Where Have You Been?

Fine, -5c

Where have I been?!? It’s a question that requires a long answer and draws blank stares from customs officials. When I think back to October it feels like I’ve been almost everywhere, and maybe I have - I just clocked up 12,000 miles on the car in North America. Think about that for a second. If you could drive from Los Angeles to Adelaide it’d only be 8000 miles. That’s a whole lot of cash I’ve spent on drive thru I reckon!

Leaving the ‘charming’ (something my Mum would say) Madison, Wisconsin I motored my way towards Chicago and got excited when I saw the ‘Welcome To Illinois’ sign. I quickly lost my smile when every 20kms or so toll booths started appearing. Roads cost a lot of money around here.. I had to pull over and get more cash out!

Chicago is an amazing city and full of history, one of those places where every corner you discover something new. It’s gritty city that’s the engine room of the American economy. Not as fast-paced as New York or as pretentious as Los Angeles, Chicago has a ‘we mean business’ type attitude and you’ll find no shortage of lawyers or legal secretaries around here.

Walking down Michigan St in the afternoon was amazing, lots of activity going on and amazing buildings to stare out. Earlier that afternoon checked into the HI Chicago and the nice lady at reception offered to give me a partially used ‘Visit Chicago Pass’ for NOTHING. Woohoo free stuff!! I got access to museums for free and the John Hancock Building. Most of the action was on Michigan St and it was all FREE (did I mention it cost me NOTHING?). I got talking to friendly couple from Chicago at the bus stop who invited me to have a beer with them while we waited. We chatted about Australia and the ‘bad areas’ of Chicago which I’d yet to encounter and probably wouldn’t unless I got seriously lost. Twenty minutes later the bus came, we all rushed outside and said our goodbyes. People seem very friendly around these parts!

I made my way up Michigan to the John Hancock Building and expected it to be a second rate Sears Tower - but I was very wrong. There was no waiting in line like there would have been at Sears and within minutes I was hurtling up 94 stories (the fastest lifts in the world & the 3rd tallest building in the world). It’s also claimed to be ‘the most recognizable in the world’ but I think Mr. John Hancock must have said that.. surely Empire State or Sears Towers lays claim to that title?! It was however the setting for ‘Poltergeist III’ and comedian Chris Farely died of a drug overdose in the building. Oh and on a positive the view from the top was AMAZING, especially at night. There were lots of couples working around arm-in-arm going “ohh” “ahh”, and than there was me leaning against the window like a mad man trying to scare myself (well hey, Marg’s not here so I may as well act like a dickhead while I can!).

Getting my sanity back I left the John Hancock Building and caught the bus back towards the hostel. There was lots of action for a weeknight - ice skating, drinking, music performances on the sidewalk, late night shopping etc.. Was very cool to get amongst it! I could live in Chicago if the US government allowed it. Everywhere I looked was ‘Bears’ written in lights on buildings or bear faces. Even the museum had someone dressed up as a giant bear. Later I found out the ‘bears’ are the local footy team, they had an important play off game (and later made the Superbowl if you heard!).
I signed myself up for the ‘Chicago Bar Night’ at the hostel, expecting it to be some lame-o tour last 30mins. It was pretty damn good though, we caught the subway north and went to clubs next to Ball Park. Baseball was invented in Chicago and the nightspots seem to surround the ball parks. I hung out with a few German dudes after the only Australian piked because it was ‘too loud’ (she was 65yr old going on a bar tour, gotta wonder what she expected!). We hit the beer bar before checking out a trendy nightclub where the beers were $15. I hung with the beautiful people and faked excitement that I knew the DJ that everyone was going crazy over (I’m sure Gemma would have known?!?). I started hitting the dance floor, a sure sign that it’s way too late and my time is up. Needless to say, 10mins later we were outta there and it was 4am - I couldn’t believe it?!?
Riding home on the subway at that time was an experience. Not because it was dangerous, it was just crammed with party goers headed home. Luckily our guide informed us how to get home and where not to go (there are some VERY VERY dodgy areas in Chicago - namely ‘Southside’). It was a fun night with the Germans and great to get shown the good places by a local.
Next morning I slept in. Hey it was 4am when I got home!! At midday the hostel lady came and polity said “GET OUT… you’re not supposed to be here”. Well... I left with my tail between my leg and continued the journey (not to self: must come back to Chicago with Marg).
Three hours outside of Chicago and I was playing the ‘fuel gauge is empty but the car is still running, let’s see how far we can go’ game. I’ve never lost before and I didn’t expect to outside of Detroit (think Eminem, ghettos, boarded up houses etc etc). I’d heard so much bad stuff about Detroit, so when the car ‘lost the game’ on the side of the highway I expected to get a ‘cap in my ass’. Breaking down because you didn’t refuel has to be the most embarrassing thing ever - it’s not even an accident. I locked up the car, grabbed my laptop and started walking towards an exit.. and walking.. and walking. I spotted a town in the distance and started running. Bingo!! I explained my story to the teenage gas attendant who explained happily “yeah.. that happens all the time.. grab some fuel with the drum and Roy will give you a lift” - awesome!! I take back my negativity surrounding Detroit, the people were awesome and came to my aid (disclaimer: this wasn’t actually part of Detroit, but who cares).
So.. two hours later I was on my way will a full tank of gas. I crossed the mighty Niagara River and crossed into Windsor, Ontario. The folks at Canadian Immigration were very welcoming and didn’t even pull apart my car like their US counterparts, a friendly wave and a “welcome back to Canada Matthew” - I was on my way!
The plan was to stay in London, Ontario for two days than head to Toronto (which is roughly 60-70mins away). The reason being that London is much cheaper and has everything I’d need without the high prices. But.. I never made it to Toronto. After two days in London I’d been contacted by the local Program Director who expressed interest in getting me started asap. I had contacts in Toronto but it’d probably be a while (in time and $’s) before something came thru. So… here I am! London, Ontario will be home for a bit and I’m just waiting for everything to be finalized at the radio station. I’ve also applied for a few bar and retail jobs to add some extra cash to the pile. Yeeehaaa!!
It feels weird to not be moving. I haven’t stayed in one place for more than a week since…. Umm.. since Adelaide!
At the moment I’m enjoying my last days of being unemployed but that’ll quickly come to end. I have a trip to Toronto planned to meet up with the “Aussies In Canada” group for a few drinks / Australia Day celebrations. I also wanna visit Niagara Falls which isn’t far away or maybe drive to Ottawa & Montreal. Who knows!!
Ohhh… before I go - London, Ontario. It’s about 1.5 hours from the US boarder and is a typical blue collar Canadian city. Population is just under 1 million with more people in the surrounding areas. The hostel and the people here are AWESOME, it’s very cheap and there is a local bar about 50m away (I’m already known as ‘that Australian guy’). Canadian beer Labbatts is brewed here and in the morning you can smell the hops from the hostel (yum yum).
More shenanigans and stuff from my trip to Toronto coming soon… In the meantime God Bless Australia and my beautiful fiancée! I get weird looks for eating vegemite, mis-understood for ordering ‘chips’ at the bar (it’s FRIES damn it!), out of pocket for buying Coopers (Pale Ale is $2.50 for a small bottle) and laughed out for accidentally getting into the wrong side of the car (it happens!). It’s snowing heavily here and the daily high is about -5c. Forgive me for being homesick watching the Australian Open the other night when it was -10c outside and nearly 40c in Melbourne.
Take care y’all and feel free to abuse me for suggesting Detroit is the worst place in the world (I didn’t do that) or Chicago smells funny (I didn’t say that either).
HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!

**USELESS INFO (skip it if you’ve made it this far!)

What am I watching on TV?
American Idol (pfffttt), Prison Break (just returned mid-season.. woohooo!!), 24 (same deal but I can’t get into it), Trailer Park Boys (Canadian humor that’s actually very funny), American Dad and whatever is on Rogers Cable… 400+ channels, no kidding!

Movies?
Children Of Men (crap crap crap.. waste of money)

Music?
Mainly stuff that’s big on the radio here…
Incubus - Anna Molly
Stone Sour - Through Glass
Fall Out Boy - That Ain’t A Scene It’s..
Blue October - Into The Ocean,
30 Seconds To Mars - From Yesterday
Hinder - Lips Of An Angel
The Fray - How To Save A Life
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
…...plus stuff that’s big here that gets stuck in my head (no matter how much I hate it)
Black Eyed Peas - Fergalicious
Avril - Keep Holding On
JT - What Goes Around Comes Around
Nelly Furtado - Say It Right

Food?
Chili and garlic chicken wings.. an (almost) nightly favourite with my (almost) nightly beer

Sport?
Toronto Raptors (basketball) and Toronto Raptors (NBL)... really getting into that!
Also enjoying the Australian Open, but mainly because it's on at 10pm here and it feels like home (awwww)

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