International Exchange USA
Chicago Exchange 2012
By Carol Cretaigne
A glorious blue sky greeted the SIS exchange students at O’Hare airport, and continued to shine on us for most of the ten-day visit. As Chicago requires extensive exploration by foot, the neck craned high, it was a blessing that we were able to discover ’The Loop’, with it’s architecture and ubiquitous
street art, in clement conditions. One day was spent touring the university campus (in the very good hands of a delighted French second-year student!) then visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s nearby ’Robie House’. The meaning of ’Prairie Style’ no longer holds any secrets for our group and we now boast a sensitivity to horizontal planes, interlocking squares and circles and judiciously-placed panels.
Taking the experience far beyond the tourist sights, our students experienced American family life with hosts from Mount Prospect Highschool, forging friendships across the ocean, and a certain type of camaraderie within the group that thrives best outside of the classroom confines. Upon reflection, students collectively drew up the following list;
The top ten reasons to go on an exchange in Chicago :
1: You get to do a hand stand on top of the city.
2: You’re never hungry: from a $2 bagel with cream cheese every morning in the train station to Chicago Style hot dogs to burritos to deep dish pizza to donuts.
3: You get to do fun stuff every night (laser tag, bonfires , 7 eleven slurpies, basement parties ...)
4: You get to learn new words (YOLO, sassy, sketchy).
5: You get to be driven around by teenagers.
6: You can wear pyjamas to school.
7: Running through fountains in Millennium Park at night.
8: You get to be a superstar because you’re French.
9: "L" drama and meeting random people on the train.
10; Loveable and huggable friends for life.
In order to view Carol Cretaigne’s photo album, please click on the following link
http://gallery.me.com/carol.hebden#...
Dernière modification le 07-08-12 par
