was told by someone to pray big because God does BIG things. So I did just that. I was put in many positions where I had to pray for big things and trusting in God’s promises. And of course, God answered. Sometimes, not always as I expected, but it was all for His glory. Everything this summer was for His glory.

Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers this summer. Thank you to everyone who came and hung out with me at MissionLab. Thank you to all who I worked with this summer. It has been a blessing serving alongside each and every one of you.

So.. Whats next?

Its back to real life. The past few days I have been on an apartment hunt. Stressful and chaotic would be the two words to describe that. But again, trusting the Lord and he provided. Things are still in process but I should be moving into my new apartment Mid-Aug or September 1. a’m really excited to be back in the wonderful city of Chicago, connecting with old friends again. My next job starts August 16th and classes start September 7.  I have been catching up on The Bachelorette and going to Jonas Brothers concerts… you know.. the usual.

Its been a great summer. God is awesome, can’t wait to see what He has got planned next!

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Psalm 139:14  “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

1 Peter 4:11 ^“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

 Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Photo Credit To Graeme Benson!