MzMari3

Dear Chicago, 

Come here for a second and let me holla at ya for a min. Let me start off by saying, its been real. Its been interesting. It’s been like, I enjoy going home to visit. Nothing bad on your part but this is a huge adjustment for me. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I been coming here regulary for the past three years, I should be somewhat used to it but…I’m not. Everytime I hear some kind of pop, I’m sorry, I assume its gun shots. Come on, I’m from the South, the only thing they show about Chicago are the crimes, and especially the black on black crimes. So cut me some slack. I’m not used to seeing so many people out and about, like walking out of my house and seeing the neighbors kicking it or watching the kids play in front of the house. In my “hood”, you stayed in your lane. Maybe rode your bike in the neighborhood but you kept to yourself. Pause, keep it together, this is my story and my life, I’m just expressing my feelings about you. Also, this parking situation, bruhhhhh, like how do yall park on the street for EVERYTHING? Like I’m not used to leaving my car parked outside on the street in front of my house. The HOA frowns upon that anyway. Also, I am not used to all this traffic yall got!! Yea I lived in Atlanta but yall traffic is like TRAFFIC TRAFFIC. These winters though…shall we get into that for a second? But why??? Ok, ok, I know that you don’t have control over that so I’ll let that slide. But can I get into this street sweeping? Like yeah I know that there is literal street sweepings where you clean the streets, but this random checks for license plates by the police??? What’s up with that? I just saw them place another ticket on a car. The person is not even home!!! Why would you place another ticket on top of the ticket? I am sorry, you probably cannot explain that one. Anyway, everyone here has so much pride for you, Chicago. But it doesn’t seem as anyone has any pride for the space they occupy. Why is there so much trash on the streets? Did I miss something? Does the streets actually engulf the trash when it is thrown out there? Asking for a friend. 

I know it may seem like I am complaining but I am not. I am just giving you some of my experiences that I have had since being here. Not all of them are like the previous mentioned. The food here is AHHHMMMMAAAZZZZIIIINNNGGGG. I think I could really be a committed vegan. If you haven’t been to Original Soul Vegetarian restaurant, bruhhh, you need to stop by one day. The lake is really nice. I have gone out there a few times to run and its beautiful! I actually wanted to go out there today. Downtown is very nice. I have spent soem days out there exploring with some of my friends. You know I had to take a picture at the bean! The view of the city and its architecture is soooo amazing to me. I love looking at the buildings and admiring the way that it was built. The diversity here is pretty amazing. I, being from the south, only thought there were black people and then Oprah who lived here. Don’t judge me. I have met some really nice people. Very warm and engaging, but I must say, it aint nothing like that southern hospitality.  Let’s be honest, I am just hoping that I run into one of the Obamas in the street.

So Chicago, that just what it is for right now. I’m going to have to pop back in a few months to give you an update on how its going. It’ll probably be very different as WINTER IS COMING.

If you are from Chicago, let’s just keep our comments to ourselves. This is my experience, judge me not lol.

My heart is in Georgia but I am in Illinois. Cheers to new beginnings.

-MzMari3