Traveler Spotlight: Nate & JD

Written by: Krista Baum

While walking through the HI-Chicago second floor lounge, I saw two guys playing pool, and they were almost done with their game. They looked like cool guys and would have some very interesting stories to share…and they did! *This is why travelers should meet and mingle on the second floor lounge because there are so many great people to talk to :)

Nate is 23 years old, and from Fort Wayne, Indiana and J.D. is 19 years old and from Goshen, Indiana and they have traveled to many great places around the world!

Nate has been all over Central and South America, and has lived in Argentina for 13 months and recently got back from his 10 month stay in China. While living in China, he also traveled to nearby countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. JD has traveled around the United States, been to Canada for two weeks and just recently got back from his 10 month stay in Bolivia.

So how did Nate and JD meet?

Nate and JD met through the Radical Journey program, which is a program through a Mennonite Mission Network that is based out of Indiana. When they said Radical Journey, I had no idea what that program was, so I asked them to elaborate. They said that Radical Journey is a program for men and women between 19-30 years old, and they do a year of service in a foreign country. The service that these people are providing varies on need, but some examples are: construction work, teaching English or tutoring children. 

During their travels both Nate and JD had some surprises…

Nate learned that his house sister in China went to the United States for a year and met his Argentinian fiancé’s best friend. Nate was pleasantly surprised to find out about this later, and really thought that this was a real life example of how small the world really is. 

For JD, he had a less pleasant surprise when he encountered some passport problems in Bolivia. Due to this experience, JD recommends that all travelers get their passport work done as soon as possible!!

From surprises to shocks... What was the biggest culture shock for these guys while abroad?

Nate thought that the family life was a big culture shock for him. When in China, everyone in the family was really close, and friends were treated like siblings. He also learned that it was normal for a 33 yr. old and a 32 yr. old to live at home, versus in the United States when everyone starts leaving home at around 18 years old to go to college or work.

JD thought that language was the biggest culture shock while in Bolivia. Within the first couple days he wanted to continually greet people in English, however after 10 months there, he was conversing in Spanish every day, and now back in the United States he feels that he wants to greet people in Spanish. The switching between languages so fast can definitely result in some excellent Spanglish!

So what brought Nate and JD to Chicago?

For both these guys, Chicago was the reorientation city. After their recent experiences abroad, Nate living in China for 10 months and JD living in Bolivia for 10 months, their program chose Chicago as the place for all their participants to initially return to when coming back to the United States.

JD actually just arrived in Chicago this afternoon and said that he was in Bolivia this morning! How cool is that!?!

Their program thought that Chicago was a good fit because it is culturally diverse and it would be a nice transition from being in another country for so long. Both Nate and JD are enjoying their stay in Chicago and are readjusting to life back in the United States.

So where do they plan on going in the future?

Nate plans on going to Argentina, so that he can then bring his fiancé to the United States so they can get married. Then they will move back to Argentina for a while.

JD plans on going to Goshen College in Indiana so he can study Spanish and French, and he also says that he wants to study abroad in Spain for a year!

Your Chicago Weekend Guide from HI-Chicago

Here it is again—your never-failing weekend guide to Chicago summer events! Now that the Taste is over (phew!), there are TONS of other festivals and events that you really should check out! Be sure to hit some of these awesome spots this sunny July weekend!

West Fest: July 9 – 10, 12-10pm

Check out the best of the west (West Side, that is) at the West Fest in Ukrainian Village. What sets this festival apart, given its food and drink stands, live music and crafts vendors? An AWESOME line-up, including bands such as Hollows and Local H, as well as DJs Drop the Lime and Juan Maclean! $5 donation.

Dave Matthews Band Caravan: July 8 – 10, 1-11pm

While tickets are a bit pricey ($85/day, $195/3days) for Dave Matthew’s Band’s rolling caravan tour, the Chicago stop just might be worth it! A massive line-up, including OAR, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Kid Cudi, Michael Franti and Spearhead, the Flaming Lips, and, of course, DMB, is bound to make this an unforgettable festival! Tickets are still available, so check out the website for a full schedule and purchasing options.

Roscoe Village Burger Fest: July 9 – 10, 11am-10pm

The 2^nd Annual Roscoe Village Burger Fest is exactly what it sounds like—a burger festival. And how awesome is that? Live music and mouth-watering burgers from nine of Chicago’s prime restaurants—many for cheaper than you could buy them in store! Turkey, beef, steak, BBQ, and, of course, veggie burgers will all be available, so go get your grub on! $6 donation.

Gold Coast Art Fair: July 9 – 10, 9am-7pm

Art lovers should head over to Butler Field in Grant Park for the 54^th annual Gold Coast Art Fair. Over 450 artists from all over the world will have their work on display and available for purchase (insider hint: select artists will discount their work between 9 – 10am on both days for all you early birds…or deal-savvy travelers!). Food and drink vendors and live music will accompany the art, and work is priced anywhere between $25 and $25,000, so there’s something for everyone! Free. 

Irish American Heritage Festival: July 8 – 10 (Fri 6pm -12am, Sat 12pm – 12am, Sun 12pm – 11pm)

Honor your Irish heritage (or somebody else’s) at the 26^th annual Irish American Heritage Festival. Live Irish and American music on 5 indoor and outdoor stages, along with dance performances (get jiggy with it!), a singing contest, and even a matchmaking event. Also, be sure to wear your elastic pants because there’s no better way to enjoy this cultural fest than through the mashed-potato eating contest! $14 ($8/presale)

The Flesh Hungry Dog Show: Homo Hop: July 8, 9pm

This monthly LGBTQ and queer-friendly rock ‘n’ roll variety show, hosted by local musician Gary Airedale, features a vintage theme for July. Bric-a-Brac, Suzy Brack and the New Jack Lords, and Pieptone! will be performing, with DJ Sky spinning between sets. Giveaways from the Pleasure Chest and a go-go dancing set by The Revelettes make this event one of the most diverse LGBTQ events in the city! All are welcome to this ultra-inclusive, mini-rock extravaganza! $10/door, $8/presale. 21+

So be sure to get out there this weekend and take advantage of what a Chicago summer has to offer! Remember--not only will it be too cold to dance outside come December, but you can't move nearly as well in a snow suit and moon boots.

Written by: Keren Mikva

Traveler Spotlight: Omer Aydin

Written by: Krista Baum

As I was wandering around the main lobby at HI-Chicago, I saw a young man on his computer, and he looked like an interesting person so I decided to introduce myself and ask if he would like to be interviewed for traveler spotlight. He humbly agreed, and we started talking and had a very enjoyable conversation.

Omer Aydin is from Turkey, and currently a PhD student studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. I later told him that I went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and that both the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign were in the Big 10. Currently at Michigan, Omer is researching cancer treatments and developing ways to use medicine that will directly target cancer cells and not the whole body of the individual who has cancer. What a brilliant student! 

After discussing Omer’s studies, I was very curious to learn about where he has traveled. Omer left Turkey in 2010, and went to Alabama, USA, where he enrolled at the University of Alabama to take an English class, so he could improve his English skills. After Alabama, he traveled north to Michigan where he could start at the University of Michigan. I asked Omer if he had a preference between Michigan or Alabama. He said that he noticed political and religious differences between Alabama and Michigan, and as far as the social scene, he feels that downtown Michigan offers a lot more.

So what brought Omer to Chicago? 

Omer came to Chicago for the 4^th of July Weekend with an International group of students from the University of Michigan and was able to stay at HI-Chicago for a couple of days. It was Omer’s first time in Chicago, and besides seeing O’Hare airport, there was so much more to see and do! As a group they immersed themselves in Chicago, and were able to see the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Art Institute, the Skydeck and Millennium Park.

As far as cuisine goes, Omer says that he misses Turkish food, so during this trip here to Chicago, he was able to go to a Turkish restaurant called A La Turka and he said that it was really good place. I have never tried Turkish food before, so I think I will try that place sometime. What better way to learn more about a foreign culture than through their ethnic cuisine? 

Omer’s future plans are to go back to the University of Michigan to continue his education as a PhD student!

Happy 4th!

Chicago might not have the patriotic landscapes of Washington, D.C., but it is going to be far from quiet this Independence Day weekend. Your dedicated HI-Chicago interns have sniffed out some of the best deals for you to celebrate your 4^th in style, not to mention a couple awesome events that you should be sure to hit!

July 4^th Festivities

Lottie’s Pub (1925 W Cortland): Beer and BBQ Party

-Lottie’s is hosting its own July 4^th BBQ on its open-air patio—$7 will get you a barbecued chicken plate with baked beans, potato salad and dessert. $3 cans and $4 drafts complete this American-style celebration!

Castaways Bar and Grill (1603 N Lake Shore Dr): Live Music Independence Day Weekend

-Castaways on North Avenue Beach, a popular beach hangout with casual walk-up service on the first level, also boasts a rooftop bar and restaurant that offers full food and drink service. Enjoy ice cold drinks and beachside burgers while listening to live music both Sunday and Monday: Chicago-grown DJ Jem will be spinning on Sunday, and the exciting new band Sunfallen will take over on Monday. Hit the beach on what promises to be a swelteringly hot weekend and enjoy these free performances! Music from 1 – 7 PM both days, no cover.

John Barleycorn (658 W Belden Ave): Independence Day at John Barleycorn

-A DJ dance party at John Barleycorn on Sunday (10 PM – 2 AM), including $1 sliders, $7 pizzas, and $18 Bud Light buckets, followed by a $12 all-you-can-eat buffet on Monday (what could be more patriotic?!) with all of your 4^th favorites: ribs, chicken, burgers, and more! And this traveler’s personal favorite--$4 Arnold Palmers and vodka! Mmmmm…

Frontier (1072 N Milwaukee Ave): Independence Day at Frontier

-Barbecue and drink specials, but we’re most excited about Frontier's $12 firecracker punch, available Sunday and Monday from 11 AM – 2 AM, made with blue raspberry lemonade, raspberry vodka and blue curacao float. Independence has never tasted so good!

The Pony (1638 W Belmont Ave): Independence Day at The Pony

-Specials include $3 cans, $5 designer shots, and $2 mini-Chicago dogs, brats and burgers. Complimented by a DJ spinning American classic tunes, The Pony promises to be a fun time!

Bangers and Lace (1670 W Division St): 4^th of July BBQ & Horseshoes

-Are you a horseshoes fanatic? Never heard of it but think it sounds fun? Check out Bangers and Lace anytime this weekend, Friday through Monday from 12 – 5 PM, for a backyard-style celebration. A horseshoes tournament will be accompanied by $1 hot dogs and craft beer, and winners may find themselves in the B&L beer of the month club!

And also…

Bushwood 4^th of July RibFest: July 1 – 4 (Fri 3 – 11 PM, Sat/Sun 12 – 11 PM, Mon 12 – 8 PM)

Bushwood Golf Center (30 Madison St, Maywood):

If you are a rib aficionado, consider taking a quick trek out to the near-west suburb of Forest Park for its first annual RibFest! Friday through Monday will host live music, including a Bon Jovi cover band (YES!) and, of course, finger-lickin’ good ribs.

African-Caribbean International Festival of Life: July 1 – 4 (12 – 10 PM)

Washington Park (5500 S. Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago)

Ok, this is not really 4^th-related, but SO COOL! Head to Washington Park and check out the 19^thannual cultural celebration that will host food, vendors, and live music on two stages, featuring headliner Loretta Lee! That’s 10 hours of non-stop music all 4 days, so don’t miss out! $10/single day ($15 if purchased at door after 5 PM), $30/4 day pass.

DON'T FORGET THE FIREWORKS!

While there will not be official city fireworks due to economic difficulties, fear not! Navy Pier will still hold its previously scheduled 15-minute fireworks show at 9 PM on July 2nd and 4th. If you've got your heart set on watching them from the pier, be sure to get there early. Last year's crowd reached over a quarter of million people before police had to shut down access to the pier entirely! Especially with the lack of fireworks elsewhere this weekend, expect enormous crowds to flock to Navy Pier. However, there are tons of places along the lakefront that you can see the show from, so be sure to check out fun restaurants and bars that have a view of the pier (and won't have those jacked-up tourist prices! $10 for a beer? Come on)!

Written by: Keren Mikva

Traveler Spotlight: Verena Gelbe

Written by: Krista Baum

I met Verena at the Traveler Excursion Event when we all went to the Kingston Mines Blues Club and thought she was fun, smart, and a perfect candidate for traveler spotlight!

Verena Gelbe is 27 years old and from Goettingen, Germany. She has done extensive traveling all over Europe, has visited Northern Africa and has seen numerous cities in the United States, including: San Francisco, New York City, Washington D.C., Orlando, and now...Chicago!

So why did she stay at HI-Chicago?

Verena found HI-Chicago on hostelbookers. HI-Chicago had the smallest dorm (4 bed dorm room) available, a good location, nice accommodations, and it was inexpensive. Everything that Verena was looking for as a traveler. Verena said that HI-Chicago "just turned out to be the best!"

While Verena was in Chicago, she immersed herself in the city life! She saw almost every mall, and really enjoyed Water Tower Place and checking out the shops on State Street. She went on a boat tour, as well as told me that HI-Chicago travelers could find coupons for it at the hostel! She also went to the Hancock Observation Deck, the Sears Tower Skydeck and the Art Institute of Chicago. Along with all the tourist hotspots, Verena enjoyed attending the Chicago festivals, including: Pride Fest, Green Music Fest, and the Taste of Chicago. She also really enjoyed the traveler excursions and the free concerts in Millennium Park!

This was Verena's first trip to Chicago, and she initially thought that it would be bigger and busier. She does state that it's not a bad thing that Chicago's not busier. She thought that it actually made everything a little less stressful when exploring the city.

As a woman traveling alone, Verena had a really nice time! She said that it was nice traveling on her own and that she could explore Chicago at her own pace and her own schedule. She was more open to meeting new people and made a lot of new friends at HI-Chicago through different events, like the traveler excursions, and thought that they were all very welcoming. She definitely wanted to mention that HI-Chicago has a very nice staff :)

She does recommend to women traveling alone that they should inform themselves beforehand and do not look like they do not know where they are or where they are going.

She did say that it would be tough meeting people if you're shy, and that you really have to be outgoing and put yourself out there. Another disadvantage of traveling alone was that she could not share all of her experiences or special moments with someone. So, even though traveling along can be an amazing experience, sometimes you just wish you could have a travel buddy.

Even though Verena is traveling alone in Chicago, she has a special someone at home waiting for her in Germany. Verena and her boyfriend have been dating for 4-5 months and both live in Germany. This then brought me to the topic about long distance relationships, and how it was for Verena being in the USA while her boyfriend is in Germany. She said that they are doing well, and that they talk on the phone regularly to keep in touch. She definitely misses him, but since they both know that they will see each other again in 4 weeks, it does not seem like it is that long of a wait. One of the most important long distance relationship advice that Verena gave was saying that a long distance relationship "is all about trust and communication."

So where does she plan on going in the future? Verena will be attending a wedding in Michigan later next week. It was interesting though because she said that her initial plan this summer was to go to Asia! Even though her trip to Asia was postponed, she still plans on going there in the future!

End June with a BANG! (because Chicago certainly will)

Are you in Chicago this weekend? While June might be drawing to a close, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing left to do this month! This weekend is packed with unique Chicago festivals, so if you’re visiting or you live in the area, be sure not to miss out on these summer-tastic events!

Chicago Pride: June 24 – 26

Join in the ninth annual LGBTQ community celebration in Boystown at Halsted and Waveland. Two stages will have live music, drag shows, and even pet parades from 5-10 PM on Friday and 12-9 PM on Saturday. Food vendors, arts and crafts, and more will all be available, showcasing artists and performers in Chicago’s gay community. And don’t forget the iconic Pride Parade on Sunday, which marches from Halsted and Belmont to Cannon Dr in Lincoln Park. This year’s theme is “Pride around the World” (how perfect!) so get out there and rep your country with PRIDE! $7 donation before 5 PM, $10 after.

Chicago Summerfest: June 25 – 26

Check out Lincoln Park on Saturday or Sunday for food and drink vendors, crafts and fine arts for sale, kid-friendly entertainment, and a non-stop line-up of live music at the Chicago Summerfest. Visitors can also take advantage of the historical or architectural tours of the mid-North area offered by the Mid-North Association. Oh yeah, and did we mention the pig roast?

Green Music Fest: June 25 – 26

Pig roast doesn’t grab your attention? This vegetarian understands completely. Head to WickerPark for the Green Music Fest on Damen Ave from North to Schiller. Live music, including Yo La Tengo and Les Savy Fav, will be performing from 1:30 until 10 PM on both days, along with environmentally-friendly vendors and services! Ride your bike there and park it in the bike valet (hello, green living!) and pick up a biodegradable plastic cup of brew—but to be clear, the cup is biodegradable, not the beer, so you should probably still drink responsibly! $5 donation.

Randolph Street Market Festival: June 25 – 26

If you’re vaguely recalling strolling along Randolph last weekend, you’re not suffering from festival amnesia—Randolph Street is hosting the season opener of its monthly Street Market Festival (visit the link above for future dates). Pick up some cool antiques and indie designs at great prices—vintage clothing, jewelry, furnishings (with free furniture delivery within downtown Chicago!), and TONS of food vendors will all be on display from over 200 vendors from the area. You can even get free entry to the last 2 hours of the market each month—check out the “See for Free” coupon on its website!

Taste of Chicago: June 24 – July 3

If you haven’t heard of Taste of Chicago already, you’re in for a treat (treat, get it? Like food…). Open each day in Grant Park from 11 AM – 9 PM (though it closes at 7 PM on the 3^rd), this 10 day festival features over 70 restaurants and food vendors. While entry is free (our favorite word), purchases can be made with tickets only (12 tickets/$8), and you can grab anything from just a taste to a full meal. Live music, cooking demos, and a stellar view of Lake Michigan make this one of Chicago's most famous summer events. While there won’t be nightly fireworks this year (bummer, yes), there will be fireworks on Navy Pier on July 2^nd and 4^th, and you can catch those from the Lakefront Trail!

Written by: Keren Mikva

Traveler Spotlight: Libby & Becky

Written by: Krista Baum

Happy 1st day of summer!! As part of my internship at HI-Chicago, I had the pleasure of doing my first traveler spotlight interview with two lovely ladies from England.

Libby and Becky have been friends for 6 years, are both 19yrs. old and live in Surrey, England. They decided that this summer was the right time to travel to the United States because Becky will be starting Uni in the fall and Libby is taking her gap year before Uni.

Their adventures started after flying out of London, England, and landing in Boston, Massachusetts. They have already traveled extensively on Amtrak to New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago.

But where did they stay?

After a poor experience at a private hostel in New York, they used Hostelworld.com to book beds at HI-Washington D.C. After a great experience at the D.C. hostel, they decided to stick with the HI brand in choosing HI-Chicago.

Currently they are at HI-Chicago! During their past four days they have seen a lot of things, including: the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry. Along with famous tourist destinations, every town has it's own cuisine, and in Chicago it's the Chicago style hot dog! So what is on a Chicago style hot dog? A Chicago style hot dog consists of: an all beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices, pickled peppers, and celery salt. Yum! These ladies were in awe by all of the toppings! It was cute when we interviewed because they said they wanted ketchup on their hotdogs, I told them that ketchup was not put on a Chicago style hot dog, and then they understood as to why the hot dog vender was so perplexed when they asked for ketchup.

Before they leave Chicago, they plan on going to the Skydeck at Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower. As well as will try some Chicago style pizza and hit up the shopping scene!

What are their favorite things about staying at HI-Chicago?

Libby loves the view from the dining room and watching the trains pass by. Both Libby and Becky are healthy chefs and love the conveniance of cooking in the communal kitchen.
However, there are always challenges for travelers. Becky misses her phone, which she left in England, but because HI-Chicago has complimentary wifi she was able to keep in touch with her friends and family.

Libby would rather not have to live out of her suitcase. I can totally relate to Libby's comment because living out of a suitcase is tricky. I always had clothes tossed around in my suitcase, and sometimes I could not tell which ones were clean and which were dirty. That's when I would just close my eyes and hope for the best. Then there was all of the bath products that would be scattered about, and commonly found at the very bottom of my suitcase.

After Chicago, they plan on taking the Amtrak to Tennesse, New Orleans, L.A., and San Francisco. Hopefully booking with HI hostels in each of their destinations.

In the future they hope to travel to Australia! It's neat because Becky has family there, so maybe they will be her tour guides.