Volunteer Spotlight: Marilyn

HI Chicago has so many wonderful volunteers who donate their time and energy so that travelers may experience their beloved city. Many of them man the information desk, which allows them to share their knowledge of Chicago and insight about backpacking. One such volunteer is Marilyn.  I had the chance to speak with her today while everyone was out enjoying the great, sunny weather! 

A retired school teacher, Marilyn has been volunteering at the hostel for almost four years. She says she loves interacting with hostelers because it allows her to partake in something that she is very passionate about- travel! Before talking to Marilyn, I thought I was a pretty seasoned traveler, but compared to her I haven’t seen anything! She has been to 53 different countries and has lived in France, Mexico City, and Quebec. In addition to English, she can speak French and Spanish, which she loves being able to practice at the hostel. 

Her travels began back in the 1970’s when she traveled throughout Europe and Morocco via hitchhiking (if you’re ever in need of some great stories, she’s the one to talk to). However, she was born and raised in Chicago and is proud to call this city home. When asked about where to go and what to see, one of her favorite places to send backpackers who are looking for a more non-traditional view of Chicago is the Glessner House Museum. It’s a mansion from the late 1800’s located in the Prairie Avenue Historic District on what used to be called “millionaire’s row”. To learn more about it, check out the link at the end of this post. 

Another one of her favorite things to show travelers is the Thursday edition of the Chicago Tribune. Since she works at HI Chicago on Fridays, she likes to read through Thursday’s newspaper and take note of anything happening over the upcoming weekend. She says that they do a great job of highlighting museum exhibits and special events happening in the city. And if that’s not enough for travelers, there’s always the dry erase board located right next to the desk that lists the excursions that HI Chicago volunteers lead and the free activities available around the city. 

Overall, she says she absolutely loves volunteering at HI Chicago and we know we are lucky to have her!

Interested in anything mentioned? Click on these links:

Glessner House

Chicago Tribune: 10 things to do this weekend