September 9, 2010
Chicago
Well, here I am. Right now, I’m sitting in Argo Tea (basically a trendy Starbucks-esque teashop) at the corner of Pearson & Rush in the River North district of Chicago.
In the ten minute walk to get here from my apartment, I went through three distinct neighborhoods, passed countless restaurants, bars, clubs, a Prada, Barney’s New York, four Starbucks, and about half a mile of sidewalk.
I’ve been here in Chicago for a week and a day, and I’m finally starting to get my bearings, though I can already tell that even six months won’t be enough time to fully grasp the city. But I’m going to give it my best shot.
As planned, I drove through the night last Monday, the 30th, and after a horribly long, dull and lonely 16-hour drive, I finally saw the Chicago skyline about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon.
I had no trouble finding my apartment and finally saw the room that I would call home for the next six months. At that point, the enormity and reality of what I’d done really hit me. This is home. And the home I’ve always known is 16 hours behind me. The lack of sleep had a lot to do with it, I’m sure, but I felt incredibly overwhelmed by that realization.
There’s no going back now. I’m here. This is my home. I’d taken for granted my ability to always be down the street from familiar places or friends, and now that I didn’t have that anymore, I realized just how much I needed it.
I busied myself with unpacking and returning the rental car, but I still felt incredibly unsettled and out of place. I was already thinking of ways that I could get myself back to Texas sooner than 6 months from now and not look like a total flake. Finally, at 6:30, I gave up and just went to bed alone, overwhelmed, and terribly homesick.
But even by the next morning I was feeling much better, and every day since has been even better. I walk down my street and it really is “my” street. I’m really starting to feel at home, even though I barely know the two blocks surrounding my apartment, let alone the unexplored miles of Chicago still to be seen.
I’ll save my other thoughts and observations for a later post, but for now, I’m here, and I’m finally glad about it.
All things go, all things grow.
I know I’ve already said it, but I’m so excited for you.
I think your initial response is to be expected, especially having lived in Texas for the first twenty seven years of your life. I probably would have turned around half way there.
You’re an inspiration, my friend. I think we’ll be coming to see your new place before the year is out. Keep the updates coming!!! :D
Any reason you skipped all the starbucks along the way?
Looking forward to keeping up with these updates, keep it coming pal!
you should to add this to your css so I don’t quadruple click on your submit button (I blame SC2):
input#submit {
cursor: pointer;
}
The video was awesome. Thanks for telling us a little more about your new home and your new life. I’m sooooo glad you’re starting to feel a little more at home on your street, in your neighborhood. I’m praying you’ll meet people and make lots of friends. I’m sure it won’t take long. You’re a natural.
Uh…who says you’ve left us behind??? And Josiah, there’s NO Way you would have turned around :-) Enjoyed the video and look forward to others. Tried the pizza yet? And there’s something called a “Chicago Red Hot” (as in dog), that should please the Chipotle lover in you. Spicy and all that. Welcome to your new digs!
Dude, it is pretty awesome what you are doing? I am glad I got to sit and chat with you about it at starbucks right before you left. I am proud of you (in a non-weird way.. ….at least it is not supposed to sound weird, although I believe by saying it shouldn’t be taken weird I am merely making it more weird) and just encourage you to seek out all that is Chicago. I learned towards the end of my time in the Corps that if your ever some where new, by choice or by force, take it for what it is explore it and find out some of it’s secrets!