Embracing the Windy City: Our First Two Months of Life in Chicago
It’s hard to believe, but we are just days away from marking two full months as official residents of Chicago! The time has absolutely flown by, and yet, in some strange way, it feels like we’ve been here much longer. There are still moments, though, where the reality hasn’t quite sunk in. I’ll be standing in line at the grocery store, and my eye will catch a glimpse of my Illinois driver’s license in my wallet. Each time, I’m forced to do a double-take, a silent affirmation that yes, I truly live in the state of Illinois now. It sounds almost absurd, but it’s the honest truth – the sheer newness of it all still surprises me.
Just the other day, I was arranging a work-related phone call and inadvertently scheduled it for EST (Eastern Standard Time). It wasn’t until the next morning that the realization dawned on me, prompting a quiet shake of my head. These little blips serve as humorous reminders of the significant shift we’ve undergone, a gentle nudge from the universe that our new life in the Midwest is indeed a permanent reality.
Gardens at The Art Institute
Settling In: The Initial Whirlwind and Finding Our Footing in Chicago
These past eight weeks have been a blur. On one hand, a part of me feels as though we’ve been living in Chicago for an extended period, so much have we explored and experienced. On the other hand, there’s a lingering sensation, a ghost of our previous life, that makes it feel like we’ll be packing up and moving back to DC in just a few months. Even now, with our apartment fully settled and a burgeoning routine in place, it feels immensely strange to think that we will absolutely, without any shadow of a doubt, be calling this city home for the next five years. This long-term commitment is a big mental shift, and while exciting, it takes time to truly embrace.
The transition hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing, filled only with “rainbows and butterflies.” In fact, about a week into our move, I definitely experienced a mini identity crisis. I felt utterly out of sorts, a combination of factors converging at once. The stark realization that our closest friends and family were no longer just a short drive away hit hard. This was compounded by fully processing the whirlwind of the past year: the intense anticipation of the residency match process, the joyous yet demanding planning of our wedding, the hunt for the perfect apartment, our unexpectedly adventurous honeymoon, and finally, the colossal task of packing and moving all our belongings. With no major milestones or exciting distractions looming on the horizon, the sudden quiet felt very strange and somewhat unsettling.
Adding to the initial challenge was Chicago’s uncharacteristic weather. June, it turned out, was reportedly the wettest June the city had seen in almost a century. For the first two weeks, it felt like it was either raining incessantly or perpetually shrouded in a depressingly heavy cloud cover almost every single day. This constant dampness certainly didn’t help lift spirits during an already sensitive period of adjustment.
With all that said, I am now completely relieved that life has finally settled down. The boxes are unpacked, the furniture is in place, and we’ve found a rhythm. I finally feel like I can truly focus again – on work, on exploring, and on simply living. It’s a wonderfully grounding feeling to move past the initial chaos and begin building a stable, fulfilling life here in the vibrant city of Chicago.
