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Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by PAKMan, 31 Dec 2020.

  1. PAKMan

    PAKMan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    30 Dec 2020
    Posts:
    66
    Location:
    Chicago
    Hey there! I wanted to introduce myself. My name is PAK Man, and I'm a longtime Zoo Chat lurker (probably been lurking for at least 6-7 years) who finally decided to join and create an account for myself!

    A few things about me. I'm a longtime zoo lover from the Chicago area who recently decided to create a zoo bucket list and visit as many zoos as I can. Lincoln Park Zoo is my most-frequented zoo, but over the course of my life I've also been to Brookfield Zoo (though I haven't visited since 1996-1997), Shedd Aquarium, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Columbus Zoo, National Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoo and Minnesota Zoo. San Diego Zoo is #1 on my Bucket List, but I have plenty of others I'd love to visit as well, and I want to re-visit the other zoos I've been to, most of which I haven't visited in over 20 years (put it this way; Hsing-Hsing was still alive when I visited the National Zoo).

    I'm looking forward to participating in Zoo Chat!
     
  2. Fallax

    Fallax Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Mar 2017
    Posts:
    2,303
    Location:
    Wales
    Welcome to ZooChat!
     
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  3. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    10 Feb 2009
    Posts:
    7,702
    Location:
    Arizona, USA
    Glad to have someone from Chicago, an under-represented city on ZooChat. I am surprised that you live there but have not been to Brookfield in over two decades. Is there a reason you don't like it compared to Lincoln Park, or is it just an issue of not having transportation to make it out there?
     
  4. PAKMan

    PAKMan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    30 Dec 2020
    Posts:
    66
    Location:
    Chicago
    It's mostly an issue of distance/price. At that time, I was only 8 years old (my sister was 6) so I was beholden to whatever my parents did. I live nearly 40 minutes away from Brookfield Zoo, which charges for parking and admission. My parents couldn't really afford to pay for two adults and two children to go that far away, plus my parents hate walking long distances. Compare that to Lincoln Park, which we could get to in 15-20 minutes, has free admission and is a relatively small zoo, the decision on which one to go to was easy for my parents.

    I ended up moving out of state for 12 years and the opportunity to go to Brookfield never came up. When I moved back to Chicago last summer, I decided that I was going to go visit (I'd even visited their website and calculated, mathematically, when the most inexpensive time to go would have been - I would have gone solo so I'd just be paying for myself) but then COVID happened.

    Believe it or not, I actually remember the last time I went there - it wasn't long after the toddler fell in Tropic World and the gorilla saved him and I begged my parents to go so we could see the gorilla.
     
  5. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    25 Jan 2006
    Posts:
    12,225
    Location:
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Welcome to Zoochat.

    Hopefully, from now on regular updates on goings on at both Chicago zoos.
     
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  6. Terry Thomas

    Terry Thomas Well-Known Member Premium Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Mar 2018
    Posts:
    698
    Location:
    NSW
    Welcome.
     
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  7. JurassicMax

    JurassicMax Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    16 Jul 2020
    Posts:
    3,215
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Welcome to ZooChat PAKMan, great to have you finally joining ZooChat!
     
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  8. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    17 Sep 2017
    Posts:
    11,354
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Welcome!
     
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  9. MizzB

    MizzB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    29 Aug 2020
    Posts:
    652
    Location:
    Wisconsin
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