Chicago

[megakid]

Right - my next move has been confirmed at work so I'm gearing up for 1+ years living in Chicago. Whilst I've been to the states trice (CA, TX and NYC) to date, I've never been to Chicago. I decided not to post a mushy "Do I or don't I" thread like I did with my move here (I doubt any would remember the thread) as I've always wanted to live in the states and get a taste of it over there (In more than one way hopefully ).

I'm not due to move until June/July so it's a while off yet but can anyone give me a clue as to what the city is like, perhaps comparing it to NYC (If you can compare any city to NYC!) as I lived there for 3 months in summer '07.

What I really hoped that OcUK would tell me is 1. Is there a big ex-pat community there? (I'll be going alone) 2. Do the people there welcome visitors? 3. What sort of nearby hobbies is there? (Everything? i.e. I've recently begun yacht racing here in Sydney, do they do that in Chicago - albeit much colder). 4. Do the chicks dig an English accent? 5. Any other holiday experiences would be great too.

 

[megakid]

It's cold and with little to do unless you got plenty of cash, like most places in USA.

1. Why would you need an expat group when you speak the same language???!
2. Americans are always friendly apart from NYC
3. no idea
4. no comment
5. -/-

RE 1. That's very true, of course you don't need an expat group - I guess the reason I added it without much thought was because I found that even in Sydney whilst I have plenty of friends both Australian and English (all of whom I met whilst being here), without thinking about it, I seem to gravitate towards the English crowd due to similar backgrounds, similar interests (travel - as we're all in Sydney) etc. However, I'm pretty good at meeting new people so have never really considered it necessary.

 

[megakid]

All good info so far I best get looking at some decent coats before I leave Sydney then!

 

[megakid]

Taste of Chicago in early July is great!

& its as Hot in the Summer as its cold in the winter! Got rather bad sunburn while I was out there 3 or so years ago.

Damn - I'm stupidly fair skinned (and ginger ) and hoped Chicago would be somewhere I didn't have to worry about the sun. After Sydney, I wanted somewhere cold

What do you work as to be moved around so often?

I work as a software developer but I guess, mostly by mistake, I've specialised quite heavily in automated trading systems. If a company thinks I'm worth it, that specialisation enables me to work anywhere there's a big financial market presence. I was also very lucky to join a very small firm in 2008 which has boomed over the last 3 years.

If i had a job offer i'd move there in a heartbeat.

The only place I'd go over Chicago, if I had a choice, is NYC.

 

[megakid]

Holy thread revival.

So I'm going. Currently midway through a flight from Sydney to London, home for a couple of months then onto Chicago for 1+ yrs. I hope you're all correct as I still haven't been there but really looking forward to seeing a new place, meeting new people (and buying a new car ).

Thanks!