New Experiences

I tend to be a coward at heart. I like safe places - comfortable, routine, I know you...you know me places. So I don't usually wander outside of my comfortable, safe places.

Yet, this past week has been one of new experiences, and happily, I survived these new experiences.

New Experience #1: riding the South Shore Line (commuter train) from South Bend, IN into Chicago. South Bend has a combination airport/bus depot/train station. A friend drove me to this building where I was going to board the South Shore Line and take it to downtown Chicago. On the way, we stopped at Arby's to pick up sandwiches for lunch. There was a train already in the station. I asked my friend if that was my train. I was relieved when she said that she thought it must be my train. However, my nervousness manifested itself -- I started to get out of the car and had to be reminded to give my friend her sandwich. Then, I almost forgot to get my bag out of the back seat. I went into the station terminal and purchased my ticket, asking if we could board the train yet. After finding out that boarding would be starting in a few minutes, I used the restroom. When I came out of the restroom, I realized that boarding had started so I dutifully followed the rest of the crowd onto the train. There were no signs, no announcements that I heard, I just followed the crowd, hoping that someone ahead of me knew what they were doing. There were no empty seats in the first car so I went into the next car and found a seat. Sitting down in my seat, I was SO relieved -- I had been on-time and had successfully boarded the correct train. One hurdle successfully jumped! 

When I realized that I was going to be riding backwards all the way to Chicago, it amused me. How appropriate, I thought -- instead of this grand entrance into the big city, I was arriving backwards! It was like I was sneaking in, hoping one would notice me!

New Experience #2: Finding my way to Chicago's Water Tower. When I reached the last stop on the South Shore Line (Millennium Park), I knew that I had to walk several blocks to meet my two favorite residents. I had looked at the Chicago map prior to my trip so basically understood the general area and knew that I had to walk north on Michigan Avenue. When I came out of the underground station, I expected to be standing at Michigan and Ottawa. Oops, I was at Michigan and Randolph. (Why I thought it would be Ottawa, I have NO idea. Looking at the map now, the street corner on the map is Michigan and Randolph.) I had to guess which way was north -- talking to my favorite residents on my cell phone was no help -- they weren't sure either whether I should go left or right. I knew that I had to cross the river, but I couldn't see the river from where I was standing. I chose left and headed up Michigan Avenue, hoping that I would not be retracing my steps in a few minutes. A few blocks up the street, there was a city map. Sneaking a peek at it (I didn't want it to be obvious that I was a tourist!), I realized that I was indeed heading north!!! Celebrating internally, I continued up Michigan Avenue. The next hurdle was locating the Water Tower. I knew it was on Michigan Avenue, but there are LOTS of buildings on Michigan Ave. Since I wasn't sure which side of the road it was on, I was concerned that I would accidentally pass it, looking at the buildings on the wrong side of the road. There were lots of other pedestrians on the sidewalk with me, carrying on their conversations. Not intentionally eavesdropping, I realized that the group in front of me was talking about the Water Tower and had just spied it. I looked up and saw "Water Tower" on the top of a building across the street, a few blocks up on the other side of Michigan Avenue. With another internal celebration, I crossed the street at the next opportunity and confidently strolled up the street toward that building. Unfortunately, by crossing the street, I could no longer see the Water Tower. My view was blocked by the other tall buildings in front of it. I considered crossing back over to the other side of Michigan Avenue so that I could keep the building in my sights, but I decided that I was close enough that I would be able to find it. Sure enough, a couple of blocks farther, there it was! As I waited to cross the last corner before arriving at the entrance to the Water Tower, I called my two favorite residents and let them know I had arrived! Hurdle 2 was completed!!!

Side Note: I happily allowed my favorite residents to lead me around the city. They took great care of me, paying for my subway and bus fares. I could literally sit back and enjoy the rides -- I only had to follow their lead.

New Experience #3: Amtrack train ride from Chicago to Battle Creek. With my visit in Chicago coming to a close, my favorite resident drove me to Union Station to catch my train to Battle Creek. Giving her a hug good-bye, I grabbed my bag (remembered it all by myself this time!!) and entered the station. I looked around for the kiosk where I needed to print my pre-purchased ticket. When I didn't locate it right away, I stepped up to the Information Desk and asked the attendant where it was located. He kindly instructed me on the kiosk's location behind the stairway. After I successfully printed the ticket, I looked at the electronic arrival/departure board on the wall and saw that I needed to go to Gate D and that my train was located on Platform 22. (I experienced a quick thought of Harry Potter's 9-3/4 Platform which made me smile.) Looking around, I realized that there was a very long line, snaking around the waiting area and down the corridor that I had just walked. This long line was where I needed to be. So I retraced my steps until I found the end of the line where I joined my fellow travelers in waiting for the opportunity to board the train. When we began boarding the train, I noticed signs posted on the side of the train, next to the car doors. I quickly realized that these signs were stops on the route so I continued walking down the platform until I saw Battle Creek on the side of the train. Climbing aboard, I located an empty seat and sat down, breathing a huge sigh of relief. Another successful hurdle jumped -- I was on the train, ready to head home. I could sit back and enjoy the ride. As we pulled out of the station, I realized that we were riding backwards again, sneaking out of the big city. Once again, I thought it was appropriate!

New Experience #4 -- Portland High School's FAFSA Workshop. February is the month when much attention is given to encouraging students and families to file the FAFSA for financial aid for the next academic collegiate year. One of our Admissions representatives was scheduled to go to Portland High School to help them in their FAFSA Workshop Night. She asked if any of the Financial Aid Officers would like to go along to help. I volunteered my services. To my knowledge, I had never been to Portland High School, and this was my first time volunteering to help with FAFSAs at a local high school. I wasn't sure what this experience would bring -- I was a little nervous. I checked out the possible routes to Portland High School and chose a route. Even though most of the route was "back roads," I realized that it was the most direct route. Thankfully, the event started at 3:00 p.m. so I knew that I would be driving to the school in the daylight. I figured navigating back roads in the daylight should not be a problem. I also had to pick a route to come home -- going back to Olivet on the way home would not be efficient. I chose a route that I thought would be easily navigated in the dark since the event was scheduled to conclude at 7:00 p.m. I successfully arrived at Portland High School and, after driving around the entire school building, I found the main entrance. As I was finding a parking spot, the Admissions representative pulled into the parking lot. I waited for her to park. Knowing that she had been to Portland High School before and could navigate the building, I happily allowed her to be the leader. (Have you noticed that I like "playing" Follow the Leader when I'm in an unknown environment?) Once we were settled into the computer lab, I felt much more at ease. I knew that I could help the families with their FAFSAs. I am very knowledgeable and confident with the FAFSA, having helped dozens of families and students in the past. I truly enjoyed myself during the event. After the event, I headed home. Remembering and retracing the roads that I had traveled in Portland to get to the high school, I navigated to where I had to turn off to get me on the route I had chosen to go home. Traveling a new road in the dark made me a little nervous, but it wasn't long until I found I-96 W which I would take to M-66 in Ionia. Smooth sailing from there to home! Another successful hurdle jumped!

New Experience #5: Olive Garden for One -- I'm very comfortable going to fast food restaurants by myself. I can either choose the drive thru or eat in the dining room. If I know I'm going to be eating by myself, I often take along a book to read. I've also gone to a few family restaurants to eat by myself when on business trips or traveling by myself -- i.e. Applebee's and Hacienda. I'm not as confident in those situations. I feel a little embarrassed when I approach the podium and ask for a Table for One. On Thursday, I traveled after work to Kalamazoo to shop at Babies R Us for a baby shower gift. Knowing that it would be supper time while I was in Kalamazoo, I had to decide where I would eat. There is a Schlotzsky's near Babies R Us which would normally be my first choice when I'm eating alone. There is also an Olive Garden (one of my favorite restaurants) near the store. Because I'm not comfortable eating alone in a family restaurant, Olive Garden would not usually enter into my choices when by myself. This time, however, I considered my finances. I had gift cards to both Schlotzsky's and Olive Garden. I knew that my Schlotzsky's card did not have adequate money left on it to pay for a meal there. On the other hand, my Olive Garden card would adequately cover my dinner. I would be much more comfortable with a Table for One at Schlotzsky's than at Olive Garden. Other factors in my decision where to eat were the facts that (1) my husband does not like Olive Garden, and (2) there isn't an Olive Garden located in Battle Creek -- we either drive to Jackson, Kalamazoo or farther to get to an Olive Garden. When decision time came, I thought about all the factors, including reflecting on the successful new experiences I had survived in the past week and chose Olive Garden. I walked up to the podium and asked for a "Table for One." Dinner was wonderful, the service was terrific, and I felt fairly comfortable during the whole experience.

What have I learned? Successfully surviving these five new experiences does give me confidence that I can do them again. I can ride on the Amtrack by myself to Chicago. I can eat in a restaurant by myself and enjoy the meal. I can find my way to a new place. Will I ever be completely comfortable in these situations? I'm not sure. I think that these types of experiences must be repeated over and over and over again until they become so familiar to me that they are routine. Then, I think I will be comfortable in them.

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