Coming right down to my last days in Chicago. I've had a fantastic time, met some interesting people, and most importantly I've learnt a lot....couldn't really ask for more. Have completed my final assignments, and just one exam to go - seems to have passed so quickly. Highlights of my final few weeks have included the Winter Formal, a panel discussion on the financial crisis, and my first trip to Canada - taking in Niagara Falls on the way (and avoiding Detroit on the way back... if the Lonely Planet says its grim there has to be something wrong with the place!).
The Winter Formal was held at the Knickerbocker Hotel, downtown Chicago. Decked in my tuxedo, I had the 'pleasure' of my 1st trip on a US school-bus in order to get there. Driver got lost and had to radio for help...not a great start! However, the room was pretty impressive (if a little over the top decor wise), music much better than I had feared, and the free drinks flowed (although I resorted to ordering 3 at a time to beat the queue). For just about the 1st time during my time in Chicago I couldn't remember much about the end of the evening, turns out I had done my usual thing of borrowing someones camera and taking lots of snaps...and apparently I did make it to the after-party! Met some interesting people - a group from 'the south' who shared their Jack Daniels and told me to head south for the best girls, a guy who looked like OddJob, a black guy who looked like a short Marvin Hagler (at least he did at the time), and two real tall blokes who made me look short...all good fun. Not sure I can say the same about my gut the next day!The panel discussion on the financial crisis was another highlight. Present were Charlie Evans (Chicago Fed), John Cochrane (Finance prof. not the lawyer in the OJ case), Leo Melamed (CME Chairman), some Economics professor who looked like Dr. Death, and an Asia lady as mediator who was both pointless and tedious. Things got off to a slow start with the 'mediator' droning on, and on... almost like a senator trying to get their time in the lime-light during Senate debates. However, once the panel started ignoring her, and getting on with a real discussion it really came to life (apart from when Dr. Death slurped his way into the conversation). Favourite comments came from Cochrane: "Let em Fail!! There I'm done with GM", and Leo: "the previous administration saw the light at the end of the tunnel..... it was a locomotive coming toward them!".
On my penultimate weekend in Chicago, I jumped in a van with my fellow AGSMers, and drove up to the very impressive Niagara Falls, via the student town of Ann Arbor, and then on to Toronto.... my 1st fleeting visit to Canada! Ann Arbor was a cool little place, with plenty of bars, restaurants, and chocolate shops!? Ended up having my 1st curry in the US...very good, but the service was abysmal. Washed it down with a couple of the local beers. On to Niagara...to get very wet, and see plenty of mist, but not an awful lot else! And then by the time we got back to the postcard shop it had closed!? Niagara itself was a bit like a small Blackpool, but with a waterfall...very cheesy. On to Toronto, where we met up with another AGSMer and his wife... enjoyed more great local beer, and had a nice meal. Ended up back in a down-trodden bar, complete with karaoke, talking to a Mexican cook, an American musician, and a Canadian carpenter...very amusing evening. Sunday morning we had a look around Toronto...somewhat underwhelming. And then back in the van for a 2nd attempt at Niagara Falls - and we were much more successful this time! Damn cold though...and still a little misty. The sheer scale of the Falls was just breath-taking...not sure it was really worth the 9 hour drive though! Now back in Chicago...want to avoid getting in a car for a while as tired of that! Got a few more lectures, one exam, and one take-home to do and I'll be finished. Looking forward to the travelling...and of course to getting back to Oz to see Lucy.
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