Revolving Doors

One way to find out if you're already in downtown Chicago - revolving doors. Almost every establishment has 'em - our apartment, our office, restaurants, hotels, shops. I think 95% of all buildings here. I'm not really sure why but my theory is that revolving doors are designed such that there won't be any wind drafts whenever someone comes in. In case a building doesn't have revolving doors, it has two automatic doors instead just a few feet apart. It's automatic because you just bang this big button the size of a notebook and it opens. Convenient for people bringing luggage and other stuff. They're pretty cool since we don't have them in Manila. In my 1 and a half months stay here, I've already compiled some interesting stories using these things.

• In Sterling, during my first week in Chicago, thinking that it was already the open section, I walked right through the round plastic wall. Ouch. My face made a print on the plastic thing.
• In Old Navy, I was shocked by static electricity.
• In Sterling, naipit ko si Gezelle. Sorry Ge... :(
• In Thompson Center, I tripped while going through the door. Someone came in suddenly and spun the doors fast.
• In Accenture, my gloves got caught in the handle and natanggal. Paglabas ko... tingin sa hand sabay "huh?!?". Then all the people behind were pointing at my gloves na naipit sa handle.
• In the "Gallery of Shops" in Lake and Dearborn, after going through the door I still pushed the doors hard so it would spin fast. I didn't know someone was in it. Napatakbo tuloy. Buti di nagalit.
• In McDondald's, I was trying to go through the doors while carrying a paper bag and a takeout tray for drinks but it stopped in the middle.
• I learned from Che to push the revolving doors with your elbows. More sanitary and less prone to static shocks.
• I'm not familiar with revolving doors etiquette. Do you let the lady go first kaya lang she has to push the doors all by herself until you enter on the next section? Do you go first and push it hard so she doesn't have to push (kaya lang parang ang bastos naman if mauuna pa ko...)
• In CompUSA, I was trying to push the door. Sarado pala.
• In Sterling, it's funny when you leave through the door then midway, you remembered that you forgot something so you ride the doors all the way back then midway again, you realize that you don't need it pala. Hinihintay ko nang sigawan ako ng "Stop playing fool!".

Damn revolving doors.