"West Loop Wonderings" - Chicago Pt. 3

"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind."

- Bruce Lee

The growth mindset characteristic of "flexibility" has been popping up in my life more frequently in the past few years. I'm not sure if it is just a heightened awareness, due to my more recent research on the effects of cultivating a growth mindset, or if it's because I am pursuing more opportunities and experiences that have a higher likelihood of an unexpected outcome. Whatever the case may be, I'm gaining more experience and learning better strategies for how to be flexible when situations don't go as planned. Such was the case with a part of our Chicago trip.

My initial intention for our trip to Chicago was to visit and interview a kindergarten teacher who was recently awarded a prestigious teaching recognition. However, I received an e-mail on Monday morning informing me that the teacher would need to cancel. With semi-vague reasoning, I had mixed emotions regarding this last minute cancellation. I thought that I would be observing a Kindergarten classroom in a different area of the country and was excited to see what similarities and differences there would be. My immediate feeling of disappointment was fleeting though for a variety of reasons. My second emotion was that of understanding and empathy. Knowing what a kindergarten classroom is like in October and what teachers of all grade levels are feeling in that month, I could pretty easily imagine how stressful the time of year could be and thought of a multitude of reasons why the teacher needed to cancel. It even made me feel a little comfort, knowing that even an award-winning teacher can have times that they just need to set up a boundary, even if that means having to cancel something. Finally, I felt excited to have an additional day to explore Chicago.

Since Dustin and I had this extra day of exploration, we took advantage of it by having a slower paced day. Finding our way to the West Loop included some time on the "L" and about five minutes walking down the street to our breakfast selection of The Little Goat. As we entered, the decor immediately gave us a vintage diner vibe and the aromas teased our already ravenous appetites. Perusing the menu was a delight in and of itself. Reading about the unique flavor combinations made our mouths water and order more than we could actually consume. While I devoured my sesame cheddar biscuit topped with a sunny side egg and chopped sichuan pork sausage covered with a chili garlic chive sauce, Dustin was busy tackling his french toast with sunny side eggs cooked in the middle, topped with crispy fried chicken pieces and strawberries drizzled with a bbq syrup. With an additional shared side of pork belly home fries, this was one of the rare occasions that I have ever seen Dustin fail to finish his meal. After finishing our final coffee refills, we ventured out to stroll the streets of the West Loop.

Various cafes and restaurants lined the streets and a few blocks away we stumbled upon an establishment serving several purposes. What drew us in initially was the cafe portion. After entering a dark side door and small staircase we entered the busy, but welcoming, Sawada. As we passed about a dozen people seated at a long communal table focused on their laptop screens and casual conversations, we were pleasantly greeted by one of the baristas. He informed us of their various selections, highlighting the military latte for which they are most well-known. We decided to try out one military latte and one regular matcha green tea latte before trying to find a seat. The area closest to the cafe section was pretty full, so we walked down a ramp toward the other areas of the building. There was a bar area not yet open and a smoked meats counter getting ready for lunch. We found a spot at another long communal table on the lower level and began one of our favorite pastimes...our crossword puzzles. Unfortunately, we found the dimmer lighting of the lower level inconvenient for our chosen activity. Believe me...I understand how geriatric all of this is sounding. Be that as it may, we love our crosswords and we need good lighting for them!

Following a quick scouting mission Dustin made to the upper level, we found ourselves at the end of the first table we had walked past upon entering the cafe. Light streaming in from outside gave us plenty of visual capability to conquer our linguistic jigsaw. As my espresso infused matcha tea dwindled, I was able to recognize the beauty of this down time that Dustin and I were inadvertently gifted. Our typical day-to-day lives and travel times alike, tend to be filled to the brim with lists or ideas of what needs to be experienced, seen, or accomplished. Spending some relaxing time in this Chicago neighborhood was allowing us to reenergize in a way that we wouldn't have planned without the cancellation of my classroom observation and subsequent flexibility to our itinerary.

Staying in suit with the no rush schedule of the day, we decided to walk the 3.2 miles it would take to get to our next location. While biking and running are my favorite ways to experience a new city, walking is a close third. The sounds, smells, and sights all feel a little more personal and heightened when you are experiencing them powered by foot. Our walk to the Adler Planetarium was no different. Business minded individuals swiftly passing towards their next appointment, fellow tourists staring upward, and art institute students carrying intriguing projects carefully block by block all intermingled with one another as we maneuvered rather effortlessly through the city. That was an attribute we were fond of during our Fall visit. While the streets were busy, we didn't feel overly crowded. Which is why our attention was sparked when a large mass of people were gathered at one main intersection. Some were standing up against the wall of the building to our right, others scattered throughout an opening just past the intersection, and still others lined up along the sidewalk. The only attribute that these people seemed to have in common was the intensity with which they were all staring at their phones. As we passed, my curiosity helped propel my head far enough over to visually eavesdrop on what was attracting their attention. I was both amused and surprised to see that they were all playing Pokemon Go! It reminded me of the "FORTNITE" metal working I had previously seen in Finland. These experiences invoked the same sentiment in my mind. One that proves to me that even when there are many differences in people and geography, there are ALWAYS commonalities, no matter how small or trivial they may seem.

With this spectacle still creating a chuckle in my mind, we continued on our hour-long journey to the planetarium. As we arrived closer, we found ourselves walking along the lakeside. Due to its massive size, I continued to have to remind myself that we were indeed walking by a lake and not an ocean. As we approached the planetarium, we took some time to turn our perspective back towards the city. It seemed that any time we were lakeside, we were gifted with a beautiful view of the city and landscape that combines to create Chicago. Appreciating the sights of this earthbound city laid way for even more admiration for the information displayed in the planetarium of celestial endeavors.

Immediately to the right of the entrance at the planetarium, was an exhibit highlighting the journey to the moon. Detailing the struggles, perils, and triumphs of the individual astronauts and NASA as a whole, the exhibition captivated us and enlightened us with information we had either not known before or forgotten from school days past. For me, the most fascinating aspect of this area was viewing the Gemini 12 space capsule displayed in a large glass case. It was incredible to see how the remaining exterior held up against the elements as it emerged back from space into earth's atmosphere. The charred sections and worn down material made me contemplate the durability and meticulous design necessary for its successful preservation. Seeing the size of the capsule in such close proximity helped me to understand just how small of a space that the astronauts were operating in. The types of flexibility they had to exercise, both physically and mentally, were astounding. My admiration for those involved in planning and creating something so detailed and precise grew even more from seeing this capsule up close.

As Dustin and I began to peruse the rest of the planetarium, an announcement overhead brought a familiar sense of disappointment. The planetarium would be closing soon, and the announcement was reminiscent of the security guard who had advised us to leave the Art Institute as it was closing. We had only begun to scratch the surface of an explorative playground before recognizing, once again, that we had not planned our visit with enough time to experience everything. Thankful for the time that we did get to experience at the planetarium, we made our mandatory exit and began the walk back to our accommodations.

For our last evening, Camille and Charlie took us to one of their favorite Taiwanese restaurants. We shared a smorgasbord of dishes and finished off our dinner with two scrumptious flavors of Taiwanese shaved ice. Our time getting to know Camille and Charlie was definitely a special feature of our trip. Their knowledge, authenticity, and hospitality were illuminated by their enthusiasm for everything they shared with us, including the city itself. Spending time with them and in the city they call home gave us an educational experience that is not really possible in a classroom or otherwise formal setting.

Our trip ended with another conversation, but in a slightly more formal manner. Camille was gracious enough to let me interview her for the Bridges, Brains, and Beats podcast. Hearing her story of becoming a teacher, developing as a teacher, and her unique experience as a Nationally Board Certified middle school special education teacher allowed me to learn from a similar, yet different, perspective than my own. Despite the change in my initial plan, I was still able to leave Chicago with valuable insight gained from another teacher's life.