<p>My son will be a new freshman at Caltech this fall. He could not attend pre-frosh due to another commitment. We will probably go out there early this summer to check things out.</p>
<p>Anyway, what are some things that out-of-staters have learned in terms of moving stuff, storing stuff, travel back and forth, etc. We figure that our son will be able to come home for winter break and maybe spring break, but I was just curious how some families make living far away from home work efficiently and emotionally.</p>
<p>My parents live in Orlando, FL. Hmm... how we got stuff over here is we packed suitcases full of clothing, linens, and my laptop and took them on the plane. Then after my mom went back home she shipped the rest of the stuff to me via USPS. Storing stuff--Usually you can just leave your stuff in the houses. Traveling- Uh, I just fly back and forth? Not sure what you meant by this one. One thing that is nice is my parents bought some clothes for me to have at home so all I ever have to take back and forth is my computer :). </p>
<p>Other miscellaneous things... My parents really wanted me home thanksgiving break, and it was a total pain to come home then. My parents and I try to talk on Skype with webcams like once every week or two weeks. I like it when my mom sends me food.</p>
<p>lizzardfire: thanks for the info. I guess I was wondering how easy it is to get to and from the BUR airport in terms of the traveling thing. Can you leave stuff in your houses over the summer or just during the breaks?</p>
<p>Thanksgiving isn't even in the picture for us. We were just thinking winter break and spring break. Do many students stay over during spring break?</p>
<p>How would you characterize the dorms? Remnants of the 60s, palaces,
dungeons, or none of the above?</p>
<p>Where do you get haircuts? We've never been out there. I guess I'm sort of asking how accessible services are in general; such as food when it isn't available on campus. </p>
<p>We plan to visit in June just to see the place and to know what to expect.</p>
<p>Yes, keeping two sets of clothes and toiletries, one for home and one for school, helps a lot in not having to transport stuff back and forth all the time. The best traveling advice I have is to do this and avoid checked baggage. Also, once you've had some experience with SuperShuttle (shuttle service between LAX and Caltech), you'll learn that they set their pickup time three hours before your flight. That's a little much, so eventually you can lie to them about the departure time and have them come, say, 2 and a quarter hours in advance instead. But do this at your own risk and only after you've done it the normal way once or twice. Finally, consider flying into Burbank. It's closer than LAX and sometimes you can get a deal, depending on what you fly.</p>
<p>Ooh: Re Burbank. SuperShuttle runs the same shuttle service that they run to LAX, it's $21 one way. You have to make a reservation in advance (both ways, to and from the aiport) and you can do this by calling 800-BLUE-VAN (or going to supershutle.com). Taxi to and from Burbank is about $40 each way.</p>
<p>Unless you stay for SURF, you have to move out during the summer, but can leave stuff for breaks.</p>
<p>New South Houses are very nice (superb 1930's California architecture, just renovated at huge expense). North Houses are remnants of the 60's, and Avery is a nice very modern standard college dorm with beautiful architecture (built 1995ish).</p>
<p>Haircuts are available closeby (intersection of Mentor Ave and Colorado Blvd) for about $12 for guys.</p>
<p>Food is very plentiful nearby. A five minute bike ride or 15 minute walk takes you to a street (Lake Ave) with dozens of fast food and nicer sit-down places. Pasadena is a thriving little city very accessible to people on foot or on a bike, which I love.</p>
<p>The only place I always want to go that I can't get to on foot is home depot, and I would imagine that's not a necessity for most people. I just like building stuff!</p>
<p>Houses will designate a couple rooms during the summer for storage where you can pack up all your stuff and leave it there. Students are welcome to stay through breaks and do not need to move anything.</p>
<p>In terms of moving stuff, I packed as much stuff into three suitcases (I took two, my mom took one for me) when we flew out. I had also shipped some other stuff (my computer, some other random stuff) just before I left. I still have a fair amount of stuff at home that is slowly being shipped out in pieces. </p>
<p>I don't have a second set of clothes for home, but I don't take many clothes home. Also, having the checked bag means I can bring stuff back (In case you couldn't tell, I have a ton of stuff for various hobbies).</p>
<p>For breaks, I went home for Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks. There are a lot of people here for thanksgiving (my house had a thanksgiving turkey dinner for those who stayed). Winter break, not so many people- the people who I talked to who had stayed said they were quite bored. One thing about coming from eastern time (I live in Indiana), is that it definitely takes a few days to get your sleep schedule adjusted.</p>
<p>If you come early in the summer (anytime after classes end), you could look at the houses and stuff, but you really wouldn't be able to see normal house life. If all you want to do is look at the houses and you're coming after the summer starts, you'd probably be better off saving the money and just seeing it when you come in the fall.</p>
<p>I understand the need for a Home Depot. Where do people get computer/tech supplies? By the way, this is all great info for those us far away. Many thanks.</p>
<p>One possibility is to visit Caltech on Saturday May 19 on Seminar Day. You get to see many alum on campus and attend research talk of faculty and students.</p>
<p>The bookstore has some computer supplies, otherwise, most people just order stuff from newegg- a lot of the time, you can get stuff here in one day with the normal shipping (otherwise it's two days). There is a Fry's, but it's about 30 minutes away without traffic.</p>