Yesterday I biked passed the dormitory move-in for freshmen at a St. Paul private college, upperclassmen greeting students (and their parents) and telling them where to park, how to register, etc. A fall tradition for (likely) over a century.
The first question that came to mind: are dorm rooms still equipped with landlines? I doubt it.
I remembered my first dormitory move-in, scheduled two days prior to others because I auditioned – poorly, as it turned out – for the Hawkeye Marching Band. Mom drove me and – unsurprisingly, knowing Mom’s history of cars – the car broke down, stranding us on I-80. She didn’t think it was major, but any delay risked me missing my audition slot. So, with Mom’s permission, a stuck out my thumb and hitched a ride to Iowa City.
Yes, you read that correctly: I arrived at the University of Iowa to begin my post-secondary education in the car of a complete stranger. Somehow I found the music building and arrived on time for my (failed) audition.
Next, I needed to find my dorm and see if Mom made it: remember, pre-mobile days, no way to contact her! And, much to my surprise, she was there waiting to move me into my dorm room.
The move-in was trivial as I didn’t have that much:
- clothes, shoes, coats;
- my boombox and collection of cassettes;
- two plates, one bowl, knife, fork, and spoon;
- shampoo, soap,
- touch-tone telephone (which was unusable on the University’s then phone system).
I immediately needed to go on a shopping spree at the downtown JC Penny’s for sheets, towels, miscellany. And definitely no phones, tablets, laptops, digital music, televisions (flat screen or otherwise), or any other modern conveniences.
Forty years ago, I really traveled light; now, I have way more than I ever imagined!
Image Credits
- “Ferrum College Move-in Day 2013” by Ferrum College is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
