Gamping Here We Come!

Fall has come and camping season has come along with it, but as a member of Gamma Chi Delta, I call this Gamping (Gammas + Camping... get it?). Gamping is an annual tradition in my sorority and for some is the highlight of their social year. Although I have not yet had the honor to go gamping (because I was not a member of the club in Fall 2008), I have heard nothing but amazing things and crazy stories about the event. One must keep in mind, of course, that this is not real camping. Instead of tents, we stay in cabins; instead of sleeping bags, we have beds; and there will definitely be bathrooms! Nonetheless, gamping is a way for all the members of Gamma Chi Delta – and each of the dates they choose to bring – to get out into the wilderness, stand around the firepit, and have a good time.

The event is in three days, and I could not be more excited! I am already started to pack my cold weather clothing (which, being from Arizona, I have very little of), buy snacks and s’more ingrediants of course, and plan with my friends all that we will be doing. The theme for the weekend is based upon the book, and more recently the movie, “Where the Wild Things Are”. Our properties chair, Alissa, designed shirts, dresses, water bottles, and even cute underwear with a custom “Where the Wild Things Are/Gamping” logo. I couldn’t help but buy one of each item; they are all awesome.

I can’t wait for Friday to come so I can gamping can begin! Hopefully, the weekend will live up to all the stories that I have heard about previous years. If only the week could go by slightly faster… I am ready to get wild in the wilderness with all my Gammas!

This is the logo that is on all the the Gamping merchandise!

I can't wait to wear mine!

Gammas Say Relax... It's Just a Crush!

Gamma Chi Delta Sorority has an annual tradition of holding a “crush” date party in the fall. For all other date parties, each Gamma will invite a boy to be her date for the night. “Crush” parties are a little different because each Gamma writes down who they want their date to be and a mass-email is sent to all the chosen dates informing them that they are invited- but they do not know which Gamma wrote their name down. This secrecy is the fundamental aspect of the “crush” theme; Gammas can invite their “crushes” who they might be too embarrassed to ask face-to-face. The whole party is somewhat of a joke because no one really invites their crushes. The Gamma Properties Chair, Alissa Howard, even made a shirt for Gamma’s to buy for their secret dates that read “GAMMAS SAY RELAX… IT’S JUST A CRUSH”.

The hectic planning leading up to the night (i.e. choosing dates, buying shirts, shopping for dresses) was nothing close to the actual event- it was a crazy night! The party started before we even got to the club when big buses came to Trinity University to pick up all the Gammas and mystery dates. The bus driver, Don, was an older man with a great sense of humor- he pulled the charter bus over on US-281 highway as a practical joke telling us that we were getting pulled over by the cops! By the time we got to Medusa’s (the downtown venue at which the function was held), everyone was ready to party! Medusa’s had a huge dance floor – which everyone took advantage of – and a DJ that only played a list of songs that Gammas had previously voted on. The fun night definitely ended too quickly, as people began to get back on the charter buses to be taken back to campus. Walking to upper campus definitely took a toll on my already exhausted feet, but it was all worth it!

About one-half of my pledge class and I waiting for the bus to

take us to Medusa's.