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