R.A.T. Your Rodent Around-the-World Traveler (a.k.a. Raz)

Hi, My name is R.A.T., which stands for Rodent Around-the-World Traveler (I like to think it stands for Rodent Adventure Traveler), but everyone here calls me Raz for short. I would love to share my adventures with you. I left my rat family in early January to seek adventure. Everyone said "head west young rat," so that is what I did. I headed west to San Diego, California where I ran out of land and had to hop on a ship to continue my journey. It turns out that the ship I found was going west around the world--a dream come true! The MV Explorer is home to the famous Semester at Sea study abroad program. My shipmates include 629 college students and about 150 faculty, staff, lifelong learners, and family members. Things are really busy here on the ship and even busier when we are in port. Come follow me vicariously as I take this incredible journey. Yours, R.A.T.

P.S. I had such a great time on the voyage that the adventure continues!!!!



Monday, August 10, 2015

Chicago - Oak Park & FLW!


Had a great couple of days in Chicago checking out some interesting architecture.

  First stop—Oak Park! This is the art modern Oak Park Post Office, designed by Charles White.


Oak Park was the home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. I like the strong geometrical forms in his architecture, like the big triangular gable with square shingles, the rectangular windows topped by a semicircular window, the diamond panes of glass, and the round planters.
Here I am in FLW's playroom. Cool mural of the Genie and the Fisherman!

Along the side of the house is Wright’s architecture studio where he designed many prairie houses. Although it is built of brick and shingles like the home, the studio looks very different. It has two big octagonal forms (drafting room to the left and the library to the right—behind me) that are connected by a low entrance behind a wall
Here is a closer look at the entrance to the studio.



I asked the storks what the architecture plan was of that they were standing next to, but they didn’t know. 



Across the street from the Post Office was Wright’s Unity Temple building. Right now it is undergoing a major restoration so they have wrapped the building in plastic. It looks like the artist Christo turned the building into one of his masterpieces!  








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