5 REASONS TO VISIT MUSEUMS WHILE STUDYING IN CHICAGO

Special experiences, like visiting a museum, can become a meaningful part of our identity and contribute to better social relationships in a way that material items cannot. In other words, consider skipping your next shopping trip and go to a museum instead. Here are 5 reasons why:

1. MUSEUMS MAKE YOU SMARTER

Exhibits tell multilayered histories because it is a museums’ mission to be educational. Museums also teach critical thinking, empathy, and analytical skills. Once, I heard somebody say “Galleries are becoming classrooms, and not just for kids“ and I agree. Even the museums themselves have interesting histories to inspire and educate visitors. It is impossible to leave a museum without learning something.

2. MUSEUMS MAKE YOU MEET NEW PEOPLE

In our case, we organize field trips to every museum in Chicago, what this means that a huge group of people from all around the world is accompanying you. You can also possibly meet locals or staff members. Moreover, museums have cafés, bars and sometimes outside terraces where you can try some snacks and grab a drink while making connections with others.

3. MUSEUMS ARE COMMUNITY CENTERS

Museums are a lot more than collections of artifacts; they allow you to meet with neighbors, discuss thoughts and opinions and become an active part of the community. You can always be part of it. Museums are online, too. You can download everything from apps to digital trails and it’s easy to find out about objects before you visit, enhancing your experience of being there.

4. MUSEUMS ARE FREE SOMETIMES

Even though they need help from visitors by paying the admission fee, it is great for us -students- to get into some exhibitions for free. Anyways, there is always a way to help support the museum by volunteering or even bringing your friends or family after.

5. MUSEUMS INSPIRE

Museums are on the path to being truly interactive. Digital activities provide a greater wealth of knowledge – there is only so much room for curators to describe items but an interactive screen gives more space for context and detail. There is always a museum that may cover a topic you are interested in, and the best part of it, there is always one close to you.

Visiting museums is one of our favorite things to do here at SOLEX College. We strongly believe that it is one of the best ways learn while having fun -plus while meeting your schoolmates- and that is why it is always in our activities calendar, no matter what time of the year is. No matter if it is cold or warm outside, visiting museums in Chicago is a fulfilling experience. Join us next time!

Šv. Patriko diena Čikagoje

Ar žinote kad upių dažymo žaliai tradiciją netyčia pradėjo Čikagos santechnikai, ieškodami skylių vamzdynuose ir tam naudoję specialius dažus. Nuo to laiko Čikagos upės dažymą iki šiol finansuoja santechnikų sąjunga. Dažai, naudojami upės dažymui, yra nekenksmingi ir greitai išsiskaido savaime.

SOLEX koledžo studentai taip pat išėjo į gatves pasižiūrėti žaliai nudažytos upės ir pagal tradiciją paragauti žalio alaus.

Ekskursija į meno muziejų

Solex koledžo mokytojas Mike savo studentus iš kurybinio rašymo paskaitos nusivedė į Čikagos meno muziejų. Čia studentai galėjo apžiūrėti visame pasaulyje garsius meno kūrinius ir susipažinti su jais iš arčiau, tuo pačiu pasisemdani idėjų savo kūrybiniam rašymui.

It doesn’t matter if you are a local or an out-of-towner, the Art Institute of Chicago is a must-see on your list of interesting places. It holds the first place among the best museums of Chicago and by the way, 3 years ago it became the most visited museum in the world! It is very easy to find the Art Institute, as it has 2 huge lion statues in front of the entrance (at 111 South Michigan Ave.).

It could definitely take you a couple of years trying to learn the amount of information which is kept in this institution. It contains more than 300,000 works of art. The museum owns artworks and artifacts ranging from the early Japanese prints to contemporary American art. It represents over 5,000 years of human expression of cultures from all around the world.

My favorite section is collections of Impressionists and Post-Impressionists (Monet, Cezanne, Matisse, van Gogh, to name just a few). But you can find something to your liking in this huge encyclopedic art museum, which takes 1 mln square feet!

The Art Institute of Chicago is the second-largest art museum in the USA. Whether you are interested in architecture or modern art, European or Asian art, this place will definitely impress you.

Linksmų Šv. Kalėdų Jums linki solexiečiai!

SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA!

‘Adrenaline’ was the first word that popped into my mind when students asked me to go to Six Flags Great America. People started to tell me how excited they were, that their hands were sweating just because they were thinking of how tall the roller coasters were or how fast they would go on them. ‘Adrenaline,’ I thought. Produced by the body, it is quickly released into the blood during stressful or exciting situations, and simply by thinking about Six Flags Great America, I was feeling that adrenaline. The students were right! We were so excited, we were even counting the days until we would go.

Six Flags is an amusement park corporation based in the United States, with properties in the US, Canada, and Mexico. It is the largest company of its kind based on the number of properties it owns. The best part: We have one of them really close from Chicago. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois first opened in 1976 and is only one hour’s drive from our school.

As of 2016, the park has ten themed sections, a 20-acre (81,000 m2) water park, three specially themed children’s areas, and various other forms of entertainment. The annual attendance of the park is estimated to be around 2.7 million. We spent a whole Friday there, and let me tell you, it was outstanding. Not only were the rides fantastic, but the connection between students as we learned from each other while standing in line was unforgettable. We improved our English while having the time of our lives. Actually, I’ll let students share their experiences:

“It was an amazing trip. I love it because I went there with some friends and also I met new people. We had too much fun, we tried all the roller coasters. It was crazy. And it was my favorite trip with Solex College.“ – Safa from Turkey

“I really had a great time going to Six Flags with Solex. I was glad that the event was announced with enough time so all of my friends went. I liked it that we could choose which ride to use and we were not forced to ride what the others wanted.“ – John from Venezuela

“Six Flag trip was amazing and interesting. I wish I could go every day because it was fantastic. I loved the experience.” – Majed from Saudi Arabia

Now, it wasn’t just adrenaline, it was definitely a special bond with a group of amazing people, discovering the world through everyone there, it was even listening to traditional music from different countries in our way back to Chicago, it was making friends that I am sure everyone there will keep forever. It was a truly a SOLEX Experience.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

One of the good things about Chicago is that it has plenty of options that make your free time enjoyable, no matter the temperature outside, which day of the week it is, or even what your preferences are. Chicago always has an option for making your stay an unforgettable time. Getting bored in this city is definitely a difficult task, which is what also makes it so attractive for students from all around the world. Being a student in Chicago means that you can learn while you have fun and interact with people from so many different countries. That is what happened when we decided to go to one of the most interesting and interactive museums in the city: The Museum of Science and Industry.

The Museum of Science and Industry is located on the south side of the city, in Hyde Park to be specific; just between the lake and the University of Chicago. With 400,000 square feet, the MSI is one of the largest science museums in the world (another extra point for Chicago!) and offers around 2,000 exhibitions (yes, 2,000). Most of them are included on the regular ticket and ‘free-for-residents’ day. There are small ones, where you can experiment climate change, physics laws, human evolution, physical health, and so on. Also, visitors can experience flying simulators and the creation of their own tornadoes.

Can you imagine traveling from Chicago to Seattle within minutes? From the Willis Tower to the Space Needle? It is possible at the MSI. The Great Train Story exhibition teaches you everything about this transportation method, showing you a miniature exhibition from both cities and miniature trains that really move. Other cool exhibitions are the Whispering Gallery, Yesterday’s Main Street, and Earth Revealed. Also, paid exhibitions such as Brick by Brick from LEGO, Robots, and the Transportation Gallery are worth every dollar that it costs.A SOLEX experience is not only about learning and enjoying a museum, it is about interacting with students from different countries, and finding out similarities and differences between us. Making friends overseas beyond classrooms is possible during all our field trips. Are you in for the next one?

SHEDD AQUARIUM ADVENTURES

Did you know that there’s a place in Chicago where you can find over 32,000 animals? In fact, you can find as many as a million animals in some seasons! Shedd Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world, and is the only one surrounded by some other museums. How cool is that, right? Shedd Aquarium is home to 1500 species of fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. It is also the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection in the world. And it’s right here in the heart of Chicago.

At the center of the Museum Campus, with the coolest skyline view, Shedd Aquarium is definitely not like any another aquarium in the world. The basic design is taken from classical Greek architecture to match the other structures of the Campus (Adler Planetarium and Field Museum). The central aquarium building is octagonal, fronted by columns and a formal staircase, and topped by a dome. Aquatic motifs are worked in at every opportunity; tortoise shells, dolphins, octopuses, waves, and even the Trident of Poseidon can be found all over the aquarium’s exterior and interior. Since 1930, Shedd has expanded twice, with both additions carefully respecting the original architecture that earned the aquarium a National Historic Landmark designation.

As we went in on Illinois’s residents day, we only had access to part of the aquarium (which is still a huge part, by the way) where you can see thousands of fish, stars, crabs, frogs and more. Also, there is an area where you can touch small sharks! With the full price ticket, you are also able to get up close and personal with a variety of animals. You can meet the aquarium’s resident beluga whales, feed the sharks, and even learn what it takes to be an animal trainer at the aquarium. You can also tag along on a behind-the-scenes tour for a glimpse of how the aquarium cares for its creatures.

Going out and enjoying places like this together is priceless for us as an ESL school. This is definitely a day we will remember for years to come. Learning while having fun is a true Solex experience. If you, Solexian, haven’t been there, the next free Illinois’s residents days are August 29th and 30th. We will see you there!

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

When I think about summer in Chicago, I can only think of outdoor activities. Some things to do outside show up in my mind, but volleyball on the beach… this is a classic. No matter what day of the week it is or which beach you choose, during the whole summer you will see beach volleyball courts full of people having fun. We are already there, Solexians, and it is amazing!

But volleyball is not only about having fun, especially if you are on the beach (and you have plenty of options in Chicago). Basically, you can gain many things while you are having fun playing volleyball with us. First of all, volleyball helps you burn calories, tone, and shape your body. Based on a Harvard University study, an hour-long game of volleyball on the much less stable ground of sand can burn up to 480 calories. The physical activities involved in playing volleyball will strengthen the upper body, arms, and shoulders as well as the muscles of the lower body. Playing volleyball also improves the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Also, this sport increases your metabolic rate and enhances your energy level, improving your overall performance in other sports and workouts. Moreover, volleyball is all about hand-eye coordination. When you serve, you must follow the ball with your eyes and strike the ball at the right point. On defense, you must react to where the ball is going and get in position to make a play. All of these will build agility, coordination, speed, and balance.

One of the most important things about volleyball is that it is a sport that requires teamwork, cooperation, and communication – skills that we as ESL students are developing day after day in classrooms. So, we are playing twice per month on Thursdays (Taking advantage of the warm weather is a must!) and we are waiting for you to join one of the teams!

Čikagos molas “Navy Pier“

Šiais metai Navy Pier sukako 100 metų. Ta proga buvo pastatytas naujas apžvalgos ratas, didesnis ir modernesnis nei senasis, kuris Čikagai atitarnavo 21 metus. Solexo studentai vieni iš pirmųjų apsuko ratus naujuoju apžvalgos ratu. Naujasis ratas yra beveik 60 metrų aukščio ir turi 42 gondolas, kuriose yra įmontuoti išmanieji ekranai ir oro kondicionieriai. Ratas nėra vienintelė pramoga Navy Pier’e, čia įsikūręs prekybos ir pramogų centras, daug barų, kino tetras, žiemos sodas ir keletas apžvalgos aikštelių. Solexiečiai smagiai praleido čia visą dieną.

Burbuliatorius Čikogoje

Čikaga yra daug kuom garsi, pavyzdžiui oru… žiema čia gali būti -30, o vasarą +35, tad žmonės čia naudojasi kiekviena šilta diena ir įvairiai leidžia savo laisvalaikį. Vieni eina į palūdymį, kiti užsiima sportais, kaip tinklinis, tenisas ar futbolas, treti leidžia laiką lauko kavinėse, žiūti fejerverkus ar daro barbekju ir žinoma piknikauja su šeima ir draugais.

Piknikas yra pats geriausias pretekstas leisti laiką lauke! Tai taip pat lengviausias užsiėmimas, tereikia pledo, užkandžių ir kelių žaidimų, kaip UNO kortos ar tiesiog kamuolio. Bet šį kartą mes nusprendėme pikniką perkelti į kitą lygį ir paįvairinti jį milžiniškais burbulais. Taip atnešėme lietuvišką “Burbuliatorių“ į Čikagą. Solex’o studentai nerealiai praleido laiką piknikaudami, bendraudami ir mokydamiesi daryti burbulus. Dienai einant į pabaigą kiekvienas surado naujų draugų iš tolimiausių pasaulio kampelių.