It's official! As of Saturday my two suitcases and I have been traveling the good ol' US of A for a month. And as of yesterday, I have gone coast to coast.
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| Oh HEY sequoias in the airport...Welcome to Fresno, y'all! |
But before I start in on my current visit at UC Merced let me catch you up on the last couple of weeks of my Field Consultant life. After my visit in West Georgia I got to have my first BREAK! I can't even describe how elated I was to have a few days off. I never fully appreciated my weekends before taking this job. I have grown to envy "normal" people and their "Saturdays" or whatever they're called. Monday or Friday - it's all the same to me. So to say the least, two full days of no work was much needed and had been on my mind for a week leading up to it. I flew from Atlanta to Charlotte (couldn't they have just dropped me off in South Carolina?) where I was picked up by the best boyfriend in the world who surprised me with a night in Charlotte where I got to do my favorite thing - TAILGATE! Coincidence I booked my flight into Charlotte on the day of Carolina's season opener in the same city? Of course not.
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| Tailgating in Charlotte for the USC v. ECU game! |
After the Gamecocks made the football game way more interesting than I cared for it to be, we went to Columbia for me to reunite with the fam! Have I said how nice it was to not do work yet? Well, it was wonderful. We ate at Liberty and I loved getting to see everyone. I spent the rest of my break (all one day of it) in Charleston so I could see Wes' new place. I was sad to leave everyone but got on my plane at CAE anyway and flew my way back to Dallas for round two at UTD.
This visit was solely based around recruitment and you know what that means - no sleep! We worked from 8:30am to 1am on recruitment days getting the room decorated, practicing songs and conversation, and keeping each other from going crazy. I really grew to love these women over my week there - they worked so hard!
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| The UT Dallas Tri Deltas on Preference Night |
I was so nervous for them on Bid Day and was praying they would get the solid pledge class they really needed. You see - formal recruitment has never been a strong point for this chapter. They usually pick up most of their members during COB (informal recruitment) and they have been trying to change this image. Well guess what - THEY DID IT! I was a proud mama. I teared up when they all hugged in excitement about their new 27 person pledge class! I know what you're thinking "27 is good?!" - well yes. At UT Dallas 27 is big. In fact, the biggest class taken! The other two chapters brought in 24 and 25 members. The chapter really stepped up during their Preference Round and sold Tri Delta to the women coming through recruitment. I'll say it again...SO. PROUD.
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| The chapter with the 27 new Deltas |
After spending a week there I was excited to move on but sad to leave the women at UTD! I'm glad I'll be returning to help them with slating especially because I will have a fellow Field Consultant with me!! I will get to introduce the chapter to AnneMarie in November - I know we'll have so much fun. Before I left the chapter members gave me some beautiful flowers. So sweet of them!
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| Wendy, Ashley, Zhen and I with my flowers :) |
UTD has been one of the biggest growing experiences for me during my time of traveling so far. They have been a challenge but also have been that unconditional friendship that my sisters across the nation all are. It is so moving to realize that the vows we took really do bound us together - BBPB! It doesn't matter how different a chapter is from my own, they are always welcoming and that is such a great feeling. Especially when I'm homesick! Which has happened way more than I expected it to. Among other things - this entire Field Consultant experience is an affirmation that I want to live in South Carolina (or at least the southeast) for the rest of my life! It is beautiful and the people are wonderful - so everyone at home, be thankful you live in the greatest state!! No bias there of course :)
After that rewarding trip to UTD I have made my way to Merced, California...by way of Phoenix and Fresno. I am so glad I had a chance to pass through Phoenix - what a beautiful but weird landscape! I literally stared out the window for 15 minutes taking it all in. "It" being what I imagine Mars to look like. I'm excited for my visit to Northern Arizona in Flagstaff later this semester so I can explore the area a bit more.
After my layover in Phoenix I arrived in Fresno where I picked up my cute little Ford Escape I will be driving around the central valley for the week. I made the hour long trip to Merced and let me tell ya - not a lot to see along the way. And by "not a lot"...I mean nothing. That made the trip seem a little longer than necessary but I made it. The hotel is brand new and I love it so far!
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| Home away from home in Merced |
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| View from my hotel window - remember when I said "nothing"?! |
I had my first meetings in Merced today and everyone I have met so far is great. It is a new campus and a new chapter so I'm sure the next week will be a challenge but I'm looking forward to helping with what I can and then moving on to San Diego!
Miss and love everyone!
