A trip to wonderland

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 by Alyssa Pilli
I eat fish to pass the time away
'Neath this blue Canadian moon
This old world has made me crazy
Crazy as a loon
Lord, this world will make you crazy
Crazy as a loon

   --Crazy as a Loon (originally by John Prine)
From: Unknown Album


This past weekend was a highly eventful one!
Friday night I accompanied one of my good friends to Indianapolis to see "Alice in Wonderland" in 3D! It was not quite what I expected, but seeing the 3-D was pretty cool.  Alice in Wonderland is actually showing right now at the movie theater right by DePauw University, but it's not 3D like the one we saw, so we did not support the locality for the night.
Something else that's pretty cool: this coming weekend, there is a trip sponsored by the Union Board (one of the many clubs on our Liberal Arts College Campus) that will be taking around 54 students (free of cost) to Plainfield to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D! Boy am I glad that I got my ticket for free or I would be so mad that I would have paid when there was this great event offer from DePauw University!

And now, it is back to the extreme work load, because there are less than 2 weeks left in the semester, so our Private Liberal Arts College has gone into midterm mode!
 



Coming Soon: A weekend to remember

Friday, February 26, 2010 by Alyssa Pilli
I'd like to make some changes
before you arrive
so when your new eyes meet mine
they won't see no lies
just love.
just love.

I will be pure,
No, no, I know I will be pure.
Like snow- like gold-
like snow- like gold--

No Lies, Just Love
From:Don't be Frightened of Turning the Page (2000)

 
So much is going to be happening this weekend! I will try to give insight into everything, but forgive me if I forget something that is going down!
SOOOO there will be youngins running amuck on campus as it is LITTLE Sib's WEEKEND here at DePauw University starting tomorrow (Feb 26).  
Tomorrow at Alex's Alleys in Greencastle (close enough to DePauw's Liberal Arts College Campus that you could throw rocks at it) there will be free bowling! Everyone is advised to take their little sibling there, and it is promised to be a great time even if someone is without a sibling, I can bet people will be grabbing freshmen to pose as their "little sibs." Silly!

Saturday should also be exciting as at 8 PM in the UB Ballroom of the Union Building there will be a mentalist named Chris Carter coming! So cool. So apparently he is into hypnotism and mind-reading! I've always wanted to be hypnotized, so I definitely plan on attending.. hopefully it doesn't turn into one of those strange things you always see on the Maury Show when they bring in hypnotists... I saw a grown man using his shoe as a phone on one episode...weird. Here's an awesome picture of Chris Carter bending utensils with his mind!! WHOA

This whole weekend there is also an awesome play that will be showing in the Green Center for the Performing Arts Friday, Saturday AND Sunday.   The plays here at Depauw University are always amazing. So much talent can be found at this Private Liberal Arts College!   So the Play that's being performed is "The Laramie Project" and according to the Laramie Project at DePAuw's facebook advertising group, it "is a play created from a series of interviews conducted in the town of Laramie Wyoming after the beating and death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard." I think it is going to be great... definitely a perfect way to spread awareness and hopefully gain acceptance for gays and lesbians everywhere.  DePauw University is a great place for acceptance, and I find it to be awesome that we are able to put on this moving performance.
Along with that, apparently there is a hate group from Westboro Baptist Church that plans on coming to DePauw to picket against those who are standing up for homosexual rights. This church has an awful website on which they are so negative. They wrote about DePauw having the Laramie Project performance on their website and claimed that this Sunday they are going to be on campus to protest.  The DePauw students won't stand for this, and thus a group in opposition has been formed to have a peaceful "LOVE RALLY" to counter-protest the negativity of this so-called Church. The fact that so many students are going to stand up for the fair treatment of all is just another reason that DePauw University is the Best Liberal Arts College.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church  <--- for more reading about the church

Sick as a dog, but on the road to recovery!

Friday, February 19, 2010 by Alyssa Pilli
So I'm just a medicine
you take when you're sick
you get well and that's it
I'm put back
on the shelf in your mirror
and it isn't exceptional
the course of our fate
cuz people love and they hate,
and I guess
it's just our turn to hate.
 

~I've Been Eating (For You)
From: Noise Floor (2006)


Right now I'm sitting in Julian attempting to write a paper, thanking heaven that I am no longer sick as a dog! This past week has been brutal! So many people are getting sick, but that's what happens when you go to a small liberal arts college and everyone is breathing down everyone else's necks while living in close quarters! But, there has to be SOME downside to living in a place where all of your best friends are within a block of you no matter where you are on this Private liberal Arts College Campus.  
ANYWAYS, here is a lovely picture of my NEW KAPPA SISTER Marycarmen (MC). Obviously, we are studying hard,  and you can probably notice our study beverages in the foreground.

As you can tell, I am rocking glasses today. Usually I 'm found in contacts, but for the last week I have been forced to wear my glasses because I got a nasty eye infection!  As a result of this, I learned that DePauw really does not have anywhere to get your eyes checked out, but luckily in Greencastle there are MANY optometrists. I chose to go to the one at the WalMArt vision center.  They were so helpful, and accommodating. It didn't even matter that I had to go there by myself (without the accompaniment of my mom) because they were so nice to me.  I got some eye drops and now my eye is on the road to recovery!  Never again will I sleep in my contacts!!!

Welcome home! IT'S BID DAY

Monday, February 15, 2010 by Alyssa Pilli
There's people here, but you are gone.
And I'm fine, still swimming through time.
Afraid some days I've reached the shore.
Make yourself free, a man said that to me.
Now my heart is like an open door.

Tourist Trap
From: Four Winds (2007)



This past week at our Liberal Arts College was full of excitement! All of the first-year students who had gone through rush found out which house they were to become a pledge in on Bid Day!  Bid Day is definitely one of the most exciting days of the whole school year, not just for those who have just joined a house, but for the members already in a house who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new members!! Bid Day for the sororities was last Sunday, and this is a picture of my pledge class (no longer the babies of the sorority!) all dressed up to welcome the new sisters! Like many liberal arts schools, the Greek system is something that is very prevalent here at DePauw University, but something great is that even with the high numbers of Greek students, those who don't choose to join a Greek house are still able to stay great friends with those who do!










On another note, something exciting was announced last week at our Private Liberal Arts College!  One of my favorite bands, Jack's Mannequin, will be performing live on March 6th!  I have never seen them live before, but I have heard from others that Jack puts on a great show!  Their newest CD is this one>>  called "Everything in Transit"
My favorite songs by them are "Holiday From Real" "The Resolution" and "Dark Blue."  I definitely advise you to check them out!!

A New Semester Begins...

Friday, February 5, 2010 by Alyssa Pilli
Shrill as a choir of children
Urgent like the first day of May
False and inflatable feeling
Tugs at my senses, big as the Macy's Parade

Coat Check Dream Song
From: Cassadaga (2007)


The first week of classes at our Small Liberal Arts College has already come and gone! This semester I am taking Spanish Literature, Art History, Intro to Philosophy, and my Honor Scholar class where we are going to be combining literature (the classics) and history.  I can already tell that my social life is going to suffer greatly, but thats how it goes at one of the Top Private Universities in the country... everyone gets his/her turn at having a really hard semester.  I guess for me it is not so much that it is a hard semester, more that it is going to be very time consuming (being in multiple Lit classes).
I have found myself a regular at the Percy L Julian Math and Science Center (Julian) where I will spend hours just reading for classes. This in my opinion is the most comfortable place to study on campus because there is always a bustle in the background and you don't get nasty looks for talking! (My kind of place.)

This week also marks rush week! The first round of rush was last Sunday, and tonight is Round Two. Tomorrow is Round three, and Bid Day for girls is on Sunday! This week is always very stressful for everyone because of the anticipation of what's to come, so it's great that it is almost over!! And I know that all of the sororities and fraternities are so excited to be able to welcome new members into the houses! Just one more thing to make this Liberal Arts College even more exciting!!!

Winter Term comes to a close

Thursday, January 28, 2010 by Alyssa Pilli
I dreamt of a fever,
one that would cure me of this cold, winter set heart.
with heat to melt these frozen tears
burned with reasons as to carry on.

 If Winter Ends
From: Letting off the Happiness (1998)


Winter term has come and gone already! My last Meditation class was on Tuesday.  Usually we only meditate for an hour each day, but for the last day we had a two hour long meditation session.  The two hours were optional, and since I was having a really off day I decided to jump out after the normal one hour session! 
Tons of people are starting to get back from their DePauw UNiversity  off-campus winter terms. It's so great to see all of my friends again!!

I've been living this winter term in one of the dorms that are usually just for the first-year students of our small liberal arts college campus, but I get to move back into Kappa Kappa Gamma tomorrow!  Tonight I will be spending the night at the luxurious Walden Inn.  The Walden Inn is a lovely little Inn located right on campus.  It's not too expensive, and so it is a great option for parents to stay at while visiting their children.  The beds are so fluffy that it's impossible not to have a great nights sleep.  ALSO (it gets better) in the shower the shampoo is no low-quality stuff..  the conditioner, shampoo, and soap are all from bath and body works!  Coconut Lime: my favorite!!!  I would expect nothing less from the Inn on the campus of this Top Private Liberal Arts College.

WT week 2 is coming to a close.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 by Alyssa Pilli
“Where are we going?” and he looks at her
and he says “We’re going to a party.
It’s a birthday party. It’s your birthday party.
Happy birthday darling. We love you very, very, very,
very, very, very, very much.”
- At the Bottom of Everything
From: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)




Wow already the 20th of January! How time flies by!!! Last week was somewhat uneventful. I turned 20 last Tuesday, so that's exciting! My birthday was a good day. I hung out with some of my favorite people here at DePauw University.  I trekked over to Sigma Chi Fraternity where I played some video games which is always a favorite pastime during Winter Term since it's so cold outside! Then went to Phi Delt where I saw some of my other favorite people. It was excellent.

Last year during winter term, some First-Year students went sledding down the hill that's right behind the dorms. There were no sleds so we borrowed some trays from the dining hall. They were, of course, returned after. I overheard some freshmen talking about doing the same thing a couple days ago so that made me happy. Imagination runs freely here at this Small Liberal Arts College! It's necessary too when Greencastle really isn't near any big cities, and the students here are always creating new ways to have fun.

Since during winter term there aren't as many people here, the campus has planned activities each night of the week. MLK day was Monday, and although we were one of the few Indiana Colleges and Universities to have class, there was a speaker that all were encouraged to attend.  Although I personally did not attend, I heard it was great. DePauw University always seems to bring great speakers to our Private Liberal Arts College Campus.
My friends and myself like to eat in order to pass the time.  A restaurant on campus is called  "the Fluttering Duck" Here's a picture of us eating there...

WINTER TERM

Thursday, January 7, 2010 by Alyssa Pilli
Yeah, It was simple in the moonlight
now it's so complicated
it was so simple in the moonlight
so simple in the moonlight
so simple in the moonlight
     ~Lua
    From: Lua (2004)



SO, I have arrived back on DePauw University's campus following what seemed to be a very short Winter holiday break! It was great to see my family and friends from home, however I cannot deny how wondrous it feels to be back on this Small Liberal Arts College.
   I began my winter term 2010 class yesterday!!! It was very exciting and quite mentally stimulating. I am a part of the Meditation Winter Term class here at DePauw University.  It takes place daily at the Barlett Reflection Center at the Prindle Institute for the Ethics which is located on the DePauw University Campus, however is a little bit of a stroll off campus.  Students are able to drive their own cars to this locations, but there is also a public transportation opportunity.  There is a lovely Rural Transit bus that students are able to take advantage of in order to reach this destination.



 There are a few of my best friends in the class with me, so it should be a good time!  Today the class was cancelled due to severe weather. THere is a ton of snow!
HEre are a couple random pictures of the reflection center, one from the outside, and the other is the



My good friend Alicia also just back to the Private Liberal Arts College from Hawaii, and leaves for her Winter Term in Brazil on Saturday.  Despite the bad weather, I made the journey to the Indy airport in order to retrieve her.  It was a nice calming drive, and not many cars were on the roads probably due to the nasty weather.




HO-HO-HOLY FINALS.

Friday, December 11, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
I'll have a blue HOLIDAY* without you
I'll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green HOLIDAY* tree
Won't mean a thing dear, if you're not here with me

-Blue HOLIDAY*
From: "A HOLIDAY* Album" (2002)

[*** NOTE: the real word used in this song is "Christmas." Christmas has, however, been replaced with "Holiday" in order to promote political correctness.]


It's that time of year again.  FINALS.  This week was the last week of classes. NOW starts the 24 hour quiet hours  until finals end here at this Private Liberal Arts College.  Most liberal arts schools have difficult finals.. but I would say that here at DePauw one must really work hard in order to succeed on the finals.  This past week for some has been worse than the actual finals week!  While all of my friends were busy writing papers and taking exams, I have really had nothing to do.  Although I have been studying here and there to get a jump start on preparing for next week, I have actually been somewhat bored.  That is why I have been working quite a lot of hours over at the admission office.

Those who regularly follow my blog will recall my employment in the DePauw University admission office from the summer.  This week I have been reliving my time spent there putting stickers on things, stuffing letters, and gluing things together.  I personally love to glue. Along with that I have been babysitting for the children of a couple of my professors. 

Something that I really like about this Top Private University is that there are a plethora of jobs both on campus and off.  Students are close enough with professors that one may actually go to a professors house to watch their kids! It's nice to be making a bit of $$ before the Holiday Season!

ON another note! It seems as though everything is Holiday-ed out lately! Almost all of the Greek houses are covered in lights, and Kappa Kappa Gamma is decorated inside as well! 

 
I know it's somewhat huge and hard to see, but this is a picture of SAE (fraternity next door to KKG) As you can see, it is all decked out in lights!! SO much fun,















In this picture, I am hanging out with some friends at Phi Delta Theta.  All of the people in this picture besides myself are Freshmen.  Freshmen weren't allowed on Greek property before Fall Break, but now they are so it's really nice to get to meet all of them!  Because this is a Small Liberal Arts School, there really is no division between the different years in school. 
It's awesome when everyone is able to be friends no matter of age.  This is in Jon and Carlos' room, and as you can see they have a lot of pride for their country!!

 Do not fret, I will write next week to inform all of you on how I do on my finals

BRRRRR... it's cold outside.

Friday, December 4, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
The heat comes in distant shifts
To fill up my room
It spills out of these ancient vents
To meet the new cold
And I lay in my twisted sheets
And stare out at the snow
Thinking of the next few months

-Patient Hope in New Snow
From: "A Collection of Songs 1995-1997"

Only 2 weeks left to the semester as of today... and one of them is finals! It is insane how quickly the cold came on... It is now FREEZING out.  I sleep in the Kappa cold dorm, and Not only do I have  heated blanket turned on full blast, but I also have 4 other blankets (and it's not rare for me to still be cold!) The first snow happened... I wasn't pleased, but I guess the fact that it's December and has only snowed once (a very small amount) makes us pretty lucky!
Right now I'm getting ready to head over to the DePauw University Lilly Center in order to do some working out.  Although the workout facility on our Small Liberal Arts Campus is not the largest, it's never hard to find a good time to workout where it's not busy.  I didn't work out at all over thanksgiving break, so now that I'm back at our Top Private Liberal Arts College I have to make a point to get back in there and work off the Thanksgiving feast of last year. 

On another note, this weekend is going to be pretty fun! There are a bunch of registered happenings.  Here's a lovely photo from a sweet registered event that happened earlier this year. These events are always full to the brim with dancing and good times!


Along with that, the KKG informal is tonight! The theme is "freak what you feel" so there should be some interesting outfits going on.. We're heading over to Alex's Alleys Which is a bowling alley right near our Private Liberal Arts College.  Because it's within walking distance, one PE class that we have the option to take is "Bowling." So that's pretty fun...if you like bowling I guess.











Illness in the air..

Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
Near a sea of pianos, there were waves of chords
that crashed against the shore in one huge and useless roar.
And there were girls bringing water,
like a dream they came to cure the fever of my brain,
and soothe my burning throat.
And they made me a necklace, hanging beads of sweat on a string of my regrets,
and placed it round my neck

-A Spindle, a Darkness, a Fever, and a Necklace
From: Fevers and Mirrors (2000)


It's almost scary.  It appears to me that almost every person I encounter has an illness of some sort.  Ranging from colds to the swine, everyone is coughing and sneezing. I think this is an important blog for me to write. As illness runs like wildfire in any of the top 50 liberal arts colleges because of the close proximity, it's great to know that we have somewhere to turn.  I've talked to some of my friends recently about the illness at their schools (most of them at huge state schools in Illinois), and the answers for the most part seem to be the same.  There are a lot of people ill, and the waiting list to see a university doctor is seemingly endless. 

At DePauw University we are in luck! Here we are blessed to have the Wellness Center (just a mere 5 minute walk (or less) from basically every point on campus) where it is easy as pie to make an appointment (or counselor if needed) and be able to see a doctor either the day of the phone call, or the next day!  Here's a picture of our M.D....Dr. Scott Ripple.  He is a certified M.D, and got his medical degree from IU.  Very nice.





The wellness center constantly has vaccinations available as well... recently there was a limited supply of H1N1 vaccines, which is awesome! It's great that some people on campus are protected! I was not lucky enough to receive one of these vaccinations, so I'm constantly carrying germ-x in my purse, and forcing all of my friends to "de-germ" before touching me or my things.
 It's awesome how many different types of Germ-X there are.. I have the normal one, but there are actually different scents!! All around campus one is able to find germ-x bottles for student use.  This Small liberal arts college is staying protected and healthy!!

Farewell bell, until next year...

Monday, November 16, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
That's gone and I know that it won't ever come back
  I accept I won't cling to what I had in the past
but life's a slippery slope, regrets the steepest hill
hope for the best, plan for the worst and maybe wind up somewhere
in the middle
Loose Leaves
From: There is no Beginning to the Story (2002)

So this weekend, as i mentioned in an earlier post, was Monon Bell weekend! It was a lot of fun, to say the least. 
Friday night started with the annual rugby match against Wabash college... It was at wabash, but there was a fan bus that took a group of us to watch t no charge! (another plus of small liberal arts colleges).   We lost, but it was still fun.
Only more fun followed once back at DePauw University! I went over to Phi Delta Theta and hung out for a little bit, before making my way over to see the Asher ROth/ Fabolous concert!  I only stayed for Asher Roth, that type of music really isn't my favorite.  But some of my friends reallllllyyy liked it.
Friday night, three of my friends and myself decided not to go to sleep in honor of monon! 



At 6 AM Phi Delt had a "wakie wakie eggs and bakie" gathering. It was a lot of fun, and having not slept, the eggs were a great treat! Here's a fellow Kappa hangin out at the eggs and bakie.


















Something else that's fun about monon is that the alumni come back! Here are 4 guys that I met Saturday morning! Reliving their
time as a DePauw student, and revisiting their past home in phi Delt. How great!




So, bottom line, we lost the game on Saturday, but it was a great time.  Also great to see that there was a lot of hand sanitizer out... gotta keep that H1N1 under control...  No matter the loss, Monon proved to once again be an epic holiday that could only occur between two Liberal Arts Colleges in the small of Indiana.  Enjoy your bell for the year wabash,  next year we'll be gettin' it back.

What the "Wild Things" are Wearing This Season....

Friday, November 6, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
Well morning came
And it dressed the sky
In a lovely yellow gown
And the shops they are
All opening
In that narrow hallway of downtown
Filled with people who
Are shopping for
Their lovers and their friends
So they won't ever be lonely again

~I Won't Ever Be Happy Again
From: Don't Be Frightened of Turning the Page (2000)


Tonight is a big night for Kappa Kappa Gamma.  Tonight, in the UB Ballroom of DePauw University, we present out annul Fashion Show. The theme for this year is "What the Wild Things Wear."  This, in my opinion, is one of the coolest events on campus all year long. Students get to model all different kinds of clothes from various different boutiques and shops from Greencastle to Indianapolis.  It costs 3$ to get in, and all proceeds will go to Dress for Success in Indianapolis. (check out dressforsuccess.org  it's an awesome cause!)  The Greek system here at DePauw isn't all about partying as some might think... each Fraternity and Sorority also hosts philanthropy events in order to raise money for various great causes.  One thing I especially like about the fashion show, is that not only Kappa girls model.  We have representatives from every house on campus and independents and freshmen modeling in the show! This is definitely a representation of the unity that can be found at our small liberal arts college.
I'm going to be modeling a dress from Martin's Emporium.
 
Martin's is found on the Greencastle square.  It's an awesome little boutique and a favorite shopping place of students who attend the Best Liberal Arts College, DePauw University! Here's a picture of Martins (it's the shop to the furthest left in this picture =D  )

Tonight is going to be wild!!






Oh yes, I mentioned the Kappa Formal that went down last weekend, here are a couple pictures from there.  Obviously I am no great photographer! Haha..





So here's myself and my date Jon gettin our groove on out on the dance floor.  Look how nicely his blue and silver tie matches my silver dress, and blue necklace. Excellent planning.














Here we have my good friend Kelly and myself, once again boogying down.
As you can see, I am even peaceful when bustin a move.















Here's a picture from the bus ride to the formal location. The theme was masquerade... so everyone got sweet masks!  Ours are rasta colors! How fun =)
Sadly, I appear to have missed one of my eyes. One would think that a student of one of the top private universities in the country would be able to properly hold a mask, but alas, we are merely human.

Bedazzled by the beauty...

Thursday, October 29, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
  Cause everything it must belong somewhere
Sound stage in California, televisions in Times Square
Yeah, everything it must belong somewhere
I know that now, that's why I'm staying here
Well I know that now, that's why I'm staying here

~I must Belong Somewhere
From:Cassadaga (2007)



I can't believe that it is almost November here at DePauw University!  The time is just flying by, and the leaves are changing colors like mad.  Yesterday I was hangin out on the lovely swings in the front of Kappa with my good friend T-Love, and we were bedazzled by the amazing scene that we were able to see.  There was seriously a square that had like every color imaginable in it. I wish I would have had a camera, because honestly it would have blown your mind.  I am a strong believer that 4/5 of the students who visit DePauw during this week will end up coming here just because of the beauty of the campus.

I've been pretty bogged down with work this week.  One test after another... actually I found out what a BlueBook is this week.  Basically it's a book of lined paper that you use on essay tests.  I didn't know they existed, but in just this week I have had two essay tests and have used the BlueBook TWICE in one week.  Insane.   I can't believe how quickly the week off went, and I'm even more baffled at how quickly professors start assigning mad amounts of work following the break! However, that is the norm in the life of  student attending one of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States!

Another exciting thing that happened this week was that tickets to the Monon Bell game went on sale!  There are already less than 100 tickets left! Basically this is the biggest football game of the year... so exciting.  We play against Wabash College (one of the oldest rivalries in the entire united states).  The winner gets to take home an actual 200 lb. Bell.  Right now we have it, it is sure to be a good game.  This will be the 119th Monon Bell game, and the scores are tied 53-53 with 9 ties.  So this will be an intense year.

Here you can see our DePauw cheerleaders practicing hard in order to cheer the Tigers on to victory! Woo!  Tryouts for cheerleading are held in the Spring, so they have been doing a lot of practicing since!












This is kinda random, but I think it's pretty sweet.  It was actually before FallBreak, but each year there is a "Trash our Runway" fashion show.  Students are able to design their own clothing using only trash.  Magazines, chicken wire, newspapers, etc.. all of these things used to make clothing!!   

Here's an awesome picture, courtesy of  my Kappa sister, Stacie.  Bri, another Kappa (second from the right) was the winner of the fashion show with the amazing dress that she's wearing!

Random note: the neon bikini was actually made completely from USED tape.. I'm honestly not sure how I feel about that.






Well, Kappa formal is Friday, and Halloween in on Saturday so hopefully there will be some high times this weekend that I will write about next time!!  I will charge my camera tonight so that I have no reason not to give sweet pictures of this amazing Liberal Arts College in action.  

Fall Break: Home, abroad, or GC?

Friday, October 23, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli


Take the fruit from the tree, break the skin with your teeth
Is it bitter or sweet? All depends on your timing
Like a meeting of chance with the train station glance

Cl
eanse Song
 
From: Cassadaga (2007)
 
 


(This song was really only chosen because it has the word "Break" in it. Which is happening. Literally. )




Fall.. it is in the air right now! Well, besides the rain I guess..but thats just today! Okay, so I'm home this week. Seeing as it's fall break at DePauw University, most of the students are home!

Some will take their "Spring Break in fall" during Fall Break, but with lower prices because its not the high demand time! I am spending my fall break here in good ole' Cary, IL hangin out with the family, and reasearching for my future here at DePauw University.  By that I mean the amazing study abroad experience that I am going to have during my junior year.  The deadline is coming up for my application, but DePauw really pushes for every DePauw student to have an off campus experience (even if within the United States)! This is another one of the benefits of a Small Liberal Arts College.  There are even scholarships that I can apply for for some financial help finding the experience!


One of my good friends is studying abroad in Italy right now!! He took a trip to Rome for the weekend and took some awesome pictures.. this is one of my favorites =)















Another one of my friends is abroad right now in Spain! Here's an awesome picture she took of Barcelona! 
Being a Spanish speaker and possible  Spanish major, Spain is definitely the place that I want to study.  There are awesome programs offered by only some of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Colleges in the country! So, Madrid is where I am, as of right now, planning to study abroad!  On DePauw's website there are so many links that can help you find exactly the right program for you to attend, and for these programs you pay the same tuition and  scholarships are applied! It's awesome!! I'm also looking at a another program in Chile that's pretty cool too.. so I have some decisions to make before the applications are due! haha.
Well, only three more days of break, and I can't wait to get back to DePauw, but this is a busy week full of tests and papers, so hopefully I'll have something awesome to talk about next time!

The stress has set in..

Friday, October 9, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
Poison oak, some boyhood bravery.
When a telephone was a tin can on a string,
And I fell asleep with you still talking to me.
You said you weren't afraid to die.

-Poison Oak
From: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)
It's that time of year again...the countdown to Fall Break has begun (7 more days...). But that also means that it's time for midterms here at DePauw University. It's obvious that there is just a different aura in the air, and it's not a good one. Everyone is stressed out to the max studying for this exam, writing that paper, or getting together with groups to finish up their projects. Of course, we're told that DePauw University is not the only College of Indiana that puts this kind of pressure on, but it's pretty obvious that this Liberal Arts COllege is a little bit more rigorous than most. So for Greek Week (my last post) we ended up competing, and Kappa Kappa Gamma got third place with our reenactment of the youtube video "shoes" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjMJ197bt3E&feature=related here's the link... definitely give it a watch. Third pLace? Heck yes! Theta was the winner for the girls.. their dance was really awesome! So, The fall weather has sunk in, and it's gettin chilly...but the campus of DePauw is so pretty right now. I must say that This Small Liberal Arts COllege is always beautiful, but its even better during the fall when all the leaves are changing colors! It's also the season of Formals and INformals for fraternities and sororities! Tonight I will be attending the Phi Delta Theta informal. The theme is rodeo.. so that should be pretty interesting! Just got my outfit together yesterday, and I'll be sure to post pictures of the event next week! The Greek Scene here at this top private university is pretty intense.. but it's not like everyone joins. It's definitely a personal preference kind of thing. Choices are abundent here, like many small private universities!

I wanna be a Greek Goddess!

Friday, September 25, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
εγώ τσιμπολόγησα you out
Of έναs crowd και μίλησα στον you.
Said εγώ άρεσα δικό σου shoes,
You είπα , " ευχαριστώ , μπορώ εγώ ακολουθώ you? "

TRANSLATION:
I picked you out
Of a crowd and talked to you.
Said I liked your shoes,
You said, "Thanks, Can I follow you?"

Lover I don't have to Love
From: Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002)


WELCOME TO GREEK WEEK! I'm sure everyone who reads this is wondering why I put this post's Bright Eyes lyrics in Greek..well, there really is no reason besides the fact that it's Greek Week.
This is a week long event that takes place every year at DePauw University. Each day of the week has a different (somewhat bizarre) activity where the fraternities and sororities try to win and accumulate points in order to have their team win, thus having their representative given the title of Greek God (for fraternities) and Greek Goddess (for sororities).

MONDAY: Monday started out with a GCB eating
competition.. a GCB is pretty much a delicacy loved by almost all that attend our Top Private University. Marvin's is a restaurant located on campus, and the Garlic Cheese Burger (GCB) is a favorite item.  I personally have never tried one since Meat-eatin ain't my thanggggg... but anyywayyysss, each Greek house had a team that had to eat GCBs in a relay. Kappa Kappa Gamma (my sorority) did not win. I think the winner was Alpha Phi.. those girls must really like meat.
Here is a picture of Marv's.---->>>>

TUESDAY: The uber-exciting event today was a Spelling BEE.  My friend Kerstin and I went over to the competition (which was moved inside due to rain) It was a little cramped, and I had to sit on the floor which was really lame. Dang that rain...
well, my friend Jon was the Male Winner.  A Pi Phi girl won for the girls.  I personally think that the words being spelled were just way too easy. The fact that we attend one of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States makes me this that words such as "fraud" and "chief" are just a little "Not Top 50 Liberal Arts College"   Had I been in charge the first word would have been "hieroglyphic" (I actually spelled that wrong just now, thank goodness for spell check) That word definitely would have eliminated some of the pansy-spellers who shouldn't have  made it to the 4th round.

WEDNESDAY:  This day I was one of the Representatives for Kappa in the "CANstruction" Competition.  We were supposed to collect canned goods prior in order to make something during the competition time. Although we were lacking in cans compared to some houses, we were pleased to see that there were in fact others with less cans.  We ended up making a "CAN of GREEN BEANS" it was awesome. HOWEVER the judges didn't find it to be as awesome as we did, and alas we were not the winners...or second place...or third. 
<----Beans.










THURSDAY: I believe that this day was some sort of Olympics?  Kappa was teamed up with Sigma Chi and apparently they were being lame and refused to pass to our Kappa ladies while playing Ultimate Frisbee.. hmm... hopefully no feminists were watching because they could be in some trouuubblleeeee. If i recall correctly there was also a cornhole (bean bag) Tournament. Oh, and a relay too. Not sure who won....Lo siento.  However, the plethora of activities is an exceptional representation of the liberal arts college environment in which we live.



FRIDAY: TONIGHT is not only the start of parents weekend, but also the GREEK GOD AND GODDESS competition.  All of the houses make up a dance and there's a performance tonight in Kresge Auditorium.. It shall be quite exciting to see how it plays out.





with every loss, comes gain

Monday, September 21, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
Sometimes I worry that I've lost the plot
My twitching muscles tease my flippant thoughts
I never really dreamed of heaven much
Until we put him in the ground
But don't you weep
Don't you weep
There is no one as lucky
Honey, don't you weep
Don't you weep
There is nothing as lucky, as easy, or free
Or free, or free, or free
There's nothing, there's nothing, there's nothing...

~Easy/Lucky/Free
From: Digital Ash in a Digital Urn





So I'm just finishing up with a veryyy loooong weekend. Although my weekends are always abnormally long (having no Friday classes) this weekend was ESPECIALLY long, and not necessarily in a good way. In judging my weekend length in visual terms, I would say that this maze is a good depiction....


Let's see, last week went pretty quickly, I was swamped with so many different things that I felt as though there wasn't enough time in the week to get everything done! I'm in a lot of reading-based classes where the discussion revolves around what was read prior to class, so most of my time lately has been spent reading.  Many classes in our Small Liberal Arts College are reading based like this, however usually one is able to have at least one class in a semester that isn't! Oh well, I'm feeling a lot smarter lately so it must be paying off.

Friday night started out as a girls night before my roommate Laura and I (both gingers..go figure) made our way over to (get this..) a GINGER PARTY.  Hahaha. it was so funny. Only "gingers" were allowed.  There were probably 20 in total! INSANE! So, we all just kind of hung out and took pictures while watching some educational television about the history of red heads and ginger children origins.  At our top private university the learning doesn't end once classes are over for the weekend..PICTURES TO COME!



So, Saturday morning I woke up to my mom calling me.  I quickly was up and drove the 4 hours home because there was a death in my family.  We decided to cremate the remains, and I'm even going to get a little bit of the ashes, which to some may seem weird, but I honestly don't care what any of them think... It was heart breaking. Later,I came back to DePauw (another 4 hours)  =(
It was rough. I'm still waiting to find out what the gain in this situation of loss is.
 

Upon getting back I hung out a little bit with some friends in order to cheer up a little bit...  we watched the Bear's Game! I am proud to be from Chicago tonight since the Chi-Bears beat the recent Superbowl champs (pit.steelers).  Today when driving back to DePauw University I actually saw a pretty sweet billboard on the side of the expressway.. It had a couple Chicago Bears players on it and said "If you're not a fan, you're a tourist"  funny.


That's enough for today, I'll write again later this week!!
RIP <3

p.s. I do personally think our liberal arts college is the BEST Liberal Arts College, and one of my main reasons is that we get a WHOLE WEEK off of school in the middle of October.  It's actually coming up pretty soon! This year, fall break is October 17-24 BUT without class on Fridays, my break starts at 11:30 on Thursday the 15th!  I'm super excited, because I decided a couple weeks ago to go to Italy over fall break, so I'll be flying there after classes on Thursday! Only 25 DaYS! (I'll write more about this another time)
 

Greencastle gets a little Greener...

Thursday, September 10, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
An argument for consciousness,
the instinct of the blind insect

who makes love to the flowerbed
and dies in the first freeze.
Oh, I want to learn such simple things...
the politics
no, history so what i want and
what i need can finally be the same.
I just got myself to blame...
leave everything up to fate
when there's choices I can make...
when there's choices I can make.
~I Believe in Symmetry
 From: Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

So, I'm embarrassed to say that I JUST woke up from a nap... not just any nap, but one that could practically be classified as a coma. Okay, not really, but it was insanely toooo long. I tend to think that naps are the driving force of my life on the days when I have my 8:20 class! The only benefit of Thursdays is that I finish up with classes by lunch time, and then the weekend starts! 

A couple friends an I have a "club" every Sunday night called the "pescatarian club."  It's not a real club yet, but we might actually try to make it a legit DePauw club!  Basically we get together and cook an insanely delicious meal including no meat (sometimes fish). Thus after a trip to the Greencastle, IN Kroger grocery store, we cooked not only Salmon, but grilled salad, edamame, and vegetable Lo Mein.  It was so good! I will include pictures after the next meeting.

This school week has flown by! Monday I was disappointed to find out that the new season of Gossip Girl doesn't start until NEXT Monday.. so I got a lot of work done, and went to bed early!


Tuesday I had a meeting with the group of people that I'm journeying to El Salvador with this January for a Winter Term in Service (WTIS).  The winter term program is just one way that DePauw University encourages students (going along with the Liberal Arts College motto) to try something new (including traveling across the world on one of the many faculty-led trips!) I'm a little nervous because during the meeting we were told that there is no running water.. freezing cold "bucket baths" here we come...
 Here's a map of El Salvador...I'm not exactly sure where we're going to be, but it will be interesting.






After the meeting I helped a friend study for Spanish! I had never liked studying in Roy O West library on DePauw University's campus, however it wasn't bad in the "secret spot" in which we claimed with a couple other friends. Everyone on campus tends to have his/her own sweet study spot, so I'm pleased that I finally found somewhere besides my room to study! Seeing that studying is a BIG part of every one of my days at this Top Private University, having a comfy spot to get it done is important!  



As one of the Best Liberal Arts Colleges, especially a Small Private Liberal Arts School, DePauw is always bringing different speakers to campus.  Last night I went to a speaker entitled "Why Marijuana Should be Legalized: A Scientific and Ethical Perspective"
Something very cool about DePauw is that students are able to bring to campus almost anyone that they so choose. This however, was not my cup of tea, thus we left early. However tomorrow Karl Rove and Howard Dean will be debating so that should be intense! Woo!






 

Back in the Groooove

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 by Alyssa Pilli
And then they splashed into the deep blue sea.
(Oh,)It was a wonderful splash.

We must blend into the choir, sing as static with the whole,
We must memorize nine numbers and deny we have a soul,
And to this endless race for property and privilege to be won
We must run, we must run, we must run.
-At the Bottom of Everything
From: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)
 


So DePauw University is buzzing once again, and the classes have begun. I must admit, I'm pretty excited about my schedule this semester. Somehow it worked out that none of my classes are on Fridays, thus I have a three-day weekend EVERY weekend. Pretty Legit.

Exactly a week's worth of classes are over as of right now, and I think I'm going to enjoy all of them!  Today I had Developmental Psychology.  Psychology is probably going to be one of my majors here at DePauw, so I'm very interested in the topic! After that I had Law and Economics.  I've never taken an Econ class of any type, so this is something new to me. I don't plan on doing anything in the future with either law or economics, however the beauty of a Liberal arts college is that you are able to try out all of these sweet classes. This class is an Honor Scholar Course.  DePauw has 5 programs of distinction and Honor Scholar is one of them.  During senior year of high school, DePauw applicants have the option of applying for one of the programs by  filling out some sort of application and then having an interview process.  I joined the Honor Scholar program, and it's definitely a challange at times.   The Programs of distinction are just one way to make the personalized experience of attending a Top Private University even more personalized. Very Cool.


AFter lunch I am in a Lifeguarding class! At DePauw, as a Liberal Arts COllege, all students are requiered to take at least .50 credits in PE classes.  Last year I took "Hap Kido" which was a Martial Arts class.  This year it is lifeguarding.  I'm pretty excited since I'm going to get certified. HOpefully I'll get to put my training to use and possibly be a lifeguard as a work/study job here at DePauw during my next couple years here!

  l always thought our pool was nice, but I really didn't have enough of an appreciation for it before today (which was actually my first day swimming in it).  It's 25 meters, and 10 lanes!



Outside of the classroom, most students have been catching up with each other an just hangin out.  Living in the Kappa Kappa Gamma house this year will definitely be an adventure, what with having over 60 other girls here. That's quite a lot of female in one house... Here's a picture of me and my kappa sister Lucy with out friend Chris hanging out at the Beta house on one of the first nights back! 

Even though We're a small liberal arts college in the middle of Indiana it doesn't mean we don't have fun, and there is such a good sense of community and such great people that sometimes you take for granted that not all Indiana Colleges and Universities are as awesome as DePauw.