<p>Wow, mimk6, that’s really scary! I was also pregnant during that earthquake, but lived farther from the epicenter. Even so, it was the scariest earthquake I’ve ever experienced in the 29 years I’ve lived here. I still remember vividly being awakened by violent shaking and being alone because my dear husband was halfway around the world in New Zealand. It took more than 12 hours to get in touch with him. Of course, he was really worried because all of the news he was hearing was so bad, but he didn’t have any of the details. I still remember sitting in the hallway of our house, shivering and alone, wondering when the shaking would stop.</p>
<p>I was living in Pasadena, and pregnant, during 1994 Northridge earthquake, too. </p>
<p>seiclan – LOL about hurricane causing a bad hair day.</p>
<p>Lakemom - I don’t think freshmen should feel pressured to start research or know what they want to pursue. The vibe I pick up is that when/if they want to, they need to feel welcome and encouraged to take the initiative to start asking around. Just start asking and doors will open up somewhere. Not all students even do any research while there, but for those who want to, they’ll be able to.</p>
<p>We are launched. DS left first for a pre-orientation trip where he worked on a sustainable farm for five days and bonded with some fellow students. He loved it. I flew out last Thursday with 100 pounds of luggage that was checked in on SW and a carry-on that must have weighed fifty pounds and a backpack. Two flights, then a car rental and drive. I left my house at 9:00 a.m. and arrived in my hotel after 2:00 a.m. DS was slated to arrive around noon the next day from his trip so I drove out to the BBB to pick up our pre-ordered stuff. That was seriously magical. I was in and out in fifteen minutes with everything. They were running an amazingly organized show there.</p>
<p>I returned to New Haven and then met up with DS to unload my car of stuff and went back to the hotel to park and walked over to campus (I walked a lot of miles over the weekend). We met his roommate and family who all seem to be lovely people and we divided the tasks at hand. They handled IKEA and I did Target. The parents are returning to visit next weekend because of a wedding and will bring some things from home to cozy up the place. So the good on the room: lots of space, the two boys have their own bathroom, good closet space. The odd: an anteroom that is hard to describe with a horseshoe cement bench, a fire door and little usable space. The bad: The room is extremely isolated and there are no other rooms across or next to them. You have to walk a ways to get to the next room. It’s the layout of the building where one room was jammed in this spot. DS was already disappointed that he wasn’t going to be in a suite of six as most freshmen at Yale are, but I’d talked up “Oh, you’ll keep your door open and hang with the people across the way.” There are no people across the way so they will have to be pro-active to go to other suites and be with people. Since DS is highly social this is good and bad. Good in that he’ll get out and good that he has a quiet place to study, bad that he’d love to be in a more social setting. But the space is very good, the other mom is going to bring pillows to liven up the bench and make it usable and his roommate seems nice. </p>
<p>We went to the Masters Tea and I took a tour of his residential college and then we did a Target run. We went back to campus, and I went to a meeting on public safety. Afterward I met up with a fellow Wackaloon and we went for ice cream which was fun. </p>
<p>Saturday morning was the freshman assembly which was lovely. Then DS and I went to the bookstore and shopped around and had a quick lunch. We then did a little unpacking. He then went to his mandatory meetings and I took a nap at the hotel. I then went over to the campus again and then he had more meetings so I actually went to a movie. I can’t believe Saturday was not more frenetic. We really managed to get most everything done on Friday. Then he called me to come over to say good-bye. We walked a bit and sat on a bench and then said our good-byes. Sunday morning I was a wreck and wondered how I would fly home without crying nonstop, but I spoke to him on the phone when I boarded the first plane and he sounded so good that it made me feel better.</p>
<p>I planned nothing for today which was wise, because I needed a day to sleep and recover.</p>
<p>We had no running water for nine days after the earthquake. Morning sickness without running water is disgusting.</p>
<p>Oh, and thanks to Woody35 for the wonderful saga of the garment bag. Let us know when you write your first book!</p>
<p>*We had no running water for nine days after the earthquake. Morning sickness without running water is disgusting. *</p>
<p>This is the very definition of some circle of hell.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input PinotNoir. My sense from the students who spoke is they each seemed to feel that they lucked into their situation in one way or another. Only one seemed like a real go getter with emails being sent out in first semester of her freshman year. I agree, the students need to settle and find themselves a bit before taking that next step.</p>
<p>Re: BINGO
I think an automatic win should be given to anyone who actually sees their child
on a campus webcam! (No fair calling child ahead of time and setting it up–that would be cheating)!</p>
<p>Can I get something for reading about my son in his roommate’s school blog? It had pictures!</p>
<p>Yes, MizzBee - points!</p>
<p>I think you should leave something fo rher in a bag that is equaly insulting or at least embarassing. good luck to all launching, glad to read it all seems to be going well, and praying all are safe in the hurricane. My d’s friend is there so we are paying close attention.</p>
<p>Love the bingo idea, Pinot!</p>
<p>I could add one…first launched kids to return home. My daughter is driving home today to gather some paperwork from work & then she and her twin brother are going out to dinner with us for their older sister’s birthday. Okay, it’s just for a few hours, but it’s nice that they live so close. Right?? I keep hearing that it’s best that they never come home (to combat homesickness and adjust more quickly), but I have to say, it seems downright awesome to know they can pop by for family events. I actually commuted to Maryland from home, and I managed to grow up okay (I think).</p>
<p>So anyone else have a kid who might make occasional visits?</p>
<p>Waving to mamaof1 - we’re also in the URoc 2016 crowd on here. My guy is in Hoeing… and absolutely loves it. He’ll be taking Bio, Chem, Calc, and BCS 110 as well as working (somewhere) and trying to volunteer in a lab. He’s into Chess and will find a Christian group he wants to join (has a couple of possibilities). Beyond that, I’m eager to find out… ;)</p>
<p>My prayers are with all in Isaac’s path - and the prior hurricane/earthquake experiences sound great/impressive as stories now. I’m imagine that’s not the thought that came to mind during the actual experiences though. Glad folks were ok.</p>
<p>Well DD survived her pre-o wilderness evacuation without a hospital admit. Just an ER rehydration and spent the last night with a small group of other frosh evacuees in the school Loj. Back to campus today - final move-in and start of orientation tomorrow. She has a big room that opens into the hall common area which is great for my super-social DD. Hope her roomie feels the same.</p>
<p>Definitely need a bingo space for survived a natural disaster on campus. Hurricanes and earthquakes oh my! Hope everyone stays safe and dry.</p>
<p>Like jaylynn we live in a college town. Frosh move-in at the local LAC was this weekend. We ran into an old middle school friend of D1 and her family at a local restaurant. It is weir to beon both sides. Big uni moves in next weekend - definitely the time to stay out of the local BBB and Target.</p>
<p>Our girls live on the third floor of the house. I plan to close the door and stay out of there once I do the final pack-up for the pre-o DD.</p>
<p>Heard from DS but was a hurried “help me pick alternate classes” call. Today is registration and the ones on his list went immediately. I don’t think I can be much help. I am not familiar with the course catelog or his requirements. I tried though. He was able to register for 10 credits so far and cannot register for the rest until later. I am concerned that there will be nothing left this afternoon and he still dosen’t have all he needs but…this is life. Stressful day. </p>
<p>I was up a lot of the night with a sick dog (he ate the styrofoam filler of the dog bed). He is fine now and I am tired from jumping out of bed at the sound of the puke and rushing with the dog to the bathroom tile (to get him off the carpet)!</p>
<p>Just learned that a Columbia U freshman girl died in a fall from 10th floor of her dorm, an “apparent suicide.” Nothing to do but pray for all concerned now. My D across the street in a Barnard dorm.</p>
<p>Sending thoughts of calm towards seiclan. Your son’s registration process sounds stressful.</p>
<p>Praying for the family, friends, and roommate(s) of the Columbia girl who fell from her dorm. What an awful start to the year.</p>
<p>Hello all,
Have loved reading the launch stories (I need to get caught up with the last two days!) and am reporting in to say it’s Launch Day for S. Heading to the airport in less than two hours for the trip to Portland. S moves into his dorm at Lewis & Clark tomorrow morning. I got very little sleep so am feeling ragged but very excited. Of course the lack of sleep will make me more prone to the emotional trauma ahead. Really though, I’m just so happy that S is happy. He was sad yesterday saying goodbye to friends, but I sense he is truly ready to fly.
Looking forward to meeting KareninCA at the parents’ get-together!
Cheers,
nly2012</p>
<p>For those of you who remember my occasional long posts about my daughter’s very vocal dismay over going to college (yes, including having to change her cell provider), it seems we have turned a corner. She doesn’t leave until next Tuesday but suddenly she’s almost okay with everything. The only real thing I can see that has changed is that we switched her cell phone provider and bought her an iPhone (first smart phone she’s had) so she could suddenly text very proficiently. When she posted on FB that she sadly retired her old phone (it was a purple razr that her friends called Barney - like the purple dinosaur of their youth) but she could now text one of the first responses was from her roommate which thrilled her. They have since texted profusely which mostly changed her feelings towards her roommate. YEA!!! Should have done this weeks ago.</p>
<p>Our move in supplies have grown, she’s purchased clothing needed, she arranged a pre-orientation meeting with the Learning Specialist, contacted her Advisor to change a class, life is good, today at least.</p>
<p>These launching stories are fun to read, by the time my kid leaves I think only Northwestern will still be left to launch as they are ridiculously late this year. Honestly, I can’t wait. We might be going to Ireland the weekend after younger daughter leaves for college - now that’s what I’m talking about, there is life in empty-nesting!!!</p>