2) Unity Ball Altercation

Every year the university has Unity Month "a campus-wide celebration of the religious, ethnic, racial, and international diversity found at Emory." The final event is Unity Ball. Senior year was my first time attending and it was HILARIOUS! As we walked into the ball we spoke waved at the people at the ticket table. I was not in a good mood when we first arrived, so I just sat down and looked at people. After I ate a few of those free shrimp and other appetizers I was ready to dance. I went out of the dance floor and started dancing with TH and CD(L). We were having a good time when folks decided to start strolling. TH suggested that we move out the way, I told her naw, we were here first and the floor is for dancing, they can stroll around us. Well apparently one member of a different sorority from my previous post felt differently and decided to nudge me in the back and say "Get out of my way". My initial reaction was to turn around and push that "illustrious" lady and boy did that turn into a serious matter. One of her sisters jumped in my face and told me that "you do not break line." I just stared at her. Thankfully one of my classmates and a member of their chapter told her to let it go. She backed off but I could feel the cold stares at the back of my head the rest of the evening. Once it was time to go, we ended up right behind the group and let them go down the elevator first because we didn't want any problems. Now there are two levels to the parking deck below the building and wouldn't you know we were parked on the same level. As we walk into the parking deck I hear some folks talking and I knew they were talking about me. I heard the same girl that jumped in my face (not the one who nudged me) say "there she is" and before I knew it I turned around and said "Do you have a problem with me?". She said "As a matter of fact I do" as she stormed my way with her girls in tow. Now we were out numbered 4 verses at least 7 and the three girls I came with were already at the car with the doors open oblivious to what just happened. Once they did realize what was going on they were right there. One pretty young lady informed me that I was lucky that I wasn't at the AUC because I would have been dealt with there. There were some other words said by a couple of them (there were some of them who were not up for a confrontation) and I just let them talk. Before I knew it all 100 pounds of CD(L) was in their face saying "Get the F*** out of my friend's face, I don't like the way you are talking to her" and waving her arms or something. I think she accidentally pushed one and I thought it was about to be on but thankfully it ended as fast it started. We headed back to the dorm unknowing they were headed to the same location. Thankfully their drivers decided to keep going straight after one of their divas threw a cup of alcohol out the window onto our car. The next morning CD(L) and I received unapologetic emails from the chapter saying that they normally do not act in that manner and that I was wrong for breaking line. Lucky for them I was behind on writing a paper and didn't think it was worth putting in effort in reporting their actions. My first and last unity ball was one to remember for sure.

*****UPDATE*****
Here is the apology letter we received.

From: ------ -. ------- Monday, November 24, 2008 12:40:27 AM
Subject: Our apologies
To: Unkindred Hart CD(L)

Hello,

On Behaf of the -- ----- Chapter of ----- ----- ----- Sorority, Inc. I would like to apologize to you for our actions this past Saturday at Unity Ball. Those actions were totally out of character and in no way representing of the Ladies we are. There are no excuses for such behavior and I will not make any, however I would like to say Greeks find it disrespectful in the highest form when people break their stroll lines. Even so, it was not right for us to come at you in the manner we did because I'm sure you meant no disrespect and probably didnt know you were offending anyone. Action of this demeanor will not be repeated by members of our Sorority chapter. Once again, we apologize and hope you accept this apology in its most sincere form.

Thank you.


------- ---- -------
Economics Major
------ Class of 2011
----- ----- ----- Sorority, Inc.
Inter-Sorority Council Public Relations/Publications Chair
-----University Center Associate
College Council Asst. Secretary

1) MEXICO

In the fall of 2007 I studied abroad in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. It was the best learning experience of my undergraduate career. I took my favorite course, Liberation Theologies, while living in Cuernavaca and got the opportunity to travel to El Salvador. While I didn't learn a lot of Spanish, I did learn a lot about American students. Living in a house with 12 strangers from across the United States of America was more of a culture shock than living in a foreign country. My host mom, Angela, was wonderful and made me the best torta until I found a two feet long piece of hair in one. :) Living in her two room house with an bathroom outside with no running water didn't feel awkward at all. I loved bucket bathing and chilling on in the hammock on Saturday mornings. My first time riding the bus back to town alone didn't go so well. I ended up not getting off on the right stop and getting on an interstate. I was ready to freak out but thankfully through the grace of God I was able to stay calm, call my mom and have her inform my school that I would be late for the trip that day, and switch buses with limited Spanish. I don't remember ever being homesick. My mom was able to take her first trip internationally to visit me and we got traveled to Acapulco. I find myself making reference to the experience often. I do wish more people would take advantage of opportunities to visit new places and experience different things.