Up & Down

So this may seem a little long, but for those of you who know me pretty well...I like to talk. :)

So…I have now completed my first day living in Chicago. It is still hard to believe that when I look out the window at the skyscrapers that this really is where I will be living for the next 3 months!

I am pretty sure last night was the first time in a long time that it took me a while to get to sleep due to nerves. It felt just like it does that first day of school, except for instead of dreaming about going to school without school supplies, it was what I forgot to pack or would I find my way down town. I woke up according to my alarm clock at 7:01. I set my alarm for 7:00…why didn’t it go off, how could I forget to set it?! I returned after my shower to find that I had set my phone alarm which was 5 minutes different than the actual alarm, but my nerves had me up just in time on my own.

Starting the day I was most nervous about my transport from the O’Hare to my hotel. Once I got here, you could probably say I was a little paranoid. Nearly every person I saw look at me I assumed were thinking about how much of traveler I looked like, and that they probably want to steal my purse, which was hidden in another bag. Or perhaps they were reading my address on my luggage. It is the school address, but what if they found where I went to school and then later found where I lived… Way TOO much thinking!! Haha I did make it here just fine though.

We start our orientation shortly after which brought my nerves back a bit. It felt like I was at camp. A room full of people preparing to introduce themselves to several strangers while trying to make new friends. The reality started to set in, I am not with my close friends or family, and am way out of my comfort zone. I am super thankful though to have some great Northwestern classmates here. They will for sure provide me with a reassuring blanket of comfort. So the first up and downs have been the switches between excitement and nerves.

Second story of up and downs involves me feeling slightly motion sick. The elevator here seems to get my stomach a bit more than others. Since there were so many people and it made me sick I thought it would be a good idea to take the stairs. I am on the 19^th floor. Bad idea; especially by starting to run up them. Great workout though! Haha Since it took me forever to get to the top and I was breathing rather hard, I decided it would just be easier to take the elevator down and suck it up. Later the escalators and The El (train) didn’t help much. Nothing too bad, but not something I was thinking I would have to deal with.

Other randomness:

* Went to eat at a Thai Restaurant, I tried some Pad Thai and for the first time. It was good, and I wouldn’t mind going back to the place to try something else.