a{meri}can parent's weekend

Myself, David, Johanna and Harrison

So it was Parent's Weekend for Tri Delta!

When my mum first told me that she might come for Parent's Weekend, I thought 'haha, yeah sure.' But then she actually did come across the pond...

Parent's Weekend is not like 'Parent's evening' at school. No you do not go and talk to your teachers about your classes.

Yes you do go and party with your parents.

On the Friday night we had a cocktail event held at the Carolina Inn and most of the parents of the girls in the sorority come, and you can bring a date as well. The English gals didn't manage to branch out to American guys - I took a Dane, David, Olivia took an Aussie, Tom, and Blanca took a Brit, Cameron. Myself and Philly headed off to Johanna's for supper and a few proseccos down, we headed off to the Carolina inn to meet up with everyone. There was dancing, a band, drinks, it was like being back at Leaver's Ball 2k11. We were there only for an hour or so, and proceeded to get a golf car-style ride to He's Not Here (a bar named so, legend has it, because if people rang up asking if Micheal Jordan was there, they would reply - 'He's Not Here'). Madre got a round of beers in (which they serve in HUGE cups), and the band was jammin' and we were chillin'.

We got Carolina spirit!

Saturday was Game Day! So after a bit of a palaver, Mother managed to find herself a ticket off a random dude on the side of the road. Slightly worried that the ticket wasn't legit, we headed to the game, following a sea of Carolina blue clad people. We found some pom poms on our seats, and none of us having a clue what was going on (especially as the ball is so small and the players so big, it's hard to keep up!), we just followed what everyone else was doing. Luckily the screen tells you when to make noise. It literally just says 'NOISE', then everyone goes nuts. The game is pretty long, about 4 hours, and is very much stop-start. I know a touchdown is when you score but that about it. I guess it's like rugby but you can pass forwards? (And you can wear padding and helmets - v. safety conscious Americans! In rugby you only get a gum shield!) The cheerleaders were amazing. Think Bring it On. It may as well have been Kirsten Dunst herself cheering away. The whole experience was a lot of fun. 

NB: People from UNC are called 'Tar Heels' because tar, pitch and turpentine were some of North Carolina's leading exports. Our mascot is a ram. Apparently there was a real live ram riding round in a car that day and when people saw it went crazy. That's America for you!

We had a BBQ at Tri Delta where Philly Stew got to meet a few more of the parents and check out the house. Also indulged in her first 'hush puppy' - deep fried corn bread. Southerners just love fried food! Can't wait 'til the State Fair (on my 21st!) to try deep fried butter!! In fact, maybe I should ask for deep fried butter with a candle in, instead of a cake?

Yeah we did! Got the cheesy pic!

All in all a great weekend with Philly Stew, who loved the American college experience (even the driving, though sometime on the wrong side of the road...) Until next time...more on adapting to American phrases. Y'all have a good day now! xxxx

a{meri}can pledge retreat

So I said I would share a little more on sorority life...

This weekend was our Pledge Retreat to Wilmington Beach about 2 hours away from Chapel Hill. 'Pledge Class' basically means all the people who joined Tri Delta this year, and there are about 50 of us. You are a 'pledge' because you haven't yet been initiated into the sorority so you have 8 weeks to show that you really do want to join. We stayed at 2 girls beach houses in Wilmington which was beautiful, one of the houses had a dock out of the back onto the sea. You might expect that a pledge retreat to be full of 'bonding' activities and 'ice breakers', but it really isn't anything of the sort. We chilled, we shopped, we sunbathed, we ate Mexican. Let's face it, that's all girls really need to 'bond'. We had a few 'organised' activities, but they just ended up disintegrating to general crazy story telling.. Not.To.Be.Repeated. Regardless, you spend time on the beach with your new class and enjoy cheesy pics and some trashy tourist stores. #spottheBrits (See right).

Ok so haven't described cocktails well so far. My date on Friday,who I was set up with by a girl in Tri Delt, wants a 'great review' on my blog, which is what he will get. He picked me up from my accommodation in his car...(although his frat is maybe 100 meters from my building?), had a few drinks on the roof, popped some champers (not always champagne it just happened to be the theme at Phi Delta), did a bit of shagging (REMEMBER THAT IS DANCING!) and you don't want to know the rest of the night, it gets gradually crazier as imaginable. In few words: some Danes, some cross dressing, some gymnastics road-side, sleeping in a cupboard, 'your dress is in the dry cleaners', some cycling....No names mentioned. You make up the rest.

This is why the bus was full of 50 girls pretty dead on Saturday. Not sure you would call it a 'party bus'.

We also have a 'Big Sister' in the sorority, and you write down the names of your preferences, and get matched with an older girl in the house. A Big is just someone if you have any questions...need someone to hang with.. basically just a friend in another year. 

Me and my Big, Johanna

Next blog post will be on Parent's Weekend at Tri Delta where Philly Stew is coming Stateside to visit!! Until then xxxxxxxx

a{meri}canisms

Few things to clear up!

1. 'Game Day' doesn't mean you actually go to the football game.

Everyone gets dressed up in Carolina blue and heads to Frat Court in the late mornng for drinks, music, food...But the game starts at 12.30 (and they are about 4 hours long)..so that means sometimes you might not actually make it to the game. You're busy just bouncing around and before you know it, it's 4.30.

2. You don't leave 'xxx' on texts

I thought at first people just didn't like me. I still leave kisses though!

3. The reason sororities don't have parties is actually because of State law

An antiquated law that has something to do with if more than 5 unrelated girls live in a house together it is a brothel. Obviously there are actual sorority houses, but they aren't allowed to host parties. This is why for a 'Mixer' (with another frat/sorority/both) or 'Cocktail' (where you can invite a date) you have to rent out a club.

4. 'Ratchet' 

Adjective, meaning crazy/grimy/ghetto/messy

Eg: 'Last night was ratchet'. Used all the time. 

5. Queue Vs Line

In England I have never realised this: we queue vertically - with the purpose of reaching the front, and we stand in line horizontally, with no one in front of us, without intention of getting to a destination.

In America a queue = a line

A weird observation. I was talking to someone the other day and they were just nodding and smiling, until I just had to ask 'Do you know what I'm talking about?', the reply was simply, 'I understand about 3 out of 10 words that you are saying.' 

This is a biscuit

6. A biscuit is not a biscuit

Our 'biscuit' is a cookie here. A biscuit is actually a fried chicken sandwich. So 'tea and biscuits' is met with confusion.

7. Friday is not Fish and Chips Friday

It is Fried Friday. Literally everything fried- including macaroni cheese. The chef at Tri Delta tweets the menu every day, handy.

8. 'Cute' Vs 'Fit'

At home we call guys 'fit' if they are hot, and we don't mean fit as in having good stamina on the treadmill. A dress might be cute, or a bunny, but never boys. Here, if boys are cute they are good looking.

Tri Delta Sorority house: it looks small from this angle but it sleeps around 40 girls and it is massive

I am sure there are some things I have missed out on! But for now, that will do.
Going on a beach retreat with my pledge class tomorrow to Wilmington. 
Next post: more on sorority life!
Love to all! xxxxxx

Punkahontus and the 'Jungle' - at a Mixer with Dke, Beta (Fraternities), and Kappa Delta (another sorority)

welcome to Tri Delta! ∆∆∆

As the rounds went on at rush, we thought it couldn't get any hotter, but it did. So humid on Sunday in fact that a huge storm meant the day lasted from midday til 11pm. You get tours of the houses, and they are beautiful. They are like giant boarding house that are furnished like something out of a magazine. You can see why sororities leave it to the frats to throw the parties. After this round of 5 houses, you  down your options to 3 and this is called Preference Night. 
Myself and Olivia stepped out in white and red dresses only to realise we looked like the English flag, we just hoped Blanca was wearing blue...The final round is more serious. There is a little ceremony in each house and the girls describe what sisterhood means to them. At first I was a bit unsure of what a sorority was all about, thinking I was going to meet a hundred Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, and it couldn't be further from the truth. All the rules seem silly to start with but then it becomes like a ritual and you kind of look forward to it. Past all of that, you basically get to meet the greatest group of girls. You pick the sorority which most suits you; if you want to work hard, play hard, or both... there is something for everyone. You write down on Pref night your favourite, mine was Tri Delta so I was hoping so bad that I got a bid from them...! 
Bid Day is just so much fun.
Everyone goes to the gym and gets given their cards with their bid in it, opens them at once and runs to the quad where all the houses are cheering...it's so overwhleming and everyone is just in such a great mood. This video kind of gives you the idea...

                .

Everyone was so excited and so sweaty from running to the house... lots of photos, lots of dancing....(The campus famous Clef Hangers - a male a cappella group, came too. They are like something out of Pitch Perfect, with their big hit, a cover of 'Carolina in my mind'). We have got our first 'Cocktail' (basically a party) on Saturday where we can bring a date..luckily Jessi is going to find me a man - after a week of no booze no boys, I haven't met many of the male specimen! 
Bring on TRI DELTA!!!∆∆∆ Thanks to all the girls for making us gals feel so welcome!

xxxxxx

Olivia needs to work on her delta ∆

This the new pledge class of Tri Delta

joining an a{meri}can sorority #1

This week has been exhausting, fun, and surreal. 

It is Rush week - a giant version of girl speed dating to get into sororities. There are 900 girls going to 10 houses on Round One, so it is a pretty big deal to organise. Mostly Freshman rush, but there are some Upperclassman (like myself), but it is a great way to meet people. You get given a T-Shirt (which I ordered in an 8, not realizing that it was in an American 8, so you couldn't actually see my shorts it was enormous - great start), to wear to this round. All the girls in the sororities have been practising for hours in the lead up - and you can totally see why. Not one girl puts a foot out of line, everyone is immaculate. Each sorority has a different 'personality', which you get to see even more in Round 2 where you narrow down your options and get to go to a maximum of 7 houses. 

Here the girls do a skit, a little sketch whether it be a play or a song or both, to make you want to join that house. This round is your own clothes, but yet again I was underdressed in converse and denim shorts.. will I ever get it right? You have to make your own name label - some are all pretty and sparkly, with pictures of Chuck Bass or something of the like to show what your interests are. Mine, on the other hand, was made out of a blue post-it note, with a blue highlighter...so my British flag, was err.. blue. The houses can be pretty spread out so there are girls stationed around Chapel Hill giving directions with an emergency box of hairspray, plasters, mints, everything, just in case. You are having to really pace it around in 30 degree heat, so it understandable to get a little (or a lot) sweaty. And the girls in the house are so energetic, doing their routines 8 times in a row, and not a complaint in sight. After I got back from a lecture yesterday I passed out in my full clothes on my bed, so exhausted.
2 more days of Rush to go... I will let you know how it pans out. 
Oh, and this has been a week of 'No Booze, No Boys'. At first I was like, oh that's boring, but now I realise
a) Don't have time for either anyway
b) I'm quite enjoying it.
It ends on Wednesday, so I am sure a big night will ensue. (NB: Boys are rushing this week too, but they have a different 'manly' system, which I have no idea about, because, I am not talking to them.)


All I can say is Go Greek. It is so fun.

(Ah yes and I went to a baseball game last weekend. It is safe to say that baseball as a sport is a more boring version of cricket. I didn't think it was possible, but it is. However, the experience was great, and I definitely went with the right girls. We sat for 5 minutes...got a drink...sat...got some food...chatted...soaked up the sun...and left. Ideal.)

Speak in a few days, love to all xxxxx