20 countries later

A few days ago, my 4-foot tall roommate, Melissa, slaved over a piping hot oven for five hours to prepare the most mouth-watering brisket I have ever tasted. Although it is merely beef sautéed in special marinade and seasonings, it reminded me so much of my grandmother's cooking on the high holidays and served as a sore reminder of my slim ability to "cook" LIFE cereal with soy milk. \nNot only did Melissa prepare a wonderful dinner, but also in the process, she nearly burned down our new and beloved house. The knob to the oven would not turn off, so my roommates and I sat in our kitchen for two hours until we were content that our house would not be set ablaze. Of course, this was all with careful instruction in a frantic phone call to my loving father. It was merely one afternoon in the life and times of five senior girls living on their own for the first time, ever. \nAs freshmen, we began our stay at IU in the northwest neighborhood -- dining frequently at the remarkable Foster food court and McNutt Starbucks, riding the A-bus up from the library to avoid the sweaty venture up that steep hill. Eagerly and fearfully, we plowed through the ridiculous IU greek community recruitment tradition known as "19-party" until we found a new home for ourselves on the North Jordan extension. We bonded over our favorite B-bus driver, Phil, restful nights in the beloved cold dorm, planning creative themes for date parties, enduring the physical challenges of riding Little 500, assuring the health, safety and organization of our fellow chapter members, and raising money for our national philanthropy, Prevent Child Abuse of America. After living in our grand house on North Jordan, we all took upon ourselves the opportunity to explore the world, going our separate ways to Australia, Italy and the Czech Republic for our junior spring semester abroad. \nWe all have amazing mental photographs and unique cultural experiences that sneak their ways into our daily conversation and new way of life in Bloomington. Our Australia fanatics love to take the bag out of the "boxed wine," to sling it over their shoulder -- known as a "GOON" in Wollongong, Australia. The Italian wine connoisseurs have endured wine tasting in Tuscany and only with a "Chin-chin" will they take their first sip. And I, from Czech lands, chant my Czech beer-drinking songs and shout "Nazdravi," while teaching proper beer etiquette and history. The places we have traveled are diverse and vast -- covering over 20 European countries, three continents, and then, six months later, we find ourselves back in good 'ol Bloomington. \nAside from the difficulty running between classes from Ballantine, Jordan Hall or Swain West, and the addition of Cold Stone Ice Creamery, nothing has really changed here. The footsteps and flavor of Bloomington are still swift and sweet. The only difference is the new discoveries we make as we become domestic for the first time in our lives. The dramatic life in a sorority house, skydiving in Australia or having $200 stolen from a Paris hotel room could never prepare us for our long-awaited senior year at IU. And so we are learning that we must pay for those orange trash pick-up stickers every Monday morning; we are watching our friends fall through the walls of our poorly constructed house; and we ponder this exciting year ahead of us as we stand horrified in the frozen foods section of Marsh because we have no idea how to go grocery shopping -- except for Melissa -- she even knows how to run the dishwasher.