<p>S is very happy at Cal Berkeley. He is sleep-deprived and said he is getting even thinner from all the walking (very hilly), despite shoving food down at every opportunity and plowing through his dining card faster than expected in just 2 1/2 weeks. Classes started last week and he said it's too soon to tell for most of them, except for his Intro. to Greek Civilization, which he loves. He has not called at all and has emailed only in response to something or for requests for more book money for unexpected purchases. But this is typical S. He is extremely independent and has never suffered a day of homesickness in his life. Honestly, I don't think he misses us, though I've been wrong before. He said his roommate is cool and his suite mates are mostly alright. He's bought tickets to the football games (including "The Game" against Stanford), and concert tickets in SF (thus the reminder email about his allowance "You were planning to transfer it on the first, right?" and this was on the 28th of August!) He and some friends sat outside the Greek Theatre, an outdoor theater near his dorm, one night to listen to Tom Petty. He also won the school's charity poker tourny against 500 people and got an all expense paid trip to Cancun for two (7 nights, airfare, food, scuba lessons and gear, etc...), which he's planning to use with his best friend in May after finals. He's making arrangements to volunteer at the Student Government Center as a Student Advocate (not sure what that is, sounds like a public defender of sorts); he said that office is filled with former Lincoln Douglass debaters. So, yeah, what's not to like about the last two weeks? And why would he miss his old room and his mom, dad and little sister and chores!? Sigh. I'm happy for him, but am feeling a little neglected, to be honest. I wish he needed me just a little bit (besides my checkbook role).</p>
<p>HI to Berurah and Mom of the Peruvians - good to hear from you guys again, sounds like your kids are winners.</p>
<p>Just loving all these happy kids. So happy to see you Berurah.</p>
<p>Interesting beginnings some of you have shared . . .</p>
<p>momof2inca--wow, that IS a nice start, winning a trip to Cancun!</p>
<p>My-3-sons--OUCH! Sorry your S broke his thumb :(. But sounds like he'll will be fine. Best of luck to him!</p>
<p>I've finally been able to exchange some AIM conversations with S at MIT. (Oh wait, he did phone me yesterday to ask me for the website where I go to buy textbooks. Sigh.) Today was the first day of classes, and other than the fact that some of them are farther away than he'd like, he got a schedule he's happy with (no classes before 10:30, the jerk), got into an advising program he was interested in, likes his advisor, loves some of his profs already (but thinks some of the material will be more like review from his HS classes), and basically seems 90% happy. His bone of contention is having to be squashed into a single room with a roommate (over-subscribed conditions), although since it's the dorm/floor he wanted to be on, he is resigning himself to it with the knowledge that he'll be near the top of the list for room choice next year. He's got a set of friends he started getting to know online last Dec. when they started a chatroom for EA admits, he's got a girlfriend who decided to go to Harvard instead (but that's just down the street), and he seems to be working on finding all the free foodstuffs and understanding all the hacking and pranking lore available (can't imagine why... ;) ). I think he's settling in just fine, and ready to take on the world.</p>
<p>He finally sent me pictures of his dorm room today. I have to tell you a tear formed when I noticed the little framed crossstitch I made for him as a HS graduation gift, poised on the top of the dorm refrigerator. And he's closed the last two AIM chats by telling me he loves me. What more could a mother hope for?</p>
<p>Our D moved into the Univ of Mich a week ago and we had our first tearful call home the next morning - she didn't know anyone and felt all alone. We convinced her to give it some time and try various events during "Welcome Week". By the 3rd day she had met up with a wonderful group of students and formed friendships over lunch in the dorm. Classes started Tuesday and out of 4 classes, 3 have less than 25 students (the fourth is about 75 students) even at U of M. She says classes are hard, but interesting and she seems to be enjoying herself. It is turning out to be a wonderful experience for her.</p>
<p>momof2inca...so glad your son is doing so well! He sounds as communicative as ours. In the "Letting Go" talk they said they basically only call with bad news or asking for money in the beginning, so "no news is good news". I am so happy for them. It is such a wonderful time of life. Take heart. He misses you. :-)</p>
<p>kdos, thanks! How is your kiddo? Did I miss your post?</p>
<p>Catchin' up here so I'll add our story. S is at Mary Washington, which truly is like a LAC only on a public school price. I think (assume?) he's having a good time as we've barely heard from him. Thank goodness for AIM. He didn't get around to calling last weekend due to being out late at a program. I know he'll call this weekend as I said I want to talk to him about birthday plans :-) From what I'm hearing the classes are fine. He's signed up for a bunch of clubs which are different enough so hs girlfriend most likely won't be involved in those. Not that I have anything against her (I don't), I just want to make sure both of them "expand" themselves and he doesn't depend on her totally. Right now his only problem has been the financial one with the credit union. There was a mixed up in transferring funds this summer which he didn't follow up on right away. Then, after getting there he also kept forgetting to take care of it and now it's become a bigger problem as his account was closed and he has to get to an office to reopen it, without transportation. I did at least find out for him that they are open on Saturday mornings and he can, if need be, even walk to it, so he has to deal with it or have no money at all! I'm hoping it's one of those good "life lessons" that will convince him not to put off stuff in the future (well, I can dream, can't I?)</p>
<p>Ha ha, Choff. Your son and mine are kindred souls (mine was the one who took too long grabbing $200 from the ATM machine and it got sucked back in and credited against his account! That was a life lesson that took weeks to figure out, but he's learned to grab the cash!)</p>
<p>We just heard from our S this evening (he called!!) and he is very upbeat about college. I went through so much angst last year before we sent in his acceptance because it's a state school and I wondered if he would just get swallowed alive by the sheer size and number of students. But so far, he is truly finding his way and pursuing his passions. He just told us he joined a political organization and this weekend is going to a Q & A on campus by the state controller, who is planning a run against Arnold. Then he's going into S.F. with a friend to hear a talk by my favorite living author, Michael Chabon, author of Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Wonder Boys and Adventures of Kalvalier and Clay, among others. I have always wanted to see him in person and am more jealous of this one thing than any other (even than the Cancun trip)! In January another candidate for gov. will be coming to campus, and so he boldy announced that he would probably "know" the next governor (he's not a fan of the current one). I had to laugh.</p>
<p>I don't know, it just sounds like he is in his element and I'm now so glad that I trusted his judgment when he said he wanted the big flagship school. I had so much trepidation, but so far so good.</p>
<p>For those who are heading into the high-anxiety season of college apps and decisions, it really is all worth it to get happy freshman calls like the one we just got. Keep the faith and trust your kid! :)</p>
<p>D is thrilled with her LAC, loves the classes, the place, making friends and joining clubs. Some of the classes are review but another 2 are awesome. One 200 level that she is taking she expects to be quite challenging so a good mix. I asked how her HS friends at other schools were doing, during a long AIM conversation the other night, and she said they were fine but she felt guilty because she was so much happier than they were. We IM every few days but rarely talk on the phone, cheaper and more convenient, besides they can't tell when you get a little teary eyed.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg Freshman daughter LOVING it. I knew this was true when she commented on a phone call that she thinks that she and just one of her group of high school friends are actually LOVING college so far.</p>
<p>She is on a fall sports team so that keeps her very busy, and provided an instant group of friends.</p>
<p>Just dropped our S at his dorm this morning, so nothing to report yet, except that the bell of Memorial Hall tolled while we were there at 7:45, as it will every day of the year. It does seem to go on and on. His suitemate put his head in his hands at the prospect. Maybe they won't need an alarm clock to wake up.</p>
<p>Marite, I thought your son was supposed to commute from home and cut the grass! I didn't know he was dorming at Harvard!</p>
<p>Or is it mandatory to stay in a dorm the first year?</p>
<p>I hate to break such a cheerful trend....but I don't love school so far. Everyone I've met is awesome, but I really do miss normal, easy, fun social interaction with guys. It's just not the same. Our campus is way too quiet, and all the Boston guys we've met have either been creepy or old or unshowered.</p>
<p>On the upside, my roommate is awesome, my classes are great, and I'm comfortable here. It's just that this whole no-guy thing is so different from home...and I really miss them.</p>
<p>It is mandatory. I think grass-cutting season is mostly over; if not, I plan on requiring his presence on weekends for lawn-mowing (NOT!) There is snow-blowing season coming up, and since he decided not to attend Stanford because there is no snow there, I will take advantage of his presence down the street.</p>
<p>elizabeth, thanks for your candor... I bet it is a big adjustment. My D also gets along with guys really well (I would say 2/3 of best friends are guys.) </p>
<p>A few ideas: You might want to ask some upperclasswomen how they've dealt with this; surely you are not the first to feel this way. Next see about club activities involving both sexes. Finally, you might want to get an off campus job (like a restaurant or catering job) or volunteer work (tutoring, political cause, etc) that would give you some other opportunities for forming friendships with nice college aged guys from the greater Boston area.</p>
<p>elizabeth, :( I'm sorry. Hang in there... I'm sure you will meet some nice guy friends at other schools to hang out with soon! </p>
<p>marite, congrats on getting your S off to college! Where are your S's suitemates/roommate from? Curious, because a number of kids from our county are there.</p>
<p>Elizabeth, Don't the Wellesley females go over to Babson and Olin to socialize with the heavily male population? I read that on some other thread. I read that Wellesley students get free or very low cost taxi fare and go visit.</p>