The title says it all really, what better to way to celebrate the halfway point of this whole study abroad experience!
Earlier this month Leif and Caragh had spotted a cute little cafe not too far from campus, so we all decided to go on a little brunch date on Tuesday. Lucille's is a New Orleans style joint, and what can I say, the food was to die for. Homemade buttermilk biscuits with apple butter, orange marmalade, blueberry and strawberry rhubarb jam. Eggs galore. It was definitely a pleasant change from the dining hall food! Needless to say we all had food babies, or more like triplets, after we left. Thankfully though our decision not to order beignets too (much to Caragh's distaste) was a good one, so it looks like we'll have to go back again to try them.
That night we decided to go to Sundance for the second time, but this time with the rest of "Team Commonwealth" in tow. We must have been the most annoying people in the world, since we proceeded to dance like we would in the SU right in the middle of the dancefloor. Thankfully, we were too drunk to notice the glares we were most likely getting from everyone trying to line dance.
Wednesday night Caragh and I went to Zeta Tau Alpha's "Think Pink Dessert Party" to raise money for breast cancer. I have no idea why we thought it would be English desserts, but god were we so wrong. I don't think I've ever been anywhere with as much peanut butter, sugary, brightly pink food-coloured stuff in my life! But hey, all for a good cause.
Thursday was Chi O's first social, which was "day at the zoo themed". I'd invited Caragh as my date, and we didn't have an absolute clue what to wear. Running low on ideas, I had a brain wave the night before, and thanks to my current obsession with animal print clothing, I conveniently had two things that matched for us to wear. Now came the zebra make up to complete the look... never again will I draw in my eyebrows with liquid eyeliner, talk about an effort to get them off. All in all everyone loved how we matched clothes and loved our make ups, so I'm blowing my own trumpet for a second at the design skills I didn't know I had!
The social was in the basement of Washington's sports bar downtown, and it was nice to have it to ourselves. I still can't get used to the craziness of Americans at things like this though, Caragh and I were stood in shock for the majority of the night at how crazy they are without even having a drink.
On Sunday we had another sisterhood retreat at the house which was pumpkin patch themed. We got the chance to carve pumpkins, make smores and generally just bond. I know remember why I don't like carving pumpkins, the insides I can only compare to picking up someone else's sick. Not pleasant.
I couldn't stay for the whole time sadly since I had another midterm due at the end of the week, something that is becoming a common occurrence here. Leif hit the nail on the head, "there's not time for hangovers or illness in America, you get way behind too quickly".
Homecoming week on campus was crazy with so many different events going on before the actual weekend. The sororities and fraternities on campus teamed up and competed through the week on all of these different events.
Chi Omega joined with Theta Chi (a fraternity) to become Team Skyline. The first event was called Ram Rhythm, were all the teams make an elaborate dance routine and perform them on the basketball court for judges to score. I really wanted to be involved, but sadly the rehearsal schedules clashed with the other stuff I had going on. Eager to support, Caragh and I went to watch, and I can say this because it was my team, but we blew everyone out of the water. Sadly, the judges scored us joint second, but it was a great start to our team. We couldn't help but laugh at how eager the frat guys were to perform and how much they got into the dances, something that definitely wouldn't happen back home!!
We had to leave early because Caragh's friend Jess was taking us, along with Leif, to Sundance. It's a saloon that plays country music and everyone line dances and swing dances.
We went with open minds, however I don't think we've all felt as British as we did when we first walked in. Nothing makes you feel like an outsider like everyone wearing cowboys boots, hats and a wagon above the dance floor to complete the saloon vibe. It took us a while to get into it, especially since everyone already seemed to know what they were doing. After our fair few attempts at the line dancing, we were happy to hear the random "normal" music breakdown which made us revert back to our usual SU antics.
Leif and I managed to get a little swing routine going which we're planning to use every time we go, meanwhile Caragh got ambushed for a dance by a cowboy. Maybe that's where I'm going wrong. Instead of playing the "I'm a dainty British girl card" like her, I proceeded to dance the Inbetweeners dance and gallop around the dance floor, much to Leif's amusement/disapproval... I couldn't really tell.
Another way to earn points for homecoming was to go to Starbucks. Being the "basic white bitches" the Chi O girls claim to be, they went all out ordering pumpkin spice lattes and Team Skyline won that part of the competition too. Other events were chalking the plaza and a game of capturing the flag of other teams around the campus, but I couldn't go to either... yay for my class schedule!
It was announced the other day that Team Skyline actually won the entire of homecoming :D However, I have no idea what that actually means so you'll have to bear with me on that.
Friday marked the beginning of parents weekend, which seemed a little weird having so many families on campus. The Chi O house was open for parents to tour which was annoying since I won't be able to do that until mine visit in November, but it's making more excited to show them it.
It couldn't have been a better weekend for this, as all the trees were starting to change and it's definitely the prettiest campus has looked by far. The homecoming parade began in the late afternoon and we headed to watch all the floats go by at the Oval. My highlight from the 100th homecoming parade was getting the chance to embarrass my roommate Olivia while she was representing her Chinese class float. It was a little annoying that a lot of the events overlapped each other, so Leif, Caragh and I actually missed the bonfire and fireworks display because we were at the concert in Moby Arena. Compared to Macklemore last year, the acts weren't as great, but we were front row and joined the Americans in their rowdiness while listening to Splyt, Mike Posner and Nico & Vinz.
Saturday was time for the homecoming football game, but since we were knackered from the week Leif, Caragh and I decided to trade the first half for wings and wine. Good choice, as when we got there the game had apparently been nothing to write home about. We met up with the Australians and stayed for the rest of the game, leaving 3 minutes before the end. We missed a drop-goal in the final seconds and the crowd flooding the pitch in celebration... typical.
All in all, homecoming was a fun, typically American experience, one that sadly marks the halfway point of my study abroad experience! Two months down, two more to go.
This past week has been filled with Chi O events and the ball seems to be rolling, in more ways than one.
Our philanthropy event, Chi Olympics was this past Sunday, which consisted of various inflatables and obstacle courses. Almost 50 teams signed up, with the funds raise going to Make A Wish foundation. The little girl who we were raising money for, Alexis, actually attended the event and we were raising money for her to go to Disney World.
The IM fields were filled with a variety of inflatables (jousting, bouncy castle and hamster balls, hence by pun earlier) and other games like shot put and tug of war.
I was a team coach, and my team were a lot of fun to work with even though we stood no chance of winning. I didn't manage to take pictures at the actual event because we were too busy running it, but I did get one of the token super-American banner we had.
For the rest of the week, we began the process of choosing our "big", someone who is assigned to us and who becomes my role model during my time in the sorority. Apparently the bond between big and little is very special, and is often a lifetime bond.
Every day for four days I had to collect gifts from my big, in an attempt to guess who she was from any hints she left me. It's really nice since I got mason jars from her that spell C-H-I-O and my first pair of letters, things I'll be able to take home. Which I appreciate a lot more than a girl in my pledge class who got a fish.
One day 2 there was the traditional giving of hand-me-down Chi O clothing as some way of showing the continued sisterhood. I conveniently got a "Potter" one, which was obviously a nod to my British-ness.
I had no idea who my big would be, so on reveal day everyone was given t-shirts by their big, and they were all lined up in the garden wearing sweatshirts. On the count of three they all took off their sweatshirts and we had to find our big by our corresponding t-shirts.
I was so happy, since my big is Sarah. I've got along with her really well ever since recruitment, and it's nice since she is studying abroad at Swansea next semester. Goes to prove Chi O can go international when we have a big/little reunion once I'm back home!
I actually wrote this last Monday intending to get something up before my midterms, but obviously that didn't happen. I've now learnt the error in my ways regarding the very unreliable CSU wifi, which is also a hassle when you're trying to watch Netflix. So here's my 'flashback' post, written while I sit in Caragh's room having a 2000's music flashback session to complete the theme.
Last weekend actually started off in a pretty chill fashion, with Caragh and I going on yet another date for froyo (that girl is obsessed). After a night of more snuggling, we woke up Saturday and decided we'd be going to the football game at Hughes Stadium that afternoon.
Off I went to the liquor store, so at 11:30am I was roaming the streets of Fort Collins with 3.5 litres of vodka smuggled into my backpack, in the hope I didn't encounter the bike police. Once I got back Leif, Caragh and I hurriedly transferred this into our new sunscreen flasks to take to the game. After all, who would question three British kids taking sunscreen to an outdoor event? Clever I know.
The game was what is known as an orange out, where people wear orange to honour the "Aggie era" of CSU. This was before the ram was adopted as an official mascot, and currently the most recognizable reference to this era is the "A" located on the mountain side above Hughes Stadium. Every year the freshman class hike to the "A" and re-paint it,but we never got the chance to go cause it clashed with plans we already had.
We met the Australians there, and in all honesty I don't think any of us paid attention to any of the game. All I know is that the Rams won, cue my loud chanting of "I said I'm proud, to be, a CSU rammm".
We headed back, raided the dining centre for scran and all headed for naps to help ourselves prepare for the night ahead. Worst idea ever. It definitely sped up whatever hangover was going to hit us the next day. We all felt very grim, but being the troopers we are, we headed to Leif's room for round 2. This was when the drama for the evening started...
We headed to a block party not too far away from campus. When we arrived the cul-de-sac was crammed with a tleast 300 students,and if I'm honest, it wasn't any fun. We tried to scout alcohol, but with no music and everyone surrounding us acting like idiots, Caragh, Leif, Jack and I decided we'd leave.
Talk about perfect timing. Once we crossed the street and reached campus, a convoy of police cars came hurtling around the corner, sirens blaring, in an attempt to control the party. As many of my friends/family know since they saw the news articles, this did result in a riot, which apparently is becoming a common thing with CSU students and parties. My favourite article the next day described how "rambunctious students wreck havoc, citizens tomato plant destroyed". Needless to say, we left with very smug grins on our faces knowing we weren't involved in the riot, and the closest claim to fame we have is we were actually there.
