Birthday weekend, Bolivia’s women mountain climbers, and a perfect resale site

The Week That Was

Oct 28, 2024

‘The Week That Was’ is a free weekly newsletter that includes a selection of things on my mind (books, art, culture, slow life(style), global affairs, learnings, travel, etc.) as well as articles and podcasts I enjoyed during the week, an album of the week, and other recommendations. If you enjoy these topics, consider becoming a paid subscriber. For $5 a month, you can access the rest of the We, Renaissance Women content, including my monthly book round-up, travel guides, life(style) essays and interviews, and the country bulletin series.

1. Birthday Weekend

Today is my 32nd birthday (!!!) - woah - and I took the day off, meaning I have three plans for the day: reading, relaxing, and reflecting. I am going to write more of a ~reflection~ post to be published later this week, so for now, I will recap what was a really lovely weekend filled with my favourite things: superb food, ballet, long walks, and hours of laughing and chatting with friends and family.

My Mum arrived Saturday morning to stay with us for the weekend, and I managed to finish a deep clean about 20 minutes before she arrived at the door (win!). Dylan made us lunch, and we chilled together at home for the first few hours before getting ready for an early dinner at Maxwell’s Trading, which came highly recommended and still surpassed expectations.

It is the best meal I have had in Chicago in a long time. The brussels sprouts toast was a highlight, as was the Japanese sweet potato in a Thai green curry. Whether you live in Chicago or are planning a trip here soon, this restaurant needs to be included in your plans.

After dinner, my Mum and I went to see the Joffrey Ballet’s Atonement, based on the novel by Ian McEwan. I have not read the book nor seen the award-winning film starring Keira Knightley, but I don’t mind; I just love seeing the Joffrey Ballet’s interpretations of stories.

They did Anna Karenina a couple of years ago and Frankenstein last year, so they do not shy away from telling a complicated story through movement. And, as my Mum attempted to explain to me over dinner, Atonement has quite the complex storyline. As expected, the performance was fantastic. It is a balm for the mind and soul to see a group of talented people performing something so beautiful.

The weather has been extremely mild for this time of year (sigh), which meant that we could do a long walk along Chicago’s lakefront on Sunday afternoon. We strolled for about two hours, following the path through beaches and boatyards to one of the best views of the city’s skyline.

Finally, on Sunday evening, I had a girls’ dinner at Han 202, another restaurant that I have deemed one of my favourites in the city. The food is Chinese-French fusion, and they have a prix-fixe four-course menu. Every dish was a delight, as was the service, and we all could not stop complimenting the decor. (I *accidentally* dressed to coordinate with the interiors!)

Bringing different women together is one of my greatest joys, and I hope this is the start of another year of laughter-filled girls’ dinners and other social events.

2. Books for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Since 1989, October has been National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the US. Throughout the month, individuals, communities, and organizations come together to raise awareness, share resources, and advocate for an end to domestic violence. Through education, prevention programs, and support services, the goal is to empower those affected and inspire allies to take a stand against abusive behaviors.

An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year. Source.

This month reminds us of the importance of breaking the silence around domestic violence and creating a safe, supportive environment for survivors to heal and rebuild.

To honour the end of this important month and to provide some further learning opportunities, here are three book recommendations (I have read the first and have started reading the other two):

No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by Rachel Louise Snyder - I read this earlier this year and learnt so much - a must-read!
Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture by Roxane Gay
Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence by Tanya Selvaratnam

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has live advocates you can speak with 24/7, as well as lots of resources and other forms of support. You are not alone.

3. Bolivia’s Indigenous Female Mountain Climbers

‘I’ve never worn trousers up a mountain, and I never will,’ says Cecilia Llusco, who is one of about 10 Indigenous female mountain guides in Bolivia. To climb she wears a pollera, a voluminous floral skirt over layers of pink petticoats.

She has been climbing the glacier Huayna Potosí for most of her life, but in 2015, she was part of a group of 11 women who made it to the summit. They called themselves the cholitas escaladoras (the climbing cholitas), with the word cholita coming from chola, which was previously used as a pejorative term for Indigenous Aymara women.

“I feel free, so happy, as if I’m escaping and the mountain is calling me. I’m also in love with nature,” she says.
“It has been very difficult for me, and the whole group, to face the sexism and discrimination we’ve had to go through,” says Llusco. “We have stumbled because we are women who wear polleras. But we also have support that encourages us to keep going. Together, we are stronger. We support each other and teach our children to follow in our footsteps.”

These women are my new idols and I loved reading this fantastic profile of Cecilia Llusco in The Guardian. Bolivia continues to have high rates of femicide, and these women are part of a wider movement fighting for the rights of women and Indigenous peoples. Truly inspiring.

Highly recommend a read of this article - the group is next planning to summit Everest!

4. Noihsaf is Fashion Backwards

A resale site focused on independent designers, Noihsaf is a goldmine for finding items that you generally can’t find on other resale sites. Think Nikki Chasin, babaà, ace&jig, and (a lot of) DŌEN. There is also a selection of homewares, beauty products, vintage, and categories for men and kids.

Users upload their pieces to the site, complete with detailed measurements and clear images, and await the approval of the Noihsaf team. Once listed, shoppers can comment, make offers, and receive their purchases directly from sellers. This ensures the site maintains a curated selection while also keeping it feeling like a treasure hunt.

I like it because it does not feel overwhelming like many other resale sites, and everything is very cool. One to bookmark for any winter purchases you may be making.

5. Questions to Help You Identify Your Core Values

@jenniferheyside Let’s talk about core values! I think one of the most important steps in personal development. #fyp #personaldevelopment #personalgrowth #personalgrowthjourney #corevalues #intentionalliving #learntok #recommendations

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For me, identifying your core values is a crucial step on any personal development journey because these values will act as your internal compass. Being able to identify them helps you clarify your direction and purpose, enables you to make decisions that are aligned with your values and goals, and guides your daily choices and overall direction in life.

Reflecting on your core values is an exercise I highly recommend and something I return to every few months to ensure that my personal GPS is still serving me.