By Rachel Ehrlich

I woke to the sound of beating rain to confront the reality of the loss of ten great friends. The day started at 9:15 AM as the group headed to the Art Institute of Chicago. Personally, I do not consider myself an “art person” but after experiencing the museum, I walked away with a newfound appreciation for art. As I strolled through the elongated hallways of the museum I witnessed everything from contemporary paintings to abstract sculptures. I enjoyed a variety of cultural displays including Egyptian, Oriental, and Islamic jewelry, pottery and general artifacts.

After the Art Institute we fed our appetites by indulging in traditional Chicago deep dish pizza. The thickness of the pizza was like nothing I have ever experienced before. My stomach was satisfied after only one slice.

After lunch the group met with Sam Aranson from the Jewish Council of Urban Affairs and he led us in a discussion on the issue of poverty. As Sam spoke, I began to realize the magnitude of the situation. He split the group into two teams in preparation for what would turn out to be an intense debate. Each team had a packet of information in which to organize their arguments from. The topic of the debate dealt with pan handlers and whether we should make it illegal to ask for money. Zach and Blake, representing the two different sides, started the argument off strong with their powerful opening arguments. Alana and Hannah delivered their rebuttals with passion and confidence. Although each side had contrasting views on the solution to Chicago’s poverty problem, the debate was effective and educational.

In order to let off some steam from the debate, we made our way to Michigan Avenue. As we walked along the streets we got a taste of the city of Chicago and helped stimulate the local economy (shopping!).

Next was the lake. As we sat enjoying the scenery of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, all the girls witnessed a glimpse of the boys’ football skills as they partook in an intense game. We then walked to dinner at Panera Bread where I experienced my first bread bowl.

After dinner we walked to a great Improv comedy club. I found the show hysterical and a great way to end the day. Before we got on the bus we walked around legendary Wrigley Field.