<p>Here’s some random questions from an OOS’er:</p>
<p>How do you pronounce the L in SLO: is it Lew eese(as in Geese) or Louis (as in St. Louis)? </p>
<p>What kind of outer wear is necessary? Is a light coat enough? </p>
<p>Are the dorms on the hot side or the cold side at night?</p>
<p>Is there a Target or similar type store in SLO?</p>
<p>Are the dorms open over Thanksgiving?</p>
<p>Hi!</p>
<p>I’ve heard is pronounced Lew’-iss as in St. Louis most of the time. I have many relatives from there and when my grandmother used to visit, she would leave off the Obispo and just say “I’m going to San Luis” (Lew-iss). I’ve heard others pronounce it: Loo’-eee. Technically, the Spanish way is Lew-eese’. </p>
<p>During the late spring and early fall/summer months a light jacket or sweatshirt it fine. I live 2½ hours north on the coast and we have a similar climate, although SLO can be a few degrees warmer. It’s best to wear layers no matter *what *time of year. It usually cools off in the evening and night. If you’re at the beach, there will also be misty fog at certain times. During the winter, it can be rainy and chilly, but since the climate is on the milder side, you won’t necessarily need real *heavy *coats or jackets. Something with a hood would work, especially if you’re walking around campus in the rain. Some years there’s more rainfall. Other times it can be a draught season.</p>
<p>I know there’s a Target in Paso Robles, about 30 minutes away. Paso also has a WalMart. I’m not familiar with what’s in SLO. I know there’s a Ross downtown. SLO is a bit like where I live. They don’t seem to have a lot of large chain stores. </p>
<p>I can’t answer the questions about the dorms, but I’m sure that current CPSLO students or parents will be glad to!</p>
<p>Welcome to SLO!</p>
<p>Dorms can get very warm. Talk to roommate when notified and agree on who will bring a fan.</p>
<p>It’s pronounced lewis…as a local it is frowned upon if we hear loo-eee.<br>
2leashes was right about the climate although Avila Beach actually doesn’t get the fog that the other beaches get.<br>
They just broke ground for a Target on LOVR across from Home Depot and Costco. We just got TJ Maxx and Kohl’s. There is a Walmart in Arroyo Grande which is closer than Paso.<br>
My son is in Cerro Vista and it does get hot…no A/C.</p>
<p>Just for fun, I’ll answer your questions in reverse order:
The dorms are open during Thanksgiving, but nearly everyone leaves, so it would be very lonely to stay here all by yourself, especially during holiday that’s thought of as being one usually spent with family and friends. If you make a good friend or get to know your roommate(s) well, they may invite to their house. </p>
<p>Target and Walmart are about a 20-30 minute drive. Don’t even think about trying to go to either unless you have a car because the bus will take forever and you have to take two different bus companies so the schedules don’t match up very well and it is just a waste of time. However, I heard that they are planning to build a Target in one of the shopping centers near by but I don’t know how long it will take.</p>
<p>The dorms can get hot and cold. Some dorm rooms only have one window so you are not able to really air out the room when it gets hot and the heat all gets trapped inside. Living in Cerro Vista, I don’t have that problem because it’s a bigger space so it doesn’t get hot as fast and we are able to create a nice cross breeze by opening up the front window and our bedroom windows. There is no air conditioning in any of the dorms, which is weird cause my brother goes to school on the east coast and they have air conditioning in their dorms, it is a private school though.</p>
<p>Outer wear- Definitely bring water proof clothes (it rained A LOT this year). I’m also an out of stater, and it gets a lot colder here than I expected. I was really hoping to be able to comfortably wear shorts year round, but that’s not possible. Bring sweatshirts and jeans and you’ll fit right in.</p>
<p>As for the “L” in SLO, it’s like lewis.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Your answers are really helpful. We visited SLO in Aug. so my son could see Cal Poly; I thought I heard “San Lewis”, but I have a friend who lived in southern California for a few years and she uses the Spanish pronounciation of “San Lew-eese”. </p>
<p>We are hopeful we can avoid transporting a lot of the bulky stuff by buying it on that end; that’s the reason for the Target question. Any chance there’s a Bed, Bath and Beyond store? They have a ‘buy here, pick up there’ service. It sounds like we can save space by leaving the heavy coats and blankets here.</p>
<p>I was hoping that the dorms would be closed over Thanksgiving. My son is thinking he’d rather celebrate Thanksgiving late because there are only 12 days between Thanksgiving break and the end of finals and he thinks it’s a waste of airfare money. We want him to come home because it is Thanksgiving (it would be us paying for the trip). If he has a place to go, he might have the better argument, but I sure don’t want him alone on Thanksgiving. Except for this issue, the calendar looks great. I think quarters vs. semesters will be a big plus for him.</p>
<p>Thanks again for your responses.</p>
<p>Having moved here from SoCal many years ago I still have friends from there that pronounce it San Loo-eee or San Lew-eese…but trust me, people around here don’t like to here it mispronounced.</p>
<p>Yes there is a Bed,Bath and Beyond.</p>