ORIENTATION: Back to Basics

     So I moved in on Sunday to Logan Square and not only is this neighborhood so cool but my apartment is amazing. I will save my move in stuff for the next blog post because I want to take pictures of my room and apartment. Monday I went to the ACM office with my roommates for orientation. We took the BLUE line up to Clarke and Lake (I think).
 
     Then we started walking towards State Street but we didn't really know if we were heading in the right direction. We made a u-turn and walked the opposite way until I asked a lady in the street for help and she told us to make a u-turn. So we turned around again and started walking towards the office. It had snowed the night before so the ground was covered in snow and dirty slush. When we were waiting for one the lights to change a car zoomed past us and covered us with dirty snow. I'm talking about some serious splashing- I had to wipe my face. Needless to say we were so cold afterwards because the slush soaked through our pants BUT the ACM provided breakfast for us so that was a great surprise.
     When we got to the ACM we talked about the reading by Paulo Freire, "Ch. 2: Pedagogy of the Oppressed" that was assigned for homework the night before; the reading was actually pretty interesting. We focused on the role of the teacher and the role of the student. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my core course group (which is everyone in the program) is amazing. We had an open and intelligent discussion about the main points and our opinions on the "Banking" style of learning.
     As we continued our conversation about oppression someone brought up a really good point that stayed with me. He said that not all people who are oppressed want to fight against their oppression because sometimes people become too comfortable with having something or someone oppressing them due to their fear of the unknown. It really made me think of the times where I have been content with being stopped by something because it allowed my fear for the future to grow and fester inside me. It's weird to actually admit that since I pride myself in being courageous and a leader, but my classmate is right, sometimes people feel a type of comfort knowing that they can only go so far before something/someone stops them.
     After our conversations we had a practice fire drill and then Rachel, Maddie and I walked to Trader Joe's. I wish I'd taken a picture of it because it was in a really cool part of downtown (next time). It was a mile away from the office and so we ended up walking two miles. My feet were so cold and wet because the snow had snaked into my boots and my socks absorbed the icy water. I bought granola, and pad thai. I don't remember what else I got. Oh, almonds!! I forgot to but my dried fruit for my cereal so I shall go back fairly soon.
     Once we made it to the office we were split into groups and given a list of places that we had to visit. My group was the Pilsen group and in my next blog post I will talk about how that experience was and post pictures. I am so tired right now and I want to post this blog up because Lisa and Valeria really want to see it.

Until next time,
Rocio

PS: Also, something else happened and it made me forget about all the slush and my cold feet, it made me forget about how tired my legs and my body was (and still is) AND MADE ME THE HAPPIEST I'VE BEEN SINCE I FOUND OUT I GOT POSSE. I am so blessed.

Okay blog posts coming up:
CARE-PACKAGE NECESSITIES
APARTMENT/ROOM
PILSEN ADVENTURE
ART NIGHT
INTERNSHIP INTERVIEW (Cross your finger that I get it because my interview is tomorrow)