Chicago, here we are.

Ah, yes.  After much trial and tribulation, we finally reach our destination.  The nation's Second City, with its daunting skyscrapers and iconic Cloud Gate.   The cornerstone of the midwest, home to the Cubs and White Sox, land of Vienna beef frankfurters and deep-dish pizzas.  The Windy City, as they call it.  From the looks of it, a fine town indeed.

We are here to represent our school, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, at the 2007 Beta Alpha Psi Annual Conference.  As selected by our club's region, we come to Chicago on official business; but the lure of a vacation undoubtedly defies our escape.  Months of research and planning went into this trip.  Planning not in preparation for the Conference's competition, but for the activities on our post-conference itinerary. Unable to speak for the group, I, for one, could not wait to step onto this city's promising landscape. 

The flight was long and arduous, as you can imagine most direct flights from Hawaii to the midwest can be.  Not one to easily sleep on flights, I managed a wink or two onboard this time.  One apparent misfortune with contemporary air travel is the lack of the free in-flight meal.  Not consuming anything for an 8-hour plane ride gives you a strange, weary feeling, caused by equal parts hunger, jetlag, and altitude sickness.  I think it's possible the girls experienced such displeasure for the entire 10-day trip.  Remind me to scrounge up ten bucks for the crummy snack pack next time.