Chicago

It's not Europe, but it's also not Ohio, so no complaints. The complaint would be that spring break is over before spring even starts.

The bus left Toledo at 1:50 AM. Including the driver the total number of people on the double decker bus came to a whopping 6. We arrived in Chicago an hour less than it should have taken. The driver spent the ride boogieing to Bob Marley. Nancy's aunt let us crash at her downtown apartment at 5 AM.

Upon our eventual awakening, we hit Water Tower Place, then met back up with Nancy's aunt at Puck's in the Museum of Contemporary Art for lunch (thank you, Nancy's aunt!). Wander wander, checked into hostel. Room 1n for Nancy and myself= full of French girls who never checked out. Room 2= full of little kids. Room 3= 2 bunk beds, a "normal" bed, and a tiny TV. Yay for mistakes. But then we had to move again the next day back into the first room they gave us (with room for us, this time).

Wednesday night, while we were sitting in the lobby of the hostel, I joined a British boy in a game of pool. We eventually introduced ourselves, leading to his informing me of the fact that he is an English composer's son. We played what felt like 50 games of pool until the clock struck midnight, when I was presented with a little birthday postcard. More pool and 'foosball', doubles against other British people.

The next day, Nancy, Ryan, Nick (said Brit), and I went to the Field Museum, Art Institute, and Chicago Symphony. After the symphony, Nick and I managed to get backstage after some slight difficulties (I was on the list, but the guard was given the wrong list. A guy eventually came and told her we were all allowed). A man standing outside John Eliot Gardiner's closed reception room door jokingly gave me an unfunnily hard time. I finally made it inside, got a picture, got my picture signed, and was told "good girl, good girl." Nick said, "Hello, I'm Nick Rutter." "Should I know you?" "No, but you probably know my father." etc etc, "You should sing for me sometime." So we both left the backstage area with amusing little comments from John Eliot. A homeless man followed us down the sidewalk, but gave up in confusion after Nick started rattling off German at him.

Another quick game of pool, a goodbye to Nick as he had to leave the hostel (there wasn't a single free bed) for another, bed, wake up, check out, 12 block walk to the bus stop, waiting in the cold, packed ride home. I'd post pictures, but I think I left my memory card converter at school.

I am now sitting in my kitchen with no signs of being able to leave. There is a level 3 snow emergency and a foot of snow. Driving back to BG tomorrow will be exciting.