<p>EMS has a pretty good selection–I got my coat there but they are wayy overpriced, just like every other store in the square. I would suggest looking online (northface.com) or going to Cambridgeside Galleria for more reasonable prices.</p>
<p>Good insights on FOP laundry. It hadn’t occurred to me (it certainly would have to GAmom, but she’s staying home with little brother). </p>
<p>I’ll try to go to Annenberg near the start of the Parents Reception, choose a table, and set out a table tent that says “College Confidential Parents.” Then, any of us who arrive can search out that table and see if anyone’s there (unless the Dining Services staff tosses the table tent).</p>
<p>Your kids will love FOP. My daughter loved it so much she became an FOP leader for her final two years. To qualify to be a leader she had to prove she was a regular Sacajawea - full of wood lore and camping skills. I think she documented every campout she’s ever been on down to and including backyard sleep-overs in grade school. Once chosen they also undergo extensive training. She always had to go back to school weeks early because of that.</p>
<p>I asked her whether the leaders play any “snipe hunt” type pranks on FOP kids, and she said no, because they want to the kids to learn to trust the FOP leaders and not be suspicious of them. She said there was one very mild prank they do: the New England Wild Pineapple. They sometimes take small, whole pineapple with them, and at some point sneak up ahead on the trail and bury it with only the top sticking up out of the ground. They then sight the rare specimen the next day as a wonderful find that not all FOP kids get to see. </p>
<p>They point to the listing for the New England Pineapple in the official FOP flora and fauna guide book. With a straight face, the book relates how the pineapple escaped into the wild due to the carelessness of early Pilgrim pineapple farmers.</p>
<p>Many kids appear to believe it. The joke is usually given away when they dig up the New England Pineapple and see the supermarket Dole sticker still on the side.</p>
<p>Lousyanamom, I had considered doing my son’s FOP laundry in the Weld basement, but almost immediatly dropped the idea. For one, I am not sure individuals other than students are allowed access to the machines, for another, I fear I would get more than one hard glare from my son! The idea of his mommy doing his laundry on campus in full view of fellow students would not go down too well, I suspect. I am sure however that a stealth off campus laundry mission would be appreciated.
Gadad, I just realize now that the Ga in gadad must be Georgia! We too are from GA and I am guessing that maybe our kids were on the same plane up to Boston on Sunday.
Coureur, thanks for the amusing pineapples story. FOP does sound fun.</p>
<p>It’s good that you guys are thinkig about not embarassing your kids, but there will be many parents doing ten times worse things. If you want to do your kids laundry (or if you’re willing to do it at all) then by all means do. He/she will appreciate it and it might be cathartic or something for you.</p>
<p>Another FOP trick that we play is the ‘moose droppings’ trick. One of the leaders will stop suddenly while hiking and point out the moose poop on the side of the trail. Then they’ll explain to everyone that actually moose poop is highly nutritious and tastes pretty good too because of their vegetarian diet. They then pick it up and eat a dropping, going on to offer it to the rest of the group (who by now are usually soooooo weirded out). </p>
<p>Similar to the pineapple trick, what actually happened is one of the leaders snuck ahead and dropped some milk duds on the trail, which he or she then called ‘moose poop.’</p>
<p>Moose poop - nice. 
Gotta try that with GAson, who’s a 13-year-old Boy Scout!</p>
<p>Just have to say that we fly out tonight with D1. I’m experiencing sudden bouts of crying. So is D1. So is D2. So is DH. How is it possible to be simultaneously thrilled and excited and happy and devastated?</p>
<p>It’s called the agony and the ecstasy!</p>
<p>Just got an instant message from a friend of DS – DS is at another college, but his friend is a new freshman at Harvard who just arrived today. She (DS’s friend) said they were kicked out of their dorms because of a blackout caused by the storm. They are in an auditorium (with wireless access, apparently) in a science center. The word on when they will get back into their dorms is “Not anytime soon!”</p>
<p>At least it’s a move-in day they’ll always remember!</p>
<p>I type to you from the science center right now.</p>
<p>Wow, that’s very scary. Good luck and be safe everyone!!</p>
<p>Ya last night was crazy. We all got to sleep about 3:00 AM. On the plus side, they let us take anything we wanted from the Cafe in the science center free of charge. SO everyone just walked through and grabbed what they wanted. It was a really funny scene. It was actually a great experience because I feel like I really got to know my dorm-mates much better after almost pulling an all-nighter with them!</p>
<p>I didn’t realize it was free until I got to the counter with one bag of chips and the guy told me to keep on moving. (lol I saw some guy walking out with armfuls of stuff though.)</p>
<p>We are home from moving-in D1. It was just a wonderful, tumultuous, emotional time. Her roommates are just superb. The girls already seem like old friends. Beautiful space - convenient. Proctor from heaven. So nice, so approachable, the parents’ and the students’ dream. Especially enjoyed having Boston police department direct the move-in traffic into the yard. For some odd reason that made DH and I start to cry. Driving in Harvard Yard! How many ever get to do that???</p>
<p>D1 texted us in the wee hours about the black-out. Just all part of a surreal and memorable day. </p>
<p>I really, really liked her roommates’ parents - very down-to-earth and lovely people. We have planned to meet for dinner at Freshman Family days. </p>
<p>I am really happy with this. Feel as if this long, tough, crazy journey has finally reached a good resting point. She’s in a great place. I’m at peace.</p>
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<p>You get to do it again on Move-Out Day.</p>
<p>[The</a> Harvard Crimson :: News :: Electrical Surge Empties Adams House and Yard Dorms](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=523979]The”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=523979)</p>
<p>We took a picture when we pahked the cah in Hahvahd Yahd.</p>
<p>DS’s train was four hours late getting in to South Station because of the storm; by the time he arrived the T had stopped running. Not a great start to his school year. :(</p>
<p>Mammal, I echo your sentiments exactly.
Loved my daughters roommates (they really matched them well-they are all different but really compatible!) Loved the parents, several of us took the girls to dinner Saturday night. I loved the ceremony on Sunday and felt as you say “at peace” saying goodbye because I know she is where she is supposed to be and will be well looked after!</p>
<p>Gadad, did you ever meet up with any CC parents? I hope so… I was hoping to get over to Annenberg on the first day but spent the entire day trying to organize the room with my daughter and her roommates and their parents, before we knew it Annenburg had closed!</p>
<p>Anyway I think the kids are in for a great year!</p>
<p>I just got home - the only downside for me was that Pres. Faust went several minutes longer after saying “In closing . . .” and I didn’t feel that I should walk out on her, so I stayed and subsequently missed a T train by 15 seconds. I had to wait 10 minutes for the next one, got to the airport 25 minutes before my flight, and was told that because it was overbooked they’d given out all the unclaimed seats 30 minutes before flight time. So, I got to wait at Logan for 12 1/2 hours for a 6 a.m. flight yesterday! Kind of a weird parallel to the kids’ unexpected sleepover on Saturday night.</p>
<p>I went to Annenberg early and set out a CC sign but as it turned out, D1 was working as a Peer Advising Fellow next door to D2’s dorm. I was able to go back and visit with her periodically throughout the morning and didn’t get back to Annenberg. I hope a few of you might have been able to identify one another, but of course, there were 1,666 sets of parents running around, so I guess the odds wouldn’t be very likely.</p>
<p>Having had the opportunity to do this twice, I’ve found it both times to be a wonderful (albeit with mixed emotions), upbeat, welcoming experience in a setting that on Move-In Day must be the world epicenter of “College-ness.” I hope all of you continue to get the enthusiastic phone calls and e-mails. Just be prepared that the more involved your student gets, the less frequently they may stop to call or e-mail; keep reminding yourself that that’s a good sign.</p>
<p>One recommendation for those of you whose kids are in smaller rooms - I found this weekend that Harvard Student Agencies sells a set of four 6" bed risers for $10.49 plus tax. They’re four small props that go under each leg of a bed and elevate it enough to store suitcases or storage bins underneath. They’re so handy that I bought a set for my deck chair back home to raise it high enough that the deck railing doesn’t impact my view.</p>
<p>did anyone’s kid over here do FUP? </p>
<p>Also the blackout was amazing, half the FUPpies went to currier to watch movies and play bowlful of nouns.</p>