It's a Greek kinda life

The whole Greek system here fascinates me.  I’ve previously written a post on the madness that was Sorority Bid day but I can’t just stop at that. So expect to see at least a few more posts on Frat and Sorority life here in Columbia.

The big question I have is ‘why’?

Why do so many girls and guys put themselves through recruitment to join, what seems to me, elite sister and brotherhood? Don’t these people already have real brothers or sisters? Unless you’re an only child, I think it would be weird to refer to anyone but my family as my sisters or brothers. I guess that’s the point. Being a part of these groups is like having a second family. But with that said I will bet 100 bucks that at least one person decided to go through recruitment just because their childhood friends were going to sign up too. That’s right – followers. Nothing but sheep. They couldn’t possibly be left out. But surely there’s a very realistic chance that you wouldn’t even be placed in the same Sorority as your friends. So why? So you don’t have to put yourself out there in Fresher’s week and actually make friends with people who have the same interests as you because you’d already have this ready-made clique of friends? I don’t know if I’m missing the point and I’m only seeing them on a face-value kind of way. Never judge a book by it’s cover ehh? Well first impressions can be very influential. Apart from the ‘Legally Blonde’ movie I didn’t have any idea what Sorority life was like, my first impressions were that these girls only ever dress in over sized t-shirts with different phrases written all over them and thought that because they were Sorority girls they automatically had a right to date any Fraternity boy they took a fancy to.

I desperately wanted to be proved wrong. I wanted someone to explain to me that above all these shallow reasons there was some deeper meaning.  I’ve heard all the hype around Sororities and that all they’re renowned for is partying and nasty hazing initiations. But deep down I know that isn’t true. Otherwise the grades you get in high school wouldn’t mean a thing. It would be like needing a C in your A Level’s to get into Oxford. To get into a Sorority you have to be high flying academically (as well as socially) and the support systems within Sororities are huge. I know because I’ve witnessed it.

The only way I was going to battle stereotypes was to see these girls beyond skin deep and actually have a sneak into their lives. Luckily for me, I have met one of the friendliest and down to earth Sorority girls here at USC and she invited me to attend her ADPi welcome bbq.

Walking through Greek Village my eyes felt like they were growing larger and larger with every house I passed. Mansions with tall white columns and stone lions, fitted with Southern rocking chairs on the porches in front of large green lawns. ‘What is this place?’ I thought. Students in the UK seem to live in squalor with mould growing on the wall and heating that never works compared to this life of luxury. The ADPi house was beautiful. I think I was walking around with my jaw dragging along behind me. I couldn’t get over the fact that students actually got to live here. Home to 35 girls this mansion included an industrial sized kitchen and dining area, a formal library, a plush TV room, further study rooms, and the biggest bathroom I have ever seen. More like the back stage dressing room of a famous actress fit for a princess than for supposedly skint students. They have their very own chefs and even a ‘house mom’ who watches over the girls. I’m not sure you could get much further from student accommodation in England!

So now I’m even more confused about this whole Greek system. Pretty girls, who wear oversized t- shirts, are always smiling and laughing, never seen without a backpack on their back, always willing to lend a hand, raise money for the disadvantaged, maintain 100% in every class, probably apart of some sports team or extra-curricular group on campus AND they get to live in a mansion! Where am I?

The Running of the Pigs

One huge difference between the Universities in the UK and the Universities here in the States is that there are enormous Fraternities and Sororities which you can join and be a part of for life. The only way I can describe them are as popular cliques of perfect people who have different reputations, some bad some good, but once you’re in you’re in! Greek life at USC is taken to the extreme. Apparently 1 in every 5 students is ‘Greek’ (as in a part of a Sorority/Fraternity – they’re not actually from Greece!)

Yesterday was something called ‘bid day’ where more than 1300 girls were accepted into their new lives of sisterhood to one of the Sororities. I had heard this was a big deal but what I was greeted with was utter madness! Imagine hundreds of pristine Barbie-like girls dressed up in tutus, cowboy boots and luminous colours, jumping up and down whilst screaming at the top of their lungs. Talk about intimidating. I didn’t know where to look! Chanting ‘Kappa Kappa Gamma’ or ‘Zeta Phi Beta’ none of it really made any sense. Luckily, I’ve befriended an American girl who lives in my building and she explained the whole ‘rushing’ system. At the top of the horseshoe were a group of younger girls dressed in normal clothes (Freshmen) surrounded by the Barbie rainbow clan, on bid day the Freshmen find out which sorority they’ve got into (if any!) after a week of intense interviews and events called ‘rush week’. The new pledges get given a tshirt with particular colours on that represent a Sorority. Then they run, screaming may I add, down the horseshoe, past all the Fraternity boys trying to trip them up, to their designated area. Greeted with ‘welcome home’ signs, there were girls hysterically crying as they finally found out where they would be living for the next four years of their college life.

I’m not sure words can actually justify how mad that afternoon was. Whistles blowing in all directions, chanting, screaming, crying. Chaos! I don’t know why this event is called ‘The Running of the Pigs’ because although there was a lot of running, the girls I saw in their glad rags definitely cannot be associated with anything of the piggish nature!

The Start of Something New

My first 24 hours in South Carolina have been filled with sorority girls, yoga shorts and lots of proud ‘Gamecock’ wearers. Please be assured that this blog is no fiction. Instead what you will receive is truthful insight into my adventures here at the University of South Carolina. So however crazy or incredible they may seem, they are, nevertheless, true.

After arriving at Charlotte International Airport, on what may have been the busiest flight crossing the Atlantic (overbooked by 10%!) I made my way to Columbia on a shuttle bus service. Now, despite being told by numerous people about the glorious hot and humid weather the South is renowned for. It was in fact raining cats and dogs! After dragging my suitcase to the Study Abroad office to collect my room key through the rain I was greeted by a Sorority girl who kept on telling me how ‘adorable’ I was after hearing my English accent. Just what I needed to hear after a 9 hour flight!

Regarding accommodation, I seem to have lucked out and managed to get my own room in a building that was built in the 1800s right in the centre of campus on the Horseshoe. My room is in a shared apartment with 3 other girls: one other British student, a French student and a girl all the way from Downtown Charleston. Hopefully we’ll be best buds and I can go stay for thanksgiving (apparently she used to be a swimmer so we have some common ground!)

The past 24 hours have just been a complete whirlwind. I've been shown around campus by a different Sorority girl who was really sweet; however, she did make a comment on my dress style. So those of you wondering what college students in the US wear, look no further. Nearly every single girl I have seen around campus today was wearing nike trainers, baggy yoga style shorts and either a baggy tshirt or something with CAROLINA or GAMECOCKS printed on the front. I thought ‘yeah I’ll fit in fine’ but I stand out like a saw thumb and I was only wearing converse, leggings and strappy top!! After I made a comment about all the girls looking like they’d just hit the gym, the Sorority girl showing me around bluntly told me that what I was wearing was really ‘dressed up’ and that most students just wear shorts and tshirts to class. This is taking casual to the next level! Might as well turn up to lessons in my pjs then!

Campus is HUGE. For lunch I went exploring and found the student union, Russel House, which has its own ice cream parlour and bagel bar. So cool! Needless to say, I had a bagel for lunch, and yes the woman at the till did make fun of me when I asked for ‘tomarrrto’ instead of ‘tomaaato’. I think the Southern twang is going to take a little while to get used to!