Homecoming @ Mizzou

This past weekend, The University of Missouri celebrated its 102nd Homecoming. I had such a fun time taking part in all to the weekend's festivities and participating in my first college homecoming. Homecoming was founded at Mizzou, so the weekend was filled with tons of pride and tradition.


FRIDAY: Campus Decorations

Each fall semester, all of the sorority houses on campus get "married"to a fraternity house and work on Homecoming activities together. These activities include building a float, designing a banner, and assembling pomp boards. The houses put many hours of work into their displays, and freshman pledges typically have assigned "pomping hours." Pomping consists of rolling bits of tissue paper around a marker, and gluing the bits of paper to plywood. It eventually forms an intricate design.

The theme for homecoming this year was "Great American Cities." Each Greek pairing picked a city and designed their boards, floats, and banner according to the theme. All of their hard work is showcased on the Friday night before Homecoming during campus decorations. Greek Town is filled with community members, students, and families who come to see what the Greeks have been designing for the past two months. Included with each display are skits and music. It's definitely a scene and it was amazing to see all of the intricate pomped designs. My friends and I walked around Greek Town to see all of the decorations. We had a great time!

Tri Sigma chose San Francisco. All of those houses are pomped. So intricate!

Independence Hall

It was so fun walking around to see all the decorations with these girls!

SATURDAY: The Parade and Football Game

On Saturday morning, my friends and I walked to the center of campus to watch the Homecoming parade. It was a beautiful morning and it wasn't too cold. We found a spot on the curb along Hitt Street.  Marching Mizzou, Greek pairings, residence halls, sports teams, and community organizations participated in the parade. It was fun to see the floats and decorations (and get candy!) The parade was a great representation of how much spirit and tradition is alive at Mizzou. 

Sitting along the parade route

Our mascot, Truman

Monster Truck School Bus

Chi Omega's Orlando themed float

Later on Saturday afternoon, a few of my friends and I went to a tailgate before the football game. One of the professors who facilitates our freshman interest group was kind enough to host us. He and his wife prepared quite the spread, including BBQ pork, pasta salad, fresh fruit, and delicious cookies and brownies. It was such a treat! I hadn't tailgated before a Mizzou game before, so it was great to be able to finally participate in the tradition! 

Natasha, Katie, and I at the tailgate

Sam and I showing off the Miz Homecoming T-Shirt

My Peer Advisor, Kara. She's great!

In case you didn't already hear, we lost our Homecoming game, and it ruined our undefeated record. However, the game was still a lot of fun! The stadium was sold out and the energy was amazing. The alumni band made and appearance alongside Marching Mizzou, and there was also a group of alumni cheerleaders. The homecoming court was introduced at halftime and the homecoming king and queen were crowned. The game went really well until the third quarter, but then our team lost momentum. We ended up losing in double overtime due to a missed field goal. Very disappointing, but I still love my Tigers! We are going to come back this weekend and beat Tennessee!

Hannie and I at the game. So lucky to have her here with me!

M-I-Z-Z-O-U

I love this University more than anything. I truly feel at home here and like I belong. Mizzou has more than 30,000 students, but it is traditions like Homecoming that bring us all together as one. The tradition and sense of pride is so alive here. I love my school, and celebrating my first homecoming was a blast!

Has your school celebrated homecoming yet?

Stay Stylish, Stay Classy, Be Creative

Emily

Home

This past weekend, I made my first trip home since moving to Mizzou.

I originally had not planned on going home before Thanksgiving, but my friend Hanna was headed back home, so I decided to ride with her. I'm so glad I did!

The drive from Columbia to Bloomington was beautiful. The leaves had begun to change, and the combination of the rolling hills, limestone road cuts, and corn fields was a stunning sight. We drove through small Missouri towns, and there were several stands and farmers markets set up selling pumpkins and fall decorations. It was so festive, and a great time to just slow down and appreciate the beautiful world we live in. 

I got a bit nervous as we approached Bloomington. I hadn't been back to my house in two months, the longest I have ever been away. Would things be the same? Would it feel weird? All of these thoughts crossed my mind as we exited the interstate and drove into Bloomington.

As we drove to my house, I noticed some differences. A Taco Bell was being constructed a few blocks from where I live, and a new hotel was also being built. Other than that, it was the same old Bloomington I remembered. 

Pulling into my driveway was so exciting! My mom had the fall decorations in the yard, and the trees around our house had begun to change. My mom and dad came out into the driveway to welcome me. My mom even brought Chester, our Norwich Terrier, out to greet me. I was so excited to see that little guy!

I went inside the house to put my luggage in my room. My room seemed so bare. My bed seemed so low to the ground since my bed at school is lofted. Mail that was addressed to me sat on my desk, as well as leftover high school graduation announcements and my AP Scholar certificate. It was weird to see those objects, high school seems so long ago. I went to my bulletin board and found a list of goals I had written my senior year of high school. Very bizarre.

I went downstairs, where my mom had a delicious dinner waiting. She made one of my favorites, Italian Beef. It was so nice to be able to enjoy a dinner around the table with my family. That is one of the things I miss the most about being home. I also miss having access to fresh fruit. Although the food at Mizzou is very good, the fresh fruit is definitely lacking!

After dinner, we gathered in the family room and just relaxed and chatted. It was so enjoyable! I discussed the classes that I would take next semester with my parents, and we talked about what I was planning to do during the summer. After that, I played some board games with my little brother.

On Saturday, I took my brother to a few of his favorite (video game) stores, and I went to TJ Maxx. I don't have a car at school so I don't get to shop! We met Bertie, who was my nanny from the time I was six months old, for lunch. She is like a second mom to me, and it was so good to see her! That afternoon, I took my brother and one of his friends to a corn maze and pumpkin patch. It was the perfect fall day and I enjoyed spending time with my brother.

On Saturday night, my sister Hannah (who was home on fall break from SLU) and I, had some of our high school friends over. Our friend Timmy was home on fall break from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and we also invited some of our friends who are seniors in high school. It was so great to just sit and chat and see how everyone was doing.

On Sunday, my sister and my parents and I went to brunch at the country club (one of my absolute favorites!) I enjoyed the delicious food and having another meal with my family. 

We left to go back to Columbia around 2:00 on Sunday. I'll be the first to admit that leaving was hard. I love my new life at Mizzou, but I miss being together with all of my family, especially my sisters. I miss my dog. I miss the comforts of home that everyone takes for granted.

I'm so glad that I took a weekend to go back home. The past few weeks have been busy with midterms and projects, and going home was just the thing I needed. I'm recharged and ready to finish out the semester strong! Our Homecoming is this weekend, so I'm looking forward to all the events that come with it. 

I love my home in Bloomington.

I love my home at Mizzou.

Reunited with my favorite little guy, Chester

The perfect Fall weekend calls for Bean Boots

I took Christopher to his favorite video game store

Going to the corn maze with Christopher was a blast!

Early morning cuddling with Chester

After brunch at the CC. It was great to see one of my sisters! 

How was your first trip home from college? Did it feel weird? What are the comforts of home that you miss most?

Stay Stylish. Stay Classy. Be Creative.

Emily