March presents various amounts of activities for all students, including Greeks.The weather is finally starting to warm up; Unofficial is right around the corner and Greek Philanthropy events are beginning to start up again. This past weekend, a group of us in the house decided to split up and hit St. Louis and New Orleans for our first Mardi Gras.A couple friends of ours attend St. Louis University and invited us to stay at The Coronado. Â
I don’t know if anyone has visited SLU, but the Coronado was formally a traditional hotel where the likes of Harry Truman stayed once upon a time.  After the 1970’s it closed for renovation and then later reopened in 2003. Think of this ballroom building as a hotel straight out of the Phantom of the Opera. The one unique thing I found out about the Coronado and its residents was that SLU strictly bans the use of Fraternities and Sororities to live in houses on/off campus. Â
Instead, majority of Greek life all live at the Coronado which hosts 15 different floors. Instead of hanging at the house on such a major party event I found this to be a change of pace and really liked this feature.  Furthermore, we woke up to a similar Unofficial-like morning at 6 A.M. By 12 p.m. the parade was just beginning and everyone meet up right outside of Busch Stadium. This was my first time in St. Louis and being the huge Cubs fan I am, I couldn’t stop my awe of the stadium.  Being right off the highway and directly downtown really changed my perspective of St. Louis. Â
The parade featured a variety of different floats with Mardi Gras beads flying in every direction.  If you didn’t have over five beads within the first 10 minutes I don’t know where you were. The parade went away from Busch Stadium and featured many different restaurants and pubs along 7th St. Â
It felt as if every direction there were free giveaways ranging anywhere from beads to food. Â There even was a live DJ that played outside of Social House Soulard. Â Interestingly enough, bumping into Greek Illini seemed as causal as walking on the quad on an average Tuesday. If anyone were to get lost (and they did) at any point of the parade, I feel that you could walk one block down and find a new group of friends from Champaign. Â At around 3 P.M. the parade was starting to die down along with all cellular networks shutting down on everyone. Â I personally thank Verizon for all of the delayed text messages I received hours after they were sent. Using an iPhone in downtown St. Louis became more painful than the first time I stopped using training wheels on my bike at seven years old (thanks, Dad). Â
Moving forward, the parade ended and the temperature began to drop as we made our way back to SLU to recharge after an early morning/afternoon. Just as we do in Champaign, SLU and visiting students got right back at celebrating the festivities after 8 P.M.  Finally, if anyone gets the chance in their college career to visit and go to Mardi Gras in either St. Louis or Nola, don’t think just do it.
Photo courtesy of Chris Yunker.https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-yunker/
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1. When you see each other after a hiatus it is like no time has passed.
Regardless of what you may have gone through, nothing can change the banter and personal communication you and your friends share. Nothing feels awkward or forced because you are having too much fun catching up!
2. You plan your outings around each other's schedules.
Your friend's work schedules or class schedules are memorized like the back of your hand. They are your priority, and you will do anything you can to get them to join you on adventures when it is convenient to do so.
3. You say 'I love you' on the phone.
Yes, you may say it in real life too, but saying it after a phone call means it has become a customary for you to validate your appreciate for one other. Like a significant other or family member, you feel the desire to express your love at the end of a conversation.
4. Nothing is boring when you are together.
No matter what you do together, you always have a good time. Why? Because your friends' company is all you need. With the right people, you can make any situation memorable.
5. You share weird inside jokes no one else understands.
And you would like to keep it that way. If you are anything like my friend group, we share a strange family dynamic that has lasted as a running joke forever. No matter what it is, your inside jokes and sly smirks will keep the spirits up for ages.
6. You plan to hang out for a couple hours but end up together the entire day.
So now you just expect it and prepare for a 24-hour long get-together. Naps are often a part of the agenda.
7. The hugs say a thousand words.
Perhaps you do it a little too much, but the hugs you share are always meaningful and comforting. Gotta love those group hugs especially!
8. You go on spontaneous adventures together.
It is where your favorite memories come from. Even though you might not be able to do them as much as you would like, you are always down for a trip, big or small, with the group.
9. You consider each other family.
Because you consider each other family, you treat each other like family. Constant love, constant support, and a tremendous amount of meals spent together.
10. They make you a better person.
It is not a special friend group unless you learn from one another. You had to be selective when choosing your friends and when you did, you felt like they could teach you a thing or two. Their actions influence who you are and you could not be more thankful.
11. You can't imagine life without them.
The very thought scares you and sends your heart racing. Thankfully, the ultimate friend group is right there with you so you never have to second-guess their loyalty. Instead, you can bask in the glory that is your ultimate friend group. #squadgoals.
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1. No school = no stress.
There are no essays to write, no books to read, and no deadlines to meet. The only worry in the world is keeping track of putting sunblock on.
2. Country music is more fun to listen to.
All true fans will listen to country music 365 days a year, but we all know that it's so much better in the summer when you can roll down the windows.
3. Your skin looks and feels better.
Even if you don't have the type of skin that tans, there is more color there than in the winter ... maybe. Freckles, tan lines, peeling burns and clear skin make for a happier camper. You'll forget all about the ghost version of yourself that was shedding dry skin like a snake over the winter.
4. Being barefoot 24/7 is an option.
Obviously wearing no shoes in the middle of a blizzard isn't acceptable. You know what is, though? Wearing no shoes in the summer ever because why not?
5. Ice cream is an acceptable snack.
For people like me who can't resist ice cream even on a 10 degree day, summer is a giant ice cream blessing. Not only does it taste like heaven, it's actually refreshing.
6. Minimal clothing is required.
Is there anything worse than having to put on layers in the wintertime only to sweat to death the minute you come back inside? No need for more than a tank top and shorts in the summertime.
7. Going to the beach daily isn't weird.
Now that it's hot, it's beach season. If you live near the ocean there is an excuse to drive there day or night, rain or shine. Staying there all day is an option for those who don't burn, and for those who do, you can always come back at night for a bonfire.
8. Cookouts.
Even when they lead to disaster, summertime cookouts are the best. Nothing completes a cookout more than watermelon and corn on the cob.
9. Night swimming.
Oh the thrill of jumping in freezing cold water in the middle of the night. Good thing the air becomes colder than the water, making the pool like a giant bathtub.
10. Spontaneous adventures.
Summertime gives you the freedom to wake up in the morning and decide to do something totally out of the blue that you've never done before. Hiking to a waterfall, rock climbing, going to a museum, or even road tripping are all great summer options.
Even if the heat isn't really your thing, it's undeniable to admit that life really is better in the summer. There's so much more free time, opportunity, excitement and sunshine. Only four months to go!
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