Solo Chicago - Lone Adventure to the Windy City
After starting the dreadful visa application process, I was lost and frustrated. With the unfortunate self-realization that I could not depart from the US as originally planned to begin my service abroad, I began to stretch my arms elsewhere. That reach has brought me to Chicago. The third largest city in the United States is a hub for cultural diversity, artistic creation, beautiful architecture, food, realms of business, and appealing lifestyles.
Read more about my 96 hours of embracing “The Windy City.”
My Chicago Overview
Where to even begin? This place is truly nothing like I have ever experienced before. The streets, the buildings, the people, the restaurants, and the activities; there is plenty to do and see. I stayed in Buena Park, about 15 minutes north of downtown Chicago and this was a great residential experience. The townhomes and apartment buildings were very charming, with unique architectural characteristics that could not go unseen. I felt really safe in the area and was comfortable walking around.
Downtown Chicago was astonishing. It was just like the movies, LOL. Men in suits strolling the streets to work, Women in fitness clothing picking up their morning coffee from the cafe after their Yoga class, and homeless people on the corner begging for spare change. The L Train overhead created quite a jump scare on the first day and the sound of honking cars depicted everything that I knew about a large city before my visit.
Chicago is a cultural hub of the United States. I do believe I heard more foreign languages than English spoken around the city. This made it quite interesting when interacting with folks at the crosswalk or saying Excuse me when walking around them. This sparked a new appreciation for Chicago and America; a place that SHOULD be welcoming and accepting of people of all kinds to thrive and live the true intentions of freedom and the American Dream.
The variety of foods in Chicago also aligned with the presence of different cultures. From true authentic Italian restaurants to French cafes and Chinatown, there was a different craving on every corner. There was something else I noticed within the food culture of all the restaurants I visited in Chicago. Each menu stated and the server would repeat, the raised concern over allergy or diet restrictions. Even in the pizza restaurants and coffee shops, each person would ask if I had any sort of condition or lifestyle choice prior to accommodating my meal for me. This is definitely something beyond the Southern culture I recognized.
Though I certainly enjoyed my travels to Chicago and the wonderful things offered, unless my future career places me here, I don’t think I would call this my future residence.
Tastes
I am so full. This was me every night after returning to my Airbnb. Though I averaged walking 7.5 miles each day, those burned calories were absorbed by delicious pizza and sweets. I enjoyed cafes, rooftops, and fine dining restaurants. There wasn’t an eatery that I did not enjoy, well, the ones I tried in Chinatown were not my favorite but I had to at least try them out.
My absolute favorites were Goddess and the Baker, Girl and the Goat and Aba.
You can read about each of my restaurant experiences HERE.
Experiences
From boat tours to daunting sky-high excitement, Chicago does not disappoint in activities. Though the admission costs of each began to add up, they are all unique and worth it in each way.
My favorites were the Chicago River Tour and 360 Chicago.
You can read about each of my activities and experiences HERE.
Photography Favorites
Here, I have ranked my top 5 places to take pictures in Chicago!
Michigan Avenue near the Wrigley Building and Trump Tower
The Chicago River Tour Boat
Millenium Park
Fourth Presbyterian Church
Residential Area Downtown Chicago
You can see my entire Chicago Gallery Here or under the nOMaDic photography tab on my Website Directory.
Back to North Carolina
Well, this week has been really fun. The big city is very expensive, and I spent A LOT this week, but I don’t regret it all (Except at the restaurants in Chinatown). In 10 years, I am not going to remember how much it cost for me to eat at so and so and how much the Uber ride was from my Airbnb to downtown, so I can justify the spending. This introductory to traveling solo has prepared me to navigate being in unfamiliar areas and be confident in doing things for myself. Sometimes, you just have to do stuff alone.
To wrap up my podcast about Chicago, I will end with a discussion with one of my Uber drivers…
His name was Kal. He seemed to be around 28-30 years old. He asked me if I was from the area and what I had been doing that evening. I explained to him my Gap Year and my reasoning for traveling solo to Chicago. He stated that he had never respected anyone else more. He mentioned that my mentality, endeavors, and adventures were big and bold but realistic and understandable. He said that I was never going to truly learn about the real world, being confined on a college campus and structuring my future based on knowledge from a textbook.
Kal gave me some advice: to travel, go across the globe, experience new things, find myself, and create new passions. Kal said that the mistake many people make is applying their interests straight from high school to college and starting a career that they hate because they were unable to truly get into the real world to figure out what they wanted to pursue. Kal reiterated that I needed to put my passions on a pedestal and create a job out of those.
God truly knew I needed this Gap Year. I know this stage in life is vital to the next step, and I full faith in the Lord that this is where I am supposed to be. Though the past three weeks have been frustrating and stressful, it’s all a part of His plan. So, let’s go home, FIND SOMETHING TO DO TO MAKE SOME MONEY, then off to Washington, DC in 2 weeks to SUBMIT THIS FREAKING visa.
“Yeah, just go travel the world, go crazy man! There are beautiful women everywhere!”
