escapades in wisconsin

At last, a respite from the hw and midterms! (Actually not quite from the hw.) The beginning of Thanksgiving break was marked by Chicago's first snow this winter... it was pretty amazing to see it form right before my eyes.
MYTHS ABOUT SNOW DEBUNKED
#1 - Snow is very pretty when it falls in soft white flakes: only when you're indoors.
#2 - Snow after falling lies in beautiful white mounds: no folks, it melts just like any bunch of ice shavings, irregardless if on streets, clothing or hair.
#3 - It takes a long time to form that fuzzy white blanket on the ground/ tree branches/ cars: it snowed just 3" and that was enough to ground planes at O'Hare, and for a snowball fight in front of Shoreland *darn*

Ok so me and andrew braved the blistery weather to watch Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia was GOOD. Wow. There's sthing abt Abba songs that makes you want to dance and sing along to all the lyrics... and there'll always be a special place in my heart for them *awww*

Afterwards there was the rush to O'Hare and the frantic search for the Van Gelder bus... and the long traffic-heavy butt-tiring ride to wisconsin. But it was really all worth it to see my friend's face again. And her dorm and her roomies and her real life, FINALLY :)

Madison is great! A beautiful sub-urban campus town sandwiched btwn 2 lakes. Not much to do (esp since all the shops were closed...) but i so enjoyed being a tourist, taking tonnes of photos, showing the Madisonians the hyde park 'squirrel mating call', and just spending a day away from the hustle-bustle of work.

Thanksgiving we spent with sh's hosts, an elderly couple living up in Winnakee. They had a traditional thanksgiving spread which was awesome... group battleships (where i actually thought i was doing well but ended up being sunk second). Then we played some music... that was the first time i'd ever seen or heard of a 'player piano'! go figure guys... And we rounded off with triple desserts (apple crumble, pecan pie and pumpkin sponge *mmm MMM* and shiny new Wisconsin quarters (3 Cs - cows, cheese, corn!) all ard. Dave and Joanne are definitely the sweetest American couple i've ever met! They're both really smart post-grads but theey're not intellectual snobs at all, and they always give thanks to the Lord and pray for those less fortunate. They're so nice that sh was really impressed with the Christian faith *amen!* They even invited me to come back and I really felt that they meant it... shall try my best to go up again. :)

Madison is poles part from Chicago... and i think the freshies take things v much for granted there. Can't exactly express it very well but i felt like they were much engrossed in their own little world... as I had been in back here. tt's why i couldn't wait for them to come over here to *da kai yan jie*

And so they did! we had a lot of fun today... began with cheesecake factory lunch, forays into shops, then traipsing down michigan ave taking in the sights of millenium park and chase plaza and chicago river. We then rounded off the day with Chinatown dinner, window-shopping and bubble tea! Everyone was taking crazy shots all along the way! :P

It was stressful cos we were bringing around so many ppl, with so many diff agendas and interpretations. worse still, miscommunications nearly to led to us missing the 7am bus from wis... but we made it, thank god! And andrew i really owe you one for putting up with all the trouble from us swaku nuts.

It's Pierce brunch followed by UC campus tour in a bit! Love all this planning for guests and making sure they have the best experience possible. Now as long as they don't get on the wrong bus/ direction/ time tmr... *optimistic*