a{meri}can Frat Parties

Frat parties are just like in the movies.
They are pretty wild, grimy and most curiously, free. A Frat hosts a party or a pre-game (which is pre-drinks) and any girl (sorry guys..) can just walk and get drinks and chat/dance/hang out/ play beer pong (though it is usually the boys who play). This isn't to say there are far more girls, because each Frat might have about 170 boys in it already. There are huge vats of 'PJ' - Party Juice, which is meant for the girls, with hundreds of red cups beside it so you can help yourself. There are big bins full with ice and beers as well. You can just wander from one to the next, especially in Frat Court as there are 5 houses in one quad. 

Ah yes, and Frat boys wear a sort of unspoken uniform (similar to the Nort-wearing girls). Chino shorts, loafers, shirts and maybe a snap-back. Girls seems to wear anything from heels to flats. My converse/shorts look was met with one girl telling me I was 'working that grunge look' - not really my aim but I'll go with that. 
We went to this one party the other night which was wrist-band only entry (if you have a British accent you don't need a band), and you went downstairs it was like a club. There was a band and a dance floor  and a drinks bar (of free drinks). It did smell a bit like vomit, but you can't win everything I guess. Was very cool. 
[Side note: boys British accents work for them too. In class behind me was an English boy and this American girl who was shameless in her flirting. The conversation went as follows. 
Girl: 'You aren't wearing glasses today'
Boy: 'No, I'm wearing contacts'
Girl: 'I like a boy in glasses. You really suit your glasses. I like your watch. I like guys who wear watches, it's cute.'
Boy: unsure what to say
Me: Bahahahahah (inside) ]

Dancing: so everyone here does one of 2 extremes. Either fun twirling dancing with a boy partner (which amazingly is called 'shagging' - can you imagine the look of horror when a boy comes up to you and just goes 'do you wanna shag?'), or grinding. And the former usually leads to the latter. There is no in-between like in the U.K where we are all politely dance in a circle. Am yet to brave this new cultural shock. 
Yesterday we had a Darty (Day Party...I don't know why they like shortening everything?) at Chi Psi, with a band out in the garden. 
Because boys can't get into other Frats unless they have a friend in it, they tend to go to bars. It felt like I was back to being 17 last night using my sister's I.D, as obviously you have to be 21 to drink over here. It's more etiquette than anything, as they know so many people just have fakes.
For the Northerners: Weather wise, it has been 30 degrees plus - boiling. Luckily my halls has a pool...
Rush week for sororities this week, which means No Booze, No Boys...
Love and all that xxxxx