Sunday Snapshot: My kind of town {Chicago}

Yesterday morning for brunch, I met up with two classmates and fellow teachers from China to celebrate the end of a summer of classes, and for me, the end of my graduate degree. That’s right, I’m finished. No more deadlines. No more books to read. No more papers to write. No more exams to take. I hardly know what to do with myself.

So when Janice and Charity asked me to head downtown with them for the afternoon, it didn’t take much to persuade me.

Number one, I love these girls.

Number two, these girls left on a plane for China today.

Number three, I love this city. Chicago has been a constant and fixed point for the past ten years of my life, and memories haunt street corners and restaurants and parks.

I’m not quite sure when I’ll make it back again. For the first time in ten years, there’s nothing requiring my return.

Consequently, despite the outrageous heat, it was quite wonderful to soak in the city one last time. I was a bit jealous of the kids who were also able to soak in the cool waters of the Millennium Park fountains.

After a long, steamy stroll, we parked ourselves on a shaded boulevard and watched the many boats (and a police chase) out on the lake.

I. Love. Trees. And I love that there are big old trees smack dab in the middle of big cities in America.

You can take the girl out of Asia, but you can’t take the Asia out of the girl–squatting is most definitely a skill picked up in China.

Charity read, and Janice and I played some cards.

And we posed for some pictures, because I was in love with the light and the tree bokeh.

I love friendships where you don’t necessarily have to do something to have a good time.

And these girls?

These girls know how to have fun.

And laugh. Laugh a lot.

Laugh to the point of making me shed a tear.

Their request for their last meal stateside? A restaurant that just opened up in downtown Chicago.

That’s right folks, downtown Chicago has never looked better.

As I’ve said before, I’m not a big fan of goodbyes. But I am looking forward to seeing these girls…and this city…again somewhere down the road.