[AOE2AlphaPhi]

I had to wait for two parties in the classroom with the other PNMS who didn't have invitations for that round. I got a hold of myself in time to go to the Philanthropy Day parties, mostly because of how excited I was to go to Francesco Biasia. Looking back, I'm actually SHOCKED by how well I recovered.

Francesco Biasia was my first party and I was ridiculously happy to be there. I didn't write down everyone I talked to, but I remember doing the philanthropy craft (decorating t-shirts for bears to give to kids) with a senior named Amy. I thought as I started to talk to her that she looked blonde, pretty and bubbly, like the stereotype of the chapter, but as we talked, I really connected with her. She did ask me where I was visiting that day, and I responded with an awkward silence, finally saying "Kate Spade and another chapter," she asked which one, and I said I forgot. (I know, but I just had no idea what to say.) I felt really dumb, like I had totally blown it, and I was especially sad because I had really liked her. I tried to save myself by telling her that I didn't like rushing that much, but that I completely loved Francesco Biasia. Next I got to officially talk to Jen. I'm terrible at art, and as we finished the craft, I mentioned how unattractive my bear's shirt was, and Jen went "It's ok, the kid can just take it off the bear." Until this moment I had never heard Jen insult anything, so I was kind of taken aback. While I was talking to Jen, Laurel (whom I mentioned earlier had been my orientation leader) came over to say 'hi' and tell me again how happy she had been to see that I was rushing and that she was thrilled to see me on their list for that day. Next Jen took me to another area in the main room (theirs was the biggest of any chapter we visited) to watch their slideshow. As we were sitting down, she also asked me where else I was going that day. I told her just Kate Spade, hoping she and Amy wouldn't compare notes, and she said she was glad I was still considering Francesco Biasia, especially because I was a Kate Spade legacy. (This isn't entirely true, I had two great-aunts who were Kate Spade, one of whom deactivated. I was also really surprised that she knew that.) Then I told her that I was completely in love with Francesco Biasia. Finally the slideshow started, on the chapter's new huge flatscreen TV. I loved the slideshow at this chapter, because it showed a lot of sisterhoods like river rafting. I left the chapter impressed by their closeness, but sure that my answers to the questions of where I was going would cost me an invitation back.

Next I went to Kate Spade, knowing that I should try hard and like it because my chances looked bad for Francesco Biasia. I was really surprised when the girl I met at the door, Alison, led me to a table to decorate t shirts for bears to give to kids....WHAT? Well, I couldn't hold that against one chapter more than another, so I bit my tongue, and really enjoyed my conversation with Alison. Their slideshow was earlier in the party, and it was less of an event. We just watched it causally as we decorated the t-shirts She told me about mystery, a party where their social chair sets you up with a mystery date if you don't have a boyfriend, that I thought sounded amazing. Then I talked to a really beautiful senior, whose name I never learned, but who was so pretty it was distracting. I liked her, but we didn't have a huge amount in common. Finally, I talked with Ashley, who I LOVED. It turned out she was the president of the sorority and I told her I wanted a position in whatever house I chose. Then I asked how they choose their leadership, but she said it was ritual and she couldn't tell me. She was really cool about it though, and I felt like it was ok that I had kind of messed up. I left this chapter feeling like I could really be myself here, and knowing that I would definately accept a bid from this chapter if I got one. The girls from this chapter reminded me a lot of my friends in high school, and it made me really mad that the other girls had been so negative about them. Maybe Kate Spade was who I was, but Francesco Biasia was who I wanted to be?

That day, I had to rank the chapters again for preference, and I rated them
Francesco Biasia
Kate Spade
Chloe
Cole Haan