HI-Chicago Staff Spotlight: Kimberly Turner

Kimberly, the Assistant General Manager at HI-Chicago, has lived abroad for a total of six years and has traveled to countless countries. She shares with us her favorite travel spots, lessons learned while living internationally, and where to find eternal spring.

How long have you been with the hostel?
About 5 years and 4 months. I was initially drawn to HI because I was a big traveler and have always stayed at hostels whenever I had the opportunity. So I love hostels, but in particular I really connected to HI’s mission. The opportunity to work here presented itself and I was intrigued and lucky enough to get the position that I now work in.

What do you do as the AGM?
I extinguish fires (laughs)…no, I’m the complaint department (laughs again)…okay, I coordinate between different departments – front desk, maintenance, housekeeping. I organize scheduling, I balance the books. I assist where needed.

What’s the best part of your job?
It’s the people that I work with. I like the excitement that the staff shares in promoting the mission and the enthusiasm for travel. Everyone on our staff constantly wants to be on vacation! I also love the interaction with the travelers, as well as witnessing the exchanges between travelers, seeing people from different backgrounds interact and make connections.

Can you tell me about your international background?After studying Linguistics in college, I went to Ecuador and spent a year teaching in Guayaquil and traveling. After that, I lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for 5 years and taught over there as well. Whenever I had time off, I traveled throughout the region.

What did you like about living in Dubai?
I really liked the experience of learning about the cultures. Before that I wasn’t familiar at all with Arab culture, let alone the Emirati, and it was a good opportunity to learn and understand. I also made some lifelong friends, and I traveled extensively with them to see their countries. I visited Jordan, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, Oman, Thailand, Kenya. I think I really loved seeing completely opposite cultures from where I grew up, in Middle America.

You mention a lot about learning…what lessons did you bring back from your time abroad that you still use today?
People often pick up this learning piece of “we’re all the same.” I learned that we essentially are all the same...we want to take care of our families, enjoy life, be able to live it to the fullest, be able to support and sustain ourselves and the ones we care about. Whether we live in a mud hut or a palace, it’s all relative. It’s easier to have acceptance of all people once you realize that we all want the same things out of life.

I also really came to understand the huge sphere of influence that the US has on the whole world. That’s something that I thought I understood before then, but didn’t really understand until I had some perspective from the outside.

Do you feel that you were treated a certain way because you were an American citizen?
Yes…in Ecuador I stood out because I look so different than your typical Ecuadorian, so there was more a sense of curiosity than anything else. In the Emirates, I didn’t necessarily feel like I was treated differently because of the way that I looked, because the ex-pat community is very large there. But I did feel like sometimes I received good treatment for my American passport, especially in the workplace.

You’ve done a lot of travel - where are you favorite places?
I’d say my favorites are Morocco, Jordan, and Guatemala. In Jordan, I was staying with a friend’s family, and the level of hospitality was just above and beyond. It was a first-time experience for me, being treated like that. In Morocco I loved the constant sights of the market and watching the everyday life there…it was so basic and in a lot of ways ancient, but flickered with this sense of modernity. There would be these old houses, mud streets, a donkey in the alley, and paralleled with that would be a big cable satellite. Oh, and the colors there are amazing! And Guatemala, it’s just a really easy and peaceful place to travel. The weather is wonderful. I think they refer to it as the eternal springtime.

What’s your favorite neighborhood in Chicago to spend time in?
Probably Bucktown/Wicker Park. I’m can walk there from where I live in Ukrainian Village, and I love the convenience of what it has to offer. There’s so much to do and always so many people out and about. I’m a huge fan of Coast, a BYOB sushi restaurant on Damen.

What piece of advice do you have for those wanting to pursue an international career, either locally or abroad?
I’d say just always remember to keep an open mind. Even when you think you know where someone is coming from, you cannot assume, just like they can’t assume to understand your background. Don’t judge or make assumptions about others until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.

Travelixir Goes Tropical - May 26th

TROPICAL TRAVELIXIR
The only party that will take you far, far away!
Brought to you by HI-Chicago and STA Travel

Chicago's most exciting travel party is back and here to treat all of your wanderlustin' blues. We’re getting excited about the summertime heat of the city, and so this event will celebrate all that is tropical, including your travel photos! Mix and mingle with Chicagoans & world travelers and enter the photo contest to win $ to fund your next travel adventure.

WHEN: Thursday, May 26 from 7-10pm
WHERE: The Volcano Room on the 2nd floor of the Bottom Lounge at 1375 West Lake Street
WHAT: A free party sponsored by HI-Chicago and STA Travel to cure that pesky travel bug of yours.
PHOTO CONTEST: Theme is “TROPICAL.” Submit ONE photo that goes along with the theme. Never been to a tropical destination? Then get creative and make it look like you have! (Thank goodness for blow-up palm trees, synthetic grass skirts, and tiki restaurants)
PRIZES: 1st place winner gets a $200 travel voucher from STA Travel and 3 overnights at any HI-USA hostels. 2nd place gets $100 travel voucher. Best tropical-inspired outfit wins a surprise prize.
AND EVEN MORE: Free giveaways from Flirty Girl Fitness, Uncle Dan’s, Chicago Detours, Iris Reading, and CorePower Yoga.

And of course, great music, dancing, and travel tales!

E-mail jsmith@hichicago.org with your photo submission (include your name and a title for your photo) to enter the contest. Photos must be submitted by May 25th @ 5pm to be considered. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN! RSVP not necessary for those not entering the photo contest.

Get more information and see who else will be at the party on Facebook.

Pay Chicago a Visit This Summer

Sunny and Humid (With a 100% Chance of Fun)
By Jessica Smith

Ask Chicagoans how they deal with the frigid and lengthy winters, and they'll likely give you a response somewhere along the lines of "Oh, but the summers make it sooo worth it." This week, as we near the end of April and we feel some sort of entitlement to springtime bliss, there's no doubt that Chicagoans are feeling a little bitter about the snow that's accumulating on our budding gardens (real or metaphorical gardens, either way we're not happy about fickle temperatures freezing them over). But let's not forget how soon warm weather and summer programming will be a reality. It's time for locals to get excited about summer, and travelers to begin plotting their trips - here are just a few reminders why:


> FREE MUSIC
On any given Thursday night in summer, you can listen to Mongolian folk music, Gypsy electronic dance, and Brazilian samba in Pritzker Pavillion as part of the Music Without Borders series. On any given Monday night, you can hear indie favorites like Iron and Wine, Blonde Redhead, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists thanks to the Downtown Sound: New Music Monday series. And just about every other night of the week features more music, as part of the Grant Park Music Festival and World Class Jazz series. All for FREE, picnics and BYOB welcome, with our glowing city as a backdrop. So. Good.

> BIG-NAME MUSIC FESTS

Dave Matthew Band's Caravan Music Festival - Lakeside
When: July 8-10
Cost: $195 for a 3-day pass (no word of 1-day passes being available at this time)
In the inaugural year of this concept, Dave Matthews Band is bringing their multi-city music festival to the south side of Chicago for a big weekend of folky, jammy, and soulful music. The line-up is almost fully announced and includes David Gray, the Flaming Lips, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Kid Cudi, and more. Of course, the namesake DMB will be playing a full-length set on each night. http://www.dmbcaravan.com/

Pitchfork Music Festival - Union Park
When: July 15-17
Cost:$45 for a 1-day pass (3-day passes are sold out)
Pitchfork is the lower-key, yet slightly edgier little sister of Lollapalooza, now in its 6th year at Union Park. Animal Collective, Neko Case, Fleet Foxes, Toro y Moi, and many more - they're still announcing bands. http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com/

Lollapalooza Music Festival - Grant Park
When: August 5-7
Cost: $215 for a 3-day pass, $90 for a single-day pass (not yet available)
Lolla, with it's steamy early August temperatures, at-times rowdy crowds, and sprawling fest grounds in Grant Park, is not for the faint of heart. Being part of the chaos at least once is a great thing to cross off your bucket list, though! It's the 20th Anniversary this summer, so hopes are high for an extra great lineup (which will be announced on April 26th) http://lineup.lollapalooza.com/



North Coast Music Festival - Union Park
When: September 2-4
Cost: $40 for a day pass, $95 for a 3-day pass
In its second year, the North Coast Music Festival will continue to deliver a progressive serving of electronica, MCs, jambands and everything in between. Featuring Wiz Khalifa, Thievery Corporation, Common, Lotus, Neon Indian, with many more to be announced soon. http://lineup.northcoastfestival.com/


> NEW NOTABLE FESTS

Wine Riot - Union Station, Downtown
When: May 21
Cost: $45-50
Tour wines of the world with 250 different samples and wine seminars, as well as a photo booth, DJs and food pairings. Not cheap, but a great deal for the wine fanatics among us.

SausageFest - Wrigleville
When: June 4 & 5
Cost: $5-7
Formerly the Lake View Music Festival, Wrigleyville's new (giggle-inducing yet aptly named) SausageFest will feature slight re-branding but still retain music, arts and craft vendors and food from area restaurants, specifically encased meats. Smoking Popes, Sixteen Candles, and more artists TBA.

Street Food Artistry - River West
When: August 14
Cost: TBA
Considering how popular food trucks have become in just the few months since they were approved by the city, it's not surprising that there will now be a whole day to celebrate them! This festival of Chicago's food trucks and street-inspired dishes will include food samples, cooking demonstrations, a mixology class and a performance by Soul People.

Ravenswood Remix - Ravenswood
When: September 3 & 4
Cost: $5 donation
The inaugural fest features art made from recycled, found and reused materials by more than 125 artists. Food and drinks from forward-thinking vendors also available, along with live music and a variety of workshops.

For the complete listings of summer festivals, check out Metromix's 2011 Festival Guide.


> OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Find Some Grass
The simplest way to enjoy the outdoors in Chicago is just to find a big, open grassy area in one of our many parks or boulevards. Grant Park and Lincoln Park are the favorites, but don't forget about smaller green spaces such as Oz Park in Lincoln Park, Hamlin Park in Roscoe Village, and the boulevards in Logan Square. Picnic, play Frisbee, start a pick-up game of soccer - surely you don't have to be told how to have fun in a beautiful park!


Beachy Times
Oak Street Beach epitomizes a city beach, due to its central location right off of Michigan Avenue below the majestic skyline of downtown Chicago. It also happens to be very clean, quaint, and relatively quiet compared to other beaches. And then there's North Avenue Beach, which is the epicenter of the fun-loving summer social scene. You can play beach volleyball, soak up rays, people-watch, and party at one of the beachfront bars - just don't come here for a day of quiet reflection. If you're goal isn't to see and be seen, then you might be better off at Foster Avenue Beach, a huge oasis of sand on the far north side that caters to the more family-friendly and serenity-seeking bunch. On the completely opposite side of the city, the 57th Street Beach in Hyde Park is another beach that is less of a scene and more of a place to unwind and enjoy the summer heat. A long day at the Museum of Science and Industry is wonderfully capped off by a visit to this beach.

Two-Wheelin'
While there are plenty of Chicagoans who bravely cycle through the city all year round, most of us hold off until summertime to use this as our primary mode of transportation. For those who are starting from scratch without a bike, you can always test out your biking abilities by renting one from Bobby's Bike Hike, a great company that offers a $20 a day ($25 on the weekends) bike rental deal to HI-Chicago. And although it has yet to gain the sweeping popularity that it has in cities such as Paris or Montreal, Chicago does have a bike sharing program called BCycle. For those that are already set with their own bikes, the 18-mile paved lakefront trail offers uninterrupted cycling bliss. If you're interested in becoming a better urban cyclist, the Active Transportation Alliance offers great bike workshops and organizes big-scale events like Bike the Drive and Boulevard Lakefront Tour.

Book your hostel beds at HI-Chicago and get ready for a great summer adventure!

Kathy Schubert – HI-Chicago volunteer and Green activist

By Margaret Sheridan


On Saturday evening, March 26, Kathy Schubert left the hostel guests at HI-Chicago in the dark. By design.

Kathy, a 12-year HI-Chicago volunteer, brought her special passion to everything - from bike safety in the city to her promotion of all-green living and energy conservation – to HI-Chicago.

For sixty minutes she turned off all unessential lights and other electrical appliances to celebrate Earth Hour, a global event started in 2007 in Australia, to raise awareness and take action on climate change. (see website www.earthhour.org).
It was a first-time event for the hostel, but the third year Kathy hosted such a happening. Usually, she does it at her home.

MS. Why did you introduce it in the hostel?
KS: I wanted to share with the guests, and then learn from their input how people conserve energy in their countries. One guy who worked on a submarine was forced to conserve water by showering only for a minute or two.

MS: What else?
KS: We had two young ladies from Japan who told us they have seven different kinds of recycling and try to separate items properly – batteries, glass, and paper. We had Geri Naynick from Madison, WI who does recycling and gave away her old lawnmower by putting it out on the front lawn with a sign FREE. This is how they do it in Madison. We agreed that people would probably recycle more if they were fined for not doing it right. Where people pay for garbage pickup and recycling pickup, they're more likely to participate. Most of the people who participated bicycle at least in the warmer months. The Japanese student from Columbus, OH lamented her college roommate's preference to turn the furnace up and the air conditioning down instead of adjusting clothing. We advised her to keep the temperature steady to keep the bills down and prevent damage to the system. I said that I hang my laundry indoors and have stopped using my electric dryer. I use my plastic bags for dog poop twice (I have a small dog). I use handkerchiefs instead of tissues for my nose and avoid using paper towels whenever possible.

MS: You’re well-known around Chicago for cycling with your dog.
KS: I’ve rode for 15 years with my dog Joey, a Miniature Schnauzer. She rode in a basket and wore a helmet. It was my way of educating other cyclists to wear a helmet. Joey died at age 15. My new dog is Suzy, 4 ½ years old. I got her from a shelter. I travel around the country, and world, with my dogs.

MS: Long bike rides with your dogs?
KS. Yes. I’ve done 12 RAGBRAIs (a five-day organized ride across IOWA), and I’ve cycled 12 days in Capitol to Capitol, a 669-mile ride from Ottawa, Canada to Washington DC with Joey. I’ve been cycling since I was a kid. I grew up in Albany Park.

MS: Any advice for would-be urban cyclists who are nervous to ride in Chicago?
KS: Open your eyes, unplug your ears and watch for pedestrians.

MS: What’s your professional background?
KS:. I graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in psychology. Worked in advertising and film editing for years, even had my own company for 20 years. I’ve lived in New York City and London. I volunteer at the hostel at the information desk. I enjoy leading tours to places like Maxwell Street or the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie. It’s fun to show guests how easy it is to use transit system. I also volunteer for the Red Cross in recruitment and on projects such as blood drives.

MS: How do you travel?
KS: I enjoy doing homestays in Europe and Australia. I like meeting people and understanding their culture and how they live. I belong to Servas. It connects travelers with home stay opportunities. (www.servas.org).

MS: How do you live “green”?
KS: I do composting. I bike instead of drive. Use paper on both sides. Keep a garden. I try to teach my tenants to recycle, but it’s hard. They need to be reminded, and especially to keep the thermostat down in their apartments. Mine is kept at 58 degrees in the evening and 66 degrees during the day. I try to recycle stuff. My favorite site is www.freecycle.org. You can give away what you don’t need and get free things that other people don’t need.

From Alexandria to Chicago

Ahmed Mahmoud, Kitchen Manager, HI-Chicago
By Margaret Sheridan

Breakfast at HI-Chicago is served with more than delicious calories. The morning host and kitchen manager Ahmed Mahmoud prides himself in greeting guests in seven languages. The Egyptian-born 26-year old actor/singer/dancer/musician works from 5:30 am to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. But lately, he expects to be especially tired.

The native of Alexandria and his American-born wife Shawna just welcomed their first child, a son named Bilal, on March 9. “My heart flew out of my body when he arrived,’’ enthused the new father. Mother, father and the six-pound bundle of smiles are doing well.


How long have you been in Chicago and what's your impression of it?
I came here in 2008 and worked in a beauty salon. The owner was Egyptian. My wife’s family is from here, so we had instant family. We met in Cairo. She was a tourist; I was working as a singer in a nightclub. Moving here was great. Chicago is such a beautiful city. There’s so much to do. I love the lakefront and singing on the beach. Before I moved here, I imagined it would be a city with the Mafia. You know, gangs fighting on the street. That was a myth. Americans are friendly and curious. There’s respect for people on the street.

What are some favorite things about Chicago?
It’s an international city. It’s a destination place. I like working at HI-Chicago because I meet people from all over the world. Chicago is so easy to get around. You have so many choices in transportation. You take the bus or the subway. The Metra is fast. I can bike the lakefront. In Cairo, we have traffic jams, constantly. It’s always rush hour there. Too many cars, too many people, such narrow streets.

But you miss it?
Yes, my family is there. And it is such a beautiful country. The people are so hospitable. You are always invited into their homes, and they feed you so well. My wife and I went back in December. My family says I am so lucky to be in America. Egypt is ready for change. Thirty years of (President Hosni) Mubarak is too much. Everyone, especially people my age, are willing to fight for change. Life is so expensive there. For example, a pound of tomatoes costs $2 (American). My brother runs our family business, a factory that manufactures clothing accessories. I want my parents to come and see my baby. But my mother is afraid of airplanes.

What about your favorite foods in Chicago?
I love the Nile Restaurant in Hyde Park (1611 E. 55th St.) their kofta, kebabs, lamb, falafel. I like Greek food, especially the Greek Isles in Greektown. When I worked in Cairo as a singer, I also worked as a waiter in a Greek nightclub. So, I speak a little Greek and really enjoy their cooking, especially the grilled sea bass with lemon and olive oil, and moussaka (baked eggplant casserole with spiced meat and cream sauce). Another place is El Salam (4636 N. Kedzie Ave.) The cuisine is Middle Eastern. I’ve tried Chicago-style deep dish pizza, but it is too rich. It hurts my stomach. What I enjoy is having so many choices of ethnic foods such as Chinese and Thai, even Subway and just mac n’cheese.

What about the entertainment scene?
I love Second City. I used to do improv in Cairo. I hope someday to be a part of that group. There is also so much music in Chicago. My academic background is music. I had formal training in the “aod”, a Middle Eastern version of the guitar.

Do you enjoy travel?
Yes. I’ve been all over Egypt and Libya. I went to Turkey and stayed in Istanbul. It was an amazing place. I want to go to Greece and my wife wants to go to Spain. I was in New York City but it was so expensive. I stayed around Times Square but only for one week.

Are there are any myths about Egypt you wish to debunk?
Yes. About camels. People think Egyptians ride them all the time. We don’t. They’re for tourists around areas such as the pyramids. Riding a camel isn’t comfortable. They rock back and forth. If he runs, you shake.

Volunteer Spotlight: Fred Locher

What's your involvement with the hostel?
I volunteer giving travel presentations as part of the Travel & Taste series with REI-Whole Foods. They only occur once a month, so I decided to get more involved and be a volunteer guide as well leading travelers to events around the city. It´s been a lot of fun so far! I enjoy trying to put together unique events that are not only interesting to me, but also to someone who is only in Chicago for a few days. I´ve been trying to keep the events more cultural with a small outing afterwards for those that want to continue the night on a more social level.


What initially motivated you to get involved at the hostel? And what do you enjoy about it now that you're doing it?
I initially attended a Taste & Travel event on Brazil at REI & Whole Foods. After the event I inquired about being a travel presenter volunteer for some of the countries I have visited. Also, I enjoy traveling and thought it would be a great way to continue to stay in touch with other travelers while meeting people from around the world. I am always curious as to what brings people to Chicago and I want them to have a good impression of our city. From my personal travel experience, I know that sometimes it can be tough meeting other travelers and I thought that by leading events I can help to make it easier for hostellers to meet each other. The events I have led so far have been a lot of fun and I think the travelers enjoy the uniqueness of them as they typically aren´t what you´d see in the guidebook. It has given them a different, more local perspective on the city. The visitors seem appreciative that someone would go out of their way to show them around, so that has been rewarding enough for me.

What is your own personal history with traveling and hostelling?
I took my first around the world trip in 2000 and fell in love with traveling and learning about other cultures. I haven´t looked back since. It´s mostly been in Europe and Central/South America that I´ve stayed at hostels or guest houses. I enjoy taking long trips and staying in hostels helps to keep the price down. In addition, it´s a great way to meet other travelers and learn about the places they´ve been or recommend. It´s an amazing network of global citizens.

Describe your ideal trip in just a couple of sentences.
My ideal trip is a bit off the main tourist path trying to get to a place before the mainstream travelers do. Culture is important for me as well as a bit of adventure. I am in a hostel now in Nicaragua as I write this and it has it all so far!

Introducing Travelixir!

Are you afflicted with the travel bug? Need a fix, but no big adventures on the horizon? In comes Travelixir, a party for travelers by travelers, where you can flaunt that surreal picture you took of the salt pans in Bolivia or retell that story about the time you hung out with monks in Nepal without a set of glazed over eyes in the house.

Come join Chicagoans who love to travel, those that aspire to travel, and HI-Chicago guests currently in transit for the first of many Travelixir parties!

WHEN: Thursday, March 10 from 7-10pm

WHERE: Delilah's, Chicago's favorite whiskey bar

WHAT: A party sponsored by HI-Chicago and STA Travel to treat your wanderlust blues. NO COVER!

WHAT ELSE: A travel photo contest - party-goers vote on their favorite, and the winner gets a $150 travel voucher (good for airfare, accommodations, and other travel-related costs)

AND EVEN MORE: Free giveaways from Corepower Yoga, Flirty Girl Fitness, Kingston Mines, and Shoreline Sightseeing

DRINK SPECIALS: $3 Bushmills Whiskey and $3 Regional Drafts

E-mail jsmith@hichicago.org with 1 photo from your travels (include a name for the photo) to enter the contest and RSVP. You must be present at the party to win.

(You don't have to RSVP to attend, but you MUST submit your photo by March 9 to be part of the contest).

See you there!