Always Something Nice

Always Something Nice

            Last two years I was not fully happy when I founded my desired shoes at an unexpectedly nice price. I believe that feeling comes from my feeling of missing my home city. Before I moved in Chicago, I lived all my life in Ulaanbaatar. Two years ago, I left my home country with many exciting expectations about the United States. When I landed in Chicago, my friends picked me up at O’Hare airport. Then, they stopped by Starbucks to get their morning coffee. In Mongolia, there is no Starbucks. That is why I tasted that coffee with so much curiosity and anticipation.  Despite that great moment of landing in Chicago, that feeling still has not stayed with me until now. It changed because, in the last two years, I recognized the difference between Chicago and Ulaanbaatar more and more. I miss my home city especially because the physical surroundings are contrasting. Ulaanbaatar has a natural environment, a small-town feeling, and has mountains for hiking.  

            My first day of school was orientation day, and the international advisor showed us the school campus. My school campus is so close to the lake. When I saw that beautiful lake Michigan for the first time, it mesmerized me because I crave a natural environment so much.  Last two years, I lived in Edgewater which is so close to the lake, and I really enjoyed walking by the lake. However, even as I am enjoying the lake, there is something missing. Ulaanbaatar is surrounded by four mountains. Those mountains have green grass and trees growing on the land. I could see those mountains from my apartment. Now in Chicago, I can only see tall apartments or the lake.  Every summer when I went back home for my summer break, the first thing I did was to take a deep breath while I was staring at the beautiful and huge mountains. That air was different from Chicago because those mountains have birch forests. One of my favorite exercises is walking. After the rain, I would prefer to walk a lot. That air and view make me happy and energetic, and I feel so fresh and clean. Those natural resources make my life happy, not huge buildings. 

       Another a hole that I feel is my weekend hiking in the mountains. When I was in Ulaanbaatar, most weekends I preferred to hike because I was driving from my apartment for twenty minutes, and I can start hiking. My grandmother told me if I walk thirty minutes between birch forests our lungs can be cleaned. That exercise can clean my head and lungs. Hiking in the mountain has a different feeling. When I get to the top of the mountain, I can totally feel I have accomplished something and feel filled. In Chicago, I can walk by the lake, but the other side of view has many tall buildings and cars. I cannot clear my head fully as I did in Ulaanbaatar. Even though there is someplace to hike in Chicago, those places far from Chicago. It is not easy to access that place because I do not have a car here, and it is far from Chicago a least one hour.

In addition, I really miss Ulaanbaatar’s small-town feeling.  In terms of that population, Chicago has a double population. For example, I went to for dinner in Ulaanbaatar, I might see someone I knew from my school, work, or someone from my family members. I like that because people are busier than ever, so they prefer to use technology to communicate and to contact one another. Nevertheless, in Ulaanbaatar, we have more chances to meet and to see each other personally. After living in for two years, I have made many friends. Because I am social a person. I prefer being surrounded by people I know. In Chicago, I still I cannot feel that small-town feeling. It is the almost opposite side of Ulaanbaatar. In Chicago, most of the places I do not recognize anyone around me which I can feel freer, but I still miss my small town. It makes me feel more comfortable and safer.

In conclusion, all around the world, every city has advantages and disadvantages. Because of globalization, people are more likely to move or travel all around the world. That is why I realized everywhere I go I have to adjust to everything around me. If I always judge surroundings, I will never enjoy my time. Now, I have stopped missing my home city. Although my home city has a small-town feeling, beautiful mountains, and my preferred exercise. I have found many nice places to enjoy my time in Chicago. When I will go back to Ulaanbaatar after my graduation, I will miss this amazing and cool city.