The First Week of College Highlights

Everyone has been asking me how things have been going for Caleb at BYU since this was his first week of classes. Well, trying not to be the overbearing mom, I have been giving him his space. So, other than the times when he called in distress about his bike getting a flat tire, or when he found out that he'd need to buy a whole dress suit for the ROTC, I have refrained from calling him or drilling him with questions. I wanted to let him do his thing and then call when he was ready to share. It was hard, but I think I restrained myself very well. I only sent him a few texts to show him Brendan's new buzz (a dare gone bad), or to answer more of his questions. 

Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when he FaceTimed me today after church, complete in his mauve suspenders and bowtie, post  in-person church, to tell us about his first full week of college. Brendan, Riley and I curled up on the couch to hear all about Caleb's adventures in adulting. 

Here was the breakdown:

The coolest thing to happen: Getting called "Cadet Jerdon" by his CO at his ROTC class

The biggest miracle: He was about to report for his ROTC physical training class at 0500, when he realized that he had forgotten his mask. His CO had made it very clear that wearing a face mask was a requirement for attending class, and for being anywhere in public for that matter. Caleb was freaking out because there wasn't time to walk back to his apartment for one, when he spotted some other cadets who had just arrived in their car. He didn't know them, but asked if they happened to have a spare mask he could use. They didn't think they had a spare one, but they checked in their car and miraculously had one spare mask! Phew! Saved by the kindness of strangers!

The craziest thing to happen: When he was making dinner one night, he started toasting some bread under the broiler in the oven because they don't have a toaster...and then forgot about it. His roommate, Parker, came into the room asking if he was cooking something. Caleb ran to the oven and pulled out a piece of burnt ash. So much for toast.

The worst thing to happen: On his first full day of actual class (not the first orientation day), he had EIGHT HOURS of homework. Six of them were for his one calculus class, since each problem had like 10 letters with it. 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, etc. 

The thing his is the most excited for: Getting his ROTC uniform and getting to wear it around campus

Here are some random pics of his first week, which he took. The first one is him remembering Riley's Sunday tradition of having Kraft mac 'n cheese to eat. He was also sure to have pizza and popcorn with a movie on Fun Friday. Traditions are important, ya know. He also enjoyed a little Xbox during in between times, courtesy of his roommate, Jeffrey.