Last weekend was Parents Weekend at U of M, meaning that the already bustling Ann Arbor campus had more "real adults" and younger siblings than we're used to seeing around here. As a college freshman, this was the first time I got to show my parents and sister a peek into my daily life here at Michigan. Despite the thunderstorms and chilly weather, here are a few highlights of my weekend:
1. Introducing my family to my new friends
They see pictures of my friends on Facebook almost daily, but they had never met them before this weekend. “Oh, so that’s (fill in name)!” was the reaction I got from my mom every time I introduced her to someone new. College is so different from high school, where my parents knew everyone who was in my life. It was nice introducing them to my new people. Those two worlds should collide!
2. Eating good food
South Quad dining hall, your options are not too shabby, but they don’t quite compare to the endless restaurant options available throughout Ann Arbor. Having your parents in town means not eating in the same dining hall three times a day---and we all know variety is key. Not to mention, I tried some new restaurants in town that I’ve been looking forward to trying for a while.
3. Tailgating with my family
Seeing my parents at a tailgate was one of the highlights of my time at college so far. My parents were surrounded by my friends’ parents, screaming over the loud music, and dancing like they were back in college. The sight of my sister and parents in head-to-toe Michigan apparel made me proud to call this place my new home. They were troopers in the rain and it made for some good memories.
4. Going to the grocery store
The food supply in my dorm was severely lacking before Parents Weekend. There was an old yogurt hiding in the fridge that I bought when I first moved in (no joke), a stale granola bar in my desk drawer, and one packet of oatmeal left. I am now fully stocked for the days that I run out of time to get breakfast and need to eat on the run.
5. Visiting The M Den and stocking up on (even) more Michigan apparel
One can never have enough Michigan gear. That is a fact. So, it is not surprising that the line at The M Den was up the stairs and around the corner on game day. My family and I can't resist the "M Gear," down to the fuzzy socks and rain poncho, so we all walked out with something new to rep the greatest school.
Overall, I had an amazing weekend filled with family, friends, and great food. It went by too quickly, but I’m already looking forward to the next time they get to visit me in my happy place. Thanks for the smiles, laughs, lifelong memories, and the valuable groceries. Love you guys!
