LOST

Today I need to return some pillows I've bought yesterday to Kohls in Lincolnwood Town Centre. Yesterday I went by car with my friend while today I intend to go alone by myself. Last night I've researched the place, how to get there, which buses, what time... everything. I printed all the bus route and schedule and put them in my bag.

This morning, I walked to Davis CTA (the bus stop near my place) at 7.50 am and found the bus that I need, CTA 93. Great! We waited for other passengers until 8.16 am, then the bus took off. Not many passengers in the bus, so I made myself busy by reading the map once again. I knew that the mall is in 3333 Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL and I had to get off in the intersection of California and Lincolnwood. I enjoy my riding then.

On my way, I saw people get off the bus in Touhy. TOUHY???? Wasn't the mall in Touhy? Aaaah...no..no..no.. I need to get of in Lincolnwood. Maybe this is the same road but much further to the mall. So I kept myself in the bus until I found intersection between California and Lincoln. OK, here we go...

I got off the bus and go directly to the west. I saw many Korean restaurant and other businesses. I supposed to walk around 1 miles, pass the McKenzie and McCorrmick road. I felt that I've walked that far but haven't found any signs of Kohls. It's freezing today, around 19 degrees F (-6 degrees C). So I kept on walking until I found Chase Bank. I remembered that yesterday I found Chase Bank also close to Kohls. Ahaa..here it is. I kept on walking but still... there was no sign of Kohls, it was Home Depot instead. I asked the man on the parking lot and he said it was not Lincolnwood Town Centre. I needed to go north to reach that place. Hahaha...funny direction isn't it. I didn't know where north was and there was no sun either. He just then gave the direction using his face and I follow the direction. I still confused. I didn't know where I was. There was no buses and I didn't intend to take taxi. Taxi is expensive here and I forgot to bring some cash as well. :(

Then I saw a young lady on my way and I decided to ask once more.
Me : Excuse me. Do you know the direction to Lincolnwood Town Centre, please?
Her: Aaah.. you have to take bus no. ... to ..., then no. ... to ..., then get off in the mall.
Me: Is it far from here? Can I just take a walk?
Her: Well, I'm going to talk a walk there. It takes around 15-20 min. Do you want to take a walk with me?
Me: Oooh.. sure. Thanks so much.

Alhamdulillah... I found out that I get lost and it seems that Allah sent this Lady to me. Alhamdulillah... :D

Her name is Berry, she is an African girl. She is working as partimer in Kohls while studying Biology in North Park University. She lives around Lincolnwood with her family for around 4 years now. She was before in Togo, a small country close to Ghana which has around 40 different traditional languages. Her father actually has lived here longer, about 15 years, and now become a lecturer on French in North Park University. We have talked a lot during our walk until finally we reached Kohls. We separated in Kohls after that. Thanks so much, Berry!

You should imagine how happy I was when I finally reach the mall's entrance. It was warm inside. I did my shopping for about an hour then I went home.

I took Pace Bus 290 to Howard CTA. I passed the intersection between Touhy and California where I should previously got off on my way to the mall, and we finally stopped in a bus stop. Many people got on the bus in that bus stop. I was confused once again. Is it Howard or not? Is it Howard or not? Howard supposed to be a bus terminal.. and at the mean time I thought of a bus terminal in Jakarta. You know.. crowded people, crowded buses, traffic jam. After I've asked the bus driver and found out that it was Howard, I suddenly feel amazed. I only saw 4 to 5 buses at that moment with no sign of crowded people. How amazing things here.
Anyway after that I tried to find the train station, and take Purple Line (the train back to Davis CTA) safely back home.

Now I am sitting here in my coach, holding a cup of hot black tea in my hand and writing my story in my blog. How happy I am.

The moral of the story is like the footnote of the book which cover I showed you above. The title is "Never Get Lost Again" by Linda Grekin, published by Bored Feet Press. The footnote says, "Help is just around the corner...". Anytime you feel like loosing your way, just ask..because there will always be someone who you can I rely on. But don't forget to do your homework to researched the area...Lincolwood is somehow different from Lincoln!