"Firsts" in Chicago Life
It’s been over two months since I arrived in Chicago. I remember arriving in the Hyde Park neighborhood on August 20. I told the director that the architecture here reminded me of the area around the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the buildings on my hometown of Gulangyu—the same red brick and green tiles, lush greenery, clear blue sky, and a cluster of century-old buildings lined with carved corridors and ornate columns. My feeling at the moment was that this place felt like home—it’s familiar, yet it also gives me a desire to explore and discover new things.
Over the past two-plus months, I’ve experienced many “firsts”: my first time taking a bus to Chicago’s Chinatown , that was also my first time riding a bus in the U.S.; my first visit to the National Shrine & Museum of St. Therese; my first visit to the National Museum of Mexican Arts; my first time taking classes at CTU with other religious sisters and brothers; my first time watching a live White Sox baseball game; my first time participating in the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration organized by the Chinese Catholic community in Chicago’s Chinatown, where I made mooncakes and lanterns with my own hands; my first time hosting the “Bo-bing” dice game—a traditional Mid-Autumn Festival activity from my hometown of Xiamen, China—and inviting sisters and brothers from several other religious orders to join; my first visit to the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin, to attend a workshop with other sisters and brothers; hosting our first Halloween party at home with ICCN members.
There were many other “firsts” I experienced in Chicago. Each experience gave me a profound sense of being fully present in the moment; I was thrilled and worked very actively with the ICCN members. From opening my heart inwardly to coordinating our actions outwardly, I listened and experienced the rewards that came from the accumulation of these small, daily moments.
The Fall season in Chicago is beautiful and comfortable. The weather is cool—not too hot and not too cold. It’s perfect for walking around and exploring. I also like to set aside some time on Saturday afternoons or Sunday afternoons to immerse myself in a walk and get to know and experience the area around Hyde Park. While walking, I often watch the squirrels as they scavenge for food—they’re cute. I can even call out to them—they seem to understand human language. They aren’t afraid and even come closer to me—until I say, “Sorry, I didn’t bring any almonds,” at which point they scatter. Flocks of sparrows on the lawn scurry about, heads down, searching for food; breadcrumbs on the ground, plant seeds, and other bits and pieces can all become a delicious meal for them. They hop about and sing joyfully; I can sense their happiness and vitality.
Strolling along the streets of the neighborhood, a gentle breeze brushes my cheeks, birdsong fills my ears, and before my eyes is a landscape of yellow and green, with trees gradually turning red. There were also young people walking toward me: parents pushing strollers, commuters rushing to catch the bus, and students heading home, etc. People of different ethnicities and skin colors. In my eyes, they all formed the people within the scene, and the scenes within the scene, of Chicago’s Hyde Park at that moment. Every frame was so real, vivid, lively, and full of vitality and energy.
St. Thomas the Apostle Church is our neighborhood church. It is an historic and architecturally significant parish, which has served the local community for over 150 years. It’s about a 15 to 20 minute walk from our novitiate. I really enjoy attending their 8 a.m. Sunday Mass. Mass music includes both piano and organ playing. I love immersing myself in watching the musicians play and singing along with the cantor—a live experience that combines sight and sound.
In our life in Chicago, we experience “firsts” every day—moments of excitement, anticipation, hesitation, exploration, working together, and listening to the voices of our group members. A “first” signifies the unknown, but it also signifies exploration—or, rather, experiencing the reality of diversity. It means experiencing the momentum generated when all of God’s creatures collaborate in the same circumstances; and this collective force enables us to understand ourselves and others more freely.
May the Lord’s joy be with you—whether in stillness or in action.
May you, in moments of stillness, open your heart to listen to the voices of God’s other creatures, thereby journeying deeper into your heart to reflect the voice within.
May you, in moments of action, respond to God’s call by making good use of your gifts and collaborating with God’s other creatures to advance the mission of evangelization.
Sister Sophie Yu
Sister of St Joseph of Orange Novice
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