<p>Haven’t caught up on the weekend postings but wanted to say Hi and Bye! H and I are heading out for a winter vacation…to a cabin in the Upper Peninsula! Snowmobiling, Xcountry skiing and snow shoeing. Not really my thing but we shall see! Heading out in a little bit. Have a great week all!</p>
<p>Missy… perfect. Just keep dancing. It’s a motto to live by.</p>
<p>On that drinking thing…I am a little undecided about what represents a solution. Growing up in Canada, the legal drinking age was raised from 18 to 19 when I was a kid. Since back then we had grade 13 for those headed to university, it meant most of us (except me…I was a year younger than everyone else) were legal age when we got to campus. As a result of the combo of being legal to drink and being poor college kids, many of us drank in our residences to conserve cash. But truly, only on weekends. I can’t think of anytime anyone on my floor was treated or caused a major problem due to BAC, as strange as that sounds. The lower drinking age did give us access to dance clubs, where, frankly, if you actually enjoyed dancing you didn’t drink AS much as you might elsewhere. And Smart Serve laws were stringent, so if someone was getting out of control they were thrown out by security.
But I don’t know that statistically Canada is any different than the US due to the lower drinking age. Very few abstained back in my day, but very few binged. I don’t know if those stats apply today, because I believe I saw something suggesting that in the US it also used to be similar.</p>
<p>21 seems to me to be a long time to wait to be legal, so I supposed I’d argue for a lower age just to get it up out of the underground. Kids shouldn’t have to be 21 to go out dancing or go see a band (I mean at a club, not a stadium) – that recreational void might exacerbate the “hobby-drinking-phenomenon.” But I wonder if anyone has compared the # of DUIs, addictions, fatalities etc. between the U.S. and Canada per cap. That could be interesting to get a sense of what works.</p>
<p>I do know that in border cities in Cda when I used to be on the cop beat it was always the American kids getting into drinking-related trouble downtown but that’s likely a combo of inexperience and hey, they only crossed the border to drink ;)</p>
<p>Popping in to say Hi!</p>
<p>S is apparently doing well in Discrete Math (what the heck is discrete math?), but History of Technology is proving to be a lot of work. Thursday was advising day, no classes. Called son to ask if he met with his advisor and found out he had no idea what advising day was. Just why did he think he had no classes? I’m concerned I know more about what is happening at his college than he does. Oh well, I think he’s got next year’s housing figured out, so I won’t fuss too much.</p>
<p>Discrete Math is a class recommended for CS majors. I am not sure what all is covered but it looks like some number theory among other things. I did not have time to ask S what he was learning in it.</p>
<p>hmmm on the advising day. I did not ask that question either. S was supposedly having to get a new advisor at some point. The first semester ones were assigned. Maybe better do some more digging on that one FFScout. I think <em>I</em> will.</p>
<p>No idea on housing. S said he was <em>on it</em> but I don’t know what that means</p>
<p>Sending those happy vibes your way, Downtoearth</p>
<p>Ha Firefly… sometimes I feel the same too, but then again he probably gets a ton of emails that he barely reads telling him all the same stuff I either read in the paper or on the website. Of course, I really wouldn’t know as he only tells me bits of pieces of very general things: Did this in class. Managed to do my laundry. Got the v-day package (finally). I know only a few names and know very little about what he does outside of class besides “Studying. G2G” If was studying as much as he says, he should be well on his way to being a phi beta kappa.</p>
<p>Son has said that they are planning getting another suite next year, hopefully I suppose depending on room draw. However, he will room with his same roommate. Must be working out. Not too messy, not too neat. Sleep habits relatively the same and apparently nothing too offending. Boys are a little easier that way I suppose. They are good friends, but not best friends. Again, son loves a good balance.</p>
<p>kmccrindle, here’s an article about drinking at McGill, which suggests that it certainly happens but with many fewer problems / binges, etc. That’s consistent with what I hear from nephews/nieces, etc. [Drinking</a> outside the box](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/38/01/drinking/]Drinking”>http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/38/01/drinking/)</p>
<p>Speaking of substances, ShawSon was home this weekend and talked about housing – said “This is something I should be on top of.” One group of friends is going to the substance free dorm. ShawSon, while far from a heavy duty partyer, does not expect to be substance free. Otherwise, he has to try to put together a suite of 8 (I think) which is hard as it involves combining different groups that don’t know each other. He talked to several kids and it wasn’t clear that a potentially compatible suite of 8 would emerge. One has to commit to the sub-free dorms earlier than the other dorms and they are nicer than what he’d get as a sophomore. But, he’s said that he wants to meet more people who are do-ers (e.g., it’s snowing - let’s go sledding) and his friends planning to go to sub-fee suite are not. </p>
<p>I put in a big suggestion the previous week that he go get some exercise by playing pickup basketball (he didn’t have friends to sign up with for intramural basketball in December). Interestingly, he told me that he played most days last week and had a blast. He’s a big guy and folks would be happy to have him on their team. Interesting to know that my suggestions still have an impact. And, I’m glad he’s having fun and trying to find compatible people to have fun with. School is not just about learning (which he loves) and performing (he admits he’s always a bit anxious about this and could relax his standards a little).</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about ModaSon’s getting cut. It is weird that they recruited him and then cut him. Does that affect scholarships in any way?</p>
<p>And on to the important matters, best of luck in the surgery, DTE.</p>
<p>Hey Shawbridge - Thanks for posting the article. S is a junior at McGill and when he heard of his sister’s experience, he was really quite surprised. In his almost 3 years there, he has never heard of anyone being taken to the hospital. From his first year there, he has really enjoyed going to a pub for some beers while watching a game or playing in trivia matches. As the article says, it’s all in balance. He certainly enjoys himself, but not in extremis.
BTW, S is also in intramural basketball. At 6’6’', he’s in demand despite lackluster skills. Oh well, you can’t teach height, I guess.</p>
<p>Woody, is your son enjoying McGill? It is on my daughter’s list (she’s a HS junior). The kids are dual Canadian/US citizens and all of our bright cousins on the Canadian side go to McGill and generally have liked it and done well. She chose to study French in part because she always thought she would go to McGill (and is pretty fluent). But, it seems awfully large for her (she goes to a HS with 86 kids in the senior class). Did your son look at other Canadian schools?</p>
<p>We share a house an hour outside of Montreal and ShawSon will take a few friends up for a few days. They go to the casino and can drink legally, but seem to do so in moderation. The fact that it is legal makes it seem more ordinary.</p>
<p>Thanks, Shawbridge, for the article. It certainly sounds pretty much the same as my college days. Now that I think of it, there are a few other things that might be different than some campuses here, which might also foster a more balanced experience. There was no such thing as a “freshman dorm” – our floors were all a mix of genders and ages/years, with doubles anchoring the square and singles in between. Our dons were very visible, and kept their doors open. And there was, at least in my dorm, 24 hr. security staff. We actually had pubs and games rooms in our dorm buildings as well. And community lounges on each floor. But you had to get clearance from the floor don to hold a party in the lounge. Wonder if that made a difference too. Interesting.</p>
<p>S’s HS graduating class had 50 students - trust me he was ready for the big wide world. In fact, he went to China for his senior year and lived with host family in Beijing. (He speaks to them about 1-2 a month.) McGill is not an intimate place - I can’t imagine you would get the services your S has received. S doesn’t want it. He’s doing a double major in East Asian Studies and Econ. One big problem that surfaced recently - huge classes in Econ and he really doesn’t know a prof he can call on for a rec. He can ask his Mandarin prof for one - he studied with him at Peking U last summer but no Econ. prof could do that for him. We’ll see. Classes are very challenging and there is no grade inflation so his GPA doesn’t look the best - and he’s a bright kid.
But, he LOVES it there! Montreal is terrific. Loves his Canadian/French/Asian friends - very cosmopolitan. Suits him to a tee.
DOrms are only available for Freshman - after that, it’s off to the plateau which is significantly less expensive than the dorms. This year he has one roommate and is cooking, cleaning, shopping living on his own.
PS We made him take out a Stafford loan this year - it’s good to have a little skin in the game. H just wrote the Spring tuition check - $1700US!!
PPS I have heard there is a problem with registering for French classes for underclassmen - a bit over-subscribed.</p>
<p>Wow. This afternoon’s story in our local paper is about a 20 year old woman who fell to the ground from the third story of her sorority house at twenty minutes after midnight, thoroughly inebriated. Luckily some of her sorority sisters found her right away, and she’s in the hospital with major internal injuries, but at least alive. Just wow. I can’t imagine getting that phone call. I just can’t.</p>
<p>Shawbridge… son wasn’t recruited. He was just walking on, but had had a great deal of success in HS and summer elite teams so it wasn’t like he was a schlock or anything. However other kids who WERE recruited got cut as well. No scholarship (merit or otherwise) at his school as all aid is need-based. In fact, he’s taking it quite well (yes disappointed but he’s a good egg in that he believes when a door closes a window opens - thank you Sound of Music). He had always looked at schools as where he wanted to go to school as it has become obvious over the years that when kids pick schools based on recruitment alone seem to often end up transferring. And too… when it comes to kids from the midwest (the heart of the heartland, so to speak), it’s even more important that they like the school if they’re going East. It’s a different culture for some of them and so, I’ve just found a lot come back closer to home it seems.</p>
<p>DTE- you will sail through the surgery and continue to feel stronger and get better!</p>
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<p>Exactly!! We had a campus pub at my little tiny undergrad. Drinking age then was 18 for 3.2 beer. But in the summers in western NY it was 18 for everything. Not to say we didn’t overindulge but we were so busy trying to LOOK mature, we were actually acting mature. As for the roof… beyond the whole drinking, driving or driving with someone who had been drinking, I made son promise he wouldn’t go near creeks or bodies of waters or go up on roofs while drinking. It’s just too easy an accident.</p>
<p>Well, next year’s housing is definite. A bunch of Game Design majors got together and were approved for a theme house - I can just imagine the decor now. At least he’ll be “among his kind”. He’s been pretty perplexed living on a jock floor, although he has a very good relationship with his football player roommate.</p>
<p>Moda - it sounds like your son has a good attitude and will find plenty of activities to keep him busy.</p>
<p>Odessagirl was home for the weekend. It was just the best time. And now I am missing her so much again. It’s hurts. But the pain is worth it. Just venting a smidge.</p>
<p>Fireflyscout - Your post made me smile. Your boy will have the best time in his Game Design house.</p>
<p>eddieodessa, I drove out for a visit at the end of January just a few weeks after D returned for the second semester. We had enjoyed our winter break so much (lunch,movies,tv – general hanging out) that I missed her worse than when I took her to school in August. It made me feel so glad that she said she needed a “mom fix” then as well. Now she’s completely tied up with sorority pledging activities so I’m glad I went when I did. Today is her birthday and my first one without her in person.</p>
<p>I’m headed to see D Friday afternoon for a shopping trip - new bathing suit needed for break! Will be nice. Housing has been set for several months- off grounds apartment with another first year- convenient, safe, each will have their own bedroom, good friends but not inseparable. Think it will work out well.</p>