Moving to Chicago, or Tone it Down America

After over a month in Chicago, what have I learnt? Firstly, that I'm not writing nearly enough - and I haven't done for about a year. It used to be an escape for me - an outlet for everything, whether I was publishing publicly, or simply spending hours creating an eloquent, self important rant about whatever had pissed me off that day, only to delete it once I had it perfected. My own variety of Mandala, laboured over and then swept away, ready to start again. I felt I should have picked up my blog again as soon as I got here, detailing my foray into the unknown – but my foray into the unknown was mainly me getting lost, getting drunk with strangers, and feeling very alone, so I guess you didn’t miss out on much. Oh, and I accidentally found the Bean one day…

Dead Friends

My accent is popular here - mainly with folk who want to talk to me about the queen, or Diana, or all the words I 'don't say right'. Otherwise it's mainly great for ensuring I never get the fucking coffee order I want. It also helps with dating, at least for the first date, which is also strange out here. It’s intense and casual at the same time, and usually involves an actual date of some kind, instead of just yelling at each other in a club before being invited over to “Netflix and Chill”. Or, my preferred method of vaguely fancying someone, becoming friends with them and then never doing anything about it, ideally moving to a different town/country after two years or so and never talking to them again.

Arty Stuff

 The city is pretty cool, and so far I’ve lived in really nice areas. Logan Square was, as all Hipster villages are, filled with great bars and cafes and quirky shops. I spent a day in a tattoo shop. I didn’t fit in. Ukrainian Village is also nice, in that it’s close to the city and the cool bar streets, and slightly closer to the train station for work. The actual place seems quieter, although there is a ‘Western Clothing’ store opposite my amazing flat, so at least I’ve got Christmas presents for everyone back home sorted…

Thanksgiving Parade

Thanksgiving was great, and also weird. I was invited to a colleague’s house, to spend it with her family which was the sweetest thing. It’s pretty much a rehearsal for Christmas (i.e. getting drunk with your family), but instead of celebrating the birth of Santa and opening presents, people celebrate sports and yell a lot. And say what they’re thankful for, which as a British girl was a little uncomfortable. Sincere emotions = intense discomfort.

I think the main thing I've learnt is that maybe I'm not as independent as I thought I was. Maybe in a good way. I need people more than I thought, and I miss having people I love around me. If I’m slightly busy at the weekend, it’s difficult to talk to anyone back home because of the time difference, which is hard. This also is weird for me (see above emotions/discomfort etc except now this is something I’m feeling about myself. I give myself the creeps…). I haven’t taken many photos either, because no one else is a tourist and I’m usually just hanging out with people. It’d be weird to take my fancy camera to the bars.Long story short though, feelings, drinking, and I guess I’m blogging again.

Paincake Day

Being a graduate of the arts, I often find myself filled with a deep ennui. A sense of longing that remains unfulfilled by the everyday. Society is a burden upon my self-conscious, and the only escape I can find from this torment is within the realms of Shrove Moodsday. (It's a bit like interpretive dance, but with pancake related food items).

Lemons. Their zesty facade can't hide the truth of the bitterness beneath.

This mango coulis reeks of desperation. There's nothing cool about it.

 It's not summer, berries. You're not fooling anyone. This mango is all too aware its not Coulis.

This Maple Syrup is living a lie. And everybody knows it.

This avocado and mozzarella desperately attempt to fit in. They don't. It's the start of a true tale of unparalleled desolation. The wine is all good though, despite being from different origins.

Bananas are depressing.

This pancake is a metaphor for myself. Bare. Empty. Smokin'.

Bacon is never ready to be there when you need it.

This pancake is desperate to be put out of its misery. It is consumed with a longing for the end.

Paincake.

Paincake Day.








Dear god what am I doing with my life. Happy Pancake Day y'all!

The Louvre

I almost included this yesterday, and then decided that the Louvre is deserving of its own post. I could write an essay on just the small part I saw, but I'll try and trim it down to just a few favourite bits. They had a Michelangelo Pistoletto exhibition on, hence the triple loops everywhere which had a few interesting pieces but to be honest, I didn't really get. I was more interested in the Greek sculpture, particularly this one...

I did an English Literature degree, and dabbled with Classics in my first year, so I have a bit of a thing for Greek mythology. This is 'Psyche revived by Cupid's Kiss' by Antonio Canova. 

Of course Venus had to be in here. I just loved these too...

We had a wonder around some of the Renaissance art too, and there were some incredible paintings (obviously, it's the Louvre...), but these were my favourites. The light in them was just incredible. My rubbish camera could not do them justice, but here they are anyway.

This one I just really liked. Little minx...

I could have spent days in here (with some more comfortable shoes...) and taken hundreds more photos. Alas, coffees and crepes were calling, so we slowly headed out, getting very distracted and bumping into the crowds as we craned our necks at the ceilings...

Obviously I had to get this photo, though it was hard to get one without twenty other cameras in it...

As we strolled past the famous pyramid I also managed to spot this guy...

Charles Perrault, of fairy tale fame, and one of the main focuses of my recent dissertation. It was the kind of thing no one else cared about but really excited me. 

What a hunk. 

Paris

Last weekend I went to Paris, unbelievably for the first time, and I loved it. I kind of get what all the fuss is about. It rained most of the first day (as a massive Audrey Hepburn fan I was secretly quite pleased about this), but we weren't going to be put off getting our (slightly frizzy) tourist shots!

The Standard Eiffel |Tower Shot!

I thought there was a specific bridge that people did this on, but it turns out they're everywhere. It's still really sweet though. Some people had put so much effort into theirs!

I think Paris may be one of my new favourite places. Most of the cities I've been to feel like the same place over and over again in different languages, but the architecture really set it apart. All except the Eiffel Tower, which I was honestly a bit let down by, so I consoled myself with cocktails and macaroons...I would put a hipster food photo in here but they didn't last long enough to take one.