I left Dublin for London in 2006 with the intention of experiencing life in another city for a year, or maybe two. Eight years later, I was leaving London but not for home. The career path I followed in London gave me the opportunity to move to Chicago. I have discovered since arriving here that this city has so much to offer for everyone.
The shore of Lake Michigan on a summer's day is now my favourite place in the world. The lakeshore path stretches along the edge of the city for 30km, through parks and beaches with incredible views. Every day during the summer, it is busy with people walking, running or cycling in the sunshine or making use of the various amenities scattered along its length. Summer is also the time for streetfests and block parties, or for enjoying a few drinks in the countless bars with patios or rooftops. There is such a vibrant atmosphere everywhere you go.
The winters here can be quite harsh. We get a lot of snow but it has little or no impact on public transport. Although the winters are a lot colder than home, there isn’t the same omnipresent greyness. Even when the temperature is below freezing, you can see some blue sky more often than not. And there is still so much to do during the winter, with many theatres, museums, bars and restaurants, and gigs every night of the week. I really enjoy the Chicago blues scene.
Chicago is a beautiful and clean city. The lake and the river fit perfectly beneath a spectacular skyline. There are so many diverse neighbourhoods that are all easy to access as the city is very compact. Each neighbourhood has its own unique atmosphere which offers great variety; places like Wrigleyville, which seems to be just a sports-mad party town, or Wicker Park which is more for the hipsters. There is a neighbourhood for everyone.
The Irish-American community has a strong identity and is extremely active ensuring that Irish culture and traditions are handed down from generation to generation so that the connection to their heritage is never lost. Seeing this sometimes makes me wonder if we could do a better job of this in the part of Ireland where I come from. There is a strong affinity with Ireland in general. Chicagoans certainly know how to celebrate St Patrick’s day. They dye the river green and the rest of the city follows suit and generates a brilliant atmosphere wherever you go on the day. That’s usually the case for any occasion.
For me, the most attractive factor is the people. Some use the term “mid-west hospitality” but whatever it is, the people I have met here have been incredible to me. The inclusive environment makes it unnecessary to follow our tribal instincts and just stick with the Irish crowd as we sometimes tend to do in other cities around the world; I certainly did that in London. Everyone is happy to be friends with anyone. The people here are so positive and genuinely appear to be celebrating life. A smile is usually reciprocated.
I love Dublin and I miss friends and family but I have never regretted leaving home. The experiences and opportunities I have gained from moving abroad were just not possible for me in Dublin. Whether I will ever move home or stay here remains to be seen. For the moment, I am just enjoying life, which is not hard to do in Chicago.
