Musings From The Windy City

Today is September 24th and in just four days I will complete one month in ths soil of the United States of America, at Chicago , the windy city. To be fair, I must say that this country has treated me well.

So let us see what I have seen and experienced here in the last few weeks.


The place is good, with its jazz and blues bars... and the lake Michigan with its tropical blue waters. That reminds me of the story that I have read some days back. Five years ago, the waters of Lake Michigan was just sludge, with dark brown color. And no, it was not some 'save da lake drive' from the Mayor which has saved the lake, but some unsuspecting molluscans from Asia. These shell fishes came to the lake through ships that traveled to Asian seas. The main job that they do is to filter. Imagine millions of little filters installed by the nature performing their work incessantly for five years... that is what happened. And as always there is a catch, the local ecosystem is now gone down drains with the common planktons and all no longer present in the waters. But nevertheless, it looks beautiful now : truly enchanting.

One of the main attractions of the city is the Sears Tower which was, until recently, the tallest building in the world. But if you ask any local, they will tell you that the best view of Chicago is seen from the top of John Hancock Tower, which is about half as tall as the Sears but definitely the local favorite. I have not yet been to the top of both, so I am trusting the local wisdom.

Another main attraction of the city is the Navy Pier, with its Giant Wheel and other show goer attractions. In fact, the Wheel is the second tallest one in North America. These and all the coming trivia is sponsored by Mr. Shashank Sarveppalli, a half ABCD ( Well, he is not American Born, but definitely Confused ) aspiring to become a doctor, and now having the honor of serving as my room mate. Legend says that the whole navy pier was owned by UIC, my university but it was a neglected and a bad neighborhood until the City acquired it and made it to the attraction that it is. And 'grabbed' would have been a better word as Richard M Daley, the mayor of 17 years operates in real mafia style around here. There was a small airstrip around near the Lake front, which he came one night and acquired for a park. And all the Airplanes which were in the strip had to be either towed to the nearest air strip or had to be broken down into pieces, and then re-assembled at the nearest airstrip.


About the demographics, there seem to be two type of people around here. One : Hardcore athletic people who run a hundred miles a week and have the physique of Carl Lewis at his prime. Two : Really Obese people, who eat around ten thousand calories a day and have the physique of a hunch back whale. Boy, I have never seen such fat people back in India, many of them weigh at least 250 Kgs, and they are average. Also, whenever I see them, whether in the class or at the metro stations or in the buses, they will always be eating, a huge pack of chips, munching on and on to oblivion. Gross! In every sense!

Today I have been to the Field Museum in Chicago. They have a wonderful collection of stuffed animals and birds, many of them extinct and dating back to the early 1930s. Also, they have the world's largest and most complete fossil of a T. Rex, called Susie. Man, that is a wonderful sight to see. They have dozens of other fossils of big and small creatures from the Jurassic Era, which makes it one of the best museums in the United States.

The other place that I have visited is the John G Shedd Aquarium, which is one of the best in the world. There is this Female Beluga Whale which has given birth recently and the mother and the kid are having a great time out there. And there are thousands and thousands of different types of fishes from all around the world including those from the coral reefs of Philipines and other countries. The Pacific White Sided Dolphins were excellent during their show that we had. And add to all these the lizards and other dragons , with he King Komodo Dragon at the pinnacle. Awesome.

Last week I had been to the Devon Street with my room mate and friends. It is the Indian Street in Chicago. Well, Indian and Pakistani Street , one must say. One half of the street is called Honorary Muhammad Jinna Way and the other half is called Hon. Mahatma Gandhi Marg. It is full of Indian and Pakistani shops and one thing that I have noticed is that every where it is written 'Indian and Pakistani' . Always. Indian and Pakistani groceries, Indian and Pakistani Cuisine etc. There seems to be no enmity between the two countrymen in the US of A.

Well, it is getting late and I must retire.

Will continue posting on the happenings.. ..



-September 24, 2006