Week Two!

My task for next week is to take some photos! Chicago is just the most picturesque city and yet I have found, due to feeling like a local from pretty much day one, I have neglected my camera! For now, here is our beach soccer team and below that is the view from my bedroom... I really don't mind waking up to that view every morning!

Week two has been a blast. Having settled into my routine and met some fantastic people, this week has been full of lunch time/ after work/ evening socialising. Work has continued to be equally enjoyable and I have finally been able to spend some time in the 'Residence'. The Residence is where the Consul-General lives and where we host important visitors and events. On Monday night we hosted an event for the German Marshall Fund and I have to say, I have never seen such a spectacular apartment. Two sides of the building are entirely glass and offer panoramic views across downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan. We hosted around 15 invited guests and it was a fantastic evening.

I finished up the brief and programme for Kentucky, which means we are all set for that trip in a weeks' time. We will be meeting some really interesting people during our few days there and I am excited to see another state. 

Before I arrived, my university put me in touch with two University of Birmingham alumni who are now living in Chicago. This week I managed to meet up with both of them and spend two wonderful evenings getting to know them. 

It was really inspiring to see what a strong alumni network the University of Birmingham keeps. It is testament to the experience they offer students that you can go practically anywhere in the world and find an abundance of people who can be there to support you and spend an evening reminiscing about their time there. The alumni network here in Chicago is pretty big and I hope to meet a few more of them next week at a concert in Grant Park.


Last night I went to a Cuban restaurant with some colleagues and then we went to an Irish Bar downtown. Weekends are really buzzing and I had a lot of fun. We saw Mo Farah's epic 5000m Gold whilst we were there and jumped up and down with excitement- what a guy!! This afternoon I am off to a BBQ competition on the beach- we don't get to compete, or judge... but hopefully we do get to eat! They have live music and I think it is a pretty big event for Chicagoans so I am very much looking forward to it. 

Next week is crazy busy, with evenings taken up by baseball games (go Cubs!), concerts and the odd diplomatic duty (ha!)I will, however, report back with more photos very soon!