<p>Irene or not, launch for S went very well today. We arrived for move-in around 9:30 this morning and parked in the main garage and were immediately met by a member of the NSO (New Student Orientation) team who had a couple of large 4-wheeled carts. We loaded all of his stuff into the bins, they were taped and double labled and taken to the loading dock where the team loaded them into the shuttle truck for delivery to his dorm. All we had to do was walk over to the dorm, where he checked in and got his key and we were up to his room. His roommate and parents were there and had moved in the prior afternoon as they were from north Jersey and wanted to beat the weather driving south to DC.</p>
<p>Within an hour the bins arrived and we were able to raise the beds and unpack all of his stuff. We then made a trip back to the garage and car for our umbrellas as the rain bagan around 11 AM. Then to the bookstore and back to the dorm. The welcome picnic was moved to the main dining room and was good.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the weather trashed all of the outdoor events. With many functions moved inside or canceled, we departed aroud 4 as all students had a mandatory orientation function at the field house. Also, the convocation ceremony scheduled for noon on Sunday was postponed to Tuesday morning which means that nearly all parents will not be in attendance. They did say that it will be broadcast on a weblink on Tuesday. With all Sunday activities for parents canceled, we will meet S for lunch and say our goodbyes then.</p>
<p>The good news for today was we made a Target run late this afternoon after leaving the campus and there were no lines. Even better was that on our return to our hotel around 6 PM we were able to actually park in downtown Georgetown and get cupcakes at DC Cupcakes and there was no outside line! One good benefit of the storm! Our D at home will very happy! :)</p>
<p>Getting windier and heavy rain this evening in DC. The rain is expected to break by noon so our drive home should fairly non-eventful weather wise. Safe travels to all others traveling anywhere near the east coast (or anywhere else for that matter) tomorrow.</p>
<p>Add us to the successful launch list! We arrived at 7:30 this morning and were able to park right outside the dorm to unload. Upperclassmen volunteers helped and I never had to touch a bag The room is tight with 3 but felt better after they all had everything unpacked and boxes in the hall. Couple of things I did not like included one roomie claiming an entire closet and set of shelves for himself leaving the other closet and shelves for DS and 3rd roomie to split. I was very good,bit my tongue and am stepping back to let ds’work that all out. He has to live there not me. That was my mantra today. The other thing was the roomie 3 came with mom,stepdad and 2 of his 3 siblings. Roomie 2 came with mom,dad and 1 sibling. Add my DS and a set of parents and at one point, in a standard double room, you have 12 people. My husband went into t the hall but it took a while for the others to figure that out. Come to think of it, maybe that is why the room looked bigger when we came back from lunch and it was only 1 roomie,DS and us.</p>
<p>Thanks to CC, I was uberprepared with toolkit, extension cords,clips,etc. DS had no problem setting up his computer and by 9:30 move in was done. We walked arounduntil next activity at11:30. The college store was selling a cute " I survived the hurricane of 2011" kits for $30 that included a hoodie,water bottle, umbrella, batteries, hackie sack and something else small that I forgot. Lunch and then class photo on the chapel steps and the parent session while kids met with mentors and then time for goodbye. I was so proud that I did not cry all day long but you know the old adage -pride goes before a fall and I lost it as I hugged him goodbye. Those tissues they had in the parent welcome pack really came in handy!</p>
<p>We got home just as the rains were increasing and right now I am tired from this very emotional day but the 50+ MPH winds are raging,rain is pouring,trees are swaying and dog is antsy. So sleep eludes me.</p>
<p>Things I never realized
After staging dorm stuff in the foyer for a week, it was really hard to walk in and see that empty space.
No matter the number of lists and plans, I still forgot things (trashcan,dress shoes)
If the bed is lofter, you might want to think about a small stool for getting in and out of bed.
Even if they tease you about CC and all your “tips” , they will still smile when you packed something no one else did.</p>
<p>All in all, I am proud of the whole family but mostly DS. 41 days till family weekend–but who’s counting :-)</p>
<p>Move-in completed. The upperclassmen did the heavy lifting, the suite is beautiful, the room is small but certainly liveable, and the planned activities were completed before the rains set in. Some aspects were impressive, others less so. No tears until the very last hug.</p>
<p>My favorite momment, though, was at lunch today. There was a parent/student lunch although 3 of his 5 suitemates’ parents had already left ahead of the storm. My son and I went over early so I could get going, too. When his four of his other suitemates got to the dining hall, they all came over to where we were sitting, even bringing over a couple of chairs so they could fit at our table. It made me feel good to think they were already a group, and he wouldn’t be eating alone. My son tells me they even have a cleaning schedule for the bathroom and common room!</p>
<p>So he’s there and I’m here. That’s a successful launch, right? I just hope the rains don’t find their way into the big, gaping hole in my house…</p>
<p>Move in went well --Friday before the storm.
Like scoutsmom–the upperclassmen were there to help haul everything in. We went back out to do a Walmart run for the fridge etc. By 1:30pm our student wanted to sort things alone and sent us off for a sandwich and walking tour. Saw our student again for about 10 minutes at the Masters open house before kiddo headed to an workout with some from team (!!!)
Kiddo had supper with us and then went with others to find a team party (couldn’t find address–and ended up at a comedy/sketch performance.
Convocation was lovely–and I was choked up when they welcomed the class of 2015…and the words of the song the glee club sang were poignant.
Lunch with kiddo (and roommate)
–and then the freshman had a mandatory security mtg…
–and then kiddo had another team workout…</p>
<p>We were on the road by 2pm…Travel plans have been quite eventful. Took 2 days and 4calls with airline to get the last flight out (one added by airline to help get people out). Our connecting flight aircraft (at the airlines hub) experienced a significant electrical failure (thank you -it was while on the ground) and so we were back at the terminal…change in aircraft. Arv’d home at 2am…no luggage…yet safe.</p>
<p>Roommate seems terrific and parents are absolutely lovely. I am sorry the hurricane disrupted so many plans for all. Though we treid to not let it rob us of the moments.</p>
<p>The final goodbye --and then watching kiddo walk off into the new things to come was meaningful…one where I wish I had a Nat’l Geographic photographer with a great camera and lens that takes great pics with low lighting…as kiddo walked from the courtyard through the arches of the building and through the gates…</p>
<p>The transition for DH, kiddo2 and I will be something…kiddo1 will be missed in the dailiness of our lives…we are all surprised at how hard it has hit us.</p>
<p>Glad to hear the nice stories. We’re safe in our hotel, winds howling, rain slow right now. Things look OK outside (i.e. car isn’t smashed!). Plumbing is working but we clearly are on limited or generator power. So begins our long, hopefully quiet day. We have lots to read, games, and best of all D’s friend down the hall. Good luck to everyone - I’ll let you know if anything happens</p>
<p>So nice to hear of everyone’s safe launching despite to added stress and restructuring Irene has caused. Hugs to all and congratulations!! Change is not one of my better attributes so I admire you!</p>
<p>Take that Irene! It looks like everyone has had a great launch despite her so far this weekend. Winds and rain are just starting to pick up around the Boston area now.</p>
<p>Wow, glad there were so many successful launches in spite of Irene! (And EmmyBet and family making the best of an extra wait).</p>
<p>I like jam’s strategy of getting your kid to annoy you to the point that you’re glad to separate – we had some of that going on for the last weeks at home…</p>
<p>
Same with my d: she considered the weather at the Claremont Colleges (in southern CA) to be a minus!</p>
<p>
When I was talking to my mom a few weeks ago about move-ins, she mentioned the exact same thing happening to her when she was a freshman in a triple in 1954. She never did get more than half a closet that year…</p>
<p>I’ve been texting with my sister in Williamsburg. She is holed up in her house with my parents and was having trouble getting web pages on her smart phone, so I’ve been sending her local info – including that they could be without power for 1 to 2 weeks. Hope it will not be anything like that. If my sister has to have my parents at her house in stressful circumstances for that long she may not escape with her sanity!</p>
<p>**The next new student move-ins are University of Pennsylvania (Wharton - Penn Quest program), MYU (Stern- BPE), Adelphi University, RIT Honors, and Northeastern University move-ins on August 28th - today!
Move-in day is TODAY! Where did the summer go? :eek:
[ul][<em>]Trinity College, Boston University (FYSOP), and Columbia University move-ins on August 29th are just 1 days to go.
[</em>]Tufts and Williams College move-ins on August 31st are just 3 days to go.
[<em>]University of Pennsylvania and Hampshire College move-ins on September 1st are just 4 days to go.
[</em>]St. Olaf College, Bates College, Princeton University (Outdoor Action), and Brown University move-ins on September 3rd are just 6 days to go.
[li]Queens University move-in on September 4th is just 7 days to go.[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>The last new student move-ins are the University of Oregon and the University of Southern Oregon on September 22nd
Move-in day in 26 days. Less than 4 weeks for the final move-in.</p>
<p>Arrived at Penn last night…staying at hotel. Son off wandering around…hoping to move in today as it’s not raining…otherwise it’s tomorrow. We booked hotel for 2 more days so if he moves in we’ll go off exploring. Was hoping to see NY or DC, but with the weather and the fact we were planning on using public transportation (which needs to get restarted) may not be able to. Oh well…we’ll explore Philly. Maybe we’ll rent a car Tuesday and see the countryside…</p>
<p>By the way, we are all annoying each other…</p>
<p>All things considered, our launch went off well. We arrived with the car full of stuff around 11:30, and the amazingly helpful upperclassman had it all moved into the dorm in no time. D was on a separate Pre-orientation trip which did not get back until 2:30 ( they were due closer to noon), but we bravely held off doing more than hanging clothes in closet, assembling lamps, etc. No real unpacking - this needs to be her room! I think she would have liked us to do more, because she arrived back exhausted, filthy, and hungry and immediately had to start doing public things. We took her out for a nice dinner and left about 8pm to get home in time for our own storm preparations on Saturday. In the end, she stayed up until 1am setting up her room, and seems to feel much better about things now. No tears on my part, but some on hers, which I put down mostly to fatigue and too many transitions in the last couple of weeks.</p>
<p>Ditto to Thanksgiving countdown…parent weekend is just 3 weeks before and can’t do both. But also looking forward to long winter break!</p>
<p>DS has not called/texted/communicated at all - not surprised, but is required to do his “I am alive…” call today - and would love to hear what classes he’s chosen, etc. I assume no news is good news, but I miss him…</p>
<p>I have found that if I just text “hi” to S he responds, not always immediately but I get a response sometime in the next few hours. Of course, He is only 5 days in so that may change. I told him I would appreciate a text or quick email every so often just so I know he is “alive”. haha.</p>
<p>Congratulations on the successful move-ins and especially to those trying to circumvent Irene. Best of luck to those whose move-in is supposed to be today or tomorrow.</p>
<p>We have a week before we drop off ShawD, but will go up sooner. ShawD doesn’t yet seem to have gotten the sense of urgency (she appear to be trying to ignore the fact that she is leaving). Last night, the parents of one of her good friends had a party for said friend, who is leaving sooner but hasn’t started packing at all. Both the girl and the mother (but not for the accountant dad) appear to be last minute non-planners.</p>
<p>I’m observing something funny. The thing ShawD thinks she needs to do is not pack, but shop. We’ve done dorm supplies, but somehow she keeps trying to buy items that are more adult woman than college girl. She doesn’t want a backpack to carry her books (or even a messenger bag) but instead a woman’s bag that is large enough to carry a laptop and some books. She found a super-expensive bag and we said, not a chance. There was something similar in that black dress (which she was beyond overjoyed to get but now jokes, “Now I need to find a rich boyfriend whose parents go to benefits or fancy parties so I have someplace to wear the dress.” Weird thought, even as a joke, but I guess it is hard to fathom the 18 year old mind at times) Not clear what strange thoughts are flickering through her head – it’s more like she’s getting ready to move to NY for a job than a what is largely a college town.</p>
<p>She has no Thanksgiving break as Canadian Thanksgiving, which is a much less central holiday there, coincides with Columbus Day. So, we wouldn’t see her until Christmas (there’s no parents weekend). But, we’re going to go visit her grandmother in Toronto for Rosh Hashanah (I’ve got some business to do up there anyway) and she’ll get a ride/take a bus and meet us in Toronto. She’ll go to a family friend for Yom Kippur in Ottawa. So we won’t have to count that far. When I went off to grad school on the opposite Coast, I came home for Christmas only, so this is pretty good.</p>
<p>My D will only come home at Christmas. 16 hours away with no car makes it hard to come home very often and airfare is kinda expensive to do twice just a few weeks apart for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.</p>
<p>I will have been at my job for a year in the middle of September, which means better vacation benefits. I hope to take a few days and drive down for a weekend to see her in October or early November.</p>
The room is tight with 3 but felt better after they all had everything unpacked and boxes in the hall. Couple of things I did not like included one roomie claiming an entire closet and set of shelves for himself leaving the other closet and shelves for DS and 3rd roomie to split. I was very good,bit my tongue and am stepping back to let ds’work that all out. He has to live there not me. That was my mantra today. The other thing was the roomie 3 came with mom,stepdad and 2 of his 3 siblings. Roomie 2 came with mom,dad and 1 sibling. Add my DS and a set of parents and at one point, in a standard double room, you have 12 people. My husband went into t the hall but it took a while for the others to figure that out. Come to think of it, maybe that is why the room looked bigger when we came back from lunch and it was only 1 roomie,DS and us.</p>