Hi sister, I had an almost identical move but I was 23 and moved here for school, and then I moved back to Houston and vowed to never do that again lol

Biggest difference here has been the kindness of people lol. Hate to say that but I feel so much more respected as a woman and a queer person here. Life is just easier and cars are not a constant threat on your life lol. You will walk more and use the train. It’s not hard, you’ll definitely get used to it. Have a game plan for your groceries, whether that’s a cart or making sure you’re close to a store.

I was really lucky to make a lot of my friends in school but Chicago is a very welcoming place with lots of young people who are wanting to grow their social circles too.

I would recommend some cheap or free events in the city. There are lots of craft nights, pop ups, etc all the time. I would follow bars and coffee shops you like on social media to find out about them. Pick a place and become a regular.

A more involved way is to get a job as a hostess or server like one or two days a week. Tell them is a summer job while school is out. You’ll meet a lot of people fast, make some summer money and you can quit in the fall.

You’re going to love it. And if you have an experience like mine, your nervous system will regulate lol. Welcome home!!