moxie in Chicago

Saturday morning, its 6am and I have been in Chicago for four days now... and somehow I am already looking up hospitals in downtown Chicago. Should I go to the ER hospital? Would Noah Wyle or that hot Croatian doctor be there? I try to make myself laugh and I pick myself and grab a cab to the North Western Medical Hospital's ER. During my trip and ever since I've gotten back my health has not been normal and Saturday morning things got bad. On my drive over to Chicago, my rental car got sandwiched between three tractor trailers that refused to let me merge and I took out an orange cone, smashing my side view mirror. When I arrived in Chicago, I was informed that the apartment I was hoping to move into had a squatter and that she "should" move out over the weekend after she'd trashed the entire apartment. Another student from my school has been extremely kind and generous and offered up her couch for me while I run around searching for alternate apartments. Unfortunately, the day after she leaves, I get pain in my abdominal area, bleed staggering amounts and I panic and run to the emergency room in tears. Thank goodness I held onto my old health insurance.

"Your blood count and all our inspections say that you're actually in excellent health. We're going to discharge you. You've been doing the right thing, you had your checkup in NY, we're glad you have another appointment in Chicago. We don't really know what's wrong but unfortunately there's no magic bullet for your symptoms. Go home and rest." I've run from doctor to doctor and have had lots of blood drawn in the last few weeks but nobody really knows the exact problem but they all agree something is wrong. GREAT. I ponder whether I shouldn't have taken my trip that probably caused my problems... but despite it all, I wouldn't have traded the experience and places I went to for anything in the world. This too shall pass! I randomly mutter to myself in the ER as I simply think about Greece while waiting for my lab results.

For some reason, although I tend to nap often, I am actually doing rather well other than my panic attack on Saturday. My doctors and I are surprised my lab results and general health have been so good despite my symptoms. By Sunday, the stress starts to subside as I receive many offers from potential roommates trying to help me out in my situation AND I am informed that the squatter has moved out. I HAVE A HOME! I gleefully rejoice as I move into a beautiful but dirty apartment with many room and lots of sunlight. My credit card covers my smashed side view mirror and after passing out for most of Saturday--my symptoms are a little better and I am feeling better. I meet another doctor on Monday and get more tests done. At least I'm in the hands of professionals in the US and not in Central Turkey with my problems.

I wish I had a more insightful and detailed post to write about my time in Chicago. But with graduate school starting and a mountain of work, cleaning, unpacking to do I seriously can't think of much right now. Off the top of my head... the produce isn't very fresh and its expensive as is gas. The people are incredibly kind and happy looking, although not as thin or fashionable as it is in pockets of NY. Housing prices aren't that cheap but you get more for your buck, so I guess its like living in Brooklyn. The public transportation system is ok, but the transit card fare system is a wee bit confusing and the buses are more reliable than the EL. People are die-hard sports fans and the population is more Caucasian/Black and less mixed as it in NY. Much of the Caucasian population looks like it should be in a J Crew, Abrecombie and Fitch catalog--I see lots of natural blonds and blue eyes. Despite the higher Caucasian/Black mixture, there are surprising pockets are ethnicity everywhere and I've already discovered the Latino, Greek, Korean, Ukrainian, Japanese and Chinese areas. Finding hearty southern Italian food in Chicago isn't so hard and its pretty good. Cabs aren't as easily recognizable on the streets but they're pretty easy to hail and aren't too expensive to take. Bicycling is very popular and many people opt to bike to work/school as opposed to take the El. Eating out in Chicago is only a little cheaper than in NY but seafood doesn't look so hot. Its probably time to embrace my inner carnivore and enjoy the beef.

Running around meeting a million people in my quest for backup apartments, I get to know the streets and neighborhoods rather well. Its not as easy to navigate without numbered streets but once I get used to it, I find the main streets really go on for miles and miles. In the end, I am terribly glad that I chose Chicago as opposed to a school in the country side. I needed to leave NY, but no matter what I am a city girl at heart and so far... I am very happy. Now to get healthy and gather the strength to tackle grad school. I have been going to orientation and I am seriously starting to worry about the intensity of my program. I hope I regain the energy and enthusiasm as some of my fresher, healthier and smarter seeming future classmates.