A cultural capital filled with art, music and deep dish pizzas. That's a slice of summer in Chicago.

We caught up with Maeve, a 21-year-old student from Northern Ireland who did her J1 in Chicago.

My experience working a summer in the States was truly remarkable. From the moment I entered Chicago, I immersed myself into new experiences.

On my first day in the city, I explored the iconic bean sculpture and then found myself dancing along to the Chicago Gospel Music Festival that happened to be occurring in Millennium Park.

From the city to the beach, via the charity shops

What I cherish most about Chicago is how the city caters to a diverse range of interests. Whether you’re a beach enthusiast, a city aficionado or a cultural connoisseur, Chicago has something to offer everyone.

If I got tired of the city, I would go unwind by the beach. I also loved exploring the city’s vintage and charity shops where I picked up some unique clothing and souvenirs.

Lana, jazz nights and musicals

Another highlight was getting to attend Lollapalooza in Grant Park. There was a fantastic buzz about the city, and it truly was an amazing experience getting to see Lana Del Rey perform.

In the evenings, I spent time discovering Chicago’s unique and hidden jazz clubs such as ‘The Green Mill’ in Uptown. I also enjoyed going to the theatre with a notable highlight being ‘MJ the Musical’ in the James Netherlander Theatre. Catching this show on one of my final nights in the city ensured that I left Chicago on a high note.

Working in Chicago

With the help of USIT, I secured a job at a pizza restaurant along the Chicago River. I worked with eleven other Irish students, and we frequently went for food and drinks after work or attended the J1 nightclub events. One of my favourite memories is when we met at the beach to play volleyball.

I was working five days a week so sometimes it felt hard to achieve a work life balance. However, I really enjoyed the positive and encouraging atmosphere in the restaurant. All the staff were so supportive and helpful and really made starting a new job much less daunting. I made valuable and long-lasting friendships with the permanent staff as well as my fellow J1 students.

Days off down the river

When I wasn’t working, I indulged in activities like cycling Chicago’s lakefront where I bumped into Jessie and Will from Love Island Season 9. I did the scenic architecture cruise along the Chicago River and explored the renowned Art Institute of Chicago.

On one of my days off, I kayaked down the Chicago River with two other J1 girls that I met from working. We would go for lunch and relax on the beach before clocking into work together.

In the evenings we watched baseball at Wrigley Field. Making new friends was one of my highlights from my J1 experience. It is lovely to reconnect with them back in Ireland and reflect on our summer spent together.

One great thing about where I worked is that they were very flexible with taking time off as they understood we were eager to experience all the US has to offer. I took time off work to visit my friend in Palm Beach, Florida, where I learnt to surf.

Finally, my tips for making the most of your summer

Budget for days off

One tip I would give to students thinking about doing a J1 is to try budget as much as possible while working to allow yourself to do activities on your day off.

Sync your hours with friends

Also, a good idea is to schedule your working days with your housemates so you can experience activities together. My housemates and I bought a calendar so we could write in our work schedules and have a few activities planned for the week. This ensured we were making the most of our time in the US and taking full advantage of the opportunities that the city has to offer.

Work somewhere with food included

One tip that really helped me save money during my J1 was working in a restaurant which offers you food for your break. This cut down on my grocery bill and enabled me to save a little bit extra for travelling.

Pack lightly

Another tip would be to avoid over packing especially if you plan on taking your luggage to other parts of the States.

Get you admin in order as soon as possible

Once you arrive, try to get your sim card, social security number and forms organised as soon as possible so you can start working right away.

Overall, the best tip is to have an open mind and say yes to all the opportunities the US has to offer.

Thanks Maeve! If this made you want to (lightly) pack your bags and jet off the Windy City then check out what you need to know for a working holiday in the USA.