No new photos and not a lot of news this week. Most exciting was that yesterday we had our first winter storm and proper snow in Chicago. It has been bitterly cold and according to the Americans we havent seen anything yet! We've a cold front of Arctic air moving down this week so it is only going to get colder. Every day I put another layer on and I start resembling a Michelin man. Thankfully everyone else in Chicago looks similarly unfashionable!!

Its getting to crunch time now, 1 week until the exams start, 2 til they are over. In less than 3 weeks Ill be home. Its all a little overwhelming. It really doesnt feel like Ive been in Chicago for 4 months now. It seems like I arrived only yesterday, and then I look back over this journal and see that I have actually fit a fair bit into my time here, and I have travelled and learnt more than I thought I would.

Looking back over the law stuff I have studied this semester is also eye opening. Bringing it all together now allows me to see a more rounded view of what the US is like and some of it is scary. There is such a fear of allowing the government to become involved in anything that so much is lost and compromised. The lack of benefits, social security, health care etc all is so sad and all together it presents such a sad picture at times.

I am really enjoying my time in Chicago but it is not what I thought it would be. I am glad I got involved with clubs and met American students and made the effort to find a fun and welcoming church. It would have been so easy to just sit back and stay within a little Irish group and drift from lecture to lecture.

So this may not be updated in the next few weeks, or it might be updated regularly with nothing important as I continue finding ways of avoiding studying! I hope all is well at home and Ill see you all soon!