Arabic students visit Albany Park
February 20, 2025
TRIP TO ALBANY PARK, CHICAGO
Saturday, November 16, 2024
At the end of Fall Quarter 2024, interested Arabic students were invited to go and visit Albany Park. Albany Park is a buzzing neighborhood on the Northwest Side of Chicago with a unique and vibrant local culture that includes Middle Eastern restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores.
The trip to Albany Parks started on campus where students joined other students and Professors Raddawi and Mikhaeel and our FLTA Heba Khaldi for the 45-minute bus trip to Albany Park. Comradery and community started already on the bus with lively music, singing and dancing, and radiant conversations.
In Albany Park, students explored Sanabel Bakery, the Albany Park Cafe, and a grocery store in search of cultural treasures. For lunch, the group met at Salam restaurant, where they were treated to traditional appetizers such as falafel, hummus, musabaha, and babaghanoug followed by a sampling of Salam's famous main dishes (here is their menu) served on a combination plate.
The event was a success and Professor Raddawi commented: "It was probably the best outing we ever made for Arabic learners at Northwestern. We had a great time and students were amazed." A big thank you goes to Professor Raddawi and Professor Mikhaeel and to Heba Khaldi for leading the group of students and to our students for their interest in visiting Albany Park.
