Is Illinois the right place to do some good outdoor activities in the US? Probably not, in particular, not in its flat part where Urbana-Champaign is located. Nevertheless, the Cosmopolitan Club hosts an international crowd who really likes to travel and experience some adventure. And we did quite a few trips this semester.
It started all before school with a 4-day trip to the beaches of Michigan. International students tend to arrive in August two weeks before school starts. I just came back from three months traveling in the US and Canada. I started backpacking and canyoning at the Grand Canyon, visited my Dad in the White Mountains in Canada, and completed a 45-day Outward Bound leadership course in North Carolina.
So my whole summer was pretty much focused on being outside, learning white water paddling and rock climbing, and living together with people who share this outdoorsy feeling with me. It was a great time, but it was nice to come home at Cosmo, too. I have a nice large room, a big kitchen, a big TV in the living room, and all other things which make life comfortable.
After two days getting my Emails straight I felt that I was not quite ready for civilization yet, and I started to plan with my Cosmo friends to do a trip to Michigan before school started. This was a great idea and it took us only one funny evening to get our essentials in the car. On the next morning we drove eight hours northwards until we reached the Sleeping Bear Dunes, a beautiful national park at the north shore of Lake Michigan.
From now on we spent our time on the beach, climbed the 500 feet high dunes despite the warning signs everywhere (but there have been also warning signs to hike a paved trail therefore we decided that what we are doing is safe), and had great barbecues and bonfires under the stars. We were seven international students from Germany, Russia, Spain, Korea, US, and India. In order to communicate with each other, not only in English, we invented our own caveman language. Here are the most important terms:
- Gorak = Bread
- Manglor = Meat
- Mandra = Fire
- Milak = Beer opener.
We have had lots of fun.
After that, school started but fortunately not that intense and we had some time to go canoeing in Kickapoo State Park on the Labor Day weekend. It is hot at that time of the year and the water level is kind of low. But we found many ways to spend our time in and out of the boats.
Right now we are in the progress of planning a trip to California over the Thanksgiving break. We plan to hike up the 11,000-foot Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park, visit the singing sand dunes, and hike into King’s Canyon at Sequoia National Park. The crew is similar to that on our Michigan trip from all over the world. We will have a good time.
At Cosmo you will find the right people to do some exciting trips. Therefore one can have some adventures even in Illinois. It would just be nice to have some mountains, rivers, and beaches just a little bit closer.
Canoeing down the river