<p>Kids don’t use dry erase boards as much as we think they will. You can skip that.</p>
<p>Probably better to buy the fridge, as you’ll have it to use again and again. Even if it’s just for water bottles, it’s nice to have one.</p>
<p>D’s used dry erase boards on the outside of their dorm room doors for people to leave messages. Roommates bought and split cost after they were at school.</p>
<p>Thanks fellow dorm shoppers. Now I want to know if you get a rug and if you bring a small vacuum or a swffer. For what it’s worth, he never cleans at home, so I don’t know why he would at college.</p>
<p>Dorm shopping - D did not bring a dry erase board or want one. She did bring a fridge. Her school doesn’t allow microwaves in the dorm, so check on that before buying one. She did bring a stick vacuum cleaner and even though she doesn’t clean at home, she did use the vacuum at school. She didn’t bring a rug. Dorm room last year was carpeted and was actually in good shape. She didn’t bring a Swiffer, but I left her with a big container of clorex wipes and she did wipe the furniture down with those every once in a while.</p>
<p>S1’s college spoiled the kids and they had their room vacuumed and cleaned for them. (Provided the surface was picked up and clear to clean.) Now that he is in a graduate school apartment he is asking for a vacuum (unbelievable how things change) for his birthday…So I guess getting a vacuum could be worthwhile if they will use it. S1 did have a hand vac that was a hand me down that he says he used occasionally to clean up spills. S2 had a tile floor which probably wasn’t cleaned the entire semester he was there. Both he and his roommate each had a small area rug by their beds. These could go in the washer. I also second the Clorox wipes (or a generic version.) They also had a broom and dustpan.</p>
<p>Thanks, not familiar with Clorox wipes…not too harsh for furniture? Sounds like it is for bathrooms.</p>
<p>Most of the dorm room furniture is formica, the Colorox is fine for that but not on wood.</p>
<p>I have to laugh - when we dropped S2 at Elon last August - I provided a roll of paper towels and a bottle of Windex and suggested he use it to periodically wipe down the sink, his desk, etc. When we visited mid-October, the cleaning products were not only unopened - they were exactly where I had left them!</p>
<p>I did later find out that they were using Clorox wipes to do some cleaning of the bathroom. Probably better I shouldn’t know too many details.</p>
<p>Yeah I can believe that RVM!</p>
<p>According to US News & World Report, the University of Alabama is the number 1 school in the country for B students.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.delawareonline.com/VideoNetwork/2132220650001/Best-Colleges-for-B-Students[/url]”>http://www.delawareonline.com/VideoNetwork/2132220650001/Best-Colleges-for-B-Students</a></p>
<p>I thought I’d ask if anyone has tips for packing for a semester abroad? D1 who does not know the meaning of packing light will be leaving next month for a semester in Madrid. For those of you whose kids have been through this any advice on what to pack and what to leave at home? Any other advice is welcome, thanks!</p>
<p>Well, this is slightly off-topic, but your cleaning stories reminded me of a funny experience with my son. He graduated from UMD and was living and working on Capitol Hill. During Passover I visited, and brought brisket and sides, desserts…and of course matzo. When we went to help him pack up and move at the end of the year, I checked all the cabinets before we left. And what did I find in a tippy-top cabinet? The unopened matzo! I joked that I should keep it and simply bring it to each new apartment on Passover as a symbolic gesture, since any box of matzo is unlikely to be opened or eaten!</p>
<p>Riprorin,</p>
<p>Thanks for posting that US News list–interesting! And still laughing–“they let “C” students become President!” LOL!</p>
<p>Cheermom, that was funny!I guess matzoh is the Jewish equivilant of fruitcake! Holiday essential, not eaten.</p>
<p>Mumof2: Spygirl just got home after a month abroad. She had one large suitcase and had more than enough clothes. </p>
<p>The items that came in handy were -
: A good purse that zips with a fold over top to prevent pickpocketing.
: A light sweater, a scarf or two for entrance into churches
: A good solid pair of shoes for walking
: Prescriptions for allergy or other medications
: Any easy to travel food items such as peanut butter or granola bars</p>
<p>What she didn’t pack and missed -
: bleach stick! They do not exist in Europe
: A few more shirts
: A good laminated map
: A dual current curling iron and hair dryer. Hard to find in Spain</p>
<p>Do they still make those passport cases that you wear under your shirt? I wore mine all over Europe when dinosaurs roamed the earth…</p>
<p>Shulamit, there are several moneybelts to choose from. The most popular either go around the neck or are worn around the waist. We have the type that clips on in the underside of your pants.</p>
<p>Passports should be kept locked at school and only pocket money for the day should be carried. There are several purses specifically aimed to keep thieves and pickpockets at bay. DD carried a baggalini with several zippers required to get at her ATM card or cash.</p>
<p>I should add that she didn’t bring anything for her dorm room. She had money if there was something she couldn’t live without.</p>
<p>I don’t really have any advice for packing for a girl except that we got the lightest rolling duffel we could find. Also probably very obvious but since we didn’t think of it others might not either. Don’t forget to advise your debit/credit card banks/companies about the trip. We did forget and S missed out on a really sweet groupon deal because of the time it took to straighten it out.</p>
<p>Ha Cheermom, that just might work :)</p>
<p>D spent 5 weeks in Paris, and she took her mini umbrella everywhere. Plus I scanned a copy of her passport to her so she had it on her phone.</p>
<p>Mumof2-D1 spent last Spring semester in Toulouse. She had a big backpack and a rolling duffel. She did not pack enough warm sweaters and she overpacked everything else. After the semester ended and she started traveling around, she shipped alot of stuff home ($$$) since she couldn’t manage the backpack AND duffel and the backpack was way too heavy. Keep in mind that your D will be shopping in Madrid too and adding to the original stuff she couldn’t possibly live without.</p>