Arrived in Chicago

Well, here I am! In Chicago!

I drove & it took me two & a half days, stopping relatively early each day to rest my back. Not a heck of a lot to report on the drive. The high point probably was listening to some Buddhist tapes, one by Jon Kabat-Zinn and the other by Pema Chodron. I have to say, however, it was pretty country all the way. I spent the first night in a motel in the small town of Batavia, New York. Paid a little extra to stay at a motel that promised high speed internet. The roadside advert was a fib. Well, they’re working on it. I was moved to three different rooms till I gave up. The second night I spent just outside of Toledo where I tried again to get access to the web. This experience was only slightly better. I was able to get two emails out before the system crashed.

I arrived in Chicago before noon local time yesterday. I was given my apartment & a fancy affair it is – a large living room, bedroom & kitchen. It has a large and clean bathroom. Old building, one of four, I think, that comprise the Meadville Lombard campus, itself pretty much surrounded by the University of Chicago. There’s lots of jerry rigged electrical, but I’m moderately sure it won’t burn down while I’m here. All is clean, I’m confident there are no rats. But it is old & I’m not so sanguine about lesser creatures not living in the walls. But, and it appears most important to me, there’s a high speed internet connection! I reported into the office, hung out a bit with some of the students and joined a tour of the library. Over a hundred and forty thousand volumes, and hooked up with the dozen other theological libraries making up the Association of Chicago Theological Schools. Very nice.

I took advantage of the fact I have the rental car until Sunday afternoon to do a quick run to the grocery store. I’d been directed to a local convenience store a block from the Meadville Lombard campus. But it was little more than a (apparently) nice deli and as I wanted shampoo, etc. I needed to continue looking for a grocery. Thanks to two folk from the Hillel House next door to the school I learned there’s a coop supermarket about ten blocks away & several miles away the supermarket they actually recommended.

My grand adventure of going to the grocery revealed a number of things to me. One, while I am a city kid born and bred, having lived the suburban life for the last fifteen years I’ve lost some of my basic survival skill sets (I still always lock the car door, but all too frequently leave the front door of the house unlocked) I’ve forgotten what its like to live where there are a substantial number of poor people (by, of course, our North American standards. Beginning to research the India trip has relativized that word a little.). In addition to the burned out buildings at major intersections there were people selling stuff: sodas, I swear small bundles of towels, but most of it I couldn’t figure out at all. Following the directions to the supermarket I drove by an amazing mosque with a gigantic twirling star and crescent on top of the dome. As I got close enough to read the signage I saw it was actually Louis Farrakan’s home mosque.

The grocery was the great disappointment. This was described as the best in the area, but the selection of fruits and vegetables wasn’t very inspiring & the displayed meats might turn me vegetarian. Still, I was able to get much of what I needed. And I know there’s a Trader Joe somewhere that students carpool to upon occasion. Maybe this afternoon (I’ve learned that if I hope to get a parking space when I get back I need to wait until after five or so in the afternoon…)

Pretty much spent, I devoted the evening surrounded by my junk and reading a collection of mystery short stories, Brooklyn Noir.

Today, as the lady said, is another day.