<p>@BarnardMom – There are 2 big study abroad programs (that I know of) in Budapest. One is AIT, which is computer science. The other is BSM, which is math. So, odds are your D’s friend is at BSM.</p>
<p>There are about 80 kids in BSM this semester. About half arrived early for the Hungarian classes. The rest should be there now since “real” class starts Monday. My daughter’s apartment mates are from Reed and Georgia Tech.</p>
<p>@2016BarnardMom I’m wishing you all the best with your upcoming surgery.</p>
<p>Barrnardmom, good luck with the surgery.</p>
<p>If it is ok to complain here, last week I had what I would describe as the mother of all eye floaters. It was accompanied by streaks of light. I went to the eye doctor, and he confirmed that it was a vitreous detachment, not the retina, which is good. However, the floater is huge, and it is very annoying. It is like having a blob of mascara in the eye, just off center. It is one of those aging things that you are supposed to get used to. Ugh. I especially notice it in my computer work, which involves looking up and down from the desk to the computer. I am hoping I get used to it, but right now it is very obvious.</p>
<p>Happy trails to all the traveling students. </p>
<p>Oh dear, anothermom2. Is there nothing to be done but deal with it?</p>
<p>anothermom2: I have the same thing. Started after my cataract surgery and now I have floaters in both eyes. Nothing to be done, but hopefully they resorb or shrink over time. I also have the white arcs of light that are worse at night. I do find I don’t notice the floaters as much as I used to, but they are still annoying because they are very visible looking at a write screen or wall.</p>
<p>I was prompted to pop in to say “hi” after I ran across this group’s flickr page. (When I saw that I belonged to a group called the Wackaloons, it took me a minute before I remembered.) We had shared photos just after the kids’ graduations. Was it really a little over 2 years ago? </p>
<p>D has started her junior year with a full plate. She is now one of the more senior members of her sports team and finds herself mediating between the freshmen who haven’t yet learned how to get along. She and her friend also founded the campus’ first model UN club and are very excited that 9 students joined at their first meeting. I don’t know how she’s going to keep all of that up but she’s always been that way.</p>
<p>Best wishes to those (especially Barnardmom) who are dealing with health challenges. </p>
<p>Without bemoaning it too much sbj, there seems like there is nothing to do. I am trying to wear sunglasses more outside since it is very visible when the lights are bright. If I don’t have to change my vision focus for the tasks I am doing, it is less bothersome. Hopefully I get more used to it.</p>
<p>Hello all … Checking in after a long break away from this forum. My S is happily at his school and enjoying junior year. I am also an empty nester as my D graduated from her college and is now getting settled in Los Angeles. </p>
<p>There is so much to catch up on with all of you. Sorry to hear that Creekland, and anothermom2 have to deal with health issues, but it seems like your kids are on a roll. </p>
<p>Oldfort, good to see that you have transitioned to a new normal … I am virtually proud of you as that is brave. I wish we could share a glass wine and I could hear about your plans for you.</p>
<p>I am focussing on optimizing my health and body, but had a few tuneup issues myself this year. All is well but waiting for test results is not my strong suit I learned. My last health check is to get some skin stuff checked out by a dermatologist and then I will be good for a while. </p>
<p>I see both my kids in Ohio for a family wedding in a few weeks … Should be fun. One of the joys of the empty nest is that I have more time to shop for myself to get ready for these special occasions. 
</p>
<p>I haven’t checked in for a while. I’m sorry to see that some are having health struggles and personal transitions. DS is doing well and I’m going to visit the East Coast during his upcoming fall break and we’ll be taking a little trip together to explore New England. He wasn’t home last summer so I’m looking forward to spending some quality time with him. </p>
<p>Fun weekend at our house. DD brought her a cappella group out for their “retreat”. Fourteen college kids and and lots of great music. Interesting to see the inner workings of rehearsals and song choosings. What a tremendous break from the empty nest.</p>
<p>Trying this thread as well: Anyone have experience filing a claim with CSI dorm insurance? What is the process? Any advice?</p>
<p>Student4ever- we have filed 3 claims with CSI. It is pretty straightforward. Go online and start a claim. You will receive an email back with a contact person and the documents you need. if the item was stolen you will need the police report. In our case she had one broken laptop screen that they paid for the repair. The other two were a bike theft and a riding helmet theft. In both of those instances we had the original receipt. They gave her the full price of the bike even though it was 8 yrs old.
The downside of 3 claims is that she was not renewed this year.
Other 2 kids never filed a claim. </p>
<p>@mom60 Thanks. So, more questions re: broken laptop screen (same here). About how long does it take to get fixed? Did you get it fixed first and then provide receipt to get reimbursed? Were you able to get dorm insurance through the other major dorm insurance then (I think it is NSSI)?</p>
<p>Yes we got it through NSSI. Hoping she won’t need it.
She took the laptop in near her school. She used a local shop not Apple. Got it fixed and they reimbursed her. I can’t recall how long it took. It happened within days of the start of freshmen year. </p>
<p>D’12 landed an internship at one of “the Big 4” for summer 2015. PAID! Incredible what these kids in school are making nowadays. <:-P </p>
<p>Congrats, Giterdone!</p>
<p>I’m very pleased, my son is a junior and already getting job offers for co-ops (an arrangement where the company hires the student now but lets them work part time while they finish the degree). He’s in software engineering. He’s also in a position to graduate early so it seems weird that this whole journey will be over before we know it. Only a little over a year to go!</p>
<p>Well, DD got in to her study abroad program for next semester. She is heading to not exactly a garden spot in Central America. Oy.</p>
<p>Congrats to your DD 1012mom…my DD heads to Jerusalem in the Spring. </p>
<p>^ Safe wishes! My DD heads to the Netherlands next semester.</p>