“You wake up in Chicago, pull back the curtain and you know where you are. You could be nowhere else. It’s big, it’s outgoing, it’s tough, it’s opinionated, and everybody’s got a story.”
— Anthony Bourdain

Moving to the Midwest was unfamiliar territory. I had no roots, no connections — just a backpack, a course schedule, and curiosity. But over time, the city became something more. I found my rhythm studying along Lake Michigan, hopping the L to neighborhoods I couldn’t yet pronounce, and sharing meals that turned into lifelong friendships. What began as a year of study became a place I keep returning to — a city now tied to mentors, memories, and meaning.