"Fireworks of Leaves"

I NEVER thought I would say this, but I have fallen in love... with the Midwest. Well, maybe not Kansas, but certainly Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. 

Photo taken from http://www.lib.ku.edu/eastasia/calamwrg/MidAmericaStates.asp

Why?

For one, Chicago! I love Chicago and that is in Illinois (IL).

For another, it has Lake Michigan , which is so huge it looks like the sea! Lake Michigan is that body of water touching WI, IL, IN & MI.

 However, my top most reason why I love the Midwest is because

IT'S SO GREEN! 

And I love green. I miss the mountains A LOT- if I could cut-and-paste a mountain onto the Midwest, I would (minus the desert of course). But if I really really really had to choose, give me flat-land greens over mountainous desert brown anytime! No offense to my friends from Utah, but BYU campus is very beautiful because students are hired to plant flower beds. However, outside of BYU, you have to drive into the mountains before you can find natural breath-taking landscape. The green of the Midwest is more accessible and naturally endowed with more green, just like how the desert is endowed with more... brown. 

Ohio isn't even the prettiest state there is. Northwestern University, a school right outside of Chicago in Illinois (IL), borders Lake Michigan and has stunning landscapes and cathedrals dotting the campus. It is one of the prettiest schools I've ever been to. I plan to post those pictures along with a future post on Chicago and Lake Michigan, but for now, here is a sneak peek of how beautiful the Midwest is, and the pictures were all taken in Ohio.

This photo was taken from my bedroom view. Aren't the colors amazing? The leaves also change color in Utah, but there is just so much more in the Midwest, plus it is more intense.

This picture was taken at my apartment complex. 

There are also trees lining the road on both sides of my route to school, and I sigh with pleasure every time I drive on that road. Even the name of the street, Olentangy River Road, seems appropriate.

Columbus itself is not that pretty, but once you get outside Columbus, the scenery is beautiful! These photos were taken on the way back from the apple picking activity with CGSA.

 FYI, some rural roads do have roller-coaster roads like these- it's actually fun! Highways tend to be more level though, so don't worry about encountering these roller coaster roads if you are simply driving through. 

One of the reasons why it is so green is because it rains A LOT A LOT A LOT! 

Which is why I am extremely puzzled that the drainage system here for the roads is HORRIBLE. You would think the city officials would know how to plan for it better right? Nope. As a result, the roads in Columbus are hole-y, and made worse when it pours. *scratch head* Doesn't make sense... But that seems to be mainly a Columbus city problem, and not the rest of the Midwest.

One thing really quirky about the Midwest though, is the squirrels.

Remember this post where I speculated that there has got to be a family of squirrels living on my campus? Just two days ago, I saw 3 squirrels under one tree on campus. Too bad they scattered before I could snap a picture. Told you there was a "family" living there! 

I've sort-of gotten used to their presence and usually ignore them, but when I was in Chicago, my jaw dropped when I saw this: 

The squirrel was eating A SANDWICH. That's right- a freaking sandwich! Can you spot the two slices of bread? Unbelievable...