A Comparison and Contrast Essay about Chicago

 A Comparison and Contrast Essay about Chicago

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A Comparison and Contrast Essay about Chicago
The blaring noise of buses honking their horns at each other woke me up, and it was then that I realized that I had arrived in Chicago. It had been quite a while since the last time I was there, as I used to frequent the city when I was young, as I would visit my aunt who resided in there every summer. Everything about the city had changed, and the sheer number of people was astonishing. The heights of the skyscrapers were taller than I could remember, and the number of monuments had increased. Chicago still retains its diverse elements, but it has changed from a warm, inviting city into a modern city that is characterized by tall skyscrapers and uninviting inhabitants.
Once friendly and familiar, Chicago has now become an impersonal city where everyone minds their own business. The neighborhood that my aunt was based in had very friendly neighbors who would welcome me warmly every time I went to visit. Everyone knew each other by their names, and it was not unusual to see people gathered in one of the neighbors’ backyard after a long day at work. I went back to the same place and saw that the houses had been demolished to pave way for new modern buildings. By their sheer appearance, alone, the buildings look cold and uninviting. Just like the buildings, the residents of the city are also cold and wary of strangers. It took quite a while for me to get accustomed to the brisk way of life in the city. In the apartment in which I lived in, people would pass me as though I was invisible, and I could not help but think back to the early days where neighbors were warm and inviting, and people knew me even though I only used to come visit once an year. I did not know about the tenants that had rented the same apartment as mine, and they also did not make any effort to know me. There is a stark contrast between the pleasant Chicago that I once knew, and the unwelcome city that it has now become.
Chicago is a robust city that is comprised of people from diverse walks of life, and its aspects of diversity have not changed. I remember that even in the past, the people stemmed from various cultures and ethnic communities. The majority cultures include Latinos and African Americans, and the Whites do not represent an overwhelming majority of occupants, as depicted by other major cities. Lewinnek (2014) explains that the reason for Chicago’s diverse population is the after-effects of industrialization, as many people from the rural areas made way into the city in search of employment opportunities in the industries. Immigrants from other countries also settled in Chicago in pursuit of better standards of living. Statistics indicate that Chicago is ranked third with regards to cities with a high number of people (Gunaratne et al, 2015). Although the number of people in Chicago has increased, the city’s representation of various cultures has not changed, a positive factor as it denotes that the city embraces the diversity of its dwellers. The city’s ability to retain the representation of diverse cultures is astounding.
Chicago’s landscape has changed for the better, a contrast to the drab sidewalk that characterized the city’s footpaths. Currently, the city if filled with beautiful grass and trees separating the roads from the sidewalks. The beautiful landscape is one of the positive attributes that I observed about the city. In the past, the city’s greenery was sparse, and it was challenging to find sidewalks that had been maintained effectively. The skyscrapers are a pleasure to look at, and their number and height has increased since the last time I was in the city. I remember staring at the tall buildings, particularly the Merchandise Mart, which was among the tallest buildings at that time, and I could never had imagined that other taller buildings would have been constructed. Currently, the city holds some of the tallest buildings in the world, and their sight is something to behold. 
In conclusion, Chicago still retains its diverse elements, but it has changed from a warm, inviting city into a modern city that is characterized by tall skyscrapers and uninviting inhabitants. The city’s occupants are unconcerned about other people’s lives other than their own and they do not make an effort to form acquaintances. However, the city is still comprised of people from diverse cultures, which is a good sign. Thirdly, the city’s landscape has become more attractive due to the introduction of grass and trees. Just like any other city, it was inevitable that Chicago would have to undergo major transformations that would have both negative and positive effects.

Word Count = 813
 
References
Gunaratne, S., Masinter, L., Kolak, M., & Feinglass, J. (2015). Change in Population Characteristics and Teen Birth Rates in 77 Community Areas: Chicago, Illinois, 1999-2009. Public Health Report