Written by Ashley Lopez

Yo girl is in Chicago writing this blog post real quick from Dollop Coffee Shop in Chicago, Illinois!

Hi beautiful readers, welcome back to Ashley Spills. Ashley, here. You can check out my other posts here.

Where have I been? Here’s the tea: There isn’t any.

I am working, journaling, traveling, loving, and thriving all at the same time hehe. So, I haven’t blogged in what feels like ages because I’ve been truly focused on writing for myself, personally (and my job). I haven’t journaled so much in a looong time and it’s getting my creative juices flowing. Like seriously, I am producing some cool stuff.

Jk it’s prob only good to me, but that’s good enough. AmIright?

Why I am in Chiago

I’m in Chicago because I am visiting one of my best friends. She is doing her PhD at Northwestern University (she’s a bad ass scientist [and also a baddie in general]). I finally made it out to see her and I had no idea how MASSIVE downtown Chicago is.

I am at this coffee house and she’s at school in her lab doing science-y things. I’m also with her little sister, but she’s shopping. We’re both doing our own thing right now. I love walking around new places because I enjoy seeing the lifestyle and imagining what my life would look like there. So you can only imagine how many fantasies I am having right now about living in Chicago.

Ooooo let’s see if my man is ever down to move (again)? Maybe his job will open more offices in new locations. For now, I am enjoying my little trips here and there, but I do wish I could be accompanied by him. I wish we both worked remote. Imagine ALLL the places we could see TOGETHERRR. It’s hard for him to get so much time off, but at least he supports me going. Though, I do get nervous what people may think about me going places without him… probably: “Why does Ashley keep leaving him?” These thoughts drive me crazy. Oh well.

Chicago Ashley

Anyways, Chicago Ashley is feeling herself wrapped in all these skyscrapers. The buildings and the houses look straight out of a movie… glass on glass and brick on brick! There is something about the city life that is so enticing, but I can see why it’s not for everyone: It’s loud and busy.

I keep hearing that Chicago is so dangerous and there’s a lot of violence, which I’m sure there is, but that’s never discouraged me from visiting somewhere new. Every time I go to Peru I am reminded of the violence and the lack of safety; I don’t know why, but those things have never bothered me. In fact, it makes me want to go check out that place even more. At the end of the day, violence can occur anywhere.

But I will keep my guard up. I suppose.

I’ll fight you (jk I really won’t)

My friend’s sister and I were at a coffee shop yesterday and some man approached us just to chit-chat. I didn’t think much of it, but then an employee of the coffee shop came to ask if we were okay and that that man has been going to that shop every day bothering people. The employee then proceeded to ask where we were from and asked if we are familiar with “the hood.” Hmmm. He said to make sure we know how to swing and to be careful.

PSA Alert—Yo girl can FIGHTTT STR8 UP THROW PUNCHESS.

Jk, I actually don’t, but don’t come for me!!

Again, I didn’t think much of it and it still didn’t bother me because again, there is danger everywhere. People get robbed everywhere. People are killing, unfortunately, in many places. I’m going to enjoy the rest of my trip by focusing on the amazing lifestyle, buildings, houses, trees, and the lake (which people from here call a beach).

What part of the world are you reading from? Please let me know! PS: A lot of the public bathrooms in Chicago don’t have seat covers. Is it normal to have seat covers where you’re from? Cheers to free squatting.

Here’s a small photo dump. As you can see, the pictures are still on my camera 🙂

Thanks for reading, xo.

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