I was lucky enough to be visited by my family this past weekend, so I learned that a lot goes into preparing for such a visit. At times, the planning portion can be a bit frustrating, but if you know how to go about it, the entire experience can be stress-free! Here are steps for how to prepare for your family’s visit to campus.
Step 1: Talk to your family about visiting Kenyon. Start with the logistics. Which week or weekend is best for all of you? It’s difficult to plan ahead with a crazy schedule full of projects, papers, and exams (oh my!), but look over your syllabi or talk to your professors to see when your workload will be a bit lighter. If you can’t find a light at the end of the tunnel, let your family know in advance. They understand that you’re busy and they want you to do well in school, so it’s ok if you have to write a paper while hanging out with them. As long as they get to spend time with you, they won’t care!
Step 2: Figure out means of travel. Travelling here can be complicated. It’s convenient if they’re close enough to drive, but if they’re not, then they have to rent a car or get a taxi, neither of which are cheap. The only way a taxi is feasible is if they’re staying at the Kenyon Inn and you’re okay with being confined to do whatever is within walking distance.
Step 3: Get ahead on homework. It will give you more time with your family! As I said earlier, it might be unavoidable that you have to work on an assignment or two while they’re in town, but do the best you can to work ahead so that you’re not bogged down in schoolwork. It’s considerate to clear your schedule as much as possible, since they’re making a big effort to spend time with you.
Step 4: Alert your friends. If your family is visiting on a weekend, it might be tempting to ignore them at times and go out with friends instead. Remember, though, that your family’s only plans are spending time with you! So you might have to skip out on some plans with your friends while your family is in town. Let your buddies know in advance that this is the case so they don’t feel ditched. Also, some of your closest friends might want to meet your family, and if that’s the case you can work that into your schedule!
Step 5: Clean your room. Even if you might not want them to, your relatives will be dying to see our dorm room. And it will probably be a mess. (Maybe you’ll have a few items laying around you wouldn’t want your parents to see!) The messiness of your room will be commented on, which is annoying. So do yourself a favor and clean up!
Step 6: Communicate the day they arrive. This can perhaps be the most frustrating part. They might miscalculate their travel time and arrive later than expected. Or, since your family won’t necessarily know where everything is on campus, choosing a meet up spot can be a hassle. To make things easier, pick the bookstore or Wiggin St. as your rendezvous location, since they’re both on a main road and easily recognizable.
Step 7: Have a wonderful weekend with you family! Show off your school and point out your favorite study or hangout spots. Introduce them to your friends. Take advantage of their car and eat off campus. Explore someplace new. But most importantly, enjoy family time!
Having the opportunity to see your family amidst a busy school schedule can be a huge stress relief and a lot of fun, but planning the visit can sometimes feel like nothing more than an extra item on your to-do list. Following these steps will ensure a worry-free experience.
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