Chicago Like a Local
After more than two months of solitude, my daughter arrived in Chicago for the first time last Friday. I joked that it was the end of my single living for 2025—which was actually true. Her time here signaled the transition to the holidays, as well as put me in the headspace to close the year accordingly.
On our way to the icy lake
As a first timer, she only had a rough idea of what she’d like to see in the city. That’s why I thought it would be worth showing her my everyday life.
Chicago’s livability attracted me to it. Besides feeling a sense of safety and community in our neighborhood, the accessibility of public transportation and variety of options for shopping, dining, and more definitely resonated with her.
She got a taste of it as soon as we met at the CTA station in O’hare. Why take an Uber or Lyft? Since the Holiday Train was scheduled to be on the Blue Line that day, I hoped we could ride it. Unfortunately, it left just as she was landing and I was entering O’hare.
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Some Firsts
Her first meal in Chicago was at the neighborhood pizzeria, but it wasn’t deep dish. She ordered a thin crust pepperoni and cheese more as a preference than anything else.
It was also her first time to encounter snow albeit, it was mostly hardened snow and slush. She was disappointed. She hoped to make snowballs and lie on the snow while fluttering angel wings.
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My Own First
Showing her my own place came with both pride and an intent to model independence.
It’s the first time I’m living on my own. I had roommates in college then had her next. Coming to the U.S. as immigrants, we also had to live with my parents for a few years. Now that she’s on her own in college, I’m finally building my own life. (I do feel like we’re approaching adulthood in parallel with each other.)
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On the next day, she experienced a typical weekend in our neighborhood—having croissant sandwiches for breakfast at the corner cafe then walking to Whole Foods to shop for groceries. Thankfully, I already bought her winter coat as Chicago hit sub-zero on her first weekend.
Now that’s a true local’s welcome.
