[showmethevera]

Lemon Parfait was a house that I didn't really think I would like too much going in, but as soon as they played "Perfect Day" my smile definitely got wider (I lovelovelove Legally Blonde!!!). We walked in and my rusher directed me to a small room with a couch and a couple of chairs. She said I should sit down in one of the chairs, so I did and then she knelt on the floor. This was somewhat awkward and I always felt like I was talking down to her. I soon discovered that the vibe of the girls overall was pretty chill and I had a great conversation with the person rushing me. I left this house happy and glad that I didn't let my preconceived notions get in the way of having a good time.

Let me just say before I start on my Baroque party that their house is stunning. It looks like something straight out of "perfect sorority houses magazine" (I'm aware this isn't real, but if it was, this house would be in it). Also, I went into Recruitment with no knowledge of any of the "tiers" or rumors or trash talk. I didn't actively look for it because I really didn't care. First of all, Baroque was the only sorority to get buses instead of tents for the PNMs to use before their party at Baroque and let me tell you, the air conditioning felt like HEAVEN! I really, really wanted to like this sorority, but when we were learning the chant and the girl who came out to check and make sure we were all in the right order came out and was a real life Barbie, I knew that there was no way I would ever fit in with them. They opened the doors to the UCF theme and led us in to what looked like a hollowed out dining hall which echoed like crazy! The first girl that I talked to was actually really, really sweet and I thought I really connected with her. I then got bumped to someone with fake eyelashes galore, super tan skin, and hair blonder than blonde. Don't get me wrong, she was very pretty and held an intelligent conversation with me, but I knew I was going to put them in my bottom two at the end of the day.

Bali Blue was our last house before lunch. I went into this party thinking these girls were going to be stuck up and that I would have nothing to talk about with them except the generic what year/what major stuff. The first thing that was different about this party is that they had two PNMs for one active and they had us all at tables. It was kind of awkward in the beginning, but I got over it. The girl who was rushing me was actually really cool, chill and hilarious! I don't know whether the girl they paired me with was just shy or didn't want to be there because she didn't talk at all throughout the whole party except to give the usual answers. Looking back, I feel a little bad because I have a very strong personality and I probably should have tried to include her. Anyways, I left feeling like Bali Blue was for sure the house for me!

We had lunch and then Delta Zeta where they had girls from Florida DZ chapters come and talk to us while their national people put on a presentation. It was cute, but I didn't know if I would be willing to drop out of Recruitment to rush DZ.

We then made our way over to Cupcakes Pink, which going in was my number 1. I loved their mascot, colors, philanthropy, and what the sorority stood for. We got in and I started talking to the girl about the usual stuff and she asked me what activities I did in high school and when I mentioned that I did colorguard she said that one of the sisters was the captain of one of the independent winterguards. It turns out that I actually knew this sister through one of my friends on my high school guard! I then proceeded to mention how I didn't think I knew anyone in a sorority, but it seemed I actually knew a couple. When she asked who else I knew, I told her that I knew someone in Baroque. She of course asked how I knew her and I had no choice but to say from church, which then brought up religion and I know it is one of the forbidden topics of rush and I was mentally kicking myself for bringing up the other girl. She found out I was Methodist and she was Catholic and it all went down from there. I got bumped to a girl where we had an awkward conversation about her losing her voice and how honey would help her. The party was soon over and even though I really liked this house, I knew I probably wouldn't be asked back because of my slip up.

I didn't know what to think of Indigo Pop going into the party because I didn't really know all too much about them! This was one of the other houses that we actually got to see the door song because they lined us up in arcs. And I'm glad because it was ADORABLE!!! The first girl who rushed me gave of this vibe of being very stuck up and she eventually bumped me to another girl who was pretty nice and then I eventually got bumped to yet another girl who was seriously one of the sweetest (or is really good at acting nice) girls I have met! We talked about my major and movies that we wanted to see (The Vow) and then it was time to got. So even though the party started on a sour note, it ended on a good one and I liked them enough to want to come back.

It was off to Viva La Vera, the second to last party of the day and I was starting to fell really tired. We got in a line and were led into this beautiful house. The exterior is not as gorgeous as Baroque's, but the inside is stunning. This was another house where it was one rusher to two PNMs. The rusher took me and another girl to their chapter room where we sat down and talked. The person who rushed me was actually a sophomore that ended up being in my government class in the fall. We talked and the PNM that I was paired with was someone who I knew I would never get along with outside of this situation, but I smiled and took part in the conversation. I asked the girl who was rushing me what her favorite part of being in Viva La Vera was and - I kid you not because there is no way I could or would ever make this up - she said, "I like when the fraternity boys come in and make us breakfast. It is so sweet and they just do it for free!" My subconscious' jaw was to the floor. I could not believe she had just said that. All of the other girls I had talked to in the houses that I had asked that question had said either sisterhood or their philanthropy events which were the answers I was looking for because I wanted that to be my favorite part of a sorority. Anyways, the conversation just went downhill from there and somehow turned into talking about how the other PNMs dog had just recently died. I was grateful to be out of that house. They were a house that I definitely didn't want to go back to.

Finally! The last party of the day was at Suzani and just in time too because it started to rain a right before we started to line up. So they told us to just get in line and they quickly ushered us into the house to clapping, singing, and cheering. I was so exhausted by this point. My feet hurt, I was wet and I really just wanted to take a shower and go to bed after the long hot day. But I knew I had one more party to go to and I wasn't going to let anything get in my way from being my best self. So I threw on a smile and started the conversation. The girl who was rushing me was obviously nervous and really didn't know what to say. So after we got past the usual questions for me, I pretty much had a one-sided conversation with the girl nodding and smiling away. It wasn't a bad connection like at Viva La Vera, but I didn't really like the fact that I talked so much about myself and I knew nothing about the personality of the sister. The party ended and I walked out to, thankfully, no rain, but a few ominous clouds.

We had to make our way all the way back to Very Berry Paisley to do our voting. At the end of the day I put Baroque and Viva La Vera as the houses I really didn't want to go back to.