"City as Text" Field Trip

This little field trip downtown turned out to be much more eventful and informative than I had anticipated. I have been downtown Chicago countless times, but this time was different. Our class assignment forced me to become much more aware of my the city's people and it's surroundings. There are people that are all shapes, sizes, ethnic backgrounds, ages, and that speak different languages. In fact, within one little area I heard people speaking Spanish, English, Chinese, and one language that I couldn't even identify. This really fascinated me. Out of the many times I have gone and explored Chicago, I could not believe how unobservant I had been of the city and it's cultural diversity.



Another aspect that really caught my attention was how the city became even more historic as you traveled further away from the loop. For example, the Water Tower is about a mile- and- a- half from the middle of the city, so is Navy Pier. Even though Navy Pier seems to be very commercial, think about how the only part of that area that hasn't changed is the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Also to the west, there is the Chicago River which has all types of historical features as well. Everything is so commercial the closer you get to the heart of the city, but as you move away from it, you begin to realize that some of Chicago's most unique and historic buildings reside there.