The minute one enters Shea house, they’re immediately greeted with the good smells, loud chatter, and bright banners of the German pod’s Oktoberfest celebration. 

​​Against one wall are hung large tapestries for photoshoots, with people poking their heads through the holes to become different German scenes while waving around miniature black, red, and yellow flags. Across the room is a large table with a safety mat set down, a slightly smug member of the German pod quizzing participants on various fun facts while the participants themselves struggle to hold up beer steins filled with water. Continuing down the hallway, the sounds of German techno music and the flashing colors of strobe lights emerge from the darkened classroom. In the library, two large baskets have been set up, one containing heart-shaped gingerbread cookies, the other filled with all different colors of icing to decorate with. 

But the main attraction of this event is by far the food. All of the tables in the dining hall are crowded with people sitting around them, laden down with paper plates filled with sausages, pretzel bites, and slices of apple strudel. Sitting down at one of these tables with my own overly-stuffed plate, my senses are filled with warmth and comfort. The warm butter of the pretzel between my teeth, the saccharine smell of the sweet strudel, the crinkling blue and white tablecloth under my fingers, the cheery conversation and laughter all around me. And we eat and we laugh and we celebrate. Celebrate this holiday, celebrate friends, celebrate Shea. 

Written by Chloe Ross ‘26