Leaving Madison

I'm leaving Madison, Wisconsin, where I have lived for the past two years, to put roots down in Chicago, Illinois. What will I miss about Madison:

• Running path right outside my apartment building
• Lakes all over - it's hard not to find a lake in the downtown!
• Friendly people - especially the MH3!
• Constant cultural or other events going on (I've been to more jazz, 5ks, & Ironmans in Madison than anywhere else)
• Good food - Madison has a great farmer's market and a lot of restaurants
• Local pride - lots of Madison-owned or locally-owned shops and cafes.
• Memorial Union Terrace - part of the UW, this is a great place to sit with friends and listen to music, have a beer and watch the lake, or have an ice cream.

If you have never been, Madison is a great place. I highly recommend visiting in the spring or summer, particularly if you are not a winter-lover. We got over 100 inches this winter, much more than I remember getting in the two previous winters I lived here.

I was particularly surprised by the overall athleticism of Madison. The city hosts 5k or other running event most weekends during the summer, and you can find many biking events and cycling trails throughout the region. While in Madison, I've met a large number of long distance runners and other endurance athletes. This was very different than my initial expectations of Madison (which was more along the lines of the cheese-eating, beer-drinking images. Not that you can't find that in Madison...).

Welcome!

Welcome! I created this blog to share my thoughts and experiences with others. I am excited to embark upon a few major transitions: moving to Chicago and also working on a non-profit project in the Dominican Republic this summer!

I'm excited for both endeavors. Chicago is a great city, and I'm happy to be closer to some good friends. My time in the D.R. this summer will be working with a non-profit organization that focuses on youth leadership and community development in Latin America. This is an organization that is close to my heart, and I'm thrilled to be working with them again this summer.

I'll be moving in mid-May to Chicago, and going to the D.R. in late May, so please stay tuned for upcoming postings and photos!