Safety Dimensions

    Look both ways before you cross the road. Do not touch the outlet. Keep away from the stove. Those were the reminders that I always gave to my son to help keep him safe. It is human nature to guard ourselves from danger. Before I came to Chicago, I believed that I would never love this city because of the safety issues. However, I found myself falling in love with Chicago after having a better perception that safety does not only mean the physical dimension, but it also includes the mental dimension. Both safety dimensions are vital for a joyful life.

    Before I came to Chicago, I had a single story about this city. It was full of gun violence cases and addicted people who churned around the dirty streets. I learned that I should always put some cash in my pocket in case someone would ask me for money because if I refuse, I might get a gun pointed at me. Thus, I was ridiculously scared of the safety in Chicago. This feeling sustained the first few weeks after I came here and intensified after my family had a terrible experience. The first time our family went to the grocery shop near our home, we encountered a man in a good outfit asking us for money.  My husband told him we did not have cash, yet the man asked him to do cashback from the cashier. Luckily, the security guard in the shop noticed our situation and told the man to leave the shop, but the man was still wandering around outside the shop. We were so frightened that we could not leave the shop. Afterwards, we tried to stay at home as much as we could in the first few months after we came here because the safety really concerned us. However, after having lived here for two years, I am getting a better understanding about Chicago. I feel like I love this city, and I am trying to fit in.

    After that terrible experience in the grocery shop, I encountered many beautiful things in Chicago. When I walked down the street, I got compliments from passersby about my outfits. The passersby would smile at me and ask where I bought my outfits, which really charmed me. Chicago has a beautiful lake where my family could have a picnic. There are also tons of free and fun events for kids to participate in. Once I took my son to a concert performed by the symphony of the university of Chicago.  We were running ten minutes late and worried we would miss the opening part. However, the moment we snaked in the auditorium, we could only hear murmuring from the audience. The concert had not started yet. Everyone was just waiting here patiently and casually. I was shamed that I urged my son to hurry up. After the concert, I pondered a lot and learned a lot. I realized that I was so serious about everything, a traditional mindset I constructed before I came to this city. I should take it easy, no big deal. The relaxed atmosphere in Chicago helped me become more relaxed and more casual. I don’t have to worry about the result of being late for some events or commenting on something, which makes me feel safe.

    Before I moved to Chicago, I only focused on the physical dimension of safety, but I recognized that the mental dimension was also vital. Sometimes I ignored the mental dimension, like I only reminded my son to keep physically safe before. The mental dimension of safety is invisible, but it does not mean that it is not important. In contrast, the mental dimension of safety is more important to me. Even though gun violence is still a problem here, I do feel safer with the casual atmosphere around me.