MEHA AHMAD writes:
Behold! Four days in Iowa has made the political junkie I never thought I could be manifest. I can now watch Meet the Press and understand every word of political jargon that show dishes out. Bring it on, Tim Russert. Bring it on.
My experience in Iowa—talking to caucus-goers and political-science experts, spending time at Mitt Romney's campaign office, hanging out with the campaign staff and volunteers, and then actually going to the caucuses and writing our article for it under deadline and all that crazy stuff—was pretty amazing. And amazingly exhausting. Apparently, sleep was for the weak during this trip.
Iowa, believe it or not, actually did have a lot to offer. But I work better with lists. So here ya go:
Top Five Things Iowa Has that Illinois Wishes It Had:
5. Schnuck's (a grocery store). What a....cool but extremely weird name for a grocery store. Why do we have boring grocery-store names like Jewel?
4. Whitey's (an ice cream shop). Some of the greatest milkshakes in the Midwest. But the best thing? The borderline racist name and the random T-shirts that read, "Now You Know You're Home."
3. Hungry Hobo (sandwich shop). Honestly, it's just these wacky names I like.
2. Awesome state senators who spend a ridiculous amount of time making sure you have more than enough interviews and material for your article, especially on caucus day, when he's probably got better things to do than shuttle Columbia students around, but instead makes CBS wait to interview him until he's sure we have all the material we need. (You rule, Senator Hartsuch!) Meanwhile, it's been a week, and you're still waiting for some random Chicago official to return an email about the CTA or security in schools.
1. Nice people at Starbucks who, when your hotel catches on fire and you run to their establishment for shelter from the cold, will offer you free pastries. That's class.
P.S. Thanks Suzanne and John for a great trip and learning experience! Also, for the hours of lost sleep just so we could get our grades back in the morning. You rawk. =]
Meha Ahmad is an undergraduate journalism student from Bridgeview, Illinois.
Meanwhile, it's been a week, and you're still waiting for some random Chicago official to return an email about the CTA or security in schools.
Roll on the floor laughing my *beep* off!!!! That's is so true and so funny!!
