Adjusting to Hoosier life as a Chicago suburbanite

Prior to coming to IU, I expected most of the students to be from Indiana, some from the rest of the Midwest, a few from the East and West Coasts, and a couple of international students. Although I’ve encountered many people from all walks of life here at IU, the majority of students that I’ve met and befriended come from the Chicagoland area just like me.

As I write this article, I am sitting in a room with five friends, three of which are also from, Barrington, IL. The environment of Bloomington is vastly different than that of Chicagoland. Of all the things I’ve noticed that differ between Chicago and IU, these are the most prominent ones.

Dorm building vs. comfortable suburb

There are people everywhere at all times of the day, which is a blessing and a curse. Fun can be had at any moment and no two days ever go the same way. Even once you establish a weekly routine of classes, homework, clubs, and hanging out with friends there are no two days that are the same.

Dorm buildings do offer some interesting sights too. Puke covered bathrooms, knocked over furniture, and rolls of toilet paper in the hallways are a few of my favorite sights to see.

Pedestrian probs

In the town where I live, if I want to go anywhere other than my backyard or neighbor’s house, I have to drive. Here at IU I walk almost everywhere. I didn’t bring my car to school with me so walking has become my main mode of transportation.

Other than rare occasions when your friend with a car at school (God bless that friend) takes you along on their errands, I am basically absorbed in the IU bubble where everyone you encounter is between 18 and 22 or a professor.

Even trips to Target seem strange and exciting because you are entering the public society that seems nonexistent in this college setting.

Hippie town culture shock

The town of Barrington is a mainly conservative and overall normal place to grow up. Bloomington on the other hand is a stark contrast to Barrington. Bloomington has been consistently ranked as one of my most hippie towns in the United States and after making the excursion into Bloomington only a few times I can attest to this ranking. The overall environment of Bloomington is very hippie-esque and can be shocking at times if you aren’t familiar with their culture.

Chicago pride

One thing that has not changed from Barrington to Bloomington is the presence of Chicago pride. People’s decorations in their rooms say a lot about them and I’ve noticed that almost everyone who is from Chicagoland loves to display their Chicago themed items throughout their room. I’ve seen Chicago flags, Cubs flags, Cubs hats, Blackhawks jerseys, Bears jerseys and all other sorts of Chicago paraphernalia.

Everyone seems so proud of where they’re from and somehow everyone finds their own way to display their home state pride on the walls of their dorm room.

But the cool thing I’ve come to find, even during my short time here, is the special community where the IU and Chicagoland pride overlap.