The windy city... I admired its glow and downtown charm from afar. I had visited many times, and I liked how powerful I felt among the rush of people, cars and shops. I had always felt I was more of a city girl. I grew up in suburbia, and it was comfortable, but I felt like I was destined for more, that was until I learned just how hard it was to be a city girl. A city girl is not a glamorous local to a big city that is always in control. This was a shocking revelation. Goodbye fairy tale, hello realizations.
1. Trains are not romantic.
I thought the train would be the perfect place to bump into a cute boy. Maybe, I'd be standing, and he'd offer me his seat. Or maybe, when the train jerked, I would fall onto some charming man's lap. None of this happened nor does it happen. The train smells like urine. It is usually overcrowded, and I promise you are never sardined with a hottie. There are inappropriate men who will make awful comments at you, so it's best to leave your headphones in. Homeless men and women use the train as a safe place to sleep in the winter, and I assure you this is rather hard to see. Sexual harassment is a huge issue on public transit, so much so that I never sit directly next to anyone who is not a female. Disclaimer, if being by someone makes you comfortable, trust your gut and move. It doesn't matter if your being judgmental; you have to keep yourself safe.
2. Wearing heels is rare.
I know it's hard to believe you'd give up these fabulous loves, but if you don't have a car in the city, that means you'll be taking the train and walking everywhere. That is a lot of standing and sitting, and it doesn't feel good on your feet.
3. Things cost money. A lot.
Living in a city means you have a higher cost of living. Basic things like milk cost way more than they would in a suburb, so you have to learn to budget. Also, watch out for sales tax with rates higher than 10 percent; it can be a killer.
4. Getting groceries is tiring.
Seriously, even if you are within walking distance from a grocery store, this task is so much harder. You don't have a car, so you end up walking half a mile back, in the snow, with 20-pound bags. They really are like 20 pounds because you'll need the food condensed to fewer bags, so you can actually carry them all.
5. Getting places on time means leaving earlier than you think you have to.
You never know when the train will arrive, so you could spend 10 minutes just waiting for it. You never know how long it'll take to walk because of lights. Even if you Uber or drive, traffic and lights are unpredictable and sometimes the roads are just randomly a mess.
6. The city is bigger than its downtown.
The actual "downtown" is a small percentage of the actual city. Just 'cause your friend lives in Chicago too doesn't mean you live anywhere near each other.
7. There are too many places to eat.
With so many choices of places, you end up overwhelmed and resorting back to an old faithful.
8. You will get tired of the busyness.
It may seem exciting at first, but I assure you it isn't always. Sometimes, you just want to be able to drive two miles without it taking 20 minutes. Sometimes, you just want to shop in a really big Target without an escalator. Sometimes, you just want quiet.
9. Street noise sucks.
Random screaming, drunk people, cars honking, sirens, and my personal favorite, construction every morning at 7 a.m.
10. There is a reason some people hate the city.
It takes time to adjust to a big city. It is overwhelming at first. You have to develop a thick skin, and you have to be as confident in yourself as you can. Being a city girl is hard. I think a lot of people think being an outdoorsy girl is the most work just because of the physicality of it, but I would disagree. Being a city girl takes a lot of strength and a little sass.
