xrachie's MAYBE recruitment, spring 08!

[xrachie]

flight home booked!
now, on with the houses!
Saturday, ie. today.

Abbey Road - Bright and early we started at this house where we stood for an excessively long amount of time. It was FREEZING as the house is up on a hill so the wind was nuts. Finally the singing started and we went in. Every girl I've met from this house I've loved so I had high expectations. The first girl I spoke to, the conversation was a bit stiff, but after that, all the girls were just so easy to talk to. I felt like I could really fit here. A few girls came over who somehow knew my name before I could introduce myself. They probably read my nametag, but it made me feel good anyway! Overall, I left really happy!
Tower Bridge - My experience at this house is proof that you really need to go into this thinking about whats best for you and not what everyone else is saying. I heard a lot of girls walking out of this house saying that the conversation was very one-sided and slow and awkward and I totally didn't have that experience at all! The girls were CRAZY spirited and played music for us to dance to before we got in the house. The girl I spoke to was the cutest girl and I loved talking to her. I spoke to her for most of the time until the very end where I spoke to another girl who wound up having to speak to me and the girl sitting next to me because the sister who was originally talking to the girl next to me accidentaly gave herself a paper cut and needed to go get a band-aid. But I totally liked this house and hope to see it again!
Covent Gardens - These girls were sooo sweet, there is honestly no other way to describe them. It was clear that they all really loved eachother and cared for one another and for their sisterhood. I think I could fit in here, but I don't know if I'm necessarily that peppy. I had some crazy conversation with a couple of the girls about getting jobs and apartments after college, even though we were all like WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS AUGH!, it was actually kind of funny. I really liked it here, don't know if its my favorite, though.
The London Eye - This house is fairly notorious for their cheering to be heard from blocks away, but I was underwhelmed. Even after that the girls I spoke to were a but underwhelming as well. The conversation didn't flow, I had to carry it with a couple of the girls I spoke to. One of them I was able to really talk to, but the others, not so much. I just left feeling like I had stated my major, hometown, job aspirations, residence, multiple times with very little else in between. I really liked their shirts and their theme though
Buckingham Palace - Let's just put it out there, that its quite the coincidence that this codename wound up being assigned to this house, because HOLY MOLY was their house GORGEOUS! Even the girls were gorgeous, I felt like I was walking into a J.Crew catalogue they were all so cute in their matching polos. While my conversations here were actually really great, I don't think I could be in this house, I just don't think I'm pretty enough, hahaha. One of the girls kept asking me about the houses I liked so far, so I tried my best not to name names and not say anything incriminating. These girls were also big on the cheering and the excitement, so I left happy but knowing that this one really wasn't for me.
Trafalgar Square - The first girl i spoke to wasn't very enthusiastic about much. She seemed to be just kind of...there. The next girl and I had a great conversation about Italy and event planning and then the next girl I talked to we talked about Perez Hilton, go figure. But I was comfortable with these girls, as I can talk about celebrity gossip and Europe for DAYS, they're two of my favorite subjects! This was another house I liked, but wasn't thrilled by.
St. Paul's Cathedral - I was surpised at how much energy these girls had, since it was nearly the end of the day. I was actually greeted by a girl I kinda sorta knew, as we had a class together last year. We bonded over some stories, as both of us kinda got ditched by friends for boyfriends. The next few girls are kind of a blur to me, as I was so tire I was pretty much delirious by this point. I remember liking them, but just thinking that I don't think we would ever actually click in real life. We were able to talk and laugh in this situation, but in any other, probably not so much.
THENNNN processing.
We could select 9 as our tops and 3 ranked. I had some trouble with mine, as I was debating about the placement of St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London and The London Eye. Eventually I did:

* Abbey Road
* Covent Gardens
* Piccadilly Circus
* Millenium Bridge
* Trafalgar Square
* Westminster Abbey
* Buckingham Palace
* Tower Bridge
* St. Paul's Cathedral

2. The London Eye
3. The Tower of London
4. Big Ben

I go get my list at 9:15 tomorrow morning and then have round two, the philanthropy round all day. Last year, house tours and philanthropy were switched, so that's kinda cool. This round I felt confident as I've done it before, but tomorrow will be a switch, since I'll be going in blind. It's the less formal of the two, which is kinda nice. I'll be wearing some khaki corrds and a nice top I got on Black Friday, most likely. This round was jeans and the tee-shirt they provided for us. I actually had to wear galloshes becuase it was so disgusting out. Luckily, my rain boots matched the shirt PERFECTLY. Tomorrow I don't know the shoe situation yet, I'll see how the ground looks. For now I'm going to find some food I think and get to bed!

[honeychile]

Wishing you better recruitment weather, fantastic conversations turning into lifelong friendships, and the best of luck with your invitations, xrachie, from a fellow Anglophile! I just love your code names!

[xrachie]

Round two, the philanthropy and video round, brought slightly better weather in that it wasn't snowing or raining or sleeting or anything. It was killer icy though, a few girls wiped out on the sidewalks. Luckily, I've gotten good at baby, flat footed steps that make getting to places take twice as long, but I avoid killing myself on the way to class, so I suppose its worth it :P
I was cut moderately heavily, which didn't surprise me. My heart really wasn't into it on the first night. I had just learned of some really devastating family news so it was hard for me to fake a smile. My father's been sick for about 7 months now and he finally decided on Friday night that he couldn't fight anymore. My mom thought that it would still be a good idea for me to go through rush, if nothing else, it's a worthwhile distraction. As a result of being a bit more raw than I think I would normally approach this though, I found that I got asked back to houses where I really didn't have to force a smile. The only house that I was disappointed about not seeing on my schedule was Abbey Road. I got my other top 2/3 though (Millenium Bridge and Tower Bridge), so I was happy. Considering everything else that's floating around in my head, I was just happy for the distraction.
The day started bright and early at 9:15 and was filled with surprises.

Trafalgar Square - This time around brought the same results as the first time: I liked it, but didn't love it. I was comfortable, but the girls just seemed to be there. They weren't very enthusiastic. I got really into doing all the arts and crafts (im like, 7 at heart) especially at this house. The video was adorable, but I started crying smack in the middle. They played a song that just hit home and I was gone. The sisters probably thought I was crazy. I had to gether myself together really fast though because the end of the video signalled the time to shuffle out the door.
Big Ben - I wasn't pleased to be going back to this house, but I know its important to try to give everything a fair shot. I reapplied some makeup so I looked like a normal human being, and waited to be escorted into the house. I was again in a 2-1 PNM-sister group with a terribley awkward girl who didn't seem to be too thrilled to be doing this. I wasn't overly excited by their philanthropy mainly because they didn't seem to excited about it. I did talk to one really chill girl, but I fear that the rest of the chapter is not like her, since she is the first to not be terribly awkward feeling to me.
Tower Bridge - There was some sort of confusion with the time that we were supposed to enter the house so they were doing the entrance song for literally 10 minutes. Because of the confusion I wasn't greeted at the door by anyone and then it was another 2-1 house. The girls I spoke to today and I didn't click as much as the first girl from the last round and I did. I still liked them and loveddd their video (which made me tear up when they played "All You Need is Love") and all their spirit, but I think these girls might not be me. They're very outgoing and wacky and I'm a bit outgoing and quirky. I did sort of speak to a girl who I actually remember talking to last year and feeling awkward becuase she was very introverted and not a big talker. So I guess there's a bit of bth in this house, I would like to see more so I can get a more definitive feel.
The London Eye - The notoriously loud cheering made itself known during theese girls' video! They literally almost took the house down, it was actualy pretty amazing. I welled up but I wouldn't let myself bawl like I did in the first house, definitely had a few tears though.I felt so relaxed with these girls this time around. I spoke to one of the more quiet girls I ahd talked to first round, but the others I spoke to were really easy to talk to, we had some great conversation and their craft was so fun! My opinions totally flipflopped on this house. I could almost see myself there now. With another visit I think I could have a better idea of that.
Millenium Bridge - I had an amazing time here! Every girl I talk to I love and can really connect with. I'm still so shocked by that, as I never would have expected it. A girl that I'm friends with in the house always makes it a point to walk by and say hi, its a nice little friendly face moment. The girl I spoek to for most of the time loves J.Crew as much as I do. Trust me - thats really hard! I love this house's philanthropy, I have a real, personal connection to it, friends and family of mine are affected by the cause and I would love to do work with the organization. I won't take it as any sort of sign or omen, but it is a definite perk. We actually barely got to the craft (which was really easy) because we were so busy talking to eachother. I called my mom after this was over and couldn't stop taking about this house. I don't want to jinx anything, but I really can see myself here with these girls.

Since I had less than 9 houses I had to prefer all of mine, so processing was nice and easy for me. At this point last year, I had received my dreadful call, and I haven't received one yet. I won't say that I'm in the clear of that looming fear I've had, but I would like to think I'm safe. I would also like to think I have 4 houses in my next schedule for Friday. I went home this morning to spend some time with some of my family and grieve a bit in private. I'll be back at school next Friday for round 3 and I'm going to be aching to know for the next 4 days. Saturday is pref night, which is scheduled to end early and a couple of friends from home who go to school abouy an hour away from me may come in and have dinner with me. So there's lots to look forward to. For now, I'm exhausted, time for sleep!

[Zeta13Girl]

I'd have to say I'm rooting for Millenium Bridge!