Not a "hole" but a WHOLE lot of bikes.

Off to California in late January! My carry on suitcase named "Choo Choo" got his own seat, the flight attendant just asked that I buckle him in. This trip to California was also eventful, as my next "seat buddy", a big fella from Baltimore kept trying to talk to me at the end of our 3.5 hr flight. I wasn't really having it, and finally he asked what I would say if he wanted to "keep in touch" after this.. What do you even say to that!? Not to mention, he was going to Sacramento for the week and headed back to Baltimore, which is where I was off to next, too. No worries, no big fella sightings after that awkward flight.

One of our family friends advised me before going to UC Davis that it was not that great, aka a "hole" of a place, but I loved my time in No-Cal! I could get used to the milder weather, while still getting the different seasons! I may not have fit in running outside though, as the whole Track and Field and Cross Country team ran by me on the track bundled up in sweat suits from head to toe while I was soaking up the sun in my tank top and shorts!

Another fun thing is that I got a bike to ride for the week! There is more bikes than people in Davis, CA (who would have thought?) and home to a USA Bike hall of fame! The campus is very large/open and so every student rides their bike to every class. They even have bike circles that supposedly the freshman on campus struggle with, so it is a big thing to go and watch the freshman try to navigate them as you are bound to see a "bike crash". Lets just say I was a little nervous riding on my own on campus for the first time, and I actually did get weird looks when I was walking on campus and not riding a bike!

Home Sweet Home for the week! Cutest house EVER!

It was perfect timing for a visit to California, too, as I was loving the weather in January! Sunny and 60, I'll take it!



Sun deck at the Kappa House!

Back parking lot and bike parking area

Back of the house

Making my Dad jealous of the sun and palm trees!

Not only do they have palm trees but REDWOODs in the campus arboretum! Definitely one of my favorite places I have ran this year.

Their campus/town has busses from London. They still have the original stops on the bus from London. Supposedly, London is trying to buy them back but Davis isn't budging on that.

My ride for the week

Go... Aggies? Making me feel at home in the Big 12! UC Davis is a big Ag school, unbeknownst to me.

Just one of the many colorful buildings on campus

Found this on the sidewalk while I was on a run! Made my day :)

One of the many bike circles.

Two of my favorite places: The yellow frozen yogurt  place and the green cupcake shop! A lot of restaurants/shops around town are all converted houses.

US Bicycling Hall of Fame!

Loved these trees! What a perfect day

And another taste of London!

Last night in California, cant complain with that forecast! So clear!

For my mama! Hutchison Hall, even spelled correctly!

Bikes on Bikes on Bikes!

These random egg head statues are a trademark of UC Davis. This one, right outside their main library,  is supposed to represent how students feel at the library. I agree.

Only in California, a rack to lock up skateboards/longboards.

Now for a 6 am flight out of Sacramento to Baltimore. Here we go, marathon travel day! (Lets just say I woke up at 3:30 am. Thankfully no sightings of the creepy man!

Sincerely Sad to Leave California--
x's and o's

Allison

Guess who's back...

Off to Cornell for another week of recruitment.

I should be thankful i was locked inside for most of the week again, since they had actually gotten some snow and it was freezing out. I have been SO FORTUNATE (knock on wood) to not run in to any serious weather complications!

Recruitment went well, and I got to see some more of campus that looked completely different covered in snow. It was fun to get to see everyone again, and really get to know more of them as I was around them all 24/7 throughout recruitment.

The crazy Kappas after recruitment!

The aftermath of recruitment on the front door. This is what it looks like after a week of pounding and slamming the door repeatedly to get "pumped up" for the girls coming through each round (complete with screaming and blasting loud music for a good 10 minutes before each group came through)

Cool museum building on campus.. about the only real snow I have seen throughout my semester of "winter" traveling

Look familiar? Back to the FROZEN gorges!

The lovely flowers the chapter gave me for helping during recruitment!

Liz and Jacob got their own residence hall at Cornell!

 X'S AND O'S

THE NARD DOG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBUz4RnoWSM

Villanova

After a little over a month break (which flew by way too quickly!) all 8 of us were back on the road again. Starting off the semester with MidYear meetings at HQ, sadly an LSU loss in the national championship, and lots of fun together, I was off to Villanova in Philadelphia!

This was a recruitment visit, so I really didn't get to do much besides that.

However, I did learn some interesting facts about the school, (in addition to the reality that their basketball team was not as good as in years past, to my disapointment), such as they have the largest or second to largest population of Augustinian Monks in North America living ON their campus, and they have a student who has been there for over 10+ years as an undergrad, and his goal is to take EVERY class offered in their science department. Ambitious, and expensive if you ask me.

Here are the few pictures I took throughout the week:

Lovely Villanova ladies during philanthropy day

Dum Dum Tree for Kappa Kandy theme (Oreo would have loved it.. RIP)

Huge lollipop "trees".. The Kappas handmade all the decorations!

Is this heaven?

Where the monks live! I didn't get to see any, though. Pretty sure only sorority members were back on campus at the time!

More monk-housing..I think being a monk is my backup plan.... is that even allowed?

Panoramic view of their campus

Mendel Hall (the building that the kid taking all the classes doesnt want to leave..) 

Dont worry, I did listen to Eye of the Tiger as a pump up song each morning.. sadly didnt get any training in Rocky-style... Also I know my mom was disapointed i didnt find any National Treasures..

Maybe next time!

With Love from Philly,
x's and o's
Allison

PurDONT

So punny, I know.
As my last visit of the semester, I made the most of my time in West Lafayette, IN and definitely got in the Christmas spirit while helping the Purdue Kappas decorate their house, and watching them be serenaded each night by a different fraternity. It snowed while I was there, so it really began to feel a lot like Christmas!!! I got to walk around campus and the town one of the nicer days, so I was happy to get outside in the "fresh" air....except for the fact that one of the girls told me that Purdue ACTUALLY smells bad because of the Wabash river that runs next to is and because of the industrial factories and from these berry/nut things from the trees on campus. Who knew? After that comment, I did begin to notice that Purdue literally stinks.

One of the other funny traditions I learned about were their tailgating "rituals". They call it the "Breakfast Club", and they dress up in costumes for EVERY GAME. Not just during Halloween. EVERY GAME they dress up in a costume.. not even a specific theme, just whatever. Strange, but hey, to each their own!

Found the stadium!

PurDONT

Panorama!

Kinda cute, Purdue...

Amphitheater where the band plays before games! And yes, I hiked in the snow to take this picture.

Campus!

Brushing up on my Boilermaker history.

Excuse me, are you making boilers?

GORGEOUS and HUGE Kappa House

During my walk to downtown West Lafayette across the SMELLY wabash river

Town Square

Just telling time with the sundial.

Campus again.. the buildings all have to be the same height!

 I also got to meet up with a couple of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity consultants one night. One went to Iowa, and knew Meggie, one of my fellow LC's, so they heard I was in town and we met up. It was fun to get out and talk about our semesters and to hear about life as a fraternity consultant. They drive everywhere, and are only on campuses for 3 days. And i thought I traveled a lot!

FINALLY.. HOME SWEET HOME for a WHOLE MONTH! The longest I had been in one place in the past 4 months! Lets just say I was overwhelmed by my closet and the simple pleasure of being able to choose ANY pair of shoes, ANY t shirt, ANY clothing at all, AND to not have to worry if I would have enough clean clothes. Did i mention how great it was to be home with my family and friends!!!?

Blessed beyond belief!!!!
x's and o's from the final leg of 2011--32 flights, 23 airports, 14 later, 
-Allison