<p>Thanks, Cartera...so far only good news and I do hope it stays that way! My D computer has a web cam so my son and I bought one and talked to her yesterday in her room. That was so much fun. We could actually see the purple NU paint on her face! She had just returned from her first NU football game. They won! I hope she continues to have the time to talk to us!</p>
<p>Stringfollies: How wonderful that you got to visit! Since our drive is only 6 1/2to 7 hours, I hope I can do the same. I am saving all of my vacation time for our visits to Chicago! I am so glad you were able to do that. My daughter wants me to visit, but with the price of gas I need to limit the visits. I will be in the audience to cheer her on for whatever show or recital comes her way!</p>
<p>And, Family Weekend is Nov. 8. That will be our first visit!</p>
<p>How great you got to go to the concert! I'm planning the same kind of trip but it's not until mid-November. I wasn't sure that I could last that long, but S2 is coming home for fall break in a couple of weeks (his wish). Someone pointed out to me that it's probably difficult for him to never be alone. There are 7 yrs. between him and S1 so it was almost like he was an only child. He always left his instruments around the house, so he could pick one up and practice any time he felt like it, literally at all hours of day or night. Now everything has to be planned and he has a roommate, however well they get along.</p>
<p>He has taken to calling very late at night. I think he's in a lounge rather than his room. He chats about things that I don't think he can say with his friends (thoughts on other students, his teachers, what they have told him, etc.). I am really happy to have those calls. But I agree that after being involved in the minutae of their musical preparation and college app process, it's hard to go cold turkey.</p>
<p>That's funny, Tango because my son (2) is also 6 years behind his older brother and was like an only child in many ways. He asked for a single because he likes his "alone" time - luckily for him, he got one. He seems to be making lots of friends, but this way he can control the flow. Like your son, it is difficult to get into a regime of scheduled practise hours not nearby. </p>
<p>He really likes the large university setting (I had worried that it would overwhelm him, but he's thriving on it), but he hasn't yet gotten the hang of being proactive about getting information. He has relied so much on us to keep track of things for him in the past because he had so much to keep track of. This is hard, but good for him.</p>
<p>I also worried that he might not be driven to practise enough, but between the heavy orchestra requirements and a rather strict teacher, I needn't have worried!</p>
<p>Good luck to you and and your son. I'm glad you'll see him soon!</p>
<p>And good luck to our Northwestern students who've just started.</p>
<p>My son is very happy at BU.
The week after I came back from moving my son into the dorm, my daughter set up our laptop webcam to talk to him. I want you to picture what I saw next...she was walking around the house with his face on the screen facing outward - wherever he told her to go. He told her to go find the dog and he talked to the dog via webcam. He looked into the refrigerator to check out our food. She walked him around the house for ten minutes...like a virtual visit home. The wildest thing was to watch his head in the screen looking around our house as she held it!
I just wish he could set us up with a view of his first concert, which we are missing tonight. I would like to attend via webcam!</p>
<p>I agree...we talked via web cam last night. It was great! Our dog was really confused. She ran all around looking for my Daughter. It was cute, but kind of sad! </p>
<p>D has first cold already after being at school for one week. Not good for a voice major...here we go again! </p>
<p>BassDad or Violadad, do you have the link again to the post about colds and/or staying healthy at college?</p>
<p>Linnlew - my D has her first cold too. Her room mate is much sicker than she is though but the room mate doesn't get as much sleep and is having a lot more "fun" than my D. Your D probably has all the gadgets but the neti pot and the steamer are what she relies on the most - and gargling with warm salt water. She netis and steams all the time but starts the gargling with the first tickle. She has really become a believe in Umcka Cold Remedy - you can find it at health food stores. Hydrating and sleeping enough goes without saying. D has decided to room with another music major next year so she'll be with someone who understands the quirks.</p>
<p>Good luck to all these wonderful and talented students. May their transitions to college be smooth and healthy and happy.</p>
<p>Gotta get a Web cam! I'm curious to see what S2 does when he comes home for fall break next weekend. His h.s. friends are all away at college, so they won't be here to hang out with. Could he want to spend time with US? Alone? Eat his favorite foods? Sleep? I'm very curious to see what he misses most.</p>
<p>Thanks, Cartera...I will look for that Umcka Cold Remedy. I have never heard of it. She is taking Zicam products, Vitamins, Vitamic C and Zinc. And yes, she uses a steamer regularly. Hopefully, she will be over this by next Tuesday's voice lesson...first one!</p>
<p>That is interesting about your Daughter deciding to room with a music major next year. My D wanted anybody but a music major this year. I don't know if it is the competition thing or what, but she has a very nice biology major for a roommate. They have hit it off!</p>
<p>Hi Cartera45 -- sounds like your D is making a great transition to school... if she wanted a roommate who understands the "quirks" and lifestyle of a music major, without being someone who she is in many of her classes with, she could see about rooming with a Musical Theatre or Theatre major. If she is interested PM me... I can introduce her to some of the MT or Theatre kids. I think there are also some SOM MT kids in the opera who she could talk to about meeting student with "complimentary" majors. </p>
<p>Thanks Kat - she and another girl have tentatively agreed to room together on campus next year. She wants to stay on campus while many of her friends are looking into off campus housing. This young lady is a mezzo so a little less competition there and they are both in the opera and in the same voice studio - so they see a lot of each other. I will definitely be at the opera! </p>
<p>BTW - loved the kennel recommendation - they were great and I'll definitely be using them again.</p>
<p>DD wanted the experience of other folks, too, when she started last year. In fact the school does not match up "musi's" on purpose. However, she discovered it was very hard to live with "normal" students who were not as particular about sleep, cleanliness, healthy things and were much sicker than she was. This year she is living with the other Mezzo. They get along great. She still has her other friends, though, so last year was a good experience none the less.</p>
<p>Singersmom - that's exactly what my D has discovered. She went to the football game this past weekend - a great game that JMU won and when she told me she went, she immediately added - "don't worry, I didn't scream." Fortunately, it was televised so I did the screaming for her.</p>
<p>That is so funny, Cartera! I have the same conversations with my D and she would say the same thing about not "screaming" at the football game. It has been more difficult for her at some concerts she has attended!</p>