Missing Home

I've now been away from home for the longest time ever. Even when I'm in Chester, at Uni, I haven't been away for as long as this. And Yes, I'm missing you all, so send me some pictures of yourselves. Thanks if you already have. Send more.

But Newcastle is such a beautiful place and I do miss green fields, beaches and blue sea.

Hasties, Bloomies, Marie etc: I have found a good website for local photographs... Its Steven's family friend ( I think). I found it by accident (although I did know it was there somewhere) but the photographs are excellent.

http://www.monkchester.co.uk/

So while I'm here in industrial Milwaukee, I'm looking for pictures of home and missing all that greenery. I think sometimes we forget how green it is until we live somewhere like this.
The picture is just a quick snap out of the train window as we left Milwaukee on the way to Chicago. Anyway, Its been a week since we went to see Coldplay, which was very good, I had a good time. Here's a pic from the Coldplay concert.

Today I went for a walk, I've had a fairly uneventful week, until last night, when we had a fire drill at 2am. So it was time to go and stand outside in the snow. yet again, more snow and it doesn't last. It has snowed so much with just a little bit, and it will stay for a little while and then melt again. So far I haven't really seen large amounts of snow, and as the winter has been apparently so mild, since I got here, I don't actually think that I will get to see huge amounts before I leave. Strangely enough, I think this year there has been more ( or as much) snow in the UK. At least while I have been here.
Yes, I've only seen -20 C once since I've been here and that apparently is unusual. But I have never been so cold in all my life as I was that weekend. You really just cannot imagine it unless you've felt it.

I walked to Target, which is a little bit further than Walmart, and in the opposite direction, but I like Target better, so it was worth it. I promise I'll go back soon, because there are some interesting pictures that I would like to take. The huge factories that are being demolished and Miller Park, which you can see in the distance down that road. After all it is called Miller Park Way. That is the same as good old 43rd St which is where I live. Like most American cities, the streets are so long that you don't even realise that it is the same street. They are literally miles long.

Speaking of industrial, Alverno has a beautification project going on. They are adding a gate at one of the enterances, putting a fountain at the front of the main building, and adding a 4 storey parking structure, right in front of my window. I'm not sure how this will make the place more beautiful, but it means that for some strange reason, they will be starting work at 7 am and finishing at 3pm. However I won't be here to see the finished article, because it is not planned to be finished until the beginning of next semester. Somebody will have to send me pictures. (Missy)

Since its St Patrick's Day, I thought you might like an update on the Chicago trip last weekend.

Hey, hows this for a picture?

They were in the St Patrick's Day Parade, and we met them in Chicago.



NYPD in Chicago for St Patrick's Day Parade.

The picture quality is not brilliant, Walgreens own disposable camera and Walgreens printing.
Not as good as my digital camera.

The green river is the Chicago River which flows into Lake Michigan. There was a little motor boat that went up and down, churning out luminous dye. It appeared red because it was so concentrated, but it was yellow diluted, and it made the river green. Bright Green, as you can see, and there were thousands of people there watching.

Just a quick Update, because its been a tiring but amazing weekend.

I had a good week in Philadelphia with Michael and Sue. I had fun looking after Sarah and Alex, and just generally relaxing. The picture shows the school buses at 2.30. The huge line of buses is a fascinating sight. I had a good week and cured the homesickness that was just beginning, as everyone else was looking forward to going home for Spring Break.

But travelling is stressful, and my flight back to Milwaukee was delayed over 2 hours. It was nice to have the girls meet me at the airport, with Milwaukee Frozen Custard which tastes delicious.

We arrived in Chicago at 9.30am on Saturday, and first impressions were good. We were extremely impressed. The weather was good, especially considering the time of year. Everything was so bright, I think it had a surreal quality to it. Even the pictures look quite surreal. (See above)
I think Chicago shows what 'real' America is like, it is just how you imagine it to be. It seems to be the epitomy of America in general and the Mid West specifically. It has a life entirely different to Milwaukee. There is so much to see, I feel that I have seen hardly any of the things that I would like to see there. The Magnificent Mile lives up to its name, and we didn't even explore the shops. In short, I've fallen in love with Chicago. I can't wait to go again.