Visiting The College Girl

 Today we had a chance to visit Arlington on her campus.  We couldn't go into her room, but did take her some things and then took her to have some lunch.  She showed us around the campus.  It was nice because Mat didn't get to come in August when we dropped her off.  We had a lovely afternoon and it was nice to see her.

Library

Pretty chruch

This is Arlington's dining Hall

School of Music - huge building

Where Arlington catches the bus for her off campus class

She has one in person class on campus and this si where they put them

Basketball Stadium

Hockey Stadium

This is where Arlington's dorm is located

A Very Different School Start

 It is the start of a new school year for Finley and Cainan.  Being back in the United States where the virus continues to rage means not returning to school normally.  After a lot of debate in our district, the year started two weeks later than normally and in a hybrid form.  Finley and Cainan will be home Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday doing school virtually from their bedrooms.  And Thursday and Friday they will be in school.  Full masks on, 6 feet apart, and very little social life for these two lie ahead.

So difficult this will be for these two who are returning to a school they have been gone for 3 years.  Kids are different now.  It is like starting over.  I feel for them.  Their anxiety is high.  I know they will adjust - they always do.

On top of all of that, we are still in our temporary housing, so we are still unsettled.

Return to Karate

 While we were in Switzerland, Cainan was able to continue Karate, which we were grateful for.  Even though the class was taught all in German, he really enjoyed it and kept his skills up.  We were so excited when we returned to Littleton and were able to jump back into the Karate Dojo where he was in class before.  We loved the Sensei there and Cainan was anxious to keep going, so tonight was his first class.  

Picking up where we left off - one more step to resettling

Old Friends

 One of the best things about being able to move back to Littleton and back to the house we adore is the friends I had made there.  Littleton is the place I have lived the longest (besides my childhood home).  6 years of great friends for us and the kids that meant a great deal to me.  I was so worried that when Mat decided it was time to look for a new job it would take us somewhere new.  It always does.  But this time, I got my wish to return to a beloved house and neighborhood that held so many wonderful memories.

We are in the middle of a pandemic, so there is no way to safely visit like we used to - my friends and I.  We loved getting together at least once a month and going out to a favorite restaurant and chatting for hours on end.  However - beautiful weather, a roaring firepit, and a great way to space out safely made it possible for me to see them after longing to see them all this time away.

Arlington goes to College

 We have moved Arlington to college.  I cannot believe I am writing those words.  Our eldest daughter has graduated from high school a year early with 16 college credits in her back pocket and is now settled into the University of Massachusetts.  Mat is still in San Francisco with his new job, so my parents graciously came to help us move her into college.

What is it like to move a kid to college during a pandemic?  Interesting.  Frustrating.  Her school has decided that only 1000 students will be on campus -anyone who had an in person class.  Arlington only had one - her farm class- so off to college she went.  She is in a 3 bedroom suite with just she and her roomate.  They have a livingroom and a full bathroom just for the two of them.  It is pretty nice for a freshmen.  Going to be hard to go back to a regular dorm room once the pandemic passes, that is for sure.

I wasn't sure how this was going to go.  Arlington is only 17.  She is a year younger than many of the other freshmen.  But I think she is ready.  She was so excited to start her pre-vet classes.  I am happy that she is only 1 1/2 hours away in case we need to grab her quickly or want to go and visit (in non-pandemic times).

My dad and I were the ones to move her in.  Arlington had to have a Covid test before she could go to the dorms (and will be tested twice a week this whole semester).  Only two people could help the student move in.  We were masked the whole time.  But it went smoothly.  We got her all squared away and everything unpacked before we had to leave.

I think she is going to love it.  Even in this weird time with so little people on campus, and very few dining halls open (or buildings in general), it is a start of a new chapter for her.  Maybe this slower start is just what she needs to get her feet wet before the 21,000 other UMass students return.

My parents bought Arlington her computer for college

My sister in law had a sign made with Arlington on it - love it

                               

Arlington had to have coveralls and much boots for her one in person class

packed and ready to go!  

UMass set up a "tent city" for kids on campus that might have Covid.  This was put in place when all 22,000 were coming back

Arlington all set in her room!  The kids have single rooms but are in these suites with a "roommate".  So there is another girl in her suite, but that girl also has her own room

There are only two girls assigned to the 3 room suite - so the girls decided to make this room their "pantry"

They have their own bathroom - it is quite large

A big living room.  This suite is typically for 4 kids.  So with only two of them - it is quite the apartment.  The furniture was there.  We brought the tV

We weren't able to walk around CAmpus, but it is huge.  And beautiful.  I hope to be able to see it once the pandemic is over

I made her send me a picture of her first day of classes.  All but one of her classes is remote this entire semester, so this will be her classroom until Thanksgiving