Chicago in Winter

I have now been in the USA for just over three weeks so I have no excuses for being jet lagged - "weather lagged", maybe!

Being in North Carolina for the first 12 days, where it's warmer, was heaven! Not only did I get to meet my boyfriend's family and friends, but I got to adjust slowly to the colder temperatures that were coming my way. Further, I was able to go shopping and buy all the necessary jackets and boots that I was going to desperately need when I got to Chicago.

Kellogg School of Management is based north of Chicago in its own little town, so as much as I 'know' I'm in Chicago it really doesn't feel like it. I'm not surrounded by skyscrapers (unlike the downtown campus for Kellogg or even Booth), or lots of American accents, or even things that remind me I am in the USA. Maybe I am so used to visiting the States that it has all just become familiar to me. I feel at home.

My apartment at McManus is very nice, no complaints. It's in a large building (wide/long not tall) and has a number of study rooms, computer and printer areas, recreational lounge, gym (which I use a few times a week - stepper, treadmill mostly) and is about a 10 minute walk from Northwestern University and where my class are held, in none other than the "Jacobs Center" (no relation!).

Everyone in the first week and even when I meet them now asks why on earth I would come to Chicago in winter?! I simply say that it's my last term of my MBA studies and so it was the best time to come; and more so, that the weather isn't really that bad. Of course it's not as nice as when I've been to Chicago in summer, but having known this was going to be the case and thus prepared myself mentally for it, I think I'm doing pretty well so far. It's all about the layers!!!!!

I do hear that the weather can get worse in February time so I won't jump the gun just yet to say that the weather is fine, especially when it's below freezing (ie less than 0 C or 32 F), but it's bearable. Okay so I spend more time indoors and can't go running outside, and when I want to go somewhere I think about what else I need to do in that direction so I can make only one trip there, but it's all good.

People here are nice and despite the cold no one is really grumpy, surprisingly! I was expecting the attitudes to be more like London where everyone seems so unfriendly when it's cold - but that hasn't been my experience so far, thankfully.

Tuesdays are the big night here at Kellogg as no one has classes on Wednesday mornings. I have been out a bit here n' there. There's Bar Louie with $1 burgers on Tuesday nights, Pete Millers, Prairie Moon, Nevin's and the all-time favourite "The Keg" where everyone seems to gather post midnight, till late. Not sure if beer pong and flip cup are my thing but at least there's a dance floor to have a good boogie and the company is great, as I enjoy meeting new people.

Other than that, I have enjoyed my first real weekend in Chicago. I spent most of it downtown. I went sightseeing with some of the other AGSM people on Saturday, including walking the Magnificent Mile in the snow, going to the Art Institute of Chicago (which was great as always, especially their new Modern Art wing), taking the lift up to the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower) to see the Chicago skyline at night, and then we saw a Chicago Bulls NBA game at the United Center where they defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves. Afterwards we headed uptown to the Green Mill to hear live jazz but unfortunately wasn't a fan of the band playing. It was too loud and had way too much drum kit and noise going on. Hopefully next time I will see something more traditional.

On the Friday night I also got to meet up with a friend from New York City who was in town visiting his girlfriend, so Hub 51 and Underground were our meeting places; and thanks to my sweet boyfriend Jonathan, he arranged for me to connect with an old high school friend of his from Lubbock, so she was kind enough for me to borrow her couch afterwards. We did also spend a good day together on Sunday with her friends up at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Although there were no plants or lakes to be seen, we did have fun going 'snow shoeing' and I got to do my first 'snow angel' which was fun. (To see this video, visit my Facebook page or see the link provided below.)

So it's now Thursday and I'm about to start another chapter of reading; followed by two classes in the next 24 hours and then a trip out of town for the long weekend. The US is celebrating Martin Luther King Day on Monday...

For anyone that would like to come visit me in Chicago, bring a warm jacket and I look forward to seeing you. Otherwise if you're Down Under, keep enjoying the sunshine and get some colour for me too!

Much love xx