At roughly six o'clock this evening, I was dropped off in front of one of the best restaurants on this side of the bay: Zachary's Pizza. The air was cold and full of the delightful smell of dough baking. Their familiar red and black awning hung in its typical pristine condition. I have had deep dish in the past, so I knew what a treat I was in for.
Once inside, our group found that it was quite crowded, but we managed to squeeze in on a table for four. We began with introductions and discussion of the menu, as deep dish pizza requires quite a bit of preparation. As two of our group are vegetarian and the rest me at enthusiasts, we settled quickly on two medium pizzas: one super veggie and one BBQ chicken.
After we finished ordering, we began to discuss Chicago and its intricacies. Jahnvi, an ILCer who went to UChicago last summer, generously provided us with details about where and where not to go for our days prior to classes and whatnot. I learned that the beach is great, the Navy Pier fell short of expectations, and that there are some incredible thriller attractions to try out.
Admiral (definitely his preferred title) Hillyer pitched in with details about our accommodations for the first few days, his need for punctuality and attentiveness, and advice concerning the environment of the city. Chicago is hot. Like really, really hot. The humidity doesn't help, either. As a Californian, you might wake up to a foggy day with the impression that it will be pleasantly cool. You would be wrong. Walk out the door, and you will soon realize that it is actually still above eighty degrees. With these sorts of temperatures, the Admiral explained, we have to make sure we are drinking plenty of water so as to remove the possibility of dehydration.
Eventually the pizza came, and we all ate hungrily for a time. The Admiral closed out the meeting with "fun" trivia about serial killers and other interesting facts about the rich history of Chicago. It was great to talk to others with experience at and around colleges back east, and I think that I am much more prepared now to make the most out of my time there.
Once inside, our group found that it was quite crowded, but we managed to squeeze in on a table for four. We began with introductions and discussion of the menu, as deep dish pizza requires quite a bit of preparation. As two of our group are vegetarian and the rest me at enthusiasts, we settled quickly on two medium pizzas: one super veggie and one BBQ chicken.After we finished ordering, we began to discuss Chicago and its intricacies. Jahnvi, an ILCer who went to UChicago last summer, generously provided us with details about where and where not to go for our days prior to classes and whatnot. I learned that the beach is great, the Navy Pier fell short of expectations, and that there are some incredible thriller attractions to try out.
Admiral (definitely his preferred title) Hillyer pitched in with details about our accommodations for the first few days, his need for punctuality and attentiveness, and advice concerning the environment of the city. Chicago is hot. Like really, really hot. The humidity doesn't help, either. As a Californian, you might wake up to a foggy day with the impression that it will be pleasantly cool. You would be wrong. Walk out the door, and you will soon realize that it is actually still above eighty degrees. With these sorts of temperatures, the Admiral explained, we have to make sure we are drinking plenty of water so as to remove the possibility of dehydration.Eventually the pizza came, and we all ate hungrily for a time. The Admiral closed out the meeting with "fun" trivia about serial killers and other interesting facts about the rich history of Chicago. It was great to talk to others with experience at and around colleges back east, and I think that I am much more prepared now to make the most out of my time there.
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