<p>…, the gloves, the fleece jackets, the long underwear, the warm socks, the boots and cross-trainers. Also, the alarm clock (time zone change), the maps of every campus and every tour and info session schedule, the phone numbers of students to call. </p>
<p>Anything else I need for introducing my sweet California children to a New England winter :D?</p>
<p>Hot chocolate?? ;)</p>
<p>Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr…it’s gonna be a rude awakening!!! Hope all goes well with the trip! ~b.</p>
<p>So…we got my d. gloves - she doesn’t wear them. Fleece jacket - she bought a peacoat; long underwear - they set in a draw; warm socks - sometimes; boots - went two years without. No cross trainers. No alarm clocks.</p>
<p>Go figure.</p>
<p>Make sure the rental car has a snow brush.</p>
<p>Oh that’s a great idea–I’ll bring my fleece mitt/scraper/brush from home? (We actually need it in the mornings here in California!!). And AWD of course too. (And GPS for this mom who always takes a wrong turn somewhere)</p>
<p>Mini–I was like that too when I was living there. But I want to be able to say to them, when they are shivering in the freezing cold in some college yard, “I TOLD you to bring the earmuffs and the gloves with you when we left the hotel!”</p>
<p>Patient, Have fun! Where did you decide to go in the end?</p>
<p>You can leave the long underwear and boots at home. Bring chapstick.</p>
<p>edad! I second that chapstick recommendation!</p>
<p>The boots might actually be useful if there’s a lot of snow on the ground. Long underwear doesn’t work out well. It makes you too hot when you go into the buildings. You learn to adjust to having numb legs when you’re outside.</p>
<p>Oh come on!! It’s not the Arctic!! We’ve had a few cold weeks, but usually it’s 25 degrees and up. (Which, if you’re used to 60+ temps, will be a shock . . . )</p>
<p>You’ve got the right clothes; you’ll all be fine. If your D stays moderately well-dressed (warmth-wise, not style-wise!), she’ll enjoy the difference!</p>
<p>“There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” </p>
<p>Don’t know who said it, but it’s true.</p>
<p>Tour will be adjusted to the weather. Unless you are headed to upstate NY, there is no snow on the ground here in Boston. Spent last Friday in Boulder, CO on a tour. About 15 degrees with a stiff wind. Spent most of the time walking quickly between buildings. Everyone kept saying that it was never that cold in Boulder. Sure enough, by Tuesday it was 60 to 70 in Denver and the snow was finally melting.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Actually, I said it, or something close, on another thread:</p>
<p>“The Scandinavians have an expression: There is no bad weather, only bad clothes.” In other words, if you dress for it, the weather won’t be a problem. Sounds like Patient and Offspring are heeding that advice.</p>
<p>Patient:</p>
<p>The other day, I was bundled up in a quilted coat that goes down to my ankles, wore a hat onto which I had put my hood, gloves, scarf—and I bumped into S wearing nothing warmer than a hoodie. “I’m okay, mom; it’s only the wind that bothers me.” He does own several parkas, the latest a Christmas gift. Two are in his dorm. I suspect both are decorating his room floor. He does not own a chapstick and would not put on any if he did. His lips ARE chapped (and they looked blue to me, too).</p>
<p>When they’re little kids, it’s “I’m cold; you should put on a sweater.”</p>
<p>Now that they’re bigger, all we can do is buy them the stuff they should wear. It’s up to them to wear it or not.</p>
<p>I saw a high school kid waiting for the bus the other day wearing a short-sleeved tee-shirt. It was about 14 degrees out.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>When we took our NE college tour, my FL native daughter opened the glove compartment of our rental car and found an ice scraper. “Dad, what the heck is this thing?”</p>
<p>I’ve told this story here before: the only footwear she brought was a pair of high heels for the interviews and flip flops for walking around. There was still snow on the ground!</p>
<p>Audiophile,
Was she willing to buy a pair of boots? I observed FL girls liking the look.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why so many boys wear only T-shirts and hoodies. Its almost as tho its unmanly to wear their fleece jackets (I don’t think S has worn his expensive fleece ever, even when visiting Boston midyear)</p>
<p>Well, now that she’s living up there, she has the de rigueur winter wardrobe (purchased during parents’ weekend): Uggs, Northface, Pea Coat, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! Chapstick is a GREAT suggestion. Thanks! The really light silk camisoles type long underwear from Land’s End do work for me (based upon my last Feb. NE trip) and I don’t remember being too hot inside. (memory is bad, though). </p>
<p>Yes, will make sure rental car has AWD, GPS (very important for mother without sense of direction ) and the scraper. </p>
<p>I don’t mind if the girls are too cold as long as it is NOT MY FAULT:). </p>
<p>Momrath–still looks like about the same list except I’m still a bit unsure about Boston schools. Harvard for the history of it all, and probably Tufts, though Brandeis is another possibility. For sure Amherst, Smith and/or Mount Holyoke, Wesleyan and Connecticut College, and Brown. Several people have suggested going to Yale, but I suspect that is too reach-y. I want them to just be able to do some sightseeing and shopping too so except for the Saturday Harvard tour, we’ll be playing in Boston over the weekend. Thanks, and any more suggestions are welcome!!</p>
<p>Also make sure that the rental car has anti-freeze in the windshield washer fluid. I once rented a car in Maine, and simply assumed that it was equipped. Well, the car had come up from Florida, and they didn’t check. Winshield washer fluid froze on a very messy highway. I had to buy a gallon of fluid and stop every so often to get out and pour it over the windshield! Not fun.</p>