MPTC Student Awards

G’day Mates! On May 3, I attended Moraine Park Technical College’s Student Award Banquet at Camelot Golf course in Lomira. Before the dinner kicked off I took pictures with President, Dr. Shelia Ruhland; Dean of Students, Scott Lieburn; and the next student ambassador, Mihai Schnell-Harrison. Shortly afterwards dinner kicked off, followed by the award ceremony. Students were recognized for their hard work in academics and being involved in different clubs. I received the Meritorious Service award. This award is for students who served the college through their leadership and participation in co-curricular activities. The next award I received was a clock plaque for finishing my term as Student Ambassador for the 2012-2013 school year. It was an honor to receive this award and was also a sign of passing the torch to the next Student Ambassador Mihai Schnell- Harrison. I can tell he will do great a great job in his term promoting the technical college system. The next big award was the Student of the Year. Tom Griesmer received the award and is graduating from the Electrical Power Distribution program. He gave an excellent speech about his experience during school and told us how Moraine Park Technical College helped him to peruse his career. After his award the ceremony was finish. It was a great night meeting students who I haven’t met before and eating with friends and members of Moraine Park Technical College. The next big event will be graduation day on May 18. I can see the finish line ahead and I am ready to cross the stage. Until then see you soon mates! Cheers, Lee IV

12-12-12 Last day of class

Well mates today mark off two special events. One in particular is 12-12-12 which is a once in a life appearance to see. Since today is a unique day a lot of people decided to get married, play the lottery, and do other superstitious things because they feel something lucky will occur. I am not superstitious, but I am looking forward to see if anything does happen on this day. Besides the unique date, today also marks off my last day of college at Moraine Park Technical College. I am in awe how fast my two years have gone at Moraine Park. I met a lot of people from students to staff members who made my journey here successful and fun. Although I will not have class next semester I will still be around checking out the fun events and serving in my role as Moraine Park Student Ambassador. Cheers, Lee IV

Fondue Fest 2012

Recently I had the opportunity to participate in my second Culinary Arts fundraising event at Fondue Fest. Being part of the Culinary Arts Club we sold fondue to help fund our educational trips to the Chicago Food Show and the German exchange program. This event was a lot of fun because I was able to work with friends and fellow classmates outside of class. This event allowed me gain more experience in the food industry, and talk to community members about Moraine Park and our culinary field. Although I had to wake up early, every moment was well worth the effort and time. During the day I was able to take a break to check out Fondue Fest and see what the other businesses were doing to promote their business. I saw a lot of familiar faces, and people were enjoying the beautiful weather. After my break I got back to work to sell the remainder of the fondue. We did well selling all of our food, but since our line was constantly busy we did run out of bread. People kept buying the fondue because it was so delicious. Overall we all put in over 10 hours of volunteer work to have this event become successful. I believe we raised over $4,000 and majority of the money will go into our fundraiser account. I am looking forward to pass on the torch to the new members next year, and show how the production line works at Fondue Fest. Hopefully next year you will check out the fun activities at Fondue Fest, and make sure you buy some fondue, otherwise you are missing out. See you next time in my next blog! Cheers, Lee IV

End of Summer Holiday

As the summer holiday comes to an end I cannot believe how fast the summer came and went. As I look back I had a fun summer and I don't regret it at all. Travelling to Europe this summer has motivated me to finish my last semester at Moraine Park and looking forward for trips ahead. I enjoyed sharing my summer fun here in Wisconsin with you. There were things I didn't get a chance to do yet, but I am planning on doing many more things in the months ahead. I hope you had wonderful summer as classes and fall is near. I would love to hear how your summer was and any advice I should do in the future. In my next blog I will blogging about back to school fun! See you soon! Cheers, Lee IV

Activities to do in Fond du Lac

As the summer months start to pick up there are more things to do in Fond du Lac. My girlfriend and I went miniature golfing at the Fondy Sports complex. This place is filled with activities such as miniature golf; batting cages, go karts, arcade games, and much more. Fondy Sports is a great for all ages and for people who are looking for something to do. We started off playing 18 rounds of putting, trying to figure out who is better at miniature golf. To make things interesting we made a bet saying whoever loses has to buy ice cream for two. I started off a bit rough but as time progressed I improved. Throughout the course we had similar scores. Although on the last hole I got a hole in one, however, I still lost by two points. At the end it was all fun and games, but I shall redeem myself next time. Since I lost I had to buy ice cream for the two of us. I decided to drive down to Kelley Country Creamery located south of Fond du Lac. If you never visit Kelley Country Creamery before then you are missing out on some delicious ice cream. The ice cream is made fresh on the farm, and you can see the where they milk the cows. Usually during peak hours there is a long line, but the line moves really fast. As we entered the shop we could smell the fresh waffle cones and ice cream. There are so many choices to choose from: sundaes, quarts of ice cream, dishes, and much more. I got the farmers wife sundae made of white chocolate raspberry ice cream with raspberry and chocolate topping, and I must say it was delicious. We ate our ice cream outside as we watched the sunset. The area is peaceful and quiet; you can smell the fresh air as you enjoy the people around you. For more information and direction to Kelley Country Creamery click on the link http://kelleycountrycreamery.com/?page_id=25 I hope you enjoy it! Cheers, Lee IV

The Grand finale in Madrid

I cannot believe it has been a month since I started my journey across the pond. For our last stop we visited the massive city of Madrid, Spain. Compared to other cities Madrid is by far the largest city I visited. Being here for two days is not enough time to completely see what Madrid has to offer. Although our hostel was located in a prime location, there were places that were farther away. During our stay we were able to learn about the history of Madrid from the free walking tour company of Sandman’s. Knowing the history of a city gives me a better understanding of the culture and cuisine. Madrid is known for running of the bulls which starts in July, and they have the infamous stadium of the bull fights. Not to mention soccer (futbol) in Madrid is beyond popular, and they take their sport seriously. So if you’re a soccer fan, Spain is one the places I recommend to watch a soccer match in a pub or even on the street. Since I was not able to see everything here that means I must plan another trip to visit this massive city. On my last night in Madrid I enjoyed the night by hanging out with some people I met from Australia and England. They were friendly and since they knew I was short on cash they offered to pay for my drinks so I could enjoy the last night in Madrid. I must say the night out was worth it, although my flight was leaving early in the morning. Spain became my favorite country and is tied with Ireland as my top places to visit. Well mates it is time to pack up and head back to America, I shall catch you on the flight home! Cheers, Lee IV

Beach Day in Barcelona

The best way to enjoy a sunny hot day in Barcelona is going to the beach. After knowing Barcelona has sand on their beaches compared to the rocks on the beaches in Nice, France I was excited to relax on the warm soft sand. A lot of people were out enjoying the weather and the cool blue waters. Although I do not know how to swim, I still got in the water. The waves were refreshing which kept me cool from the hot sun. I had no worries in the world because being in Barcelona felt like paradise. After spending hours at the beach my friend Sophia and I headed off to a restaurant our tour guide recommended called El Rey de Gama. This restaurant is known for their famous paella (rice mixed with meats) menu filled either with seafood, chicken, vegetarian, or other various meats. Usually when people recommend a place to eat I always question if it worth the cost? After eating here I must say our tour guide knew the right places to eat where you get your money worth. We were very full after eating at this delicious restaurant. Shortly afterwards we walked around the city to enjoy our last day in the lovely city of Barcelona. I had so much fun here and I would love to come back again to see if this city could be my future home? Later that night we went back to our hostel to pack up for our next trip to Madrid, Spain. So stay tuned on our next adventure, catch you soon! Cheers, Lee IV

Moraine Park Foundation Gourmet Dinner

G’day mates! April 27 marked another super busy day for me. Things began with me attending my sauce class; we made barbecue sauces, a coulis sauce, and a relish sauce. All of these sauces pair great with various types of meats and appetizers. After my class I went to help my friend Rachel move to her new apartment. It didn’t take us long to get things packed and moved. It only took two trips across town to finish moving. Afterwards I quickly went back to school to help out with the Moraine Park Foundation Gourmet Dinner. The Gourmet Dinner is an annual event benefitting the Moraine Park Foundation, which helps support student scholarships. This year’s theme was the Titanic because it marked the 100 year anniversary since the ship sank. Everything on the menu represented the meals served on the first and last voyage. My job for the night was to help out being the drink server, and made sure the drinks were stocked. I had the opportunity to meet staff members who volunteered their time to help out. I also learned the types of wines we were serving to pair with each entrée. I had a great time talking to people, serving drinks, and making this night a fun event. Students and instructors behind the scenes did a tremendous job prepping, cooking, and plating the foods. After the dinner we had to start to clean, but we all did a fast smooth job to accomplish our task. We finished around midnight, and at this point we were all tired and ready to go home. I know for me I was wiped out, and had to get ready for bed because I had to work the next morning. To check out the video I was in for the Gourmet Dinner, click on the Link to see the fun. http://www.morainepark.edu/about-mptc/foundation/2012-gourmet-dinner/ On my next blog I’ll be sailing into the month of May, stayed tuned! Cheers, Lee IV

Brand New Month

G’day mates, welcome to a new month where April showers are bringing May flowers. After having a fun month of March, I wonder what April has to offer? As the semester is getting closer to the end there is a lot of things to do. Some of the events that are coming up include Multicultural day, Gourmet Dinner, Student Ambassador in Madison, and many more exciting events. To start off the new month in my Food Principle’s class we started to learn about the various cooking methods of fish. I was excited to learn about this section because fish is easy to cook as long you cook it with the right method. In class we made lobsters, perch, snail, cod, and some other fishes. It amazes me how many ways you can cook fish, and each method has a different flavor profile. I have some pictures below of the various fish we made on April 2. Since my class is in the morning, many people are turned off by having fish in the morning but I didn’t mind it. Especially since I didn’t eat anything for breakfast, this was a great start for me to get my protein count in. After class I decided I need to start eating healthy, so I made homemade granola from scratch. I figured instead of buying this product at the store I could make it at school at a cheaper cost. If you want the recipe you can email me at lmcclendon@morainepark.edu, and I’ll send you the directions. My granola turned out really tasty; it’s the perfect snack when you are on the go or mixed with yogurt for lunch or breakfast. Well mates, that’s all for today, but in our next journey I will talk about my experience for my last day of nutrition class, stay tuned.

Cheers,
Lee IV

Guest Appearance

Welcome back mates! On Thursday, March 29 my friend Tyler came up to visit me from Chicago. Since it was my birthday week celebration, we decided it was a good idea for him to DJ at Slim & Chubby’s while I promoted to get more people to come out. We also checked out my friend’s new restaurant located in North Fond du Lac. She was excited to open her new restaurant, and I was happy for her. I figured we should come out and show support. The name of the restaurant is Mangolios, and the theme is a bar and grill. This place is super huge and there are a lot of games from shuffle boards to pool games. Not only was this place huge but the food here was beyond amazing because it is made freshly. My friend Jenni who owns the restaurant wants her products to be locally bought and freshly made. This concept is important because the quality of the food tastes a lot better. When we received our meal everything tasted and smelled so good, and we ate away. As we finished our meal we were super full, and after that meal we weren’t hungry until hours later. I recommend you should try this delicious place.
After we left the restaurant we headed to Slim & Chubby’s to start setting up for the night. I had a feeling that the night would be a great night because I told a lot of people to come out. To make the night even better I realized that the band Gym Class Heroes was performing at Marian University. I figured it was a good idea to tweet the band to have their after party at Slim & Chubby’s. I figured I had nothing to lose to send out an invite, and surprise! They came out after their performance at Marian University. I was shocked but I could tell people were having a great time and dancing the night away. As my friend Tyler was DJing the night away we meet some of the people from Gym Class Heroes, we had a good time playing music and getting the people going. I must say that night was a great time, and I hope there are more nights like that. Well mates that is all for now, on our next voyage we’ll be traveling into a new month of April.

Cheers,
Lee IV

My Birthday Week

Ahoy Mates! After a productive fun week of spring break, it was time to get back in action with school and work. This week is different because I celebrated my birthday all week because this is the only way to enjoy a special day. My official birthday was March 27, but my celebration kicked off with my birthday eve on the 26th. I went out to supper at Gino’s with a couple of friends from school for pizza. It was a great night hanging out with them, as we counted down to midnight for my official birthday. As midnight approached my friends wished me happy birthday, and we had a couple of drinks to celebrate.
On my official birthday I received phone calls from my grandma and mother; they wished me a happy birthday and have a great day. This made my day to hear their voices; at this point I knew I would have a great day. Afterwards I headed off to school for my free 15 minutes massage hosted by Student Activities. The free massages are offered each month for all students, but limited spaces fill fast. If you haven’t sign up for a massage yet, I recommend doing so because it is well worth it! As my massage finished it was time for me to get ready for class. I could barely pay attention because I was eager to celebrate my birthday. Fortunately class went by super-fast, then I was off to get the night started. For my official birthday dinner I wanted to have some Mexican food, so a friend and I went to Mazatlan Restaurant in town. We had a great time eating some amazing food and of course some delicious margaritas. Although I was super full I was eager enough to go out afterwards to meet up with some friends. I must say I had a fun night, and there will be many more to come. On my next blog I will be checking out the new restaurant in town. You will not want to miss this one! See you soon!
Cheers,
Lee IV

Our Journey to Madison

Happy Friday Mates! On March 16, my friend Sophia and I headed down to Madison, to finish booking our Europe trip at the STA (Student Travel Agency) store. As we were driving down the weather was nice, but midway through our journey we had to drive through fog. Fog is one of the weather conditions I don’t like driving through because I can’t see what is around. As we got closer to Madison the fog lifted up, and the weather was beyond amazing. Nothing beats a sunny day in Madison because there is so much to see and do. As we entered the STA Company we were greeted with friendly service, and our agent Jessica helped us with all of our travel plans for a month. After we finished booking our trip, we meet up with Sophia’s friend for lunch. Once we finished getting lunch, we went shopping. We didn’t find much but we did enjoy walking around looking at several of shops, and coffee shops. Afterwards since Sophia’s friend, Casey, attends the University of Wisconsin - Madison, she gave us a mini tour of the campus. It is amazing how many people attend UW-Madison and how big this campus is, it is like a small community within itself. As soon as the fun was starting it was time for us to head back to Fond du Lac because I had to work. I must say our journey to Madison was well worth it, and I hope to visit Madison again because there is so much to do. Well mates I hope you enjoy this journey because there is more to come! See you soon!

Cheers,
Lee IV

March Madness

G’day Mates! Welcome to a brand new month! This month so happens to be my favorite time of the year because all the events happening. Such as daylight saving time, St. Patrick’s Day, the NCAA Tournament, official spring time, it is National Women Month, and my birthday is at the of the month. What more can I ask for in a special month? On another note something about green I endure so much, I guess it could be the Luck of the Irish clovers and the Irish tradition that I love so much. Anyways I am looking forward for this month events, although it is going to be crazy busy, but the journey will be well worth it! Stay tuned for the exciting voyages ahead!

Cheers,
Lee IV

Sunday Fun day

Ahoy Mates! February 19 was a super long but fun day. It all started with me working at Qdoba in the morning. My shift wasn’t too bad for a Sunday, but it seems like lately we’ve been getting a good rush in the afternoon times; which is good as it makes the time go by faster. I was ready to be done because I was excited to go tubing with my friend Rachel at Sunburst Ski Resort located in Kewaskum, Wisconsin. Once I finished my shift we grabbed a bit to eat at Hardees, and they have this new buffalo chicken sandwich which is really good and I recommend it. Then we headed on down to Sunburst. On that day the weather was beautiful, sunny, and warm; a perfect day to be outside. As we approached the ski resort we could tell there was a difference in the temperature because it was a lot cooler with all the snow around. We waited in line for ten minutes but the wait was worth the adventure. As we approach the hill there is a tube elevator that allowed us to go up on the hill without getting tired. Once we were on top of the hill we saw how beautiful the area looked on top of the hill. There were a lot of people in line, but it went by super fast once things got started. When it was my turn to go down the hill I was so pumped. The first dip of the hill my stomach drop but the rush overturned my fear of the speed. We easily went down the hill over a dozen of times. As time went by my friend Rachel and I would race to see who was the fastest. We both broke even in the series. After awhile we got tired and headed back home, but for me I still had a soccer match in Oshkosh. I already knew by the end of the night I would be super tired and sore from all the activities.
An hour later my soccer match started and we were pushing for a win because this session we haven’t been doing the best as we usually do. Although this league is for fun, we like to win at the same time. We started off strong by taking the lead three to zero. Then, out of nowhere the opposing team caught up by scoring three unanswered goals. At half time we tried to see what we were doing wrong, and change our plan. Our new approach worked for awhile but then we allowed the opposing team to score to end the game on a tie. We were a bit disappointed so we are looking forward to our next game in the upcoming week. Afterwards I headed home, I thought I would be able to do some more homework, but I was too tired to stay awake. So now you can see why today was a super long fun Sunday! In my next voyage you will hear about how I prepared for my Student Ambassador interview, so stay tuned!

Cheers,
Lee IV

Busy Monday

G’day mates! February 6, was a special day because it was my mother’s birthday. Although I wasn’t able to celebrate with her I did send a card to her in the mail, and she loved it! Sometimes it is hard not seeing my family all the time because we live three hours away, but I make sure we constantly keep in touch with our busy schedule either by phone, mail, or text. After I finish talking to my mother on the phone I got ready for my busy day of errands. I first went to H&R Block to file for my taxes, this process didn’t take as long as I expected. The staff members were friendly and they made sure any questions I had were answered, and made sure my tax return was a smooth return. Afterwards I headed down to Blessed Bee Cupcake because I couldn’t resist some cupcakes. The special for this week was Guinness and RumChata cupcakes, and they were delicious -- filled with moisture that was out of this world. Once I got my sweet tooth fix in I got ready for my classes.

In my catering class we worked on our personal catering business. It is pretty fun and creative to come up with a catering business and running it as a real business. The name of my business is called JukeboxLee catering service which specializes in tailgating party from different sporting events. Once class finished I quickly got ready for our culinary club meeting. We went over our agenda of upcoming events and creating committee groups to participate in upcoming fundraisers. Afterwards it was time for my Nutrition class. We discuss the nutrition values of food and talking about how they can be healthy or unhealthy. This class is very interesting because we are able to discuss the purpose of food and how it can improve people’s health. During our break time we were able to sample various types of eggs from another class of breakfast pasta and grain. They were learning how to cook eggs in different methods, and like I always say the best part of culinary is eating and sampling. I did over indulge myself with eggs, but it was well worth it! We finished class a little earlier, and then we were able to work on our assignment for the following week. It didn’t take me long to finish then I decided to go home and relax after a long busy Monday. Well mates, like always it is a pleasure to share my journey with you, until next time Ciao!

Cheers,
Lee IV

Hello February!

Ahoy Mates! Today, Wednesday, February 1 is the start of a new month! Usually February is a short month, but this year we have an extra day due to Leap Year and the weather has been wonderful for it being winter. Since I don’t have class on Wednesdays until the second half of the semester, I am able to work more hours at my jobs. We were a bit busy for a Wednesday at Qdoba, but I got through the day because I was looking forward to go bowling with my friends from MPTC. As I finished my work at my second job at Service Master I quickly headed home, and changed into my bowling gear. Afterwards I headed over to Ledgeview Lanes to go bowling with my friends. These weekly bowling nights come in handy because I am able to hangout and relax with friends outside of the classroom. Like always it is always a great time singing, dancing, and bowling at the Lanes, never a dull moment. I didn’t reach my goal of breaking 200 yet, but I came close in two games. Well like they all say practice makes perfect! I am hoping next week I can achieve my goal, but most important I have a great outing with my friends. Afterwards we grabbed a quick bite at Taco Bell before we headed home. I can tell even though February is a short month it is going to a busy month filled with homework, projects, scholarship applications, and much more! No worries though I get to share my experience with you, as I continue to learn how to create an amazing video blog! Well mates, that is all for now time for bed. Ciao!

Cheers,
Lee IV

Ahoy Madison, Wisconsin

On Tuesday, January 31, I had the opportunity to do a presentation in the State Capitol. I was nominated to represent MPTC’s Fond du Lac campus for culinary arts to talk about community service projects. Students and staff members from each of MPTC’s campuses drove in a van to represent our schools in the capital. This event, ‘’A Celebration of Student Engagement’’ held in the State Capitol Rotunda was a showcase focusing on Wisconsin’s Technical College students from around the state to represent hardworking commitment we do both in and out of the classroom. I was glad to meet fellow classmates from other schools and network with people around the state. Once we arrived at the capitol we started to set up our display projects on the second floor of the building. The sight inside is amazing; it always impresses me how people built beautiful structures and last all these years. I have some pictures below to show how amazing the artwork inside was like. Shortly after the event started; we talked to students and instructors from other schools and learned new information about different programs. Around lunch time we were offered free lunch from Jimmy Johns, consisting of a sandwich, chips, and a drink which was super tasty.

As lunch came to an end it was time for us to get back in action to present our display, and talk to our legislative leaders from our district. Although we are coming from technical schools we still have the same opportunity of becoming successful as a person coming from a four year university. Guest speaker, Mark Schmitz, owner and founder of zebradog.com talked about his success he gained from a technical school, and now owns a business across the street from the Capitol building. His speech was very motivating and gave awareness that funding in technical colleges is just as important. Towards the end of the event we received certificates of achievement from our district legislators, and gave one final speech about what we are doing in the community to make an impact. As that finished up we started to pack up and headed back to Fond du Lac. Overall this event was successful to me because I had the opportunity to network with other students and schools. I hope there will more people next year because people should be aware of the opportunities of networking and being involved in the community. Well mates that is all for now, stay tuned for the next voyage!
Cheers,
Lee IV

Week 2 of school

G’day Mates, after a busy weekend of working and playing soccer it was time to get ready for week two of school. In my Food Principles class we went over culinary terms, and talked about how we can use these terms in our career. There were a lot of terms I was unaware of because I haven’t had much experience in the food industry, and some of the terms originated from French or Italian cuisine. Nevertheless I gained knowledge of using these terms to communicate with people, and utilize culinary terms into my writing. After class I had a two hour break before my next class, so I decided to get a haircut at Techniques salon on campus. The cosmetology department offers a hair salon that is open to the public for a reasonable cost. This allows the students to gain more experience cutting and styling hair. I figured since the students don’t get much experience on men’s hair I would assist by letting them cut my hair. The one student was a bit nervous, but I told her no worries it’s the only way you have to get practice so no pressure. During the haircut the instructor kept checking to make sure everything was going well, and to say the least, I was satisfied with my haircut. After my haircut they shampooed and conditioned my hair all for seven dollars which is a great bargain. I told them I would come back and recommend others to come here for haircuts. Click here to see a list of their services: http://www.morainepark.edu/services/techniques-salon/#student-labs

Afterwards I got some lunch in the cafeteria then headed into my Food Styling class. We went over our recipes and ideas of how we wanted to design our plating for the food competition next month on March 12 in Milwaukee. With the students in class we have a lot of fun making jokes and coming up with new ideas to have the opportunity to win and place in the competition. I am super excited and nervous but this will give me more experience and make me a better person by challenging myself. After class I got ready for our first culinary club meeting. In this meeting we introduced new members to the club, and talked about our plans for fundraisers this semester. We have to do with a busy schedule ahead, but that is what we best working under pressure and getting things accomplish. Our main goal is to raise money for our Germany trip which is open for everyone including nonstudents, and our food show in Chicago. Both of these trips will be held in May, if you want more information check out the culinary corner board or contact me for more information. Our meetings for the culinary club will held every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in room A111, so don’t hesitate, come join the fun! Well mates after a long day, it is time for me to do some homework. I’ll catch you on the next voyage!

Cheers,
Lee IV

Australia Day

On Wednesday January 28,I was able to do my Australia presentation at MPTC. I was curious of seeing how many people would come because I always get excited about talking about my experience in Australia. I love doing these presentations because I am able to share and bring awareness about another country, and hopefully encourage people to travel and study aboard in the near future. My event was sponsored by the Diversity office for Lunch n'Learns; anybody who attended my presentation received a free lunch voucher. It was a slow start for people to come in, but then minute’s later people started to show up, and they looked eager to hear my presentation. Mr. Green introduced me and gave a brief glimpse of what the Diversity office has to offer. Afterwards I started my presentation with a ten minute video of my experience in Australia in four months of paradise. Afterwards I opened the floor for people to ask questions about what they were unsure of and discuss my adventures down under. Once people were done asking questions I showed my souvenirs I collected over the months. These gifts I will always keep because my heart is in Australia, and if there is an opportunity for me to go back I will go in a heartbeat. If would like to watch my video you can reach me by email at mcclendon_lee@yahoo.com, tweet me @ jukeboxlee4, or facebook me. Well mates stay tune on my next blog!

Cheers,
Lee IV

Sweet Home Chicago!

January 16 was the day I finally got the chance to take a small trip to Chicago to visit my family. The last time I was in the windy city was last September when I went to watch the Bears game with my friend Tyler at Soldier Field. I decided the best and cheapest way for me to travel was for me to drive to Milwaukee and park at the Amtrak parking lot then take the Mega bus to Chicago. Mega bus is a bus service that offers cheap prices to various locations throughout the Midwest region. My bus ticket only cost me $12.50 for a round trip from Milwaukee to Chicago. After a two hour bus ride I finally made it to sweet home Chicago. As I arrived in the city my family came to pick me up. It was great seeing them because I missed them a lot and I have not seen them in awhile. We decided to head out to the mall in Orland Park, Illinois. Compared to Fond du Lac’s Forest Mall Orland was twice the size and has stores on two levels. I forgot how busy places in my hometown can be, but I wasn’t complaining. I miss all the loud noises and so many things to do. My family and I did a little shopping around checking the latest deals and clearance. We found some good stuff ranging from shoes to clothing items. The shopping made us a little hungry so we got some food from the food court. Afterwards it was time to head home to get ready for dinner. My mom and I have this little competition of who can find a restaurant that one of us hasn’t tried yet. So she picked this restaurant named Tuscany which is an Italian restaurant located in the city of Chicago. This place was amazing; the atmosphere was unique because it reminded me of being in Italy. The people were friendly, and most important the food was fantastic. I decided to get veal ravioli served with Alfredo sauce, my mom got a chicken dish served with potatoes and vegetables, and my step-dad got a rack of lamb ribs from New Zealand served with vegetables. Like I said before everything tasted great. I tried to utilize some French words I learned and remember, and the people working there were impressing. Although I know very little of French any attempt is always appreciated. We ended our meal with Tiramisu for dessert; if you never tried this dish then you are missing out. This dessert is delicious, soft, and full of flavors so don’t miss out on this amazing dessert. We were super stuffed, but in a good way. I will definitely come back to this place and bring others. Well after an amazing day, I call it a day. Until next time, I’ll catch you up on my voyage in Chicago. Cheers, Lee IV