I voted!

Quick note to say: I voted yesterday! Printed off my absentee ballot and it is headed to the U.S. Consulate/ Embassy in Marseille tomorrow - wheeeeee!

I'm registered to vote in Colorado (uhh, should I be saying this on the internet? oh well, whatever, it's public record anyway) because it's more of a swing state than New York (hello blue!), so my ballot should be in Denver by next week.

EVERYONE MUST VOTE! I AM IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AND I DID IT, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE.
(unless you're like my Uncle T: "I don't vote and I don't complain." well, that's one way of looking at it)

Happy election season :)
xxo, S

You won't believe what I did today

I wrote deeply profonde and abstraite prose - en français!
That's profound and abstract. IN FRENCH!

Dad would probably say something like, "Shouldn't you be drinking black coffee and smoking unfiltered cigarettes while wearing a beret and scoffing at Americans?"
Well, Dad, that's what I wrote about! I just was not actively portraying that stereotype while I wrote it. I was really just in bed editing a paper for class.

But still.
Can we all just take a moment and admire the fact that I wrote something cool in another language?! I get that I can write a pretty good sentence or two in English, but this is some decent stuff too and it's in French.

I guess I'm doing pretty well at this bilingual stuff :)

xxo, S

P.S. will post the cool french thing soon... like, after i get it all grammar-edited to perfection from my professor. hopefully with a good grade, too.

Happy October 3rd!

Today is important for several reasons:

1) It's officially been one whole month since I arrived in France! The time has absolutely flown by and I can't believe everything that's happened already. From making new friends to seeing new places, the past month has been fantastic (albeit, with some ups and downs). I can't wait for everything that's left to come... but also don't want it to go by too quickly!

2) Today is Debate Day. That's right - the first Presidential Debate of the 2012 election year. And do you where it's being held?! THE UNIVERSITY OF DEVER! That's right - my school is hosting it :)

Facebook is blowing up with updates from people who were picked in the lottery to get a ticket to the actual debate and with photos from the madness that is campus right now. Think lots of media, security, and apparently lots of fences, too. Classes are all cancelled for the day (lucky) and I won't get to watch the debate live since it would be at 3am France time (8 hour time difference). Anyway, so proud to be a DU student today and I can't wait to hear about how the debate goes.

3) And of course, the reason of highest importance is Mean Girls:

xxo, S

Letter to Rho for Recruitment 2012

Monday was Bid Day back at DU. Although I wasn't there to experience it, I've heard only good things! Recruitment was tough last year - I personally felt very disappointed with my own performance and had to learn the hard way that even if you expect the best from people, you don't know what you're going to get.

Anyway, we welcomed fifty (!!) new members to ∆Z on Monday and I couldn't be happier!!! I'm so proud of all my sisters back in Denver and proud to call myself a Delta Zeta girl. Before Recruitment began this year, I wrote a short letter to my chapter (Rho) pumping them up with a little encouragement. I want to share it here with you all because a few girls said it was touching to them. And also I miss everyone back at DU! Here it is:

Bonjour à toutes mes soeurs!

As recruitment approaches, I know you are all getting very excited. After all, I'm 4,000 miles away and super excited! For many of you, this is your first recruitment and you are very lucky to have such a determined, driven, passionate, lovable, friendly, and smart woman like Été to lead you through this. All of E-board, all the chairmen, our new and already-loved CCD, all the alumnae, all your sisters worldwide, and all of us who are abroad want you to succeed and we know you can. So don't be scared - it's going to be one of the greatest and most fun things you will ever, ever do!

While I haven't been with you all throughout Perfection Week and the workshops, I still feel that you have all been working your very hardest (it's that sisterly bond we've got, i can literally SENSE it). If I could give one piece of advice to every Rho woman who is recruiting this Fall, it would be this: Have courage. To quote John Wayne, "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." Courage will make you stand out to every single PNM who walks through that door (and sincerity, and smiles, and sisterhood - all that good stuff too of course). It's not just bungee jumping or public speaking that takes courage, so much as being outside of your comfort zone and succeeding at it.

Anyway, thanks girlies for letting me pep-talk you all a little bit. I really and truly miss everyone so much and can't wait to see you all when I get back. Bises (that's 'kisses') from France!

In the Flame,

Stephanie

Congratulations to Rho on our best Recruitment ever! See you guys in January,

xxo, S

Academia

Dear all DU students/alumni; all Bronxville H.S. students/alumni; and my family,

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LUCKY WE ARE!
By the good graces of God and the Universe, we are smart.

Why am I so thankful all of a sudden? And why did it take me so long to realize this? The second, I'm not sure. But the first one is why I am writing to you.

Studying abroad, I have come across more than just French culture; also Spanish, Italian, and other European cultures; plus American culture outside of where I live.
One of the things I've noticed about American culture is that not everyone is as smart as the people I've been surrounded by my whole life.

I'm not trying to be rude or insensitive here! No, no! And I've discussed this with other DU classmates of mine who are studying abroad right now, too. We've been smacked in the face in our encounters with students from other colleges who are having difficulty with the curriculum. Meanwhile, us DU kids are breezing by; working hard, yet barely working; playing hard (and hard to get).

Back to academia.
Today's lesson: accept the things you cannot change, and learn to accept such things early in life, because it will save you much frustration later on.

We won't always be surrounded by such great minds, as evidenced, by our abroad experiences. Now is the time to thrive amongst our like-minded peers and take pride in the fact that we can all intelligently discuss current events, literature, economics, history, chemistry, and culture.
Even when we go off to our eventual careers and settle in new towns with our families, our coworkers and neighbors may not fulfill our ever-inquiring minds. Thanks to our privileged education and upbringing, we are not ignorant; we are not easily placated; and we are not unintelligent. We are a small, but important group of people.

Don't let the pressure or pride of this gift go to your heads, though! Modesty is as important as ever, as I've learned. Bragging about how easy that quiz was; how little you studied; or how much you don't care won't earn you any friends. You can't alienate people, but you can offer to help as much as possible, and be especially understanding. Especially now that you are aware of your own brain power.

So cheers to us! Cheers to our futures and our fortunes, not just monetary! Cheers to the friends we've made, and the ones we'll meet, and let their range of knowledge not barricade the doors to friendship! And cheers to our ability to give thanks for all that we take for granted!

xxo, S

Adventures in laundry land

linge (n.) laundry

As some of you may or may not know, my laundry record is rather spotty.

Wait that sounds weird.

My dirty laundry builds up quickly.

That also sounds weird.

WHATEVER. THE POINT IS, my laundry skills are a little bit lacking. Suffice it to say that I haven't done laundry since I've been here (yes, really). I've had (relatively) clean clothes to wear everyday, but approaching week three, it was time to get serious. So today was the day!

My homestay is an apartment, and there isn't a washer/dryer. I had been notified since day one of living here that when the situation arrose, I would simply say, "I need to do laundry" and then I would receive some money to go do so at a laundromat (laverie) around the corner. No prob, right?

WRONG! I hadn't seen my host mom since Friday (when she ran out of the house to an appointment, reminding me as she went that I must only take showers before dinner, never after) and hadn't had the opportunity to ask for laundry instructions. Fortunately, my housemate was up and about earlier this Sunday morning than I was, had managed to receive said laundry instructions, and could walk me through the process.

Ok, so this isn't awful. I just have to gather up my dirty clothes and walk over to the laundromat.

But this girl did not bring a laundry bag with her to France (and that would probably be one of the last things, besides a hairdryer, that I would ever travel with, by the way).

Thankfully, Housemate has a spare XL Ziploc bag for me. All the clothes fit, but I'm worried that the bag will rip. So I stick it all in my one suitcase (with wheels, kinda) and we head out to la laverie.

BUT THE MACHINES ARE VERY CONFUSING!

In France, you don't pick your load size based on "small" or "medium" or even "super." No. Here you do it by kilograms.

DAMN YOU METRIC SYSTEM! YOU HAVE FOILED MY PLAN ONCE MORE!

Each machine is labeled either "10 kg," "6 kg," or "8 kg" based on how much your clothes weigh. Because everyone automatically weighs their laundry. Yes, of course. What a natural thing to do.

Let me tell you that the 6 kilo machine is very, very small or très, très petite. One of these tiny loads costs 3€20 to run, and that doesn't even include detergent and drying!

Since I have darks and lights, I decide to do two loads in two 6 kilo machines. So I load up the washers and stare at it. I am completely lost and don't know what to do. Thank goodness again for Housemate! She takes me through the process - which contains many more confusing steps.

1) Fork over 40 Eurocents (centimes) into shiny wall-mounted control panel

2) Press one shiny button (yes, only one) and receive laundry detergent from second wall-mounted unit

3) Remove small plastic Solo cup that contains your laundry detergent and deposit detergent into washing machine

4) Fork over more money into blinking wall-mounted laundry robot

5) Press one shiny button (just one at a time, now) corresponding to your correct washing machine

6) TOUCH NOTHING ELSE and the machine begins on its own

7) Repeat steps 4-6 for second washing machine

Then me, housemate, and my annoying suitcase walk back home to wait for laundry being done. End of Laundry Wars Episode I: The Laverie Menace.

When we return, there are people inside who are also doing their laundry. At first I panic because we were gone longer than the time it takes to do one (two) loads of wash and this huge sign hangs overhead:

It declares that "People waiting have the right to take out your laundry." And we thought Sundays at DU were bad.

Fortunately, no one had to resort to removing my laundry and was going about their own business. But they seemed equally confused about the process, which made me feel better. If French people can't figure out their own damn laundromats, then I am not obliged to either!

Apparently, the spin cycle does not exist in France. When I went to remove my clothes from the washer, they were all heavy and soaked. Not dripping wet, but still decidedly wet. Realizing that air dry will probably not work on such clothes, I go ahead and pay more money to dry my clothes.

THIS IS THE MOST INFURIATING PART!

For 70 Eurocents, you get a mere 10 minutes of dryer time! So I think to myself, "Ok France, you nuclear-power loving, energy-conscious, progressive, environmentalists, you. Your giant dryers will give me my precious 70 centimes' worth of dry clothes."

OH HOW WRONG I WAS.

As it sounds, 10 minutes is not enough time in the dryer. My clothes came out damp.

Well, we found the French equivalent of the spin cycle.

Having lived in France for a whopping three weeks now, I've walked some. Just some. And I've seen some clothes hanging out to dry. Just some. Out of some windows and on some clotheslines. Just some. So I think to myself again, "Ok France, you voyeuristic, money-saving, traditionalist, small town green movement freaks: Your provincial ways of drying clothes will work for me, too"

WRONG AGAIN! I MUST STOP THINKING TO MYSELF.

(Note to self: stop thinking to self. Wait - no! - stop it, stop it...)

Back at home I go to hang up my clothes around my room, since I have no clothesline. I thought I finally understood the overwhelming plethora of cheap hangers I found in my closet that first day! Here I am, feeling so Snow White about using the fresh air of a Sunday in the South of France to dry my clothes and being all eco when my host mom comes home.

She takes one look at my room (the doors are open so I can air dry even more clothes the French way) and says, "Oh no no. We don't do that. You can't have your clothes hanging around all over the place."

Well, she said that, but in French.

So I get all apologetic, insist that the dryer at the laundromat didn't work, but nope. Still gotta take down all my hard work. She gave me money that it cost to do my laundry (actually she gave me less than it cost, just 5€ because that's all I'm supposed to spend, apparently. Well not when you gotta dry your clothes for 5,987,120 bajillion Euros!!!!!) and that was it.

Very French in her way of just stating facts - what we do and don't do - and leaving it at that. If you don't understand, well, sucks to suck.

Yes. Yes it does suck to suck. Because my clothes will now never, ever, not in a million years get dry. See new method below:

1) Keep clothes on random, assorted, sketchy hangers

2) Stick in closet

3) Pray that they get dry somehow 

4) Save lots of money, earn lots of frustration

End of Laundry Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clothes

Sadly, I don't think that Laundry Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Steph will take place today. But when I do somehow figure out how to dry my goddamn clothes without spending approximately $9,278,074 trillion (not the so-rumored 5 bucks) do not doubt that I won't inform you!

If you remain uninformed, I have probably not discovered this magical mystery method. And it will be more like Laundry Wars Episode IV: No Hope.

Before I leave you, I'd just like to share some evidence that totally supports (read between the lines here, people) my host mom's claim that hanging your clothes to dry does not occur:

xxo, S

Start of week two!

Today I learned a few interesting things…

1. Aix is the most expensive city to live in France, outside of Paris.
2. When you buy a TV in France, you must declare it, and pay a tax to have it in your house every year.
3. The French know a lot more about American political history than most Americans. For example, I had never heard of Pinochet until today (could just be my education, but no one else in the class had, either).
4. When someone wishes you “good day!” in France (or “bonne journée!”) you can reply “you too!” by saying “également!” which literally translates to “equally.”
5. The Marchutz School of Art here in Aix (and part of the IAU) is named after Léo Marchutz who was the first to purchase a Cézanne painting.
6. Photography comes from the Greek words phos and graph meaning “light” and “drawing.” As you can see, I had my first photographie class today.

My photo class is Intro to Black and White Photography, and we will be using all digital cameras. So my little Lumix guy will do! While it only meets once a week (on Mondays), we have weeklong assignments. First up, experiment with b&w photos by taking some around Aix. Sounds pretty simple, but even when I was walking around today during the “Golden Hours” of the late afternoon, it was difficult to spot scenes that had interesting lighting. My eyes will be more peeled than potatoes this week!

Also related to film (of a sort) is my cinéma français class. We began our first movie today, Les enfants du paradis (Carné, 1945) and – boy! – do these French actors speak quickly! As difficult as it is to watch old American films, old French films are even harder. But I am determined to understand it all! Having picked up some film criticism knowledge from my class at DU, I am excited to apply it to a new series of cinema masterpieces.

Monday is my most packed day of classes, but in addition, I had an introductory interview for an internship that will be part of my studies here in Aix. So at 5pm (17h) I walked to the top floor of the IAU to wait to get my internship assignment and submit my schedule of hours. Approved by the IAU but not yet by the company, I will be interning (hopefully!!!) for an art events specialist, who works a lot with Italian clients, apparently. No italiano, per favore – I don’t speak any! But no time like the present to learn some! With that checked off my list, I’m just waiting for a second, official interview with my potential-future boss and I will be back to intern-dom.

After such a busy weekend and long school day, I’m glad to have some time to chill and write. It sure doesn’t take long to get tired around here! And now that we’re officially on week two of IAU school, it’s only going to pack my schedule tighter. Fret not! For the weekends are my playtime and I’m researching places to go and things to do. Can anyone say Bordeaux?!

xxo, S

The STUDY part of "studying abroad"

I’ve been to France before. A few times. But I’ve never gone to school in France. Alors, you see much more of the culture by engaging this way. This is a list of things I’ve noticed about going to school in France and some specific quirks about Aix.

1. The copy paper here is noticeably thicker and smoother. From the receipt from my SIM card to each syllabus, the way the papier feels is really different. Like woah. I guess the French have higher paper standards than Americans.
2. “Syllabus week” doesn’t exist here. You don’t walk in to the first day of class, get your syllabus, and leave. No. The professors here (all of mine are French) use the entire class time as an opportunity to monologue (in French) about the purpose of the class at is applies to the study abroad experience (in France).
3.  Politics is the national “sport” of France. They warned us about this on the first day, but it’s true – eventually, at some point in your conversations with Frenchies, you end up on politics. And you must have an opinion! (How could you not?)
4. If politics is the national sport, then smoking is the national pastime. French, and Europeans in general, and well known as heavy smokers to Americans, but it’s so engrained in the culture that you cannot just dismiss it as a dirty habit.
5. Bottled water may be controversial on some environmentally aware U.S. college campuses, but not in France! Disposable plastic water bottles are found in every bodega and boulangerie (bakery). Makes me wonder why more Frenchies don’t own reusable bottles because you always see them just reusing the disposable ones.
6.  Just because you are enrolled in many classes does not mean that you will have class all the time. In fact, many people have just one class on some days (like I do on Thursdays and Fridays). Good for spending long afternoons at cafés.
7. WEAK COFFEE! Still have not gotten to the bottom of this strange phenomène. Maybe I’ll just take my Dad’s advice and drink only espresso. Or move to Italy.

a.k.a. IAU street

I’m taking five classes this semester (weird to say “semester” since DU is on a quarter system). So far I’ve been to four of them; the fifth only meets once a week on Mondays. FRE 301 (just “plain” French class); FRE 411 is my Honors seminar; FRE/FLM 355 is “France as Seen Through Its Movies;” COM/JOU 307 is “Contemporary French Media;” and ART 108 is beginner photography.

My seminar and film professor is the same and she is fantastique! She reminds me a lot of my high school French teacher who I had for four years. They have the same intense, passionate energy to teach and learn from students. I am already excited to take another film class since I loved my last one at DU so much; plus a cool teacher? Even more excited!

The media class is similar to one I took at DU, too, but it’s more comparative. We’ll be looking at the differences between French and American media, as well as the many factors that contribute to why people from different countries think certain ways.

I am also looking forward to the photography class. I’ll be able to take pictures of obscure things and then declare, “Don’t judge me! Je suis une photographeur et je crée l’art!”

the streets (and streetlamps) of Aix

Tomorrow, my only class is my seminar. We have to read a chapter in French, the conclusion from a book about Franco-American socio-cultural relations and differences. The author brings up interesting aspects of each culture that I never would have thought would affect relationships between French and American people. Especially good to know all this since I am une américaine en France.

Unfortunately, my studies won’t take me to the Marchutz School of Art, which is out in the country and supposed to be absolutely beautiful. Looks like I’ll just have to venture out there on my own one day!

xxo, S

Orientation Day

As Orientation approached, I strongly believed that I wouldn't need the information they would give us and that it was a waste of my time. In a sense I was wrong; but note completely.

Last night there was a "meet and greet" at the IAU where all the students and staff could come and mingle and meet each other. Afterwards, the students all flocked off to a bar that is quite visible from the front door of the IAU called Wohoo. As I followed a group of such students, I remember A calling out to us all, "Remember, Orientation begins at 9AM tomorrow!" and chuckling a little, as I'm sure he has seen many a student get too excited about drinks on their first night and then drag themselves to school in the morning.
Thankfully, that did not happen to me (or anyone I know). We had a fine time at Wohoo, both before and after dinner (yes, we went out on a Sunday, what Americans), but I'm sure more fun is to be had on other nights as the semester goes on.

Back to Orientation.
Me and my housemate walked to the IAU and sat with my good friend from home, K-bird, as we listened to welcome speeches and staff introductions. We got another presentation about what to expect from Frenchies, including being wary of maléfice, which is a way of describing how the French often treat foreigners. Also, there were a few housing horror stories... and regular horror stories, like one about a student who got attacked by two dogs in Italy. Lesson: avoid dogs in Italy. Then it was time for break and lunch!

front of the IAU (me and J last week)

fun fact! this building was originally built as a chapel in the 1600s

I have got to figure out where to go and eat during lunch because every time I have to fend for myself, I am clueless. Today we went to a weird bakery where the woman didn't really speak French and got bad croque monsieurs. Never again. Having met several people the night before, I now had a solid group of people whose names I remembered. I went with them to lunch but next time I might not mind going alone as long as I get to decide where to go and pick out some quality food.

After lunch, we had a series of different "classes" where some of the staff talked to us about "things to do in Aix" and "IAU excursions and activities." For the places that were suggested to go out (not suggestions from the staff, but from French students in Aix), I'll have to test them out first. And also remember them from the long list of places she gave! Sometimes I wish they just gave some to avoid instead, so that you know the others you find should be good.
For excursions, there is a weekend trip to Nice and Monaco/Monte Carlo this weekend. Everyone boards buses at 8AM, heads down the coast to the city of Nice with beaches and museums. Then we go to see the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo. And stay the night at a nice place where IAU students have been going for decades. CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS TRIP!!!!!

I also received the books I'll be needed for my classes. Not as many as DU, nor as heavy! I carried them back home with me, even though I'll have a locker downstairs in "Le Cave" to keep them, too.
As part of Orientation, we go a free drink voucher at a café across the street, so me and my housemate went to chill for a bit. She ordered a Limonade, which turns out to be a lighter, bubblier version of Sprite. I asked for a café allonger and - finally! - got a big cup of coffee!!! I was so happy about it! Strangely, coffee here is not as strong as everyone thinks French coffee is. French Roast in the U.S? Psh, like you could ever order coffee that strong at a French café.

After drinks, we dropped some people off at the Orange (mobile) store. Then I rushed home to change into some gym clothes and go for a quick run before dinner. Before my faire de jogging, however, I got K-bird from the Orange store and we walked back to her homestay because I needed to borrow something.
Her homestay is fantastic!!! It's up in the neighborhood-y part of Aix and the view from their apartment is ah-may-zing. Also her mère d'accueil is so cute!!! She was very welcoming and wanted me to see the place and invited me back - I think I will sometime! This is the view from K-bird's homestay:

that's Mont St. Victoire in the background

Sadly, I had to leave this gorgeous place to go on my run. I was so caught up in the view and the hospitality at K-bird's that I didn't have enough time to go to the park as I intended, so instead I ran a roundabout-crooked-side-street way back home. On the way, I passed another IAU student, so maybe we can start a running club! Or I'll just make K-bird come with me :P

dinner table at my homestay

It was good to get to rest after such a busy day!!!

While there was a lot of information that I would have missed out on (like excursions and books, etc.) there was also a lot of redundancy. For example, the difference between a transformer and an adaptor for electrical outlets and where to buy them; what is Monoprix; the French like politics; how to get money from an ATM; your home bank will probably charge you for using a foreign ATM; speak French since you are in France; you breathe by opening your mouth and inhaling.... These sort of things!!! 

I just wanted to stand up and say, "I know all of this and can I please be excused?!" But, alas, being a know-it-all is not attractive and I don't really know it all so I just sat there and tried to soak up the few scattered words of wisdom (that I had also heard before). 

For example, travelling every weekend is nice, but having time to explore Aix and the towns nearby is a special experience, too; when you study abroad, you should go outside your comfort zone; try everything.

Eh, we can't always have our cake and eat it too.

But speaking of cake.....

TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!

I celebrated a little with my family before I left, but even though I am used to celebrating without them on the actual day since I'm usually at DU, I'm sad that I really don't have any close friends here yet to celebrate with. Also I didn't tell anyone, so it's partially my fault, but I don't want it to be a big deal. I'll just have a little extra pâtisserie indulgence :)

First day of school tomorrow. Somehow, the excitement never gets old...

xxo, S

Countdown to Aix

It’s AUGUST!

And I’m thinking, “Woah, already?!” because that means there’s one month until I’m in France!!! Study abroad cannot come soon enough… or can it?

My internship this summer has been more than I could’ve wished for. But it’s still a full time job – and boy, am I glad I’m still in college! I definitely still miss school and all my friends there, so I’m ready for summer to be over (am I really saying this??). At the same time, when September rolls around this year, I won’t be heading back to the campus I’ve grown to know like the back of my hand these past two years. Nope, I’m going to Aix, where the only sure thing is that I will have not a clue that first day.

We all remember that first day of freshman year. You and your roommate psyching each other up for “oh my god, your first college class ever!” Well that got old fast, didn’t it?

Now, we’re big bad juniors. And while some of our colleagues back in the U.S. are going to celebrate their new level of upperclassmenship, we’ll be looking around for Art 101… mais en français.

Okay, not everyone on my trip is going to be dealing with this overload of foreign language. But I somehow got myself on the French Honors Program. Which means I’ll get a nice giant serving of full immersion. I’d prefer it to be a huge serving of brie, but we students take what we get, n’est pas?

So that means I’ve been brushing up on my French (un petit peu) and practicing my bises (not really – Americans would be so freaked out by that). Actually, madames et messieurs, I did get a little smart – only a little, I promise – and changed my computer clock to 24-hour time, my weather app to Celsius, and my Facebook language to French. There! Three simple ways to prepare myself. Combine that with the sleep schedule you develop working a “real job,” and nous sommes prêtes pour la France, mes amis!

I’m going to go work on a little playlist I’ve been preparing for the trip (what’s on it, you ask? Details coming soon…) BUT my excitement builds with every day that counts down to le 2 septembre (A.K.A. my flight to Marseille)!

xxo, S

2012 Breakdown

California Christmas!

New skis for the 2012 season!
Atomic Access

Reunited with ∆Z juniors who got back from abroad!

 patriots vs. broncos game - pats pats pats!

∆Z girls go to BΘΠ formal:

Making cookies for K∑ with Betty Crocker:

Note to all sorority girls: frat kitchens are a scary scary place!

Some skiing adventures:

Skiing this year wasn't as good as other years. In fact, it was pretty sucky. When it did snow, it wasn't much and didn't last long. Sometimes you had to wait all day for it to even get soft enough to shred. And the few times we got powder, it was gone in a flash. Me and Steeze had a good day at Copper (below) and quaffed the fresh on the back bowls :)

 with steezy at Copper Mtn.

Went to Aspen for the weekend (Feb. 9-12):

We stayed with Oley's family - they are such awesome, nice, cool people! - and skiied fo' free one day and hiked a nearby mountain the other day.

me, stu, oley, and doug on top of Aspen Mtn.

Performed "Wannabe" at Gamma Phi-Oke with other ∆Zs:

We pulled it together at the last second. Good effort ladies :)

Discovered the magic of the song "Call Me Maybe" with Stu:

Finals week was just full of this song. And now it's in constant rotation in my playlists.

And that's basically my winter quarter! Spring has just started and I can't wait for all the fun times that are about to come...

xxo, S

HALLOWEEKEND

Happy Halloween to one and all!

My friends and I had a great Halloween weekend. I had four different costumes, which my friends and I spent weeks coming up with. A bunch of us got ready in my suite beforehand and then partied all together.

getting ready to go out: music playing and costume-altering

betty crocker (a real southern girl) as a belly dancer with me, a sassy texan girl, and our cowgirl sister

 group of us before heading out on friday

 mk and me. troo wuv!

 me and miss bananaanna

 more dz sisters!

flight attendant, ballerina, and "walk of shame"

 stu and me

she is some sort of circus performer/ 80s workout instructor

 stu and doug in matching jumpsuits! 

 betty boop (as betty "boom!") and me

i'm a flight attendent from hawai'i

liv-love and stu

princess jasamine and a grecian goddess - so pretty!

The other cosumes I wore that aren't pictured here (sad!) are a lax bro and a tacky tourist. These were pretty funny... the lax bro one didn't do too well in the cold weather, however.

Can't wait for next year! Or just another costume/theme party in the near future!

xxo, S