Students survive instructor's driving, deep-dish pizza

Chicago day one: we ate some pizza.

Today was a great day, not only because I actually drove a van full of students into the heart of Chicago without killing anyone, but also because my reward was a giant deep-dish pizza at Giordano's.

Chicago makes a good first impression. It's like a cross between New York and Minneapolis. It's like a clean New York. It's like Boston without the pretentiousness. It's like Winnipeg, "the Chicago of the North," on steroids.

The people are friendly and straightforward. The lake air invigorates the senses. Advertising is everywhere, and it's really good. The service is efficient and professional. Food is everywhere, and it's really good. The shelves are fully stocked with all the Coke we can't buy in Canada anymore: cherry AND vanilla. Oprah Winfrey and Roger Ebert live here.

What's not to love?

Tomorrow: we visit the Art Institute of Chicago and advertising agency Critical Mass. Some of us also go to see Oprah Winfrey.

Tonight, I sleep: visions of Oprah - and deep-dish pizza - dancing in my head.