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Hello people,

I am looking for general advice regarding stuff I need to do, you would recommend me to do as a new Wheeling, Illinois resident.

To explain things a bit:

-My company has offered me the possibility to move for 3 years(could be a longer time if I feel comfortable) to Wheeling, Illinois, nearby Chicago.
-As salary, responsabilities are bigger and the work is more interesting than the one I am currently doing in the company it looks like a good opportunity.
-I will be flying next month there for a look-and-see trip with my girlfriend. My decision to get the new job and my girlfriends opinion will be the decisive factor.
-We are willing to marry to avoid any problems with inmigration laws ad visa,as my girlfriend is a lawyer and wants to work, once she is there. Difficult due being only familiar with the spanish legal system.
-I think that the possibility of finding a job as a lawyer will be difficult. The only chances are if she finds a Spanish company somewhere in Chicago willing to hire here or an american company with interests in Spain who need legal counsel.
-Another option would be for her to work as a Spanish teacher in a school or somesuch.

My questions to the Illinois/American members of Dakka are:

-I am generally ignorant of the US of A law system. When moving to a new town what are the first things I should do?
-Things to do (entertainment wise)in the area?
-What is worth seeing in Chicago
-What is important to know when you move from a foreign country to USA?

I know they might be very open questions, but as it is an unknown country to me I don't know next to nothing from its people, laws, customs, etc...outside Hollywood films, which aren't a great reference, trully said


Greetings from Barcelona and Thank you for your responses!

I was born and raised in wheeling so might be able to offer a little insight, as far is in town there isnt much of anything to do. Its your basic american suburb so most things of note with require travel. Wheeling is located in the middle of a lot of good towns that have plenty to do. Lots of good shopping, drinking, eating in the general area. Also wheeling is 5-10 minutes from IMO one of the greatest gaming stories in the country, games plus,

Regarding your girlfriend, knowing full well that its 2 different languages, there are a lot of Hispanic people in the area so if she can speak the hispanic version of spanish then that would be pretty helpful in finding a job with a law firm. Also wheeling is only a 30-40 minute train ride from downtown so she would be able to look for a job downtown.

As far as things to do, once you get your residence in place getting a government issued ID or drivers license is a good idea, though honestly not sure how that works for someone coming in from another country

For whats worth seeing in Chicago itself, Chicago is a mega city and will have a boat load of everything and anything you're looking for. Just be warned....our winters arent an enjoyable time of year!

Are either you, or your girlfriend, American? Please bear in mind that the visa process for work is a lot different to the visa process for married couples.

Oberst_kramer wrote:


-Things to do (entertainment wise)in the area?
-What is worth seeing in Chicago

I can weigh in on these two.

Entertainment:

What do you like? Chicago is home to the Chicago Symphony, one of the world's best. We've got the Lyric Opera, the Joffrey Ballet. Every major rock/pop tour comes through. We have a couple of large Broadway musical theaters, The Goodman for non-musical plays, a Shakespeare company, and many many smaller venues. Chicago is home to several fine dining establishments, including Alinea (rated #1 in North America by whoever does restaurant reviews). If sports are your thing, we've got two baseball teams and a MLS team in season (soccer, though the MLS is nothing worth comparing with Spanish football), hockey (Blackhawks just won the NHL championship), basketball, and NFL teams on their offseasons currently.

It's a world-class city, with all the entertainment options you can reasonably expect to find in one.

What else to do/see:

Downtown, I recommend The Art Institute and the Field Museum as two of the better options. Within a stone's throw there's also the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. You can get a drink on the 95th floor of the Hancock building if you like the views, shopping on Michigan Avenue, tour Grant Park if you like public sculpture and stuff. There's also the Muesum of Contemporary Art, near the Hancock.



Leaving downtown, there are other museums, such as the Science & Industry in Hyde Park, a couple of zoos, a free one, the Lincoln Park Zoo (in Lincoln Park), and Brookfield Zoo (in Brookfield, a suburb).

Depending on what kinda cash you have and what sorts of things you're into, I can make more specific suggestions. There are architectural river tours (Chicago is one of the most important cities in terms of the evolution of the skyscraper, and has a long tradition of architecture), Lake Michigan boating, beaches... really, you name it, you can probably find it here.

There's also the Shedd Aquarium, and museum. Your girlfriend will probably love the Magnificent Mile for shopping. There are also boat tours showing the architecture that leave from Navy Pier.

I'm watching this thread for some things I may have missed as I'll be in Chicago with my lot in a few weeks.


**edit**
I see I'm late with my suggestions

Oberst_kramer wrote:
-I am generally ignorant of the US of A law system. When moving to a new town what are the first things I should do?

If you are looking for a rental, then check out some rental websites and do not forget to get renters insurance.

-Things to do (entertainment wise)in the area?

Chicago has almost anything you need. If you are into amusement parks Six Flags Great America is about a 30-45 minutes away. There is baseball,football, Hockey, and Basketball games at the professional level. There are world class restaurants and museums in or around Chicago as well as places to see plays, musicals, and the like. Many beaches and parks including Dog Parks where you can take dogs. Running and biking paths, Great nightlife and one of the busiest airports in the world. There is a drive in Theater about 45 minutes from downtown and Wisconsin is about an hour away if you are into fine cheeses. You will be able to find things to do.

-What is worth seeing in Chicago

it depends what you are into, but almost anything can be found in our around Chicago. The Sears Tower observation deck is really cool as is the Museum of Science and Industry.

-What is important to know when you move from a foreign country to USA?

Do not forget your passport? I do not really know as I have never moved to the US. from a different country.

Also someone needs to advise him on the bad areas to stay out of. Chicago is one of the murder capitals of the US.
It snows a lot there as well.

This is counterbalanced by good pizza and brats, and if you're from Texas snow is a good thing.

Before I forget, if you aren't a vegetarian/vegan go to Fogo de Chao http://www.fogodechao.com/index.php?id=162 That was the first meal I had when I moved to the US

Oberst_kramer wrote:
-What is important to know when you move from a foreign country to USA?

Do not outstay your visa/ESTA period!!!!
Tipping is a big thing here, and you tip based on how good your service was http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g191-s606/United-States:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html
Remember that the price you see listed will almost always be without tax which you must factor in.
Keep small bills for toll roads
In smaller cities public transport can be abysmal
Every city is unique. European media has a tendency to focus on New York, Texas, and California while ignoring the Mid-West

I'm not sure I'd be overly hyped about the USA in general as a destination as a Spanish speaker but there are worse places to end up. The US as a whole is ultra-contrastive, with an ultra-ultra conservative wing that's strong in some parts of the country. So that can be a bit of a culture shock from folks coming from another country.

All the immigrants in my office tell me the food in the US is pretty good even if the portions are a bit big. Except our bread, which is wretched. We've got cheap gas and cheap meat, which is a plus.

Chongara wrote:
All the immigrants in my office tell me the food in the US is pretty good even if the portions are a bit big. Except our bread, which is wretched. We've got cheap gas and cheap meat, which is a plus.

Yeah, the bread and chocolate leaves a lot to be desired

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-What is important to know when you move from a foreign country to USA?

I moved to the USA from Europe.

You will find a lot of time in the first month or two is spent setting up paperwork, although work can help you with some of that. You'll need a social security card and, dependent on your visa type, may need to maintain comprehensive health insurance while on the visa (both things work will help with). You will need to get a US driving licence if going by car (some foreign licenses are accepted, many are not, in which case you will have to do the test but if you drive already that is pretty straightforward). The main hassle I had was paperwork: various agencies (e.g. social security, department of motor vehicles, bank) require multiple forms of approved ID to do various things for you. However can be difficult to get those forms of ID without already having the other ones, so you may need to find a sympathetic person at one of these agencies to give you a break. (I recall I had to present 2 forms of ID for something, and in the end I used my social security card and the envelope it was sent to me in, as that was all I had, but in the end they accepted it.) The tax system over here is more complicated than that of many European nations, although you can get an accountant to file your taxes for you for a reasonable price (which is what I do) so you don't need to deal with it. A lot of this bureaucratic stuff is, to an extent, state-specific, so I can't comment too heavily on it.

You may not be able to get a 'real' credit card if you are on a visa, which is kind of mind-boggling to me (many banks have blanket policies about this), but you can get a 'secured' credit card (which is where you basically give the bank a block of money as an insurance against skipping out of the country, and that block becomes your credit limit).

If you're going to be on a J-1 then I believe there is another visa called a J-2 for spouses. If an H1-B then I know there is another option. I don't have direct experience of either of those.

After the initial bureaucracy, life here is pretty good. (I am also in an urban/suburban region.) People are more friendly than in many places in Europe (caveat is I have not lived in Spain so don't know what that is like), and simply having an accent can cause people to strike up conversations with you (which can be situationally pleasant or undesirable, but on the whole is nice). Previous posters are right about tipping in restaurants. I have not found anything I miss food-wise or entertainment-wise, it's pretty easy to get hold of anything you like (and I guess it may be the same for you as Chicago is big).

You mentioned your girlfriend speaks Spanish--I have several Spanish friends here, and they have no problems at all communicating with Hispanic Spanish-speakers here. I speak minimal Spanish myself, but get the impression that the level of difference is similar to UK/International vs. US English, i.e. pretty minor except for slang terms.

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-Another option would be for her to work as a Spanish teacher in a school or somesuch.

She shouldn't worry about finding a job, there are more than enough available for well-educated people that speak Spanish as a native language.

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-I am generally ignorant of the US of A law system. When moving to a new town what are the first things I should do?

Renting, buying, or living as as corporate tenant?

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-Things to do (entertainment wise)in the area?

In Wheeling? Golf.

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-What is worth seeing in Chicago

The Art Institute, the Field Museum, The Museum of Science and Industry (U-505 in particular), Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Wrigleyville, Buckingham Fountain, Lower Wacker, the Link Bridge, the Picasso in Daley Plaza, Water Tower Place, and the skyline at night from the Lake.

Frazzled wrote:Also someone needs to advise him on the bad areas to stay out of. Chicago is one of the murder capitals of the US.

Yeah, well, if you're not in a street gang, you'll be fine. Stay out of a couple of bad places that you really have no reason to go to and you'd never know it.

Here: http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/

It's mostly just an ongoing gang fight,

Always keep checking Redbeard link......don't get me wrong....Chicago is not a war zone....your going to have an accent and your going to stand out...keep out of those areas

You need to immediately sample the local cuisine. Expect to gain ten lbs.

Remember you're in Bears and Bulls country. These are the best teams in the world, evah. To say otherwise would be..unfortunate.

Football is called soccer here. It has almost nothing to do with real sports, so hide the urge to correct locals otherwise.

If bored, make fun of local politicians. Alternatively Texas politicians are an easy target.

Be sure to tip!

If you know the area you'll be staying in check http://www.weather.com/ so you know what to expect. The Mid West does have four very distinct seasons, and you'll need suitable clothes for each.

When tipping at least 10% of the bill. Also one develop a tendency to like a certain area of a restaurant and pretty much the same waiter/waitress and generally I tip 30-50%.

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
If you know the area you'll be staying in check http://www.weather.com/ so you know what to expect. The Mid West does have four very distinct seasons, and you'll need suitable clothes for each.

thats not entirely true, in chicago we only have 2 seasons, winter and road construction!

 ironicsilence wrote:
thats not entirely true, in chicago we only have 2 seasons, winter and road construction!

Hehe That's my mother-in-law's usual joke, I'd forgotten that

Forgot about those to lol. I do remember going through 11 tolls bypassing Chicago on my up to northern WI

We're collecting my family from the airport next week, we're thrilled at the prospect of the tolls each way

 Jihadin wrote:
Forgot about those to lol. I do remember going through 11 tolls bypassing Chicago on my up to northern WI

11 tolls? You must not of had to drive to far!

ironicsilence wrote:I was born and raised in wheeling so might be able to offer a little insight, as far is in town there isnt much of anything to do. Its your basic american suburb so most things of note with require travel. Wheeling is located in the middle of a lot of good towns that have plenty to do. Lots of good shopping, drinking, eating in the general area. Also wheeling is 5-10 minutes from IMO one of the greatest gaming stories in the country, games plus,

Regarding your girlfriend, knowing full well that its 2 different languages, there are a lot of Hispanic people in the area so if she can speak the hispanic version of spanish then that would be pretty helpful in finding a job with a law firm. Also wheeling is only a 30-40 minute train ride from downtown so she would be able to look for a job downtown.

As far as things to do, once you get your residence in place getting a government issued ID or drivers license is a good idea, though honestly not sure how that works for someone coming in from another country

For whats worth seeing in Chicago itself, Chicago is a mega city and will have a boat load of everything and anything you're looking for. Just be warned....our winters arent an enjoyable time of year!

Great hearing about some hobby fix. Can yopu game there? Get your supplies? Which game systems do they run? Any gaming experiences there, where I mean, is the population of TFG or smelly teenagers low? I must say I have a very nice gaming club here in Barcelona, all of them good buddies which I will be missing a great deal, so in that department I am a bit spoiled. However I'm eager to adapt!

Dreadclaw69 wrote:Are either you, or your girlfriend, American? Please bear in mind that the visa process for work is a lot different to the visa process for married couples.

None of us are. I am half Catalan/Dutch, and she's 100% Catalan. The company is fixing our visa issues. I will be getting an L1, and if she is coming allong we will probably have to marry , so it will be an L2 for her...

Redbeard wrote:

Oberst_kramer wrote:


-Things to do (entertainment wise)in the area?
-What is worth seeing in Chicago

I can weigh in on these two.

Entertainment:

What do you like? Chicago is home to the Chicago Symphony, one of the world's best. We've got the Lyric Opera, the Joffrey Ballet. Every major rock/pop tour comes through. We have a couple of large Broadway musical theaters, The Goodman for non-musical plays, a Shakespeare company, and many many smaller venues. Chicago is home to several fine dining establishments, including Alinea (rated #1 in North America by whoever does restaurant reviews). If sports are your thing, we've got two baseball teams and a MLS team in season (soccer, though the MLS is nothing worth comparing with Spanish football), hockey (Blackhawks just won the NHL championship), basketball, and NFL teams on their offseasons currently.

It's a world-class city, with all the entertainment options you can reasonably expect to find in one.

What else to do/see:

Downtown, I recommend The Art Institute and the Field Museum as two of the better options. Within a stone's throw there's also the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. You can get a drink on the 95th floor of the Hancock building if you like the views, shopping on Michigan Avenue, tour Grant Park if you like public sculpture and stuff. There's also the Muesum of Contemporary Art, near the Hancock.



Leaving downtown, there are other museums, such as the Science & Industry in Hyde Park, a couple of zoos, a free one, the Lincoln Park Zoo (in Lincoln Park), and Brookfield Zoo (in Brookfield, a suburb).

Depending on what kinda cash you have and what sorts of things you're into, I can make more specific suggestions. There are architectural river tours (Chicago is one of the most important cities in terms of the evolution of the skyscraper, and has a long tradition of architecture), Lake Michigan boating, beaches... really, you name it, you can probably find it here.

Wow, thanks for the suggestions, we will be sure to check some of these in August when we go there! I am very keen on Military museum(Aren't we all?) specially WWII themed ones. Any of those worth visiting in the area?

Dreadclaw69 wrote:There's also the Shedd Aquarium, and museum. Your girlfriend will probably love the Magnificent Mile for shopping. There are also boat tours showing the architecture that leave from Navy Pier.

I'm watching this thread for some things I may have missed as I'll be in Chicago with my lot in a few weeks.


**edit**
I see I'm late with my suggestions

Anyways, thanks for the effort! It is appreciated!

DeathReaper wrote:

Oberst_kramer wrote:
-I am generally ignorant of the US of A law system. When moving to a new town what are the first things I should do?

If you are looking for a rental, then check out some rental websites and do not forget to get renters insurance.

-Things to do (entertainment wise)in the area?

Chicago has almost anything you need. If you are into amusement parks Six Flags Great America is about a 30-45 minutes away. There is baseball,football, Hockey, and Basketball games at the professional level. There are world class restaurants and museums in or around Chicago as well as places to see plays, musicals, and the like. Many beaches and parks including Dog Parks where you can take dogs. Running and biking paths, Great nightlife and one of the busiest airports in the world. There is a drive in Theater about 45 minutes from downtown and Wisconsin is about an hour away if you are into fine cheeses. You will be able to find things to do.

-What is worth seeing in Chicago

it depends what you are into, but almost anything can be found in our around Chicago. The Sears Tower observation deck is really cool as is the Museum of Science and Industry.

-What is important to know when you move from a foreign country to USA?

Do not forget your passport? I do not really know as I have never moved to the US. from a different country.

I checked some rental sites already. Prices for apartments range from 800-1400 $. I don't know how steep that is. Luckily the company is paying some of it,

Frazzled wrote:Also someone needs to advise him on the bad areas to stay out of. Chicago is one of the murder capitals of the US.
It snows a lot there as well.

This is counterbalanced by good pizza and brats, and if you're from Texas snow is a good thing.

I didn't know that. It worries me a bit though. Although we live in a big city, here, our crime rates are pretty low here, specially murders and so. How big is this of an issue here? Which areas should we avoid! Snow isn't a problem. Half of my genetic stock is from the noirthern parts of Europe, and I can shovel snow with ease regarding enough booze is running through my veins. I heard there is this Deep fried Pan Pizza here in chicago among other delicacies....Sounds tasty!

Dreadclaw69 wrote:Before I forget, if you aren't a vegetarian/vegan go to Fogo de Chao http://www.fogodechao.com/index.php?id=162 That was the first meal I had when I moved to the US

Oberst_kramer wrote:
-What is important to know when you move from a foreign country to USA?

Do not outstay your visa/ESTA period!!!!
Tipping is a big thing here, and you tip based on how good your service was http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g191-s606/United-States:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html
Remember that the price you see listed will almost always be without tax which you must factor in.
Keep small bills for toll roads
In smaller cities public transport can be abysmal
Every city is unique. European media has a tendency to focus on New York, Texas, and California while ignoring the Mid-West

I read about tipping. We also tip here in Spain but it is only when you have gotten really good service and you feel like it. I heard that in US it is more or less expected to tip always because of the gakky salaries and waitresses get. What is acceptable? 10-25% of the bill? Doe sit depend on the service recieved? How much VAT should I calculate?

Chongara wrote:I'm not sure I'd be overly hyped about the USA in general as a destination as a Spanish speaker but there are worse places to end up. The US as a whole is ultra-contrastive, with an ultra-ultra conservative wing that's strong in some parts of the country. So that can be a bit of a culture shock from folks coming from another country.

All the immigrants in my office tell me the food in the US is pretty good even if the portions are a bit big. Except our bread, which is wretched. We've got cheap gas and cheap meat, which is a plus.

I am aware of many cultural differences. However from americans I have met, and what I can see here a lot are very friendly and open! Are there some topics it is better to avoid? Gun laws, gay marriage, abortion and racism, are delicate issues depending on your conversation partner. Am I right?

Dreadclaw69 wrote:

Chongara wrote:
All the immigrants in my office tell me the food in the US is pretty good even if the portions are a bit big. Except our bread, which is wretched. We've got cheap gas and cheap meat, which is a plus.

Yeah, the bread and chocolate leaves a lot to be desired

We will have to import it from Switzerland then!

Magos Explorator wrote:

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-What is important to know when you move from a foreign country to USA?

I moved to the USA from Europe.

You will find a lot of time in the first month or two is spent setting up paperwork, although work can help you with some of that. You'll need a social security card and, dependent on your visa type, may need to maintain comprehensive health insurance while on the visa (both things work will help with). You will need to get a US driving licence if going by car (some foreign licenses are accepted, many are not, in which case you will have to do the test but if you drive already that is pretty straightforward). The main hassle I had was paperwork: various agencies (e.g. social security, department of motor vehicles, bank) require multiple forms of approved ID to do various things for you. However can be difficult to get those forms of ID without already having the other ones, so you may need to find a sympathetic person at one of these agencies to give you a break. (I recall I had to present 2 forms of ID for something, and in the end I used my social security card and the envelope it was sent to me in, as that was all I had, but in the end they accepted it.) The tax system over here is more complicated than that of many European nations, although you can get an accountant to file your taxes for you for a reasonable price (which is what I do) so you don't need to deal with it. A lot of this bureaucratic stuff is, to an extent, state-specific, so I can't comment too heavily on it.

You may not be able to get a 'real' credit card if you are on a visa, which is kind of mind-boggling to me (many banks have blanket policies about this), but you can get a 'secured' credit card (which is where you basically give the bank a block of money as an insurance against skipping out of the country, and that block becomes your credit limit).

If you're going to be on a J-1 then I believe there is another visa called a J-2 for spouses. If an H1-B then I know there is another option. I don't have direct experience of either of those.

After the initial bureaucracy, life here is pretty good. (I am also in an urban/suburban region.) People are more friendly than in many places in Europe (caveat is I have not lived in Spain so don't know what that is like), and simply having an accent can cause people to strike up conversations with you (which can be situationally pleasant or undesirable, but on the whole is nice). Previous posters are right about tipping in restaurants. I have not found anything I miss food-wise or entertainment-wise, it's pretty easy to get hold of anything you like (and I guess it may be the same for you as Chicago is big).

You mentioned your girlfriend speaks Spanish--I have several Spanish friends here, and they have no problems at all communicating with Hispanic Spanish-speakers here. I speak minimal Spanish myself, but get the impression that the level of difference is similar to UK/International vs. US English, i.e. pretty minor except for slang terms.

As I said, we will probably get an L1/L-2 visa. Thanks for your answer, from an administrative level it helps me to prepare for the storm. I don't know how much of the paperwork will be handled by my company and which of these will I have to handle myself. The bit about the credit card isn't much of an issue as I normally work with debit card already, that is, I can spend as much money as there is on my bank account. Not that I have nothing agaisnt credit cards, but if I can avoid over-spending.
About the Spanish bit, I was thinking initially that she maybe could teach Spanish at schools or some academy for US-citizens who would want tio improve their language skills. I must say however, that Spanish, spoken in Spain, or as we name it, castellano, is a bit different than the latino-spanish spoken in Latinoamerica and Southamerica(which by the way, also have their subtle differences). This can sometimes lead to funny moments which I suppose also happen between Brits and Americans when they strike a conversation.

dogma wrote:

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-Another option would be for her to work as a Spanish teacher in a school or somesuch.

She shouldn't worry about finding a job, there are more than enough available for well-educated people that speak Spanish as a native language.

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-I am generally ignorant of the US of A law system. When moving to a new town what are the first things I should do?

Renting, buying, or living as as corporate tenant?

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-Things to do (entertainment wise)in the area?

In Wheeling? Golf.

Oberst_kramer wrote:

-What is worth seeing in Chicago

The Art Institute, the Field Museum, The Museum of Science and Industry (U-505 in particular), Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Wrigleyville, Buckingham Fountain, Lower Wacker, the Link Bridge, the Picasso in Daley Plaza, Water Tower Place, and the skyline at night from the Lake.

Glad to hear that, I suppose the Job market has plenty of opportunities for a lawyer with some language skills.
I will be probably renting, as the contract is for 3 years. It could be prolongable to 5 or more years, but I think that we will eventually return to our homeland once things function a bit better (Economically wise)
I don't like Golf at all. I'm a black belt in Taekwondo so one of the first things I will be looking for there is a dojo/gym where I can train. I also like to hike, run or cycle. I'm pretty active sports-wise(when I have the time an the mood )

Redbeard wrote:

Frazzled wrote:Also someone needs to advise him on the bad areas to stay out of. Chicago is one of the murder capitals of the US.

Yeah, well, if you're not in a street gang, you'll be fine. Stay out of a couple of bad places that you really have no reason to go to and you'd never know it.

Here: http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/

It's mostly just an ongoing gang fight,

Wow after reading this I'm a bit worried. Is this only an issue in Chicago? It doesn't reach Detroit-like levels hopefully? What are the hot-spots/neigborhoods where most of this stuff happens? Are there a lot of guns around?
I ask this because even when robbed here in Spain most people have knives, syringes, but pistols are pretty rare for common street-theft. Is the police force effective in Chicago to avoid such activities?

Jihadin wrote:Always keep checking Redbeard link......don't get me wrong....Chicago is not a war zone....your going to have an accent and your going to stand out...keep out of those areas

Do they really predate that much on foreigners?

Frazzled wrote:You need to immediately sample the local cuisine. Expect to gain ten lbs.

Remember you're in Bears and Bulls country. These are the best teams in the world, evah. To say otherwise would be..unfortunate.

Football is called soccer here. It has almost nothing to do with real sports, so hide the urge to correct locals otherwise.

If bored, make fun of local politicians. Alternatively Texas politicians are an easy target.

Be sure to tip!

Aaah the eternal debate. I won't ramble about how much more manlier it is to play without all the armor on or somesuch
Anyways, I don't plan to get a bar-stool smashed on my back so I will be avoiding any sport related conversation.
A lot of running shall be done to keep my girth in check

Dreadclaw69 wrote:If you know the area you'll be staying in check http://www.weather.com/ so you know what to expect. The Mid West does have four very distinct seasons, and you'll need suitable clothes for each.

Bring it on!!!!

Jihadin wrote:When tipping at least 10% of the bill. Also one develop a tendency to like a certain area of a restaurant and pretty much the same waiter/waitress and generally I tip 30-50%.

Good to know!

ironicsilence wrote:

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
If you know the area you'll be staying in check http://www.weather.com/ so you know what to expect. The Mid West does have four very distinct seasons, and you'll need suitable clothes for each.

thats not entirely true, in chicago we only have 2 seasons, winter and road construction!

Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 ironicsilence wrote:
thats not entirely true, in chicago we only have 2 seasons, winter and road construction!

Hehe That's my mother-in-law's usual joke, I'd forgotten that

In germany that is also very common!

Jihadin wrote:Forgot about those to lol. I do remember going through 11 tolls bypassing Chicago on my up to northern WI

Dreadclaw69 wrote:We're collecting my family from the airport next week, we're thrilled at the prospect of the tolls each way

ironicsilence wrote:

 Jihadin wrote:
Forgot about those to lol. I do remember going through 11 tolls bypassing Chicago on my up to northern WI

11 tolls? You must not of had to drive to far!

Dreadclaw69 wrote:If you know the area you'll be staying in check http://www.weather.com/ so you know what to expect. The Mid West does have four very distinct seasons, and you'll need suitable clothes for each.

Sometimes, we have four distinct seasons in a single day


- No, the violence issue is not something to be concerned about. It's something to keep vaguely in mind so you don't go wandering into gang-war territory, but for the most part, it will not impact your life at all. I've lived in and worked in Chicago for 30 years and have not seen a gun outside of those carried by the police and have never had any sort of violent incident. The media loves to blow these things out of proportion.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, while I don't know if we have a dedicated war museum, the science & industry museum has a few WWII planes, but one of their best exhibits is a captured German u-boat, which you can tour.

 Redbeard wrote:

Dreadclaw69 wrote:If you know the area you'll be staying in check http://www.weather.com/ so you know what to expect. The Mid West does have four very distinct seasons, and you'll need suitable clothes for each.

Sometimes, we have four distinct seasons in a single day


- No, the violence issue is not something to be concerned about. It's something to keep vaguely in mind so you don't go wandering into gang-war territory, but for the most part, it will not impact your life at all. I've lived in and worked in Chicago for 30 years and have not seen a gun outside of those carried by the police and have never had any sort of violent incident. The media loves to blow these things out of proportion.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, while I don't know if we have a dedicated war museum, the science & industry museum has a few WWII planes, but one of their best exhibits is a captured German u-boat, which you can tour.

-I remember that UBoat!

-You might be helpful and tell him where the actual gang areas are, so he doesn't move/drive into one.

I am aware of many cultural differences. However from americans I have met, and what I can see here a lot are very friendly and open! Are there some topics it is better to avoid? Gun laws, gay marriage, abortion and racism, are delicate issues depending on your conversation partner. Am I right?

Well Americans are a pretty loud people on the grand scheme of things. Certainly sensitive topics are better to avoid, it's just that some people won't let you avoid them. Particularly if a related event has been in the news lately. You may well want to avoid, but people may just start bringing it up.

Another thing someone suggested tipping at least 10% - this is STINGY and is like the bare minimum for not being a total donkey-cave. I felt bad tipping 10% for the worst service I ever got (grumpy, slow, got orders wrong, rude). Maybe this varies state-by-state but for me 20% is a basic tip for "Acceptable to Average" service. More if I feel I got particularly good service.

Never discuss politics or religion at work or in uncertain company. Thats a good rule for topics.

 Frazzled wrote:
Never discuss politics or religion at work or in uncertain company. Thats a good rule for topics.

My point is, that isn't an easy rule to follow. There will be times people will bring it up without prompting from you. Usually it isn't so direct as "HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF GUN CONTROL!" but at minimum you've got to have an escape plan.

Chongara wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:
Never discuss politics or religion at work or in uncertain company. Thats a good rule for topics.

My point is, that isn't an easy rule to follow. There will be times people will bring it up without prompting from you. Usually it isn't so direct as "HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF GUN CONTROL!" but at minimum you've got to have an escape plan.

No its easy. You just say "I don't discuss politics or religion at work" If its an associate I add "ye scurvy dog!"

Of course, respect is the main issue, always. I mean, i will apply common sense and try to move to other topics or otherwise, keep my opinion to myself.

I have been reading a bit about crime ratios in Chicago. It isn't Detroit apparently, and as I will be probably living nearby Wheeling(little town) I don't think I should worry too much on an everyday basis. However I am more concerned about these "flash mob" assaults which seem to have spilled to some of the more"safe" areas in Chicago. Not that I will be there often, mainly to visit the touristy attractions that have been suggested here and to fill my belly with greasy goodness. Has any of you ever been assaulted at gun-point. How do you react on such situations?