<p>Oy. Launch tomorrow and his schedule will be finalized then. Just tallied up books SO FAR…over $500! And he’s adding two more classes…</p>
<p>Wow! That’s a big book bill…we are at $172, with one class having no texts listed. (Jazz in America–fulfills GE requirement). That includes one writing manual we will purchase new at the bookstore. Everything else has been purchased online. Classes start Monday, move in day is tomorrow.</p>
<p>ohiobassmom, my SS had one book alone that cost over $300. Luckily, he ended up dropping that class today. :)</p>
<p>OK - we have two cars packed with two college kids’ worth of stuff. I think everything is packed except what needs to be used in the morning! We are done with plenty of time to go out to dinner and to an improv show one of our friends is in.</p>
<p>If you all knew me better, you’d be starting a pool betting on what crucial item we will drive away without! :p</p>
<p>I figure that forgetting a crucial item is mandatory. Fortunately, there’s relatively little that can’t be replaced from a local store, purchased from Amazon for delivery to school, or shipped from home later.</p>
<p>We are packed! And all the clothes fit in the ll bean large rolling duffel that you all recommended that I had grandma buy him for graduation. </p>
<p>As we moved everything to the garage as our staging area I got a little weepy as I slapped on the stickers. We realized he needed socks and as we were out and about he told me how his laptop case had ripped so we popped over to office depot. He also managed to lose his sunglasses yesterday.</p>
<p>He has one more night to make the biggest decision - which guitar to take and which to keep at home.</p>
<p>eyemamom, we also discussed which guitar to take, my acoustic or his electric. I believe the electric is the one going. We will be doing our packing tomorrow and drive up Thurs. Have a safe trip!</p>
<p>We are back from launching D1.</p>
<p>Last time I checked in, Friday early evening, I was disgruntled because the hotel had lost our parking reservation. This can be a problem when your hotel is 2 blocks from an urban college which is moving in many thousands of kids. Luckily, the hotel’s staff was able to refer us to a private parking structure just around the corner with 24 hour security (unlike hotel’s lot). That ended up being a blessing because we were able to just leave everything in the car overnight for the next day’s morning move-in.</p>
<p>Despite my worries, D1 and D2 got themselves to the airport at 6am and had an uneventful flight, arriving in plenty of time for the start of move-in. In her last-day excitement D2 had forgotten several things at JPL, including her phone charger, some posters she wanted for her room, and … had neglected to pick up her last paycheck. I gave her my phone charger, she’ll make do without the posters, and she called in on Monday and arranged to have the paycheck mailed to her. </p>
<p>Move-in went amazingly smoothly. The universities really have it down to an art. Drive up to loading area (20 min), grab waiting cart, unload everything into cart, kid and cart take off, move car to longer-term parking. By the time I had walked the mile-ish back to dorm from parking, D1 had gotten her key, D1 and D2 had unloaded everything from the cart into into a huge pile in the middle of the dorm room, and the cart had magically disappeared (presumably returned to unloading area).</p>
<p>D’s room is on the top floor (4th floor walk-up) of the building directly behind the dining commons. She is in a large suite, which consists of a dozen-ish rooms off a long hallway, men’s and women’s bathrooms, and a common area with nice furniture. There are twenty-some-odd kids on D’s hall, pretty equally split between boys and girls.</p>
<p>D’s room is 10’x 14’, with two long walls (one bed and desk along each long wall) , and door and window opposite one-another on the short walls. Remainder of the space on short walls is taken up by two wardrobes and a radiator. It’s not quite clear how the bookcases fit – when we arrived they were back-to-back between the desks, which awkwardly breaks up the space. </p>
<p>But here’s the kicker: out the window of D’s room there’s a PANORAMIC view of the Bay, all the way from downtown Oakland to the Golden Gate Bridge!!!</p>
<p>When we arrived, Roommie had clearly already checked in. We found the tag to her keys, a backpack, and one carry-on-sized bag. No other stuff, and no sign of Roommie. But the room layout is symmetrical so it doesn’t really matter who has which bed. One bed, nearer the door, has a slightly better view out the window, but also somewhat less privacy. Roommie had left her stuff on that bed. D2 was happy to have more privacy.</p>
<p>The room was nice and clean, so we started right in unpacking D1 and helping her figure out where to put her stuff. A little while later it was time for DH and I to attend the Parent Info meeting. The meeting consisted of several very nice patient folks from Security (campus police officer), Food Services (head chef), Academic Services, and Student Services (head RA and a lady from the Post Office) telling us that our kids will be JUST FINE. And that if they call us with problems that we should encourage them to solve the problem themselves by talking to the appropriate person on campus.</p>
<p>(At this point, one woman raised her hand and demanded each of the presenters to give their phone number, so she could call if her son needed help. The Head RA expertly deflected her by saying that they weren’t in their offices much because they spent most of each day out and about delivering services to students. However, if we had any questions, they would be happy to answer them by email, which is the best way to reach any staff member. Addresses to be found on the Residence Life web pages. And then he re-iterated that if our kids relate to us any questions or concerns we should encourage them to reach out to the appropriate staff person.)</p>
<p>While DH and I were at the meeting later, D’s Roommie showed up. She seems very nice, with a calm quietness about her. She was also very jet-lagged, having arrived the previous evening directly from visiting her grandmother in Korea. She came in, explained that her stuff would be arriving later, apologized for being so tired, and pretty much fell asleep on her unmade bed. </p>
<p>At that point, DH and I decided we were just being underfoot, and left D1 and D2 to finish unpacking. We met a couple of other parents in the suite lounge, talked for awhile, and then went for a walk around campus. We went to the bookstore and I bought a window-decal for my car. We checked out the music building and found a notice about how to signup for practice rooms (not available until classes start on Thursday). </p>
<p>Around 5:30 we called D1 to check in. She asked whether we could all have one last dinner together as a family. So we walked down to collect the car, and then picked up D1 & D2 at the loading zone. We drove to a nice Mediterranean restaurant about 3 miles from her dorm (outside easy walking range, but accessible by bus). On the way back, we stopped at Trader Joe’s and bought D1 her favorite cereal. And then we said our goodnight, left D1 at her dorm, and returned to our hotel.</p>
<p>Late that evening, we got a call from D1: could we take her to Target the next day to pickup some additional stuff? Also a happy report that she’d practiced cello in the suite lounge (early evening, when she thought most of her suite-mates would be away), but that a bunch of her suite-mates had come out to listen, had been very positive and complimentary, and that it had turned into an impromptu social gathering right there in the lounge.</p>
<p>The next day, Sunday late morning, we took D1 for the Target run. Afterwards, dropped Ds off at the loading zone, giving D1 a nice long final hug. D2 helped D1 carry the purchases up to her dorm room, and returned to report that Roommie’s stuff had arrived and both girls looked all settled in.
(D2 approves of Roommie’s shades-of-blue striped linens, saying it looks nice but not too match-y with D’s purple-and-black-and-white patterned linens.)</p>
<p>Sunday afternoon and evening we spent with old friends who live ~1/2 hour drive (~1hr by public transit) from the campus. The wife is a licensed psychologist, so I was in good hands! We had a lovely visit, which was perfect distraction from dwelling on having just said goodbye to D1. I highly recommend setting up distractions for post-launch.</p>
<p>Monday morning we checked out of the hotel room, texted D1 goodbye (unanswered), and started driving home. An uneventful 7 hour drive in an un-burdened minivan. And so it goes…</p>
<p>Mihcal, What a wonderful move in experience! And I’m jealous of the view in the room! My friends S just moved in there, too. Hope his move in went as smoothly as yours.</p>
<p>Mihcal - that sounds wonderful, you couldn’t hope for a better drop off!</p>
<p>Sounds like a fantastic start, Mihcal!!! The view sounds incredible.</p>
<p>S has only been on campus 3 days and has already hurt himself. Not suprised! “Tweaked” something in his neck, “Hurts crazy bad”. Mom is not liking not being able to help him like I do when he is home. This will all take some getting used to. (Says he can move neck so I am not too worried).</p>
<p>Sounds like a great move-in Mihcal. Safe travels to all the future yellow jackets and parents, I still have a fond spot in my heart for U Roc and look forward to hearing about your move-ins and meet ups. </p>
<p>D headed back to school early this morning so there were sleepy goodbyes all around. I think the tears are closer to the surface, watch out S. I’m really thrilled for her to start her senior year and she has wonderful plans for classes and work as well as great leadership opportunities. She has grown so much over the last 3 years, they do mature and it is fun to see the adult she is becoming.</p>
<p>S is still a work in progress, I’m trying to leave him to take the lead, but am starting to get worried about whether everything will get done. It’s reassuring to hear that many S’s got packed in a day’s time.</p>
<p>Hello wacka-loons … I’m driving my youngest off to college tomorrow. Such a weird feeling; I don’t think it will really hit until I turn around and start driving home. I hope my S thinks to text me or call! Oh my … I’m whacking out.</p>
<p>I enjoy reading all of your stories … I’ll probably re-read them again in two days or so once I recover from leaving my baby at his dream school.</p>
<p>Ugh, this is hard. When I wake up tomorrow I have to drive him away from my home. I hope he realizes how much I’m going to miss him!</p>
<p>On another note, I’m not sure how my H is doing with his S being gone soon. Note to self … check in on H to make sure he is not more miserable than self.</p>
<p>Wish me well … dorm mountain is in living room but soon to be at college, hopefully not to be replaced by a pile of weeping parents. :)</p>
<p>Ok, cars are loaded, DH is loading tracking software to D’s laptop (in case of theft). We are off in the morning…</p>
<p>Well it is our turn. We leave for the airport very early in the morning. For all those slow packers, our D. pretty much packed up in a day. I discovered one strategy of hers when she was bringing up much more laundry to be done. I think she was taking clean clothes she had left lying on the floor and putting them in the hamper so that her dad or I would wash, dry and fold them neatly then she would just carry them down and place them in her suitcase. Pretty good trick. It took me a bit to catch on to what was happening. I am starting to get sad at the idea of her leaving…</p>
<p>Good luck to you all, safe trip.</p>
<p>D2 texted me today, “I am fine, stop worrying.” (code for stop contacting me)</p>
<p>I asked her if she had anyone to eat with, how she was dealing with the communal bathroom, did she pass her swim test, does she have any friends, is it hot in her room…</p>
<p>Oldfort, your D sounds like mine. She wasn’t interested in contacting us but did skype our dog through her lil sis. She wanted to show him off to her roomie.</p>
<p>lilmom – thank goodness for little sisters. Otherwise we’d never hear from our at-college D’s!</p>
<p>D1 skyped D2 today, and I surreptitiously listened in. Highlights include:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>D went on a 3mi hike up (and 3 mi back down) Fire Lane Road this morning. Not clear whether it was an official new student activity, or just a group of kids from her dorm. Trailhead is directly behind her housing complex.</p></li>
<li><p>Over half the kids in her suite are Regents Scholars! (quote “I’m surrounded by smart people.”)</p></li>
<li><p>Roommie doesn’t snore. (D2 asked.)</p></li>
<li><p>She may switch her comp sci course to the online version. Or maybe not.</p></li>
<li><p>Yesterday they had New Student Convocation, and the speaker was Robert Reich. D1 reported that he’s short (<5’ tall ?!) and an entertaining speaker.</p></li>
<li><p>Students can download Adobe Creative Suite for free. Yesterday evening she attended a Photoshop workshop, which included free dinner and boba. The workshop ran late, so she didn’t get around to practicing cello (she didn’t want to do so in the suite late at night). So she planned to practice twice today. </p></li>
<li><p>She planned to go to lunch with suitemates, and dinner with a bunch of folks from her HS (a few other freshmen and some returning students). One of her suitemates is from her HS, and she was trying to decide whether to invite him along to the dinner. He hung out with a completely different group in HS, so she worried that including him would be awkward. </p></li>
<li><p>The dining hall food is good, but she hasn’t had too many meals there yet (see previous two notes).</p></li>
<li><p>She was really impressed with this one foreign exchange student that she met from Japan who’s an English Lit major (studies English Lit in Japan).</p></li>
</ul>
<p>While D1 was on Skype, a suitemate popped her head in and asked about lunch. D1 told her about the planned lunch-with-suitemates. Meanwhile, Roommie wandered through the background towel-drying her hair, and looked in and said “Hi!” to D2 (whom she’d met at move-in). </p>
<p>She seemed totally at ease and comfortable and happy! 
:)</p>
<p>-- M.</p>
<p>DS has actually been texting us more than normal. I think he is a little bit homesick and the extra anxiety of his rush made him want to contact us more. His schedule is now set, he has moved in and so I expect once classes start on Thursday I will hear less from him. Once the job hours are set I will feel like he is truly launched.</p>