Last Saturday morning, the drizzling rain and breezy wind did not stop many of the International Passport students from carrying their rigid bodies toward the CFAC entrance where the bus was waiting. Despite the weather forecast saying that it was going to rain all day, it was hard to mistake the jubilant and anxious faces of students in the dim lights of the early morning. They were headed to Chicago for the day.

On the way to their first destination, which was the Shedd Aquarium, it seemed as if all of the students  were sleeping as soon as the bus engine started in order to consume energy for the big day ahead of them.

A huddle of Calvin students entered the aquarium with cameras and phones in their hands. There were fish, dolphins, sharks, penguins, and reptiles everywhere. One hour was barely enough time to glance at most every creature housed at the aquarium.

The next stop was Chinatown. The students were allowed to eat anywhere they wanted, and most went to a restaurant called Joyee. The noodles were amazing; one cannot miss out on the boba tea there. Even though the sky was gray and foggy, students were individually enjoying small stores and shops before they headed downtown at 3pm.

For a person who has never been to a big city, Chicago was can be overwhelming. Students were free to explore the city or shop until 7pm, and stayed in groups. Some highlights were Millennium Park, the Disney store, the Hershey chocolate shop and Starbucks.

The weather stayed pretty rough, which was not great for pictures, but as the sun went down, students couldn’t deny the astonishingly beautiful city night view. The trip was exciting, probably because Calvin students spend most of their time in a quieter, calmer place.