You have spent you entire summer Pintrest boarding, planning, imaging, and purchasing for your ever-so-perfect day-room in your sorority. You have been texting, calling, group-me messaging and using every other sort of communication with your new "sister" so that all of your items match perfectly. You are probably beginning to stress out realizing how small closets are and what clothes you really need to bring right away. You have bought your new planner and you are counting down the minutes until you pull out of your driveway for the next few months. Here are a few things to keep in mind when "living in."
Say hello to closets, and goodbye to your clothes. The biggest joy and deepest heartaches come from sharing closets with 70-some girls. Be firm upfront -- make a sign on your closet door saying, "send me a picture of what you want to borrow before taking," or something of the sort, otherwise you'll be dancing next to your favorite black romper without you even knowing it was taken. On the positive side, the days you hate your wardrobe there are always options in another room. Just scream down the hallway that you need a dress and someone will holler back.
This year will be a culture shock compared to your freshman year. Nothing is the same, and not in a bad way, just different. All of your friends in other houses have different schedules than you all of a sudden, and you will have to put in an effort to make time or meet up on a regular basis (it is completely doable; don't fret.) All of your guy friends are also not across the hall from you anymore, but don't worry; you'll see them very often, just in a different atmosphere than the comfort of your dorm rooms.
Meals. Meal time is so much fun. Every single meal you get to chit chat, sing, dance, and chow with your besties, and it is the best. But, living in means that there are specific times that the food is out, which means you need to plan your life around these three times of the day, otherwise you will be spending your summer job paycheck quickly on meals elsewhere.
Meals, part two. If you are a picky eater, move on, grow up and get over it, because you have about two options at most meals — the main entree or a sub-par salad. Some meals are bomb, so delish, but others... well, maybe find a friend to swipe you into a dining hall.
Make nice with House Mom. Always smile and say hello whenever you see her. She is more likely to ask you what you want on the menu if you acknowledge her often, and that's a huge deal getting a say in meals. Hide your drinks and snacks in the informal and formal, her mood can flip a 180 if she spots a coffee hanging on those rugs. Be nice, she's your "mom."
Chapter. Congrats, you have to clean up this year. Don't complain; be fair to one another and always help out. You do not want to be known as one of the girls that runs away every time it's time to tidy up after meetings. It's not that bad, promise.
Take advantage of everything. Every time someone asks to go on a walk, a drive, watch a movie, go out, get ice cream, walk to a fraternity and pretend you heard there's a party, go to the gym, and every other random thing a person could ask you to do -- do it. You are living with great women that are all so different, so take advantage of all those different personalities. Learn from every soul. Embrace each other in the good and bad. Make the most of every day you live there, even the hardest, rainiest, coldest days -- do something to make it great because it goes by in a blink of an eye.
Good luck living in the house, your Greek Chapter House, this year. Enjoy it and live it up, girlies.
