<p>Best wishes to the class of 2010 as Orientation approachs! We just dropped off my son (who will be working orientation) and the campus seems to be awaiting your arrival. Edwardo's Pizza is a good as ever, the bookstores are well-stocked, and with luck the big hole on 57th street will be patched soon. Your RA's and RCA's and RH's and RM's and OA's and OL's will all be ready to greet you. And some will be on special duty to herd your parents to their reception as you march through the college gates and into your new life. </p>
<p>It has been a pleasure following your admissions sagas on CC, and I hope to hear from you from time to time (not often, though - you'll be way too busy).</p>
<p>"That hole on 57th has been there ALL SUMMER. " </p>
<p>Good grief - hope nobody's 'rents drop the old buick in there. Enjoy your lunch, neverborn - now I understand why my son turns up his nose at our pizza.</p>
<p>brooke - its a very exciting time. Safe journey for you and your family, and be sure to get to the opening convo early enough to get a set inside Rockefeller!</p>
<p>We got there about 20 minutes early and were seated about halfway back. The sound system is decent - you can hear the speakers. If you are seated towards the front you see can better. If you are seated towards the back, you will be closer to your class banner and the bagpipes as you process out behind them. That would be very cool if you like bagpipes! We were far enough back that the carillon drowned out the bagpipes as we marched (fine by me as l love carillons - bagpipes are fine from a distance, lol). </p>
<p>Oddly enough, one of the parents that really lost it last year was the mom of a transfer. Her daughter had attended a LAC (I forget which one) and hated it - it was too easy academically and full of airheads. She was SO happy. Luckily, her D was off at her house meeting and missed the tears.</p>
<p>Ah, the hole on 57th... I had to bike around it every weekday on my route to and from work this summer. And brand new concrete fell in over by Salonica last week or so, but I think it has been fixed by now.</p>
<p>Living in Hyde Park, my family and I have consoled many a mother as she dropped off her child at college. It is always bittersweet. Now it is my mom's turn, and she feels like the time has come and she must let go of me -- even though I live in Hyde Park. Strange thing about attending the neighborhood school...</p>
<p>I mentioned this on the Class of 2010 web site, but I thought I would reiterate it on this board. Would you guys be interested in a CC get-together? If so, just PM me your UChicago e-mail address (and name), and I will send out a mass e-mail to all. We can work out a time and place that is good for everyone.</p>
<p>You may actually walk with your house (which you will have just moved into) to the opening ceremonies. There is seating outside, and it should be a nice day, 78 degrees and sunny, so you can watch Ted on the jumbotron in comfort. </p>
<p>After the speeches, which are in general very funny and brief (except for one, and you'll know what I'm talking about afterward) everyone walks through the quads and through Hull Gate, and parents are separated from their students, while the students continue onto the football practice field to take a class photo (you get to stand in the shape of a 2010). Parents, be warned! This is a very emotional moment. Current students will be standing by with Kleenex. We will direct you to a parent's reception, where the admissions counselor will be, and the staff members who will become important to your students during their time at the university.</p>
<p>I'm so excited to see you all on campus! I actually had a nightmare last night that I missed opening day because I forgot to buy a plane ticket to Chicago. I cried and cried and cried. In the dream.</p>
<p>Another warning: If you are moving into the Shoreland, be ready to wait. There is only one entrance, and it is the second most populous dorm for first-years. Be patient and make friends with the other families.</p>
<p>"We will direct you to a parent's reception, where the admissions counselor will be, and the staff members who will become important to your students during their time at the university."</p>
<p>Along with drinks, food and more kleenex. Its a very nice reception. </p>
<p>We didn't have any more trouble than usual with traffic getting out. The thousand or so broken-hearted (or elated, lol) parents are just a drop in the bucket of Chicago traffic.</p>
<p>Okay, I'll admit it. I used the Kleenex. Great ceremony, great day. We did, however, see our S the next day, a few more things were needed to be picked up at the Target on Roosevelt Rd (it's huge). </p>
<p>Have a great year everyone, and enjoy O-Week, the swim test, and the nice fall weather.</p>
<p>From another parents perspective the day was quite dramatic and quite emotional and very memorable. The days events were very organized leading up to the ceremony at Rockefeller which was dignified and lighthearted but with the knowledge the parting was soon to come. The walk across the campus was full of emotions of joy and dread. Watching our 1st year walk through the gates was the end of one era and the beginning of another.
A wonderful day full of life.</p>
<p>motpasm23 - get your car as close to max P as possible - there will be people around to help haul your stuff in! Once your stuff is in, the car can get parked somewhere official if need be. If you are not a fan of parallel parking, there should be reasonable parking across the Plaisance - its a bit of a walk, but not traumatic.</p>
<p>Three years ago about this time we watched our S walk on to the sounds of the bagpipes....now I'm hoarding the kleenex for graduation this June. It's hard to believe he is now a 4th year and the amazing experience that has been his life at the U of C is quickly drawing to a close. Savor the experiences...they go quickly.</p>