From Memphis to Chicago

I’m out of Memphis and in Chicago, so I guess it’s only appropriate to say a little about my time in Tennessee…

I enjoyed it. It was nothing like I expected, but it proved to be worthwhile, interesting, and sometimes even fun. As could be expected, during my last week I finally got a real handle on what the city offered…only to have to leave. But throughout my trip I stayed with some wonderful people and met others with very different backgrounds.

I just walked back from the grocery store, here in Hyde Park, and the difference was hugely noticeable. The people there were helpful, but only if you asked, and they didn’t show the slightest sign of hospitality or interest in your concerns. At the same supermarket in Memphis I would’ve expected these things along with a genuine smile and eye-contact. Southern hospitality can be a good thing.

It’s funny, here in Chicago I can’t avoid the beautiful foliage and architecture, which Memphis severly lacks…but, then again, walking in the park in Chicago I won’t expect people to say, “Good Day.” It’s a toss up, but it is worth considering.

There are a lot of differences between Mempis and the north/north-east, but that’s not even what I want to write about. Well, I guess not completely. I appreciated people’s patience and the the very different thoughts they offered. I got into a two hour conversation with a born-again Christian about God…I had plenty of conversations with random people in bars and restaurants…and I also ran into some very vocal, very intelligent people. The south isn’t stupid; it doesn’t lack culture; it’s just different.

And Memphis has its fair share of the south, in that sense. There’s some really great BBQ, some great live music, some interesting heritage, and some very controversial issues to deal with. Sadly, in an area that’s very much mixed between blacks and whites, there is a great deal of segregation within the schools (city whites all go to private schools), and consequently a lot of issues surrounding how money should be spent on education. Also, there is a great deal of commercialization throughout the city but very little scenery or history outside of a tiny portion of the city.

But here I am again focusing on the city and not just the people. I guess that’s okay. The point is that I had a really great time with the few people I met, and I hope that maybe I left a mark… either at work or in the small swing community. I don’t know. But Memphis left a mark on me, and maybe someday I’ll return :).