OklaHOMEa

Being from the South, I have never really gotten to spend much time in the Midwest (aka basically Jason Alden was calling me out personally in his song Fly Over States). So, when I saw the Theta Xi chapter on my schedule for August visits, I was so excited to spend some time in another part of the country. Flying in, I really didn't believe it when I could see flatness, literally, for MILES. It was time for this Southern girl to get a little taste of the Midwest and everything it has to offer.

Per usual, I made my way to baggage claim anxiously awaiting meeting the members who were picking me up. I later found out, that while they didn't know what I look like, they picked me out of the crowd solely based on how much jewelry I was wearing and my "impressive arm stack." Not sure if I should be proud or ashamed of that, but I guess there are just some things you can't change about a girl. ANYWAYS, I flew into Oklahoma City, and was driven to Edmond, which is only about 20 minutes away, to a quaint little place called the University of Central Oklahoma.

Upon my arrival, the women had their house all tidy, t-shirts and other ADPi treats waiting on my bed, and a group waiting to take me out to dinner (sushi of course!). I quickly realized that I am basically eating my way through the United States, but that's nothing you will ever hear me complain about. Also while in Oklahoma, I got to go to a restaurant called 'Pops' which basically has anyyyy kind of soda you want (sorry if you follow me on Instagram & already knew this but I at least added a different picture to the blog).

 

 

I unfortunately did not get to see all of Theta Xi's Spirit Week due to the time of my arrival, but I was excited to jump right into recruitment! With a recruitment theme like OklaHOMEa (hence this blog posts title), I knew they were going to do everything in their power to make the women going through recruitment realize Alpha Delta Pi is truly a home away from home!

 

Sometimes, the most fun at a chapter is when you can count the number of hours of sleep you have had in the last week on one hand. This time, I had the chapter's recruitment advisor Kristyn (the Amy to my Tina Fey) as my right hand man to make jokes with me, quote Bridesmaids, speak in only hashtags, & keep spirits high through the long hours of recruitment.

 

 

After 3 days of recruitment (open house, skit night, & preference round) I am happy to say the Theta Xi chapter welcomed home 43 new Alphas into their sisterhood! They welcomed them with a fun "ADParadise" bid day theme, complete with inflatables, a cook out, snow cones, and of course cheering and dancing!

Although my time in Oklahoma was short, I really loved getting to spend time in Edmond and working with both collegians and advisors at all hours of the night. One of the best parts of my job is seeing how every chapter has things that make them unique, but how the Alpha Delta Pi bond is visible no matter how far you may travel away from Macon, Georgia.

Lots of love from Oklahoma,
Kathryn