chicago: the first few days

Chicago.  It is the “windy city” not for reasons that you’d expect - like cuz it’s windy?  It is, but that’s not why it’s called the Windy City - Wikipedia it!

The mid-west accents are the accents that you hear on TV. They are soft and understanding. Although, sometimes a lil’ hard to understand. I’m currently finding my feet so I feel real nervous in trying to make a great 1st impression but end up making an ass out of myself. damn my english akwardness!

I love how the buildings are built, and not to match but to suit.  Each poorly built house has been upgraded and to solve population problems, houses are split into seperate apartments with a  porch and stairway to get into your house. It’s amazing. it creates a level of community, a great use of space. even the roofs are flattops so you can essentially use them for space.  Like Chicago’s sister neighbor ciies, such as Brooklyn, Philly etc. there is is esstentially a level of community.

i’VE never met so many kind/helpful people. One guy went out of his way to help me take this big heavy whack-off suitcase down 3 levels of stair on the subway train. Another act, a CTA woman took me out of the subway and showed me the shop where i can geta visitors CTA card (7 days unlimited travel = $23).  You don’t get this in the UK. Or not as often.

This makes me wonder about organizations such as Lumpen.com and AREACHICAGO.org. Is it born into the majority of the mid-west folk, to help? to strive to help and create the change that you want in the place that you live? I only have to think of Chicago’s alumni, President Obama, Frank Wright = architect, Richard Senett - one of the best sociologist writers of all time!

Is this vibe contagious?  I sure hope so!