Leaving the Pepper Spray at Home...Maybe

So I have one roommate blogging from Oxford, England, one blogging in the Dominican Republic, and then there’s me, soon-to-be blogging from Chicago, IL, which might as well be a foreign country. Yes, it’s true that I won’t have to go through any life-altering culture shock experiences, learn to communicate through language barriers, or politely choke down a local dog (and I don't mean a hot dog), but I will have to step outside of my comfort zone a bit. In Sioux Center, I could pleasantly jog (which would quickly turn into a walk) throughout town by myself, without the assistance of pepper spray or a state-certified hand gun. In Chicago, that will all change: For one, I hate jogging, and two, if I do decide to stroll throughout the streets of Chicago by myself, I might get arrested for packing heat and end up sharing a cell with Velma Kelly and Roxy Hart (he did “have it coming,” girls).

Right now you’re probably thinking that I’m a paranoid, high-maintenance freak when it comes to safety – you would be correct about the paranoid part, though I deny being high-maintenance. I’m the person on the plane that is looking out the window every 5 seconds to make sure it isn't going down, or the person that checks the front door 6 times just in case the dead bolt somehow unlocked itself. I can’t be sure, but I must have inherited this from my mother. Anyhow, Sioux Center was the perfect place for me when it came to my safety needs. Chicago, well, isn't.  And don’t even get me started on public transportation! Sioux Center was perfect for me in that sense too – no buses or taxis for miles!

This is probably the point in my post when you are expecting me to say “despite all my worries, I need to overcome my fears and just live life like a free spirit, no cares in the world…blah, blah, blah.”

I’m not going to, though, because I believe no spirit comes free. There’s always a price to be paid somewhere along the way, so I’m going to approach Chicago cautiously, without letting my paranoia get the best of me. I know that within the city limits of Chi-town, there are so many wonderful experiences to be had and I can’t let a few hundred fears stand in my way of getting to know the art, history, and culture of this unique place.

A few months back when I was having second thoughts about going to Chicago, my boyfriend put it this way to me: “when I visit you, would you rather me take you out to dinner for Sioux Center Mexican food or out for deep dish pizza in the heart of Chicago?” That’s when it clicked. Why would I spend another semester in Sioux Center, when I have the amazing opportunity to get work experience in a grand city like Chicago? It would be foolish of me to spend four more months eating Culvers and shopping at Walmart after a long day of classes when I could be dining at Lou Malnatis after a long, fulfilling day at my internship.  Don’t get me wrong, I like Culvers ice cream as much as the next Dordt student, and you can’t beat urban sprawl's superstore prices, but it’s time for me to take a slice or three of that deep dish pizza and pay 2 dollars more for a bottle of shampoo.

What I’m really saying is, despite all my worries, I need to overcome my fears and just live life like a free spirit, no cares in the world…Haha, gotchya there! But really, there comes a time when you just have to leave your pepper spray at home and step outside without a bullet proof vest weighing you down. Chicago is my place to do that and I am excited for that kind of freedom.

 Stay tuned for updates and more blog posts from the windy city! I’m happy to share with you the happenings of this little (and by little, I mean huge) town, the interesting people I meet, and the great opportunities my job will provide. I'm sure I'll see a thing or two of interest while riding on Chicago's public transit system, also known as The 'L' (hence the title of this blog). Please don’t hesitate to fit me in to your prayers a time or two. Only 7 days left until I arrive!