Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) 8/18 -- 8/19/2017 [Back to Photo Page]

Founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools, the university became the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1912 and began granting four-year degrees. In 1967, the Carnegie Institute of Technology merged with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research to form Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).  The university's 140-acre main campus is 3 miles from Downtown Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon has seven colleges and independent schools: the College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mellon College of Science, Tepper School of Business, H. John Heinz III College of Information Systems and Public Policy, and the School of Computer Science.  Iris is fortunate enough to get the admission to CMU as class 2021 to pursue her education in Chemistry and Science.

Getting there ...

Based on the experience from Linus 2 years ago, Iris did not really start packing until 2 days before the trip (while I was on a business trip) although she has been doing some shopping (for clothes, shoes, etc.) for a while.  We had an early morning flight that we left for the airport when it was still dark (and Iris was able to sleep on the airplane almost all the way).

We arrived in Pittsburgh on time in the late afternoon.  After checked in the hotel (the Mansions on the 5th Ave, the closest hotel to CMU I could find), we drove to the Shadyside to have dinner (an Asian noodle place).  The we spend the rest of the evening shopping at a nearby Target store for Iris' college supply (I have never spent so much time at a Target store before...).

8/19 Move-In Day ... 

• We decided to have an early start.  After breakfast, we walked to Stever House at ~ 9AM to see if there was any crowd (the recommended check-in time was no earlier than 10AM).  We saw people started to show up and cars were lining up to wait for opening time, and we decided to go back to hotel to get our luggage (It's only about 5-min walking).  At 9:30AM, we already got everything we need (student ID, orientation package, T-shirt, etc.) and sitting in Iris' dorm room.
  

After a few chores on the main campus, we were back to Iris's room to start the unpacking process which I could not help too much.  Iris' roommate Yoonju (they were high school good friends) also moved in and they (2 girls + 2 moms) were busy in their room while I took a break in the common room...

After lunch (at a Mexican restaurant in Shadyside), we went back to the Target again to do more shopping for a few missing things for Iris.   We spent some more time in her room to help her organize a few stuffs (and I found she a drawer full of snacks she brought from California), and then it's time to say goodbye and drove to the airport to catch our flight at 7PM. 

Going Home ...

On the way to the airport, the weather changed quickly and started to rain heavily (just like our moods ...).  It is one of the big milestones for kids to leave home for college, especially for those who go across country to live independently.  For Iris, she will learn her independence and explore her new world at CMU for the next few years.  I know she will grow up and find her own path, but I also know she will always be my little baby girl.  
But look at the bright side, we are officially empty nest now, and we are heading to our next trip on the next day:  Solar Eclipse in Oregon!

[Back to Photo Page]