Rowan Rupakus

A city bustling with the sounds of music, movement, and memories in the making. Chicago has always lingered in my mind and seems to pull me in whenever I’m near. Each time my family would pass through Chicago on the way to vacation, my mom would always wake us up to see the city skyline. Growing up in a town of 800 people, being in the presence of such magnitude and possibilities was absolutely fascinating. I was eager to see what was there.

Recently, I had the chance to visit my friend, Aidan, in Chicago for a few days and was immediately met with warmth from everyone I met. I was able to pretend that I was living life in a big city for a bit, and I loved every second. Everywhere I looked was inspirational: the architecture, the public transport full of diverse personalities, the music, and just the energy of the city. Perhaps I was just immensely happy to be reunited with an old friend from college, but nothing beats the feeling of being magnetic with a city.

Aidan had his debut with the band K.I.M. at the Jazz Showcase. The Jazz Showcase is the oldest historic jazz club in Chicago where all the greatest names in jazz have performed. And now my friend has performed there too! It was an incredible experience, and I’m so immensely happy to see Aidan perform again. I was able to crash in on their sound check and sit in on four performances. Right off the bat I was met with kindness from the other musicians and their lovely one-woman sound crew. She even showed me how all the sound technology worked! I was continuously asked if I was sick of the music yet, but all I could think about was how lucky I was to be able to see people do what they love. All of their personalities combined for the sole purpose of making music and doing so in a warm and historic venue. How could one be bored in the presence of this?

One of my main goals of this trip was to see my favorite painting, Nighthawks, by Edward Hopper. I had learned that it was located in Chicago after I had moved to Washington and was devastated. Now that I’m back, it was my sole mission to finally see this painting in real life. Aidan and I spent hours at The Art Institute of Chicago walking around, talking, and admiring the art and its exhibits. Museums are so fascinating to me, especially when I visit them with other people. It’s an interesting way to learn about others; what catches their attention, what they love and hate, and what thoughts and questions the art provokes. I also enjoy seeing the outfits strangers wear for their trip to the museum and what people choose to take photos of. It’s a beautiful experience that is different every time.

As I readjust to being temporarily back in the Midwest while awaiting my transition to Berlin, it was nourishing to be surrounded by such inspiring people. The few days that I spent in Chicago have to be one of the most memorable times of my life. I didn’t want it to end, and I’m counting down the days until I can go back. The biggest takeaway from this trip is the confirmation that I finally know what I want in life to be happy; to be surrounded by good people, great music, and access to a variety of art.