Chicago

As I'm sitting here writing this, I'm sitting in a cafe in "The Windy City." I don't know any other not-acronyms, but I don't know what would be the right word- nicknames I guess? For Chicago.

But holy- whoever thought of that one is like trying to make me hate cities or hate this city (that just made me think of the song "Happier Than Ever" by Billie Eilish lol), because I hate wind. And I'm already iffy about cities- but that is indeed what I was aiming to write about and the topic of this blogpost.

I think I already wrote a blogpost about cities- and was it hating on cities?

I'm not sure, you could always check if you're curious, but don't I, if anything, love to be controversial? Love to write one thing, and then write something arguing for the exact opposite?

Because that literally is the essence of life. Everything in opposites- everything more complicated than simple. There's always good things and bad. And it's always you can pulled this way and that. You can frame psychologically. You can argue one thing, one way, and leave out everything bad. And then, you can write something else, on the exact opposite side of the pendulum- and leave out everything bad again.

But it's exciting to be here, I'm excited, I love little cafes, and it's interesting to see the city.

It also just happens to be a very nice day outside. I'm pretty sure, this is the nicest day that we've had this spring so far. It's going to be at a total of 26 degrees C outside today, and it's pretty sunny too. Unfortunately, I don't have sunglasses. The ones I had in Madison, say college of engineering (which doesn't deserve to be capitalized) all over them, so I've stopped wearing them, and I didn't bring them home.

I feel like there's so much romantical, and with the ability to be romanticized about being in the city. And I love universities and academia vibes- and not far from where I'm right now- there is a university where my friend attends. I was kind-of dumb and thought it was Urbana-Champaign, it's actually University in Illinois- Chicago. And today their spring break resumed (mine just basically started) so it's the perfect time to be here, because I get to see it in action! I think most people commute (confirmed with my friend lol).

Commuting to university- maybe not the most glorious thing. But even this came be romanticized. Taking the train to university-which is what my friend does.

As you drive by (that is still the verb used for trains- right?) the views aren't of the city for almost all if not all of the rides. It's mostly of suburbs and houses- but then it starts looking like mild city- and then the view out the window almost really reminds me of Milwaukee, actually.

But there is something so romantical about taking a train. It makes me think of novels- or that blogpost I wrote about about the romance of buses. Though those concepts align better and apply better to buses- because buses shake more- they still apply to trains! I mean just the general romance concept. Now that I read that back though, the train still did shake a lot so maybe it applies a lot better than I initially thought. I've taken it twice now. At least the specific to-Chicago one. But I don't know, something about standing applies more to buses since you tend (or at least have a much greater possibility) of standing on a bus. I don't know why you would stand on a train.

But I loved looking around the train and thinking about the romance of where all these people are going and what they could be doing. Either to school in the city- or to work- like a corporate job?

Like I said, I don't really like cities. And there's lots not to love. But with a big city- there is this feeling in the air of so much opportunity. Skyscrapers are still cool- and I can appreciate the architecture. Always makes me want to do some cool photography angles. I don't even like taking pictures of the city. That's like the last thing I like taking pictures of. I am way more a nature photography person.

And even once in the city- thinking about that. A corporate job- grabbing coffee from a coffee shop? Or the people at the coffee shop? Working on something. All the nicely dressed people. Or street style. Lots and lots of people- different types of people. Variety. I can see how people yap good things about cities all the time. There's just so much variety- in everything and everywhere you look. Big means lots, and lots of everything (opportunity, etc). You can also get a lot of fashion inspo by the people on the street- especially if you like street style (like I do!)

I guess just in general, this blogpost is about romanticizing your life! My university- that I won't even be at come fall, is not a huge city- which is maybe I prefer anyway. It's more of a cozy city- a mild city- and I understand what people mean now when they say it's not a real city. Like especially, people coming from Chicago.