LilLady's Fall rush 06'

Drolefille · #1 11-10-2006, 01:59 PM

Will you have the opportunity to study abroad next year?

lillady85 · #2 11-10-2006, 02:22 PM

No, I can't. I'm a senior next year and there are classes that I have to take that are not only not offered while studying abroad but aren't offered this year either and you can only take as a senior, all of which I need to graduate. I didn't know my program was going to be five months and I wasn't told till after I had already signed since the final details weren't set in stone at the time.

blackngoldengrl · #3 11-10-2006, 02:59 PM

This is tricky. It really sounds like you are more upset about not being present for the planning and establishment of your chapter, than about not going abroad. I know the feeling of "I'm going to miss out on so much!" I went abroad too, though not for my founding semester and initiation....

Both experiences you will remember for the rest of your life, that is, living abroad, and establishing your new chapter, being intiated. But even so, I feel like your opportunity with your sisterhood is not even once-in-a-lifetime, as in...not very many women will experience establishing a new chapter (as an active sister), so its pretty special!

I think going abroad is something everyone in higher education should do at some point in their lives. Soo, is there a way that you could go in the summer, just after school finishes for the break?

33girl · #4 11-10-2006, 03:23 PM

I definitely agree with seeing if you could go in the summer.

Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity, but lots and lots of people (the majority of them) have very full college careers without it. If you're going to be upset the whole time you're there and missing Chi O, it defeats the purpose. Can you get out of it?

Oh, and I just want to say that there's no way they should have made you sign ANYTHING without all the details (chiefly the LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM, for crying out loud) being in place!! If the rest of the program is going to be that thrown together, I would say funk dat...

PeppyGPhiB · #5 11-10-2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

Oh, and I just want to say that there's no way they should have made you sign ANYTHING without all the details (chiefly the LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM, for crying out loud) being in place!! If the rest of the program is going to be that thrown together, I would say funk dat...

No kidding. Lillady, how long did you expect you'd be gone? Many students study abroad for an entire school year. I'm surprised you didn't demand this info. ahead of time...what if it conflicted with other important dates/events/class schedules?

lillady85 · #6 11-10-2006, 03:45 PM

Hey,
Well, the program had said from January through March tentatively, so I would have still been here for Spring Quarter. I figured, one quarter wouldn't be bad since I'd still have 2-3 months left in the year. Except, it didn't work out that way.
As for studying during the summer, my school doesn't offer summer programs. If it was just any study abroad, I wouldn't mind so much dropping it but it's not. The reason I signed up to begin with was because of the extremely good internship that I'll be placed in with the EU. I had already tried to get the studyabroad office to place me for next year as a senior but due to classes, it wouldn't have worked out either.

Yes, I know in hindsight that I should have asked more info but at the time I was just so excited (and so were my parents) that the possibility of them changing the time frame didn't cross my mind and no one looked to see if anything could go wrong. Plus, I was still hoping that I would have been initiated with my sisters but chiO had set the date already and it's not like I could have asked for them to change it.

I'm still talking to my advisor but its not looking good as we speak. I told her that when I'd come back, I'd decide what I'd do then seeing as how it'll be nearly 6.5 months from now.

Drolefille · #7 11-10-2006, 03:58 PM

You can think about it this way, if you wait until you come back, you'll be the first initiation performed by your sisters.

As another thought, is there anyway you'd be able to fly home for initiation? Take a long weekend or something? It'd cost money, but it might be worth it.

Sorry I just ask questions, but I don't have any answers

PeppyGPhiB · #8 11-10-2006, 03:24 PM

At my school, approximately 60% of the students study abroad at some point. Most do it during their sophomore year, meaning sororities are often "missing" most of their soph pledge classes. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes the sophomores aren't given the chance to bond much with their sisters prior to going overseas for either a semester or a full year. Sometimes those women come back feeling very left out - and some drop membership - so the chapters work very hard at keeping in touch with women overseas, sending them care packages and photos and party favors, etc. What makes your situation unique is that you rushed as a junior, and the same year you're going overseas.

Since little can probably be done to change the situation, I would say go overseas as planned, enjoy every bit of it, then return to your chapter. Yes, you will miss being initiated with the rest of the colony, but you can be initiated later. Speaking as a founding member of a chapter, I can assure you that there are good things you will miss, but also plenty of not-so-good. The chapter will be making traditions for several years, which you will get to participate in as a senior.