Zohan ‘26, Max ‘26, and Rich ‘26, describe the groups overnight journey and first impressions of Chicago.
Bright morning sunlight filtered through the blinds of our modest roomette and stirred us awake. We sat up, contemplating the series of decisions that had brought us into our current predicament. After navigating a narrow and cold shower, a latrine that was suspiciously close to our bed, and a sink that sprayed water everywhere, we sat down in the dining car, greeted by a terrific duo of friendly Amtrak food service members.
After a 15-hour overnight train journey, we came to realize that the point was to give us an authentic immigrant experience as we explored the “Decades of Immigration” to the US. Floating out of Ellis Island on a ferry, we couldn’t help but throw a penny into the water and wish for a better future filled with glowing opportunities. As three international students ourselves, there is so much to be grateful for: being able to live in the Land of the Free, the Home of the Brave, the Cradle of Democracy and the Defender of Liberty. For being able to experience better education and the prospects of a better future abroad. Boarding that train at the Penn station, and knowing that it would be a good while before we could breathe fresh air again, was, perhaps, akin to boarding that train as an immigrant seventy years ago. Not knowing what waited at the other end. “Hoping against hope,” as Mr. Flaska put it, “that at least someone would recognize us when we arrived.” The purpose of an education like Deerfield’s has always been to expand our empathy as global citizens. The resemblance of the steel rail carriage to an industrial steam coach was eerie, and we experienced what it would have been like to walk off that train into an entirely unfamiliar city.
Walking out into a warm Chicago morning (30 F), we found a luxury motor coach waiting for us. We arrived at Hotel Lincoln, entertained by Mr. Flaska’s narration of his experience living in Chicago. Taking a picturesque walk over to the Chicago History Museum, we enjoyed the signature “Lake Michigan breeze” without actually viewing the lake. After eating cheeseburgers and hotdogs at the Museum café, we were greeted by Ephraim ‘24 and Tyler ‘26, the veteran Chicago residents. We smothered them with first impressions, such as “Chicago is such a clean city” and “it’s cold” (everything feels colder in Chicago).
Of course, we weren’t at the museum just to eat burgers and hot dogs. We went upstairs for the Polish exhibit, which Mr. Flaska said he specifically picked out. Aside from writing about the Polish struggle in the US and specifically in Chicago, the exhibit also demonstrated the constant struggle for Polish identity in general, as Poland has a history of being conquered by its neighbors. One student referenced about one particular family who escaped the Soviet gulags by trekking through Kazakhstan and then Iran, and it was after his expression of shock at these words that we realized how unthinkable that is to us today. Power lies behind unwitting words.
We walked back to the hotel and “chilled.” Some of us took naps while other “screenagers” indulged in some daily requisite short form content. We then headed over to the Second City theater for a comedy sketch show.
At around 3pm, the Second City comedy sketch began – the comedy company had been around for nearly 60 years and was the starting ground for many famous comedians. It featured 6 actor comedians in a series of short scenes ranging from few sentence one-liners to niche scenes and dual satires that were several minutes long. Our personal favorites were an eloquent satire on developed-nation liberals. It was a song that ruthlessly exposed liberals’ proclivity for “believing” as action, with the subject being climate change. Of course, one of us, a staunch liberal himself, felt terribly exposed, which speaks to the accuracy and high comedic value which we found in the show. Of course, the comedy did not appeal to everyone, and as noted by many individuals was quite over the top. The quick snappy and attention grabbing humor, usage of music and songs and many examples of audience engagement with the comedians ensured that even if your sense of humor did not align with the comedians, it was not an experience to miss.
We then headed over to Foxtrot grocery store to pick up some snacks and then walked over to a Chicago metro transport station. Walking has been a recurrent theme throughout this trip (we got 16,000 steps in today). It was hard to tell the extent to which facilities have been upgraded since the Green line started operation in 1993, but credit must be given where credit is due. We did reach our destination on time, albeit more jolted and disoriented than before. The hum of urban efficiency is seldom more admirable than when exemplified by the Chicago “L” train.
Walking into the United Center was a dip into the vast ocean that is American sports culture. We stood up for the national anthem, and I couldn’t help feeling proud of where I am. I may not be from the US, but in many ways, it is the Land of the Free. The US uses its elaborate light shows and immaculate atmosphere to instantly help us, the three immigrants, understand the appeal of American sports games.
The entire stadium was decked with supporters of the Chicago Bulls, and the further the game progressed and the more the Sacramento Kings were leading by, the wilder the crowd became. I wondered what it would have been like to play for the Kings. You win, and you upset 21,000 people in front of you. You lose, and you upset just as many back home.
Half time arrived, and Dunkin’ Doughnuts organized a game to promote one of their products. To be fair, it wasn’t a game — as we understood it, it was a random video where four anthropomorphic Dunkin’ characters ran three laps in a premade video. The arena was at least twice as loud than it was during the game when the characters overtook each other. Even in the midst of a basketball game, for better or for worse, consumerism was what was driving America.
Deerfield, in many ways, had shielded us from the realities of the real world. As we walked home debating the morality of jaywalking we went to bed grateful for what we have back home (Deerfield). We have a loving community that protects us and uplifts us no matter what. We have a world-class education and opportunities to aspire towards. To those of us from outside the country, Deerfield is an invitation to come here and prosper, and to make a difference to this wonderful nation. But Deerfield also veils us from reality, and trips like this are a chance to experience the real world and be aware of what others’ lives look like. We yearn to be back. Good night.
