<p>From mid-July to several days before freshman orientation, I’m going on a trip to Asia where I won’t be allowed to have any Internet access (and therefore won’t be able to read the official e-mail telling me my roommate and room). The day after I return, my family and I get to embark on the long drive from Minnesota to New York, which seems like a very short time to make that awkward intro e-mail/facebook message saying hi and discussing who gets to bring the fridge or whatever (because by then we’ll have already started the journey and it’ll be too late to know what to bring or what not to bring…)</p>
<p>There’s nothing I can really do about this situation and I’m just really annoyed with it. Thoughts or suggestions? I don’t want her to think that I’m ignoring her if she e-mails me or something… </p>
<p>I would recommend potentially giving your email password to your parents, and saving a draft in your email with the basics that they can just click ‘send’ on when you get your roommate. Something along the lines of that you’re in Asia and won’t be able to get in touch (hence why you’re writing this beforehand!), but that you’re very excited to meet her! You might want to politely request that if she’s going to bring anything major like a fridge or TV that she shoot an email so your parents at least have an idea, even if you won’t. It sucks, but I know that if I were in your roommates shoes, I’d at least like to have my own stuff figured out.</p>
<p>I like soccergurl’s idea of composing an email to your roommate ahead of time that your parents can send on your behalf.</p>
<p>Regarding fridges and stuff, you have three options: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Have your parents coordinate with your future roommate(s).</p></li>
<li><p>Buy everything ahead of time, bring it to the dorm and be ready to send it back home with your parents (and have it returned) if you don’t actually need it.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t worry about it now and buy a fridge after you move in, if necessary. You could order one online with free 2-day shipping from Amazon, or have your parents run an errand after dropping your off, or you might even be able to find fridges and microwaves in the college bookstore. The bookstores at many bigger universities are so well-equipped during move-in period that you could do practically all of your college shopping there: bedding, fridges, microwaves, shower totes, trash cans, lamps of various shapes and sizes, cloth hangers, extension cords, full-length mirrors, storage containers, first-aid supplies…</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I went with option 3 and it worked out fine. I didn’t have an urgent need for a fridge because I ate many of my meals in the dining halls, and there was a tea pantry with a gigantic shared fridge on every floor. (Turns out that people are much less likely to steal your food if you keep it in a non-translucent bag.) Never bought a microwave because the one in the tea pantry served me well.</p>