Chicago

I’m in wonderful Chicago!

Yes people, finally I’m here. After all the hassle and problems in the Netherlands around visum forms and so on, I arrived without any problems.

My sister has had the weird idea of, that in the envelope with my passport and visum, there was only the passport. Which wasn’t true cause there was another paper attached to the passport which is the visum form. So, she tore apart the envelope and this had the result that also the form was torn. PROBLEM! I called the embassy in a little panic attack. They told me: yes, it’s a big problem. So I called my exchange programme people in Washington DC. They would send me another original. That didn’t came until Tuesday, 2nd of august! At least, I thought because it already arrived on Friday the 27th of July. But not at my sisters house, no at the crazy man downstairs. He never told us. So, I rang the bell on Tuesday, but he had one of his crazy moods so he wouldn’t open. I called the people who take care of him (thuiszorg) but they couldn’t come. The best idea for them was for me to call the police!!!! Amazing: the POLICE! So, at 4 pm a police man on his motor came. Had a talk for half an hour with the crazy old man, and could finally come into his house to get my visa form! So, everything arranged, though I was still a little nervous about Chicago: what would they say when they see the form is torn apart?! I arrived at 1pm on Sunday the 5th in Chicago after filling out some forms and having some interviews. The visa was ok! Amazing! It was just okay!

Anyway, Chicago is nice and relaxing! I have a jetlag, but with the weather itsn’t getting any better. It’s 34 c and freaking humid. Let me say: I don’t see the sun, but it’s hot! At around 6pm it’s becoming dark. But, the city itself is nice: people are polite and friendly, and the lake is amazing!

Today I will go to the beach, see a little of the city and going to a film festival in the evening. On Thursday the 9th I will go by train to Memphis, (10 1/2 hours) stay there for one day and then going to Knoxville (8 hours) because I must be there on Sunday.

I miss max; would like him to be with me, which is normal. It’s the other way around as well, but we stay in touch: love SKYPE!

So, my brief updat stops here, cause it’s already 10 am and I want to do something!

Cheers!

fien