What does it mean to be in a sorority?

Yes Meri, what does it mean?

Friends are constantly asking me, 'What's it like?' 'Is it really weird?' 'Is it like the show 'Greek'?'
No. Yes. Yes. No.
(NB: The sorority that I am in might be very different from others)
What is the sorority house like?
It's like a boarding house at school but maybe 10 times nicer. It's a proper home. Tri Delt has got a few living rooms which are always so cosy and people just chill/watch tv/work in them any time of the day, even if you don't live in house. I generally go for lunch every day, Javier is a cracking chef. It's very casual, just come and grab your food and sit wherever, or you can take it away. (Some houses have more strict meals where you have to dress up and there are waiters and stuff..) Tri Delt is split into 4 houses, which is unusual, they are usually one massive house, and any one in any year can live there.  The little houses are really cute actually because it feels more like your own home rather than a huge boarding house. You share with maybe 2/3 girls depending on the rooms. There is a 'House Mom', who is a bit like a Matron. She's really sweet, just sort of bobbing around the house.

What do you have to actually do?!!
Well we have 'Chapter' every week which is like a meeting basically for the whole sorority. Sororities are much bigger than frats which might only have 50 people in, whereas there are just under 200 of us. Chapter is like notices. We have a handshake and a password so that you know it is 'Delta's Only' in the meeting.
We have philanthropy events which are actually really fun. You usually join with a frat and have some sort of event to raise money for your chosen charity - for example we had a 'Low Country Boil' at Chi Phi the other week where there was loads of prawns, rice, sweet tea and band...very southern country music.
There are some events that are 'required', such a Chapter, and you get a point for going. The points system is for 2 things - if you want to live in house you need points, and also you need points to go to Socials (Mixers and Cocktails, which I have explained before). It also works the other way too, so you get a point for going to the social...
There are some rules, which are pretty understandable. I have said before that we can't have parties in the house or alcohol, for obvious reasons. Even now I am 21 we still can't drink there, it is a dry environment. So that means you also can't have 'letters' in photos - so no top with your sorority name on it and a beer in hand as they can't be seen to condone drinking regardless of being over 21. What is probably most strange is that it is all self-regulated. There are no adults telling you what to do, more like one of your mates.

We did have to do a composite picture the other week which was pretty amusing. (Our official pictures haven't come out yet, so I've found this image to give you the idea...)

The 'dress' that you can see in the photos is actually a bandeau of black velvet - you pull the straps of your top down past your shoulders and then wrap it around. There is a string that you pull down in the centre to create the V (see photo) - unfortunately I didn't realise how far I was pulling mine down...creepy photographers, cheers for that. Of my choice of 5 photos, only 1 was decent. Didn't fancy going down in history as the slutty Delta thanks. (Also this was the morning after our Christmas cocktail, the photos are going to be pretty horrific. Looked about as good as I felt which was *not ok*.)

What are the myths?
I haven't actually seen that show Greek but anyway, sometimes life is like a film, but sometimes it's not... Here are a few things to dispel...
1. That initiation is this crazy event. It's not really, more of a ceremony. (But this does depend on which one you join).
2. That we have weird pillow fights - what movies are you actually watching?
3. That we are a replica Elle Woods army, fighting force of pink
4. That everyone dates frat guys and have lovely Greek babies
5. That sorority girls are fake and superficial

Well I hope that clears a few things up!!
And this will be my late post before the Christmas holidays!
Thank goodness we are still over in the States for next semester, there's so much planned...Spring Break...Miami...road trips round the south...Lara coming to stay, fingers crossed Bermuda with Paige...
Thanks to everyone back home for keeping in touch, means a lot, I have missed you all so much.
And to everyone at UNC, thank you for being so welcoming the gals from across the pond. Had such great support - had over 8000 view on my blog, so thank you!

Happy holidays everybody
xxx
...........Meri Christmas

how to fake an a{meri}can accent

How to fake an American accent:

It is not only specific words that are different, but the way you say things that mark the difference between an average fake American accent, and a legit accent.
I mean there's the obvious - items of clothing are probably the most different (sweater, pants, button down, romper...) Then there's stop-lights, beets, rutabaga (turnips - I was confused on Thanksgiving), trash, gas, trunk...the list goes on...

But subtle differences include:

1. 'You want a ride?' not 'You want a lift?'
You ride a horse not a car.

2. 'He's named Trent' not 'He's called Trent'
Just sounds a bit weird to me.

3. 'I'm going to go study' not 'I'm going to go and revise'
Study = revise. Revision would be revising over a paper, editing it.

4. 'It's 8.30' not 'It's half 8'
(Ok so we say this too, but the abbreviation of half 8 is met with baffled exchanges)

5. 'It's October 3rd' not 'It's October [the] 3rd'
Ref. Cady Herren (Mean Girls; 2004)

6. 'Let's take shots!' not 'Let's have shots!'
If you said 'take', I would just hold the shot. Not consume it.

And if you want to be understood, steer clear of the following phrases:
 - 'Can't be bothered'
 - 'Taking the piss' (a friend once said, so I could say, 'I'm just taking a piss'?....no. No you can't.)
 - 'Give me a buzz', you know, a call ... on the phone
 - 'Nip to the loo'.. it's the restroom/ bathroom

Then there's the writing. Fellow Brits suddenly assume a great sense of pride in writing 'grey', 'colour' 'aluminium', 'aeroplane' (airplane - what?)... the list goes on.

I tried to explain Cockney rhyming slang to a friend. I may as well have been speaking gibberish.

Language barriers hey, who would have thought, we are speaking the same language but it's just a different kettle of fish.

xoxoxoxoxo

a{meri}can 'Dead week'

It's 'Dead Week' - aka the week before exams

In Edinburgh, the library is a bleak setting. The blistering cold walk doesn't exactly set you off in good revision mode. 

Here, however, with 'Finals' looming, and with average 20 degree weather check, there are worse places to be.

In fact UNC offers a host of activities that are on offer to relive stress..

1. Massages by the canteen (but seriously, do I want a massage right where everyone is queuing for food?)

2. Petting puppies in the Student Union

3. Build your own gingerbread house

4. Free bagels and hot chocolate in the library
5. Craft sessions with a projection of a documentary on cats (that part was a bit odd)

There is a whole calendar of events to get you through exam stress.

spotted: caffeine addict roaming the UL. I have too many photos of this girl.

On a weirder note - there is a naked streak. On the day after LDOC (Last Day Of Classes) there is a tradition of people to get naked and run through the library at midnight. Seriously. I thought everyone was joking so bailed on the library at 10pm...is it weird to say I wish I had stayed until midnight?!! Perhaps. I will be leaded the masses come Spring LDOC! Watch this space!!!  (Totally joking Granny, don't panic, your granddaughter has  not become a naturist.) 

I couldn't include video footage unfortunately as it was too explicit and this blog is strictly PG rating.

And basketball season is on the horizon! Quite looking forward to it because I will actually understand what's going on. Basketball is a huge deal at UNC, it's our best sport. Lots of the players are actually famous as they will go on to play in the MBA when they graduate. You can spot a basketball player from a mile off. They are inhumanly tall. It is a bit awkward actually standing behind them at a bar because it's like standing behind a huge wall. I'm talking 7ft tall or something. Anyway, should be fun, can't wait for the game season to officially start!

One week to go at UNC Fall semester, let the count down begin..

xoxoxoxox

a{meri}can Thanksgiving

Turkey shaped butter

Turkey veggie appetizer

So for Thanksgiving I stayed with Clayton and her family in Wilmington by the beach, thank goodness she took me under her wing or else I would have been stranded in Granville Towers, pretty bleak for the holidays! Getting the real Southern experience!

So what have I learnt about Thanksgiving?

1. The story? Nope. Something about Pilgrims and Indians and a big meal.
2. Everyone is obsessed with turkey - its turkey mania

yup, that was just first servings

3. You eat a lot and then have a food coma for the rest of the day
4. Have some quality family time

On the menu at the Freeman household:

Turkey (obviously)
Stuffing
Sweet potato and pecan bake
Mashed Turnips
Green Beans
Squash casserole
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Pickles

Pecan and chocolate pie
Honey and sea salt pie

Wine 
Sweet Tea


Most of the chat round the table is how good the food is, mainly because, well it is so good! It's going to be leftovers for a good few days. Javier in Tri Delt had made us a cracking Thanksgiving Dinner in the house for nearly 200 girls which was very impressive, but this was the real deal.

On first arrival in Wilmington, JD (Clayton's brother) was making deer jerky. He had shot this deer with a bow and arrow... felt like I was in the Hunger Games! Casual hunting in the south!

Thanksgiving involved a lot of sleeping and eating and recharging the batteries before we go back for exams. Just as it should be! I can't believe it's only 2 weeks to go before the Christmas holidays... it's been a whirlwind of a semester! 
xoxoxox

Wilmington

Christmas cocktail gals, lots of reindeer in the knocking about

pimped up turkey hat