IOU Respect Team U.S.A.

IOU Respect International Exchange 2012: Team U.S.A

HI Chicago is very excited to host the IOU Respect International Exchange this July! This annual two-week long educational program is organized by Hostelling International for young people from Egypt, France, Germany, Morocco, Tunisia, and the U.S.A. The exchange bridges cultural divides by building intercultural understanding and mutual respect in its participants. By taking part in workshops and fun activities around Chicago, each person grows into a global citizen. 

Four individuals from each country, between the ages of 18-23, along with a Team Leader, were chosen to represent their nation on this unique program. The American participants hail from four different states and all share a strong desire to become more effective and open-minded world leaders. Each one has such an interesting background that we feel is definitely worth sharing.

So without further ado, we would like to introduce:

Hannah Higginson-  
She is a student of Anthropology, International Studies, and French at the University of Utah. Her travels include service trips to Guatemala and Haiti, and she desires to improve skills for positive and effective intercultural communication and cultural sensitivity. We wish her the best of experiences as she builds new friendships while exploring Chicago!

Logan Meinzer-
 A student of Ohio State University, he studies Russian, International Studies, and French. Logan is already well acquainted with HI as the Vice-President of the Hostelling International club on campus. He has studied abroad in Moscow, and traveled to South Korea, England, and Italy. Logan eventually wants to become a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department, and we think he is well on his way to achieving this goal! We know Logan will enjoy this unique experience and will also enjoy Chicago.

Dmetri Hayes-
He is a 19 year-old student of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT. He is of Native American descent and has also previously studied French. At his high school, he was the National Honor Society President, as well as the President of Student Council. Dmetri grew up in a self-described small, conservative town in Michigan that he feels lacked diversity. Therefore, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to be in the presence of open-minded, young people from a variety of backgrounds during IOU Respect. He has never traveled outside of the U.S.A, but after this          experience, we’re sure he will find another way to connect abroad. 

Alexandra Ponton-
A recent graduate of UNC Asheville, she has a degree in International Studies and French. She was born in Bogota, Colombia and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. During her college years, she was a member of the Global Ambassador Program, which allowed her to visit elementary schools to teach the importance of travel, learning languages, and interacting with people from different cultures. She has traveled to several countries in Western Europe, and studied abroad for a year in France. After IOU Respect, she will be teaching in China where she will have the opportunity to practice her Mandarin. We know that IOU Respect will provide her with great experiences that she can take with her wherever she goes.

Jose Sanchez (Team Leader) - 
As a former IOU Respect participant, he knows from experience the challenges and rewards of this program. He graduated in 2011 from the University of Houston with a degree in Political Science and is very excited to be returning. His experience in organizing diverse communities around social justice campaigns and background in leading groups of students as a teaching assistant will serve him well. Jose also speaks Spanish and French and has a passion for creating inclusive community environments, in which all can excel. We know that he will do a great job as a Team Leader and we wish him the best of luck in this new role. 

Megan Johnson (Coordinator) – 
She is the Regional Engagement Manager for HI-USA and has been key in making this program a success. After running the educational programs at HI Chicago for the past eight years, this will be her sixth IOU Respect International Exchange. She has a background in education, specifically a master’s degree in multicultural and organizational communication. After college, she taught English in Japan through the JET program for two years where really developed her passion for the powerful outcomes of travel. Megan is a great asset to HI Chicago and Team U.S.A. is lucky to have her!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition: Final Post!

This post will wrap up an ongoing blog series that showcases the murals that have been on display in our hostel this February in celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. Student artists were selected to create individual murals on the 2nd floor windows of Hostelling International Chicago. The artists intalled their work throughout the first two weeks of January. Here are the final two!

April Son, Zebadiah Arrington & Suhyung Go
School of the Art Institute of Chicago

"We've been kept inside of walls from fears that came when communication failed. Looking through the windows, we've missed a lot of chances. We've made enough mistakes every time we've tried to reach out further.

However, the time to go out always comes back just like the hands on clocks circle around. It's time to step back from the window and walk toward the doors again. We believe this is the message through the history of struggling for humanity, which Martin Luther King, Jr. also believed in.

Three individuals stand together in front of Window to put this together spontaneously for dreaming a perfection of communication. This piece is inviting and welcoming the viewers not only to appreciate it, but also to step back and look outside of the window. Black and White means a fairness of the difference. Every individual is as important as the next one. And everything has existed by sharing things, not dividing in mathematics. The unify and connectivity of biological geometry that is within all of us is a key symbol of understanding the equality for all."

James Teague & Cheryl ThomasHostelling International Chicago staff

"At some point in life we decide what's next for us! For some, it's not always a conscious choice. For others, it's not a choice that we make as much as it is made for us. Yet still, for some it is written in the stars for us and we simply do our best to live up to that.

For Dr. King, his path was, we believe, both focused and incidental. You see the picture of him during what I feel is in contemplation early in his life. Possibly a moment when fate intervened and his destiny was revealed to him? The yellow foot prints represent his fear of this dark path, and that of those who knew and supported him. The process of not knowing what is ahead of him, but knowing he must journey onward.

The red foot prints represent his commitment and resolve to make this world a better place for all and the price of his pursuit - his life. With many threats to his life and that of his family and his friends being murdered around him - he did not stop. Even in death.

Finally, his journey culminates at his final and lasting resting place - hoping that in death he can still impact life. And he has!

Many people that we know can attest to the ideology of the title of the window...the poor kid who makes it out of "the 'hood" to play pro-ball; the driven student who makes it to Harvard to receive his new law degree; the lost child who finds her fame and focus in front of an audience that she connects with. Life is about our commitment to being more, doing more, having more - it is about the journey. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s journey was to follow the path on which he believed that GOD had placed him.

What is your journey? Where will it lead you? Will it end at your death? Focus, drive, commitment is what gets that one foot in front of the other. Will it lead you to your destiny?"

We hope you've enjoyed this series of posts about the murals, and that you got a chance to come check out the murals in person for yourselves! For more information about this competition, and if you'd be interested in participating next year, please check out our website.

MLK Mural Series, Part 5

This is the fifth part in a series in which we are highlighting entries from our 6th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition. Student artists in the Chicago area were selected for the Competition based on their current portfolios. Congratulations to all our 2012 Competition participants! Come take a look and maybe even get inspired to enter the competition yourself next year!

Elcin Marasli

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, '13 

"My project consists of multiple hand drawings in various expressive states, symbolizing the sufferings, hope and victory of a "handful of society" or "hands of the people" coming together for the progress and maintenance of justice. The overall mural is a symbolic, decorative and abstract form revealing a homogenous single drop of water at large, overlaid with drawings of hands in black, uniform stroke. When the morning sun directly hits the window, the animated brush strokes allow for a playful reflection of changing tones of the color blue. The labor-intensive layering of brush strokes also indicates the historical progression in the fight for justice as a timely endeavor.

The composition is divided into three sections, as is the actual phyical window surface. The bottom part includes a large-scale drawing of Martin Luther King's hands connected in wishful position (note King's ring to identify). King's person endeavor in fighting for justice and equality is depicted in the expressivity of his hand gesture as a symbolic outreach from the personal to the public, where he lays ground for the fight for justice with his own hands, and opens it up for people to enliven his dream. The second (middle) section of the mural includes smaller-scale hands in giving and taking positions, representing society at large opening up to King's ideas and taking them in. Finally, the third and top part of the mural consists of small-scale hands in positions of victory and strength, in this case closed fists, portraying justice at it's victorious state.

In changing scale from small at the top to larger at the bottom, the image imitates a flowing motion of water, or a big drop / splash of water from the source to the basin. There are no power relations involved in the flow of justice. King is not only a giver but also a receiver, and the public at large is equally a source of opinions constantly flowing, in and out of King's foundational basis, enlivening and transforming it. This is also to suggest that that "justice case roll like water" only in an environment of mutual exchange of ideas and understanding between King and sociey at large, with an equal strive for equal rights to each member of the society, a homogenous and uniform coexistence."

Ji Ha Park
School of the Art Institute of Chicago

"We are basically different. We have different skin color, gender, ethnicity, age and so on. We also live in different situations in this world. However, we are all the same human beings. There is no question. However, in reality we still discriminate against the visible differences. Nevertheless, I believe that it can be changed little by little. My message of this painting is "hope." We should not forget the message by Dr. King, all beings are equal, the same."

*The murals are on display through March at Hostelling International Chicago, 24 East Congress Parkway. The exhibition is free and open to the public for viewing between 9am and 9pm, seven days a week. Check out our website for more information and the complete gallery! Don't forget to check out part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4 of the series, and have a lovely Leap Day!

Martin Luther King Jr. Mural Series, Part 4!

This is the fourth part in a series in which we are highlighting entries from our 6th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition. Student artists in the Chicago area were selected for the Competition based on their current portfolios. Congratulations to all our 2012 Competition participants! Come take a look and maybe even get inspired to enter the competition yourself next year!

Jacqueline Renee Friedberg

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, '12

"We all have dreams. When we work together, we can make these dreams reality. This statement has been proven through the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his followers. His words can still be heard and the actions we take today can still result in civil justice."

Ahyun Kim

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, '12 

"Water gives life to every living being. It spreads to all directions and reaches to every life form without any discrimination. This relationship between water and life resembles the strong will of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his influence on human rights. Martin Luther King, Jr. constantly worked for civil rights and never stopped. His incredibly hard work reaches to individuals all over the world today and even to the future. I wanted to emphasize these great influences of Martin Luther King, Jr. by painting him making a big stream. Finally, the mighty stream bonds everyone together as a whole."

*The murals are on display through March at Hostelling International Chicago, 24 East Congress Parkway. The exhibition is free and open to the public for viewing between 9am and 9pm, seven days a week. Check out our website for more information and the complete gallery! Don't forget to check out part 1, part 2, and part 3 of the series, and have a lovely Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday!

Martin Luther King Murals, Continued!

This is the third part in a series in which we are highlighting entries from our 6th annual Martin Luther King Mural Competition. Student artists in the Chicago area were selected for the Competition based on their current portfolios. Congratulation to all our 2012 Competition participants! Come take a look and maybe even get inspired to enter the competition yourself next year!

Skech 185 / Willie MacIntyre & Louder Than A Bomb Poets
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s well-known phrase - "until justice rolls down like waters" - has the same rhetorical power as it did August 28, 1963, but the words themselves sound different after more than 50 years, especially when spoken from the mouths of Chicago's young people. Today, Chicago is known as the most racially segregated city in the United States. Chicago Speaks presents the sounds of a segregated city in conversation. We are asking, "what does integration sound like?"

This mural project is a fusion of Chicago-based histories in poetry and imagery from Louder Than A Bomb poets to explore the conflation of integration and diversity. As a text based mural, coupled with images of Chicago's youth, the work is similar to a 21st Century Greek Chourus resounding in multi-voice narratives. This is what Chicago sounds like!

Seonjoo Cho, nighttime photo of artwork

Seonjoo Cho, daytime photo of artwork

Seonjoo Cho

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, '13
"We need both white and black keys to make music. That is the reason for coexistence."

*The murals are on display through March at Hostelling International Chicago, 24 East Congress Parkway. The exhibition is free and open to the public for viewing between 9am and 9pm, seven days a week. Check out our website for more information and the complete gallery! Don't forget to check out part 1 and part 2 of the series, and have a lovely Valentine's Day!

MLK Mural Exhibition

Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Exhibition at HI Chicago

The exhibition is open now though March.

“The threads that I drew with icing are reminiscent of individuals in society and the colors of thread represent various races. One small thread cannot weave an entire cloth. And it is impossible to weave a cloth with tangled threads. We must learn to appreciate and incorporate all the different threads in order to weave a beautiful cloth.” Third prize winner Ellie Jung.

This piece is a collaborative production by the youth and mentors from the nonprofit organization, Connect Force. Dr Martin Luther King. The piece depicts phrases chosen by the students such as, “Action for the community,” “We the People,” Push the movement” and “For a better world.”Connect Force Alternatives, Inc.

2012 Mural Competition Exhibition

2012 Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition Exhibition

Hostelling International Chicago, in collaboration with The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, hosted the 6th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition, honoring the life and work of Dr. King and the continuing struggle for civil rights today.

Every week we will be posting two of the12 murals that are exhibit on our 2nd floor windows. If you pass by the Hostel you can take a closer look to the beautiful murals. The exhibition is open now though March.

“Entering college was like a cultural shock to me, all I knew was Black and I sometimes find it difficult to socialize because of the lack of integration. My mural is basically a visual summary of that desire I have for more communities and school districts to become integrated, so that people can have the opportunity to obtain a more well-rounded view of life.”  First place winner Channel C. Thomas.

“I decided to use thin Japanese paper, letting the light go through it so the installation would change throughout the day, to create a human shape based on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s figure… My challenge with the "Paper Thin" installation was really to show how just one human being, been as fragile as paper like anybody, can change the face of history with a vision.” Second place winner Marc Socie.

The Girl Scouts are in Chicago!

Written by: Krista Baum

Today, while walking in the hostel's kitchen I saw the Girl Scouts starting to get their food ready for their spaghetti dinner tonight at the hostel. I have never interviewed a group of Girl Scouts, and I thought it would be interesting to learn their story.

Girl Scout Troop 42745, a group of 8th grade girls from Oak Park IL, took the "L" train to get to HI-Chicago. They have been to Chicago with their families in the past, but never as a Girl Scout Troop.

This is their first time together as a Girl Scout Troop in Chicago, and staying at a hostel! The girls said that the hostel was "really posh" and that when they have been wandering around, they have heard a lot of British accents. They also enjoy eating with travelers at breakfast, and hope to meet more tonight at their spaghetti dinner.

So why did these ladies decide to visit Chicago?

They came to Chicago to earn their Discover Chicago Girl Scout Badge. To earn this badge these girls have to make their own Chicago tour. Each girl did research on a historic part of Chicago. They researched: The Great Chicago Fire, the Chicago Outfit (Chicago Mob), Buckingham Fountain, Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, and her connection to Chicago, the John Hancock Building, and the Chicago Flag. After doing all of their research prior to their Chicago trip, they were finally able to learn about history outside of the books! They saw the John Hancock Building, the Chicago Flag, and tonight they will be going to see Buckingham Fountain and it's fabulous light show.

So would these ladies be interested in traveling again?

Most definitely! They all said that they wanted to travel around the world, and go to places like Russia, Australia, Greece, Switzerland, and many more places.

When I asked them about culture, they said that "Learning about culture is very important, because when you learn about foreign cultures you have a better understanding about their culture, and how it compares and contrasts from your own."

What's cookin' in Cultural Kitchen?

Written by: Krista Baum

Chicago, a city known for its beautiful architecture, Chicago style pizza and hot dogs, the Magnificent Mile, international neighborhoods, world-renown museums, jazz and blues…and a destination site for many travelers.

One of the advantages about living in Chicago is that it is so diverse. At Hostelling International Chicago international travel, diversity, and becoming a global citizen are some of the key components that make us who we are. HI-Chicago offers a multitude of educational programs and traveler outings, but one that seems to stand out among the rest is Cultural Kitchen.

Cultural Kitchen is an educational program that HI-Chicago offers throughout the entire year, and is run primarily by Megan Johnson, and her current Education intern. This summer 2011, Megan and her Education intern, Eleanor, ran four Cultural Kitchen’s. Cultural Kitchen’s purpose is to enrich the lives of Chicago’s youth and give them a better understanding of cultural awareness and what it means to be a global citizen.

This summer, Megan and Eleanor have worked with four different summer youth programs in the Chicagoland area. They were: Christopher House, McGaw YMCA, Centro Romero, and Gads Hill Center. Each group participated in classroom sessions, chose a country to study, and came to HI-Chicago to cook a meal from that country and then do a presentation afterwards.

Christopher House chose to study Brazil, McGaw YMCA chose Romania, Centro Romero chose Italy, and Gads Hill Center chose France. Each of these youth groups were able to come to HI-Chicago to cook a meal from their country, participate in Human Bingo, fill out their Cultural Passport, and give a presentation about all that they learned about their chosen countries.

All of the meals and presentations were great! Some of the groups got really creative, and demonstrated cultural dances, sang songs, and had examples of common phrases in that country’s native language.

Then everyone got to spend a night in the hostel. They were able to play games, meet travelers, and explore the city at night! The next morning, everyone attends a reflection about what they learned from Cultural Kitchen and what they will take away from their stay in the hostel.

I definitely recommend staff members, interns, volunteers, and travelers at HI-Chicago to attend a Cultural Kitchen at least once! It’s an amazing experience where you can learn a lot about a foreign culture through the perspective of Chicago's youth.

Itinerary Ideas: Under 21 Fun

Under 21? Here are some options for a night out in Chicago:

Hookah Bar:
Samah (18+)
3330 North Clark Street, CTA Brown/Red/Purple Line to Belmont
Enjoy the magical decor and a cozy lounge environment at this Lakeview Hookah Bar. Call for reservations (773-248-4606) if you plan to go with a group.
Hours: Mon-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-3am, Sun 5pm-12am

An All-American Baseball Game:Chicago has two Major League Baseball teams; the Cubs, representing the North Side, and the White Sox, representing the South Side.
· Cubs at Wrigley Field (all ages), 1060 West Addison Street, CTA Red Line (towards Howard) à Addison
· White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W 35th Street, CTA Red Line (towards 95th/Dan Ryan) à Sox/35th
Visit the teams’ websites to see game dates/prices. Cheaper tickets can sometimes be found on StubHub or Craigslist.
www.cubs.com and www. whitesox.mlb.com
www.stubhub.com/chicago-cubs-tickets/
www.stubhub.com/chicago-white-sox-tickets/

Live Music:
Uncommon Ground (18+)
3800 N. Clark, CTA Red Line (towards Howard) à Addison
A relaxing coffeehouse with great live acoustic acts almost every night of the week. Most music starts around 8pm. Call for reservations if you would like to enjoy a meal during the performance. Call (773-929-3680‎) or check out their website for performance details.
www.uncommonground.com
Hours: Mon-Thurs, Sun 9am-12am, Fri-Sat 9am-2am

Concert Venue:
Metro (all ages, 18+)
3730 N. Clark, CTA Red Line à Addison
All early shows (6pm) are all ages, later shows (9pm) are usually 18+ to enter. Concerts range from Indie bands to punk rock to hip hop and more! Visit their website for concert listings.
www.metrochicago.com

Billiards:
Chris’s Billiards (18+)
4637 Milwaukee Avenue, CTA Blue Line (towards O’Hare) à Jefferson Park Transit Center
Play some pool, grab a bite to eat and spend some time at this local hangout. Chris’s have a vintage pool hall feel and over 40 tables. Parts of the movie “The Color of Money” was filmed here too! Call (773-286-4714‎) to ask if there is a waiting list for tables.
Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-2am

Comedy Clubs:
Experiencing this historic comedy club should definitely be on your list of things to do in Chicago. Check out these great venues:
· Second City, 1616 North Wells Street, CTA Brown Line à Sedgwick, (312) 337-3992‎, www.secondcity.com. All ages (minors must be accompanied by an adult).
· Improv Olympic, 3541 North Clark Street, CTA Red Line à Addison, (773) 880-0199. You must be at least 21 years old to attend mainstage shows. Shows in the Del Close Theater and The Loft are all ages.
· ComedySportz, 929 W. Belmont, CTA Red/Purple/Brown Line à Belmont, (773) 549-8080, www.comedysportz.com/ All ages.

Be sure to bring your ID and passport! Even 18+ venues require official identification for entry.

Cultural Kitchen

Last night the kitchen of the HI-Chicago hostel was buzzing with activity. Twelve middle schoolers from Centro Romero came to cook Spanish cuisine for ten lucky travelers as a part of the Cultural Kitchen program.

Cultural Kitchen is a six-part classroom program in which students study a country, create presentations on a specific aspect of that country, and finally cook a meal and stay in the hostel for one night. The program allows children who normally do not meet people from other cultures to step out of their comfort zone and interact with travelers.

The students made spicy potatoes, paella, gazpacho, and baked bananas, all traditional dishes from Spain. While the food was cooking, the students introduced themselves to some hostellers to fill out “traveler bingo” cards that featured questions such as “Have you ever been scuba diving? Where?” to serve as ice-breakers. After the delicious feast, the students each presented information on Spain, covering topics such as its geography, system of government, sports, and (of course) cuisine. A few of the students were dubious when they first heard they would have to do a project over the summer for Cultural Kitchen, but they all enjoyed the program immensely! One girl said, “…it was fun at the hostel and I want to come back soon. We learned a lot about Spain’s sports, culture, and food. I learned how to not be shy in front of people and talk to them. I hope we come back soon to have fun cooking, playing games, and to talk to people from other cultures and countries.”

The HI-Chicago hostel hosts many educational programs like Cultural Kitchen throughout the year and reaches over 1500 local students, promoting respect and understanding of diverse cultures.