Chicago

One month in Chicago. 

After all the non-stop exotic travel this year, I was initially a little disappointed when I first heard that I would be spending so long in the windy city. Don’t get me wrong – Chicago is a fantastic place to visit. It just seemed less exciting to me than somewhere new would have been.

As I started making plans for the trip, I quickly realized how much fun it will be to spend the summer in a city I called home for two years.  I will be able to catch up with all my old friends, work in a relaxed office environment, and return to a typical American lifestyle. 

Well, almost typical.

I will still be living in a hotel and eating all my meals at restaurants. But, at least I will be walking to work, understanding the local language, and hanging out with people that I have known for more than 2 weeks.

I was upgraded on my flight to Chicago (a great way to start a trip). Approaching O’Hare airport always offers beautiful views of the city and I peered out of the window like an excited child. As my taxi reached downtown, it was nostalgic to see the buildings that I used to pass every day. There was comfort in knowing exactly where I was going.

Walking to the office on Monday morning reminded me just how busy the city can be during the morning commute. Sidewalks are filled with people – all walking with a clear destination in mind.  The signature Chicago commuter 'look' includes business casual office attire, a leather bag over one shoulder, ear buds playing music, a Starbucks cup in one hand, and a phone in the other. Everyone is connected, but not to each other. 

Although I am living in a hotel, it already feels like I am back at home. For me, the comforts of home are less about my accommodations and more about the overall lifestyle. Summer in Chicago is filled with street festivals, al fresco dining, volleyball games on the beach, and non-stop concerts at Pritzker Pavilion. These events aren’t the most exciting to recall in a blog post, but they are a reflection of the high quality of life that Chicagoans enjoy during the few months of nice weather each year.

One of the best outdoor music venues in the country

One of my favorite weekend activities in Chicago has always been to run along the lakefront path (surprising, I know). The path is always a great place to scope out fellow runners, bikers, and anyone enjoying the beach. Overall, the people seem to be in better shape than I remember.  Maybe I have just spent too much time out of the country, where TV and stereotypes perpetuate the idea that all Americans are overweight.

All Americans do not look like the family on Honey Boo Boo!

As the weeks progressed, I realized that I took Chicago for granted when I lived here before. It's such a vibrant city, but it is easy to ignore the outside world when life feels routine. I used to get on the bus and read my kindle without even noticing the people around me or the views from the window.  I would eat at the same restaurants, drink at the same bars, and complain when I had to travel more than 5 miles to see my friends. I think most people get stuck in the same routine when they're at home.

This time around, I have made a concerted effort to accept every social invitation, to visit places that are usually geared towards tourists, and to try new restaurants in different parts of the city.  I almost always take my camera with me so I can take pictures like as if it were the first time I had ever seen Chicago. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the city from the past month:  

Chicago sky-scrapers in River North area

Water Tower, with John Hancock Tower as a backdrop

Passing the familiar Civic Opera Building in the Chicago Loop

People cross one of many bridges over the Chicago river

Wrigley building at night

 

When I finally do settle down in one place, I need to remind myself to spend some time appreciating the beauty of my surroundings.  Chicago, like any other city, is filled with great architecture, wonderful people, and plenty of photo opportunities.  

I'm so glad I have gotten the opportunity to revisit Chicago this summer.  It has given me the chance to catch up with old friends, make new connections, and enjoy the city like a tourist. 

This will always be the Sears Tower to me...

Michigan Ave skyline

Cloud Gate at Millennium Park

Chicago River at sunset

Midwest Finale

As soon as I got home from California, it hit me like a brick wall: I actually had to MOVE out of Chicago before starting this new job!  I looked at the calendar: 2 weeks to pack up all my stuff, ship it to Boston, and say goodbye to everyone.  Oh, and I still have to work my full-time job.  Oh, and I also booked a weekend trip to St Louis for another half-marathon.

I know what you’re thinking: the trip to St Louis is totally unnecessary.  If I were a normal person, I’d agree.  But, I had to redeem myself after the worst-ever performance in Denver at the end of my ski vacation.  Despite all the excuses (broken toe, altitude, tired legs from skiing), I needed to prove to myself that my snail pace was just a fluke.

In my mind, the whole moving process would be really easy.  Despite spending 26 months in Chicago, I never felt permanent.  My apartment was fully furnished and I moved in with only 2 large suitcases full of clothes.  I do remember my parents sending two additional boxes afterwards but I really didn’t have all that much stuff.

Every night for the first week, I committed to packing one box - either before of after my social plans.  It seemed like a good plan until Friday arrived and it barely looked like anything was gone.

Despite a lengthy ‘to-do’ list swirling around in my head, I was excited to get down to St Louis for the race.  The city itself isn’t all that appealing since I have been there countless times with my last job, but I always enjoy weekend trips that revolve around races.  I get to meet people who share a similar passion for fitness, I get to see cities in a way that traditional sightseeing often neglects, and I get to feel the adrenaline from people cheering me on as I run past them!

This race was huge (almost 12,000 runners) and the weather was perfect, but I convinced myself not to push too hard since I had the Boston Marathon only 1 week later.  My only goal for this race was to do well on the “holy hill”, which is a 2-mile race within a race. 

The race started with this iconic view

The course took runners through Anheuser-Busch brewery (yes, it smelled like brewing beer which made me want to puke a little), up through some nice neighborhoods, next to a park, and past Union Station.  The best part was entering “holy hill”, which had a real priest sprinkling real holy water on the runners!  Once I crossed the timing mat, I literally sprinted with all my energy up this 2-mile hill.  In fact, I used up so much energy on the hill that I actually had to jog for a bit at the top, just to catch my breath for the last 5 miles of the race.

In the end, I didn’t have one of my better times although I still managed to finish 27^th overall. (Random thought: Do people in St Louis eat lead for breakfast or something?? There’s no way I should have finished in the top 0.2%!)  All joking aside, I was thrilled when I looked at the results board and saw that I had earned a medal in my age group for the holy hill! 

Once I got back to Chicago, the last week felt like it lasted about 22 seconds.  One thing about rush packing is that it really forces you to throw things away that aren’t absolutely necessary.  I also had some unusual meals as I tried using up as much food as possible.  (Stove-top stuffing and frozen Asian dumplings are a nutritious combination, right?).

Looking back on my last two weeks in Chicago, I really think that I will miss living in the city.  Even though the winter weather is miserable, overall quality of life is actually quite high.  Plus, I didn’t realize how many good people I had met there until it was difficult finding time to say goodbye to them all.  At this point, it’s too early to say whether or not I will move back, but I'm definitely not opposed to it.  Until then, I will make the most of the next stage in my life and remember my time in Chicago with a smile.