[KappaKittyCat]

PhiStar,

Firstly, have a BLAST in Spain. I lived in Florence, Italy last for four months last fall, and it was the most amazing experience of my life (except Initiating as a Kappa, of course). Especially if you've never gone overseas before, which I hadn't, prepare for a wild ride that won't always be easy, but that will make you grow like nothing you've ever imagined. Secondly, I completely hear your concerns. Yes, it is very hard to be away from your sisters and your chapter. A semester abroad pulls you away from everything you're used to, but I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything.

My chapter was having a membership crisis of epic proportions while I was gone. We have deferred recruitment on my small campus, and I left behind four other active sisters (yes, four). To top it, I was membership chair. I had worked very hard over the summer with my advisors and sisters to plan everything out before I left. Because there was nobody to really fill my place while I was gone, I did a great deal of my office via email and transatlantic phone calls (which can be pricy!). When I got back, I was happier to see my sisters than anyone else on campus. I was rather weirded out by this whole load of new freshmen wandering around, looking at me and thinking, "Who are you and what are you doing on MY campus?" I felt rather disoriented. Here I'd had this AMAZING experience, and nobody'd really even noticed I was gone. Then I walked into our first chapter meeting. Darling, I was MOBBED. I cried all through our ritual that night. I was just so happy to see my sisters. They'd consciously left a place for me. They missed me and were glad I was back. They wanted to see my pictures and hear about my trip. They were the reason that I didn't have horrid re-entry shock.

While I was there, I missed those ties a lot. I felt very lonely at times. However, I did bond very much with other Greeks in my group. One girl especially, an Alpha Chi from DePauw, became very close with me. We called each other sisters; even though we weren't in the same chapter, we became very close and we shared the idea of sisterhood. I'd encourage you to seek out other Greeks amongst your fellow American students. I firmly feel that Greek women have a deeper understanding of what it is to be loyal and supportive to each other. We understand sisterhood, and it makes bonding very easy.

Another suggestion I have is to contact Phi Mu's HQ and see if they can hook you up with any Phi Mus living, studying, or travelling in Spain. I got back from Florence only to discover that one of my advisors had toured through there. She'd had no idea where I was in Europe or how to contact me, and I really wish that we'd been able to get in touch because it was really fun to show visiting friends around. Let people know how they can contact you while you're there, and you might be surprised. I also learned after the fact that there are tons of Kappas living in Italy. I could have met them, but I'd missed the opportunity. Use the inherent networking power of your GLO. It could be fun.

Coming home can be hard. I know that many of our chapters have trouble reintegrating and keeping people involved after they get back from junior year abroad. Some ideas to make this easier:

1) Send LOTS of postcards to your chapter, as well as letters and pictures. Ask them to put them up on a bulliten board in the chapter house or room or wing.

2) Ask if you can do an education session or program night about your trip.

3) Have a sisterhood night making food from the country.

4) Ask your chapter to make a little bulliten board (maybe the same one on which they put your postcards) with your picture and some stuff about you... ESPECIALLY if you'll be gone during Recruitment. That way the NM's will have some idea who you are. If you're not going to be the only one off-campus, they could put up a map with pins in it to show where you are.

5) If there are NM's while you're gone, ask for their addresses/email addresses and strike up a correspondance. I did this with one of my sisters who pledged while I was in Italy. When I got back and she walked into the room, I immediately knew that she was Polly. We becamse incredibly close right away because we'd done all the "getting to know you" stuff online and via s-mail while I was gone.

Overall, I would say that the key is to keep your foot in the door at home. Stay in touch and that'll make coming home easier.

Best of luck in your travels, and feel free to email me if you'd like to chat some more.