<p>Would love to hear how all the new folks at W&L are doing - is it what you thought it wound be?? Any regrets?? Comments............................</p>
<p>My daughter checked in yesterday as a fall athlete. She met her teammates, some field hockey girls on her hall. The entire Motherdear family met a fellow freshman mom CCer and her family by prearrangement. Her teammates are wonderful, her DC is great, the weather is sunny and warm. In short, she is excited to be there. We $pent $ome time in the book$tore if you know what I mean. :) We also pointed out how close our religious denomination's house of worship is to her dorm (2-3 blocks at the most) and left the weekly bulletin on her desk with the services schedule. </p>
<p>Her cell block (I mean single room) is small but cozy. The double cinderblocks under the legs add more than enough height to put a small refrigerator underneath (bigger than the cube model but shorter than a microfrdge). She was warned (in a friendly way as a heads up) by her DC and some junior class venture counselors to NOT just dump cinderblocks in the dumpsters in June. This is a non-issue for us as she is planning on taking them home over the summer to reuse next year. Raising the bed helped with storage of luggage and a necessary (as the issued bureau is a bit small) plastic drawer contraption.</p>
<p>It IS everything we expected and more. It wasn't silent on the way home as the middle-schooler was in the car and as usual had plenty of commentary... Looking forward to Parents' Weekend!</p>
<p>Glad your move-in experience went smoothly. Sorry I didn't run into you guys, although I did end up helping some field hockey players move into 4th floor Gilliam (my old dorm). Hopefully that will change on parents weekend (which is almost pointless this year coming only two weeks before we go home for Thanksgiving break)</p>
<p>Looked for a Yankees capped student! Couldn't find you.</p>
<p>I agree with you on the PW date. Why not mid/late October which would be more of a midpoint between now and T'Day?</p>
<p>Because that's when homecoming is and you need some separation between the two events. It's a week later than usual this year, probably because of the football schedule.</p>
<p>He's in -- and off to Roanoke until Friday, working with Total Action Against Poverty on a pre-orientation service trip. We haven't heard from him yet, and don't expect to. That's what we were told.</p>
<p>I'll start with the end. After saying his goodbyes to the entire family outside Lee Chapel, and suffering through some obligatory mother pics, we last saw him strolling across the lawn as the sun backlit the Colonnade. Headed toward his new life at W&L, he didn't look back. And that made me so happy. I remember thinking I should be upset that he was leaving. But I wasn't, because I know he's right where he should be, where he wants to be.</p>
<p>And the reason he didn't look back was that he was walking back to his dorm with a classmate he first met on Accepted Students Day in April, with whom he has talked nearly every day since then. Who, they discovered about two months ago, also has parents who graduated from Wake Forest. Who we knew "back then" - the father and my husband are frat brothers. Another typical W&L story.</p>
<p>As is our dorm settling story. With strategic info provided by my friend Motherdear, whose entire family we were were thrilled to finally meet, we were ready! </p>
<p>Ok - not ready for the shock of how small (I still don't believe that it's really 10x11), rather primitive conditions. The double bonus feature is the construction fence that consumes the entire view from his first floor window -- and more importantly blocks all the air flow into the room and creates a thoroughfare a couple of feet from his head, whether he's at his desk or in bed. No matter -- there's only construction six days a week beg. at 8 am! I told him to view it as a sign that he might as well sign up for those 9 am classes.</p>
<p>But what a difference a day makes. With mother magic, as my 10 year old called it, what was a "cell" became "really awesome, mom." Some reconfiguring, a belief in the power of the vertical and velcro adhesives, and a quick trip to WalMart yielded a desk and wall system that the 16 year old now wants me to duplicate in his gargantuan bedroom at home. Navy madras plaid really has a way of pulling things together!</p>
<p>Next installment -- our trip to the Bookstore!</p>
<p>My thoughts about PW timing -- the best Oct date this fall went to Homecoming, prob bc that's when President Ruscio will be inaugurated. </p>
<p>Same thing happened at Wake last yr, when PW was scheduled for the third or fourth week of school so new president could be inaugurated at the prettiest time of year.</p>
<p>Actually, that makes a lot of sense. Homecoming was pushed back two weeks this year (its usually the first weekend in october, this year it is the third) and so they had to push parents weekend back as well to keep the separation. </p>
<p>BTW, I have not yet met President Ruscio yet, though I have met his wife and dog (who is wonderful), but while I was giving a tour on Friday he waved at me from a distance as enthusiastically as if he had known me for years. The group was in shock when I told them that was the new president. He apaprently also stopped by the office on Friday and introduced himself to everybody, but I was out on tour at the time :( I'm really looking forward to meeting him.</p>
<p>Speaking of, I didn't want to bother you guys during hectic move-in by trying to meet up, but if you wonderful new W&L CC moms come down for parents weekend, I would really like to meet you in person.</p>
<p>My family will be there. Look for the Virginians supporting an female athlete! I'll have my younger one wearing a beloved BOSTON SOX cap with his polo, khakis and Sperrys. He would've worn it this weekend but I forbade it.</p>
<p>BTW E, 10x11 is exactly 3 sf more than we officially have, so don't complain!:) Don't forget that we're actually about 4" shorter on each measurement than was quoted. I AM such a mathematician!!!!</p>
<p>LOL Motherdear -- and I am definitely NOT a mathematician! Hopefully the apples will fall far from this tree . . . .</p>
<p>We will be there for PW -- even though we can't stay in Lexington bc there are no rooms left. Hopefully there will still be some of the pretty fall leaves left though.</p>
<p>Dima - we really enjoyed hearing from President Ruscio and Dean Leonard (dean of freshmen). President Ruscio's familiarity, comfort, and love for the University was plainly evident. He spoke with warmth and humor, thanking us for entrusting our children to W&L and describing the ways in which they will undoubtedly change. We left with appreciation for why he is such a popular choice among faculty and alumni. </p>
<p>One thing that really sticks in my mind is that both the Ruscio and Leonard families live on campus -- and I don't mean on some pretty little secluded hill, but right in the midst of campus life. President Ruscio's house is only steps from my son's room in Graham Lees. And with a 16 year old, lax-playing son, that's going to be interesting experience for them, no doubt! Actually, Pres. Ruscio "bargained" with us - he would share advice about W&L if we would share our notes on college visits with him!</p>
<p>Yeah, we're staying in East Cupcake as well for PW.</p>
<p>Did Ruscio's view get cut off due to the construction walls?</p>
<p>Actually, President Ruscio's back windows look straight in to the side wall and windows of Graham-Lees. So technically he has the ability to literally look into some freshmen rooms.</p>
<p>My parents got parents weekend reservations way back in June, at a place at the south end of town. But last year they actually managed to find a place just north of Lex practically last minute, I guess its a gamble but some people do drop out and rooms free up.</p>
<p>Is it just me? I didn't think that my daughter's dorm room (Graham Lees) was so small, considering. How awesome is it to have a single? It had a nice view too. </p>
<p>But exactly who decided that the boys should get floors 1 and 2 and the girls get 3 and 4 (my daughter's floor)? </p>
<p>We moved in on Saturday, so we didn't have any assistance. The trips up and down the stairs and all the unpacking served as my workout. A trip to Walmart and Lowe's on Sunday, a mad dash into the bookstore, and the room is looking mighty sharp. </p>
<p>(As a note, I found a teenager's purse at WalMart. I suspected that it probably belonged to a W&L kid, and as it turned out, it did. After trying to call the Mom entry on her cell phone, I turned it in to the customer service. Later I saw a girl frantically looking on the shelves, but not where I had found the purse. I directed her to the front desk. Poor kid!)</p>
<p>My daughter is in Greensboro now and she has met some nice kids from Maryland. I'm looking forward to hearing about the work she has been doing.</p>
<p>A very nice trip, and everything looks to be starting out well. Just wish it wasn't such a long drive!</p>
<p>I like the fact that the girls are on the upper floors. It gives me a (probably false) sense of security. BTW, I love the 4th floor GL rooms with the window alcoves! A couple of my D's teammates got lucky and are up there.</p>
<p>^ I've heard that explanation as to why girls are on the upper floors (security), but I've also heard that girls are more responsible and less likely to do stupid things like drunkenly fall out of high-up windows.</p>
<p>You guys should get used to the W&L culture - people are always glad to help. I helped a couple of girls move into fourth floor Gilliam rooms on Saturday, and would've been glad to help you guys as well, never be shy of ask a W&L student for help. </p>
<p>Then again I also had a father act quite rude to me that day as well when I offered to swipe him and a few other people stuck outside into Gilliam - made me want to make myself scarce.</p>
<p>I also saw probably the best move-in shirt ever. A father was wearing a shirt similar to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving ones . . . but instead of MADD, it said DADD: Dads Against Daughters Dating. I would never have let my dad come to move-in wearing that if I were the girl, but walking by him I could barely keep myself from falling over laughing.</p>
<p>Dima, I saw that shirt! Hilarious. Of course had it been my dad, I might have died of embarassment. And my daughter would never permit her father to wear it. </p>
<p>If you saw a profusely sweating woman in a ponytail, pink top and abercrombie shorts, that was me.</p>
<p>Motherdear, glad your daughter's move in was smooth. I am glad it's all behind us now.</p>
<p>That explanation for the girls on the upper floors makes sense. I was hoping that my hockey-playing son would have been able to help us move, but he had a tournament that weekend. Actually by the time we got there on Saturday there were very few people around. Maybe it will be easier on the move out.</p>
<p>Yeah, right. She'll probably have accumulated more stuff by then!</p>
<p>Heard from my daughter last night via text msg. They did dinner on a budget and she said hers was the best (modest, isn't she?). She credits food network, which is about the only tv she likes to watch.</p>
<p>Where WERE those football players they promised were going to be there to help? </p>
<p>On the way home in May, only 1 parent is going to pick her up as we will need brother's and parent #2's spots in the car for stuff. Although....D's DC who is from the southwest said that SHE went in on a storage locker rental with some classmates for her rising sophomore summer. The DC put stuff at her friend's apt in town for the rising jr. summer. </p>
<p>I was in hot pink bermudas and a kelly green polo, not that that's very specific to W&L! My D even had her brother following the dress code.</p>
<p>A storage locker...now that's an idea. Our friend's daughter who is a soph is living in a sorority house this year - she's also leading one of the hikes. She came up to our daughter's room on Sunday and was talking about things. Apparently most upperclassmen move to sorority houses or apartments...something else to consider. And getting a room at a sorority house is dependant upon grades, I gathered.</p>
<p>Motherdear, I looked around at the parents and decided that perhaps I needed a Lilly Pulitzer dress or skirt for next year! Not exactly my style, but I am always open to new things.</p>
<p>LOL -- I saw that shirt too, Dima! Coming out of Lee Chapel, I pointed it out to my 16 yr old son, and he rolled his eyes, smiled, and shook his head as if to say, "well, at least you're not the only 'over the top' parent here."</p>
<p>We got help on Sunday from upperclass-women! Funny how it seemed that the girls were helping the boys, and vice versa?</p>
<p>Speaking of helping, here's my abbreviated version of the Bookstore story. Went in on Sat, family of five browsing. Gentleman said he would be happy to help with anything, were we "incoming" or "returning"? My S told him "incoming" and recounted that he had called the day before to have a couple of the new Polo shirts set aside (he was worried about getting his choice of sizes and logo). Sure, no problem, the student working there told him. No need to leave anything but a name and come on in to pick them up "whenever it suits." When S gave his name, the student laughed, and said, "Hey, <strong>, it's __</strong>." They had met in Feb, this student being the only one from our area currently attending W&L! In turn, when the Bookstore manager heard this, he praised this student, and proudly told us how well all "his" students (i.e., the ones who worked for him) had done -- he had even figured out the group's GPA! We ended up leaving with the cards for both managers. And at lunch in the dining hall, one of them came over to say that he and his wife live in Lexington, they are always happy to help any W&L student or family, and told us not to hesitate calling him at home! Now folks, we are from a very friendly community, but W&L takes the prize! Pres Ruscio referred to this in his talk -- the adjustments that some must make en route to realizing that this is just a wonderful way to live. No adjustments necessary here . . . .</p>
<p>I must be the only one who missed this tshirt-wearing dad! Poor girl, whoever she is.</p>
<p>I DID see quite a few LP and Talbot's outfits worn by moms. Of course the young woman wearing the hot pink $175 Izod tennis dress (just saw it at Nordstrom's last week and it hadn't been marked down yet...) at W-M was hard to miss as well.</p>
<p>The bookstore manager is originally from MD and VA and used to run an import/export business. He said Lexington was the perfect place to retire. His son is a 95-96 grad.</p>