Well we just wrapped up out week long training in Chicago and I have gotten back to Prineville, OR and got back into the routine of fieldwork.  My journey to Chicago was quite exciting as well as stressful.  I first traveled to Salem to meet a friend and spent some time hanging out before getting a ride to the Portland airport.  Then I waited and took a red-eye flight to Chicago which got in around 6am.  After waiting around a bit in the airport I called a taxi and got a ride to the hotel.  However, all the rooms were full so I would have to wait until noon to get into a room.  It took my sleep deprived brain a bit to process this, but eventually I decided that I would travel downtown and visit a couple of museums.  I trudged to the train station carrying my backpack filled with everything I would need on the trip.

Eventually I reached the train station and was slightly confused by the rustic setting and wondered if it was still in operation.  My fears were allayed shorty when people started to congregate.  I made my way onto the train and into the heart of downtown.  Then I decided to walk to the museums, a strangely relaxing experience.  It felt almost surreal walking through a bustling city seemingly caught up in all of the activity, but some how removed from the noise of traffic and the yells of traffic officers.  I eventually reached my destination, the Shedd Aquarium, where I had to wait for a while before getting in.  However, armed with my pay stub I not only managed to get free entrance, but the lady was nice enough to give me a free upgrade that essentially let me see the whole aquarium.  Then, after touring the fantastic museum, I headed over next door to the Field Museum.  I totally nerded out with their huge bird collection recognizing species that I have seen and fondly remembering those species moments in time.  However, I also was envious of the species I had managed to miss in my travels and especially those which I had never had the opportunity to see.  I managed to get through the mammal exhibit, also amazing, but I was running out of juice.  So I headed back to the hotel, which involved walking, waiting for the train, taking the train, walking some more and finally checking in.  Then I decided to find some where to eat before taking a shower and heading to bed.  Eventually I came back with a full stomach and finally was able to sleep.

Shedd Aquarium

The Field Museum

Owl exhibit at the Field Museum

The next morning we got our first look at the Chicago Botanic Garden and it was fantastic.  We attended a symposium which covered native seed restoration.  I was fascinated about the private business side of things, something that I had never really considered about native plant restoration.  Then throughout the rest of the days we had the opportunity to meet other interns and chat about out placements over lunch.  The several days of training seemed to pass by really quickly, but it was great to have the Botanic Garden as a backstop to slow things down again.  We learned about the history of SOS and took time to learn field survey methods, and brush up on plant identification and keying out plants.  However, one of my favorite activities was when I snuck out of lunch and headed over to the butterfly exhibit.  I managed to talk my way into a free ticket and then headed inside the building to gaze at the butterflies (the birds of the insect world).  I immediately recognized some of the species from my May Term in Borneo through Earlham College.  During that trip I even got to do a mini-project on butterflies.  Needless to say I was really excited.  It was great to see old friends such as the Clipper as well as new species like the incredible moth.  I had such a great time photographing the butterflies and trying to see them all I even snuck out a second time during lunch.  I also had some great chats with some of the employees at the butterfly exhibit.

Eventually Saturday rolled around and it was time to leave the hotel and the garden and head back to the airport.  I took the 10am shuttle and got into the airport around 10:45 and managed to get through security in 5 minutes (so much for the crazy long line at O’hair).  I spent the next 10 hours at the airport hanging out watching a DVD that I brought and reading.  I could have spent another day downtown, but I had already done that and I didn’t really want to worry about taking public transportation again and the though of missing my flight somehow was unacceptable).  Eventually I took my late night flight and got back to Portland where I was picked up by another friend and spent the night.  Then I took the Amtrak to Salem and then drove back to Prineville.  Phew, after all that travel I was ready to sit back and relax at home.  I managed to sit back on the couch and watch some golf before watching Lebron and the Cavs finally win their championship.  It was a fitting end to the week and all in all it was a wonderful week.