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January 26, 2006
Something about my trip to the US
I am now for over one week in the US. It is cold - even for me as a European. But then, I am the polluted type of German, with my Asian experience of 12 or, no, now 13 years. It is really 13 years already.
My journey first brought me to Chicago, and then, last Sunday, I moved to Mundelein, which is a suburb of Chicago, about 50 kilometers away from the main city.
Chicago is a nice place. Friendly and helpful people, This is something that I discovered already the last time, back in 2001, when I was here for my first time.
This time around, I stay in a hotel close to the main shopping district. This means walking up and down the road in the fricking temperature - we took a taxi every now and then, but they are really expensive. And I always think that the way to discover a city is to walk through it a lot.
There are pavements in Chicago. This might sound funny to those who read the blog and live outside Malaysia, but hey, there are not enough pavements in Malaysia. I love pavements - they allow me to walk, to see people, to see interaction. People are walking around, huddling in their clothes, and rush along to reach where they want to go. Still, there are laughters in the air. It is nice to be around in this atmosphere. It is more like community, instead of isolation. In Malaysia, everybody sits in a car, the noises that you hear around you are the honking of cars, the radio, and the conversations from those inside your car. Nothing compared to this experience in Chicago.
What is sad to see is that there are many beggars sitting along the road, despite the cold. I gave a dollar every now and then, because how easy is it to lose your way. It is easier to be poor in Malaysia, because at least, there is hardly any chance that you freeze to death. What happens here, every now and then as well.
Naturally, I visit a bookshop - a huge Borders bookstore. bought books - about 6 or so, but pitifully, those that I really looked for where not available in the bookstores. Amazon will be happy. I will write more about the experience in Borders in another entry.
My kid wish is for me to bring back an action figure. Sadly, there was only one Lego shop along the street (North Michigan Avenue) and a Disney Shop. The Lego Shop was great, and I bought him a Bionicle Figure, a book telling the stories of the Bionicles and a pen. The pen is customisable - some parts can be exchanged so that it looks different everytime. The Disney shop, honestly, was pathetic, at least for my purpose. Clothes, and toys for smaller children, None of the action figures that would enlighten my boy. So well, some other shop will get the deal.
The drawback? Let's talk about the cold. It is cold.. Damn cold :) Below zero degrees. It snowed the first day and ever since, snow is everywhere. Especially in the suburb - but it looks beautiful. I feel peaceful when I see snow falling, convering the roads, trees and cars. It makes me feel magnificent to be part of this, and aslo insignificant because I realise that nature doesn't need us. Nature can cover anything if it only wants.
And the wind is blowing hard - Chicago is not called The Windy City for no reason. As such, the few times I am really outside the office building, or the hotel, I am packed into warm winter clothes.
What is great is the fresh air. The wind blows hard, for sure, but there is this feeling of clean, fresh air that fills the lungs. It is also great (for a while only) to be outside, and feel the cold creeping into the clothes, the face, and the hands, to see the breath in the air and to really realise that this is a part of my life that doesn't exist that often anymore. For that I cherrish it.
Got to go and have breakfast. One more day and I am flying back - hurray Malaysia, I will have the chance to celebrate Gong Ci Fa Cai.
Posted by Andreas at January 26, 2006 09:10 PM
Comments
yea the homeless, I was once walking in downtown chicago smoking and a blackman approached me and asked me for the cigarette than i am smoking. I gave him a new one instead, poor ppl.
Posted by: wingz at January 26, 2006 11:28 PM
I wouldn't want to be in Chicago in December again! Between 1996 and 2001, the wife and I went to Chicago 5 times, covering all the four seasons. Although the wife was very keen to stay on until after Christmas, I was no longer tolerant of the cold by September. My son's place at Lakeside in Chicago was particularly cold, they told me that it was because of the "wind-chill" factor. My last visit to Chicago was in September, 2001. As a matter of fact on the morning of Sept 11, we were on the train to Washington DC when the horrendous attacks took place. Since then I have not gone back. I always enjoyed going to Barnes and Noble where you can sit, have a cup of coffee and read their books to your heart's content, unlike the bookshops in Malaysia which have adopted the uncivilised policy of wrapping up their books in plastic.
Posted by: virgorat at January 26, 2006 10:14 PM