Out of Town Guests, SWAB Summer 2009
- Thread starter LAS
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Best Day to visit
The best day(s) would be parents weekend which is September 25-27.
R-day is too stressful for everyone. There really isn't anything at the conclusion of Swab summer. Mystic might work (if the Swab isn't off on Eagle), but even then, there isn't much time, and still being in the middle of swab summer, it's kind of tense.
Parents weekend is a nice, relaxing time where your CADET will have time to show you around, there are lot's of activities, grandparents are welcome (our came last year and loved it!), and it is a much better time.
The best day(s) would be parents weekend which is September 25-27.
R-day is too stressful for everyone. There really isn't anything at the conclusion of Swab summer. Mystic might work (if the Swab isn't off on Eagle), but even then, there isn't much time, and still being in the middle of swab summer, it's kind of tense.
Parents weekend is a nice, relaxing time where your CADET will have time to show you around, there are lot's of activities, grandparents are welcome (our came last year and loved it!), and it is a much better time.
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Mnolan, they are swabs until they see a swab.... 
I agree, Parents' Weekend is the best time, BUT if it needs to be during the summer, Mystic would be the most relaxed, with R-day being the absolute WORST day to visit, in fact, R-day is the worst day to visit in the four years you are there. Somewhere in the middle those two choices is "end of swab summer" which in my opinion would just be a waste of a ticket. R-day would be worse than wasting a ticket....
I agree, Parents' Weekend is the best time, BUT if it needs to be during the summer, Mystic would be the most relaxed, with R-day being the absolute WORST day to visit, in fact, R-day is the worst day to visit in the four years you are there. Somewhere in the middle those two choices is "end of swab summer" which in my opinion would just be a waste of a ticket. R-day would be worse than wasting a ticket....
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[/QUOTE]R-day is the worst day to visit in the four years you are there. R-day would be worse than wasting a ticket....[/QUOTE]
As parents of an incoming swab, we too are bringing Grandma to see our daughter off. We were told there is a fulll day of activities on the Sunday before R-day such as picnics, chapel services, and parent group meetings. We were planning on sight seeing in the area such as the Mystic Aquarium on Saturday. Sounded like a nice weekend together before she leaves. On R-Day there are parent programs offered by the academy while the swaps are suiting up and learning to march for the first time.
Is it just R-day that's bad or the entire weekend, and why?
As parents of an incoming swab, we too are bringing Grandma to see our daughter off. We were told there is a fulll day of activities on the Sunday before R-day such as picnics, chapel services, and parent group meetings. We were planning on sight seeing in the area such as the Mystic Aquarium on Saturday. Sounded like a nice weekend together before she leaves. On R-Day there are parent programs offered by the academy while the swaps are suiting up and learning to march for the first time.
Is it just R-day that's bad or the entire weekend, and why?
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R-day is the worst day to visit in the four years you are there. R-day would be worse than wasting a ticket....[/QUOTE]
As parents of an incoming swab, we too are bringing Grandma to see our daughter off. We were told there is a fulll day of activities on the Sunday before R-day such as picnics, chapel services, and parent group meetings. We were planning on sight seeing in the area such as the Mystic Aquarium on Saturday. Sounded like a nice weekend together before she leaves. On R-Day there are parent programs offered by the academy while the swaps are suiting up and learning to march for the first time.
Is it just R-day that's bad or the entire weekend, and why?[/QUOTE]
The entire weekend isn't a bad idea. R-Day is a bad idea if it's the ONLY time you'll see them. It's a tough day, you'll have VERY LITTLE time to see your swab and when you do see them it will be tough. On my R-Day weekend, all we did was relax. We went to the Submarine museum, but I have to say, R-day overshadowed everything in my mind, I was nervous, and I didn't really "enjoy" anything. My parents, sensing that, didn't plan much and just allowed for us to have some time together. We did go to one "social" event at a hotel before it, and it was good to hear that others were nervous too. Just make sure you don't plan too much that weekend. Your kid may be nervous, this is the last time you're going to see them for awhile, R-day will be on their mind, almost 24/7 that last week, and R-day will be "not fun".
I'm definitely NOT say don't go to R-day. The question from the original poster was about "which of these three should grandma go to". If it has to be one of a few options, R-day is the worst, but if you can go to R-day, AND Parents' Weekend, or R-day and Mystic....then do it.
You will meet some parents on R-day that you will continue to talk to 4 years down the road. Remember, no pressure for the incoming swabs, the cadre will do that. Give them an "Easy to digest" dinner and breakfast on the night before and on the morning of R-day. They will be nervous, they will have lots of thoughts going through their minds....AND that's ALL NORMAL!!!
Good luck!!!
As parents of an incoming swab, we too are bringing Grandma to see our daughter off. We were told there is a fulll day of activities on the Sunday before R-day such as picnics, chapel services, and parent group meetings. We were planning on sight seeing in the area such as the Mystic Aquarium on Saturday. Sounded like a nice weekend together before she leaves. On R-Day there are parent programs offered by the academy while the swaps are suiting up and learning to march for the first time.
Is it just R-day that's bad or the entire weekend, and why?[/QUOTE]
The entire weekend isn't a bad idea. R-Day is a bad idea if it's the ONLY time you'll see them. It's a tough day, you'll have VERY LITTLE time to see your swab and when you do see them it will be tough. On my R-Day weekend, all we did was relax. We went to the Submarine museum, but I have to say, R-day overshadowed everything in my mind, I was nervous, and I didn't really "enjoy" anything. My parents, sensing that, didn't plan much and just allowed for us to have some time together. We did go to one "social" event at a hotel before it, and it was good to hear that others were nervous too. Just make sure you don't plan too much that weekend. Your kid may be nervous, this is the last time you're going to see them for awhile, R-day will be on their mind, almost 24/7 that last week, and R-day will be "not fun".
I'm definitely NOT say don't go to R-day. The question from the original poster was about "which of these three should grandma go to". If it has to be one of a few options, R-day is the worst, but if you can go to R-day, AND Parents' Weekend, or R-day and Mystic....then do it.
You will meet some parents on R-day that you will continue to talk to 4 years down the road. Remember, no pressure for the incoming swabs, the cadre will do that. Give them an "Easy to digest" dinner and breakfast on the night before and on the morning of R-day. They will be nervous, they will have lots of thoughts going through their minds....AND that's ALL NORMAL!!!
Good luck!!!
Luigi59
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If it's like last year, I wouldn't call Sunday a "full day" of activities. Other than walking around the campus after the Sunday AM church services, there is really nothing to do until they open up Chase Hall around 4PM for the tour.
Last year they also opened up the cadet wardroom in Chase Hall for a "welcome" dinner (you will get info as to how to order the tickets for dinner) but some of the sports teams also had meetings during the dinner so all were not able to attend. Your swab will also get a chance to meet some of the other swabs in his/her company on Sunday evening, as well as find out who their roommate will be and where their room is.
There is a lot to do on R-day, but not with your swab. After they leave Leamy Hall and get on the bus, you won't talk to them again until after the Swearing In oath and the class photo on the parade field, and then only for 15 minutes.
After they leave Leamy Hall, you can head to the auditorium at Leamy where there will be a speech by the Superintendent, the Commandant, the AC Dean, the Athletic Director, and the president of the Parent's Association. Most of the academic buildings will be open for you to tour, but if you missed the barracks tour (Chase Hall) the day before, forget it, it's closed to you today. The local PA sponsors a lunch at Leamy Hall (you can buy the tickets on R-Day) and all of the PA's will have tables set up in the Alumni Center to sell their USCGA-branded merchandise (tip - bring cash). You can also join the national PA and your local PA while you are there.
There is (semper gumby) also a helicopter search & rescue demonstration over the Thames in the afternoon, you can see it from the patio behind Leamy Hall.
Tip - pick a place on the parade field to meet your swab after they are dismissed from the class photo - you only have 15 minutes, don't waste it running around looking for each other. Don't pick the flag mast, as EVERYONE else will - try "the 2nd tree on the right when you face Hamilton Hall" or something like that so they can find you quickly. Have a cold drink and perhaps a snack for them, they will appreciate it.
R-day stuff
I think what many of us are trying to convey is that R-day will be a very emotional time for both you and your child. They will be nervous the weekend leading up to R-day, and R-day itself is busy, but you don't get much of a chance to see the Academy as it operates, and you truly will see your swab for about 15 minutes. And it will be the most emotional (and for them sometime overwhelming) 15 minutes in your life. And that applies to the parents as well....not to scare anyone off, but between my wedding, the birth of my kids, and R-Day, R-day was the most emotional day I have ever had..... you see Moms, Dads, and kids crying, (myself included). I was proud as I could be, but it wasn't a "happy" time. The trip home was almost as bad as you keep replaying it in your mind.
Parents weekend on the other hand is GREAT. By then they have adjusted (more or less) to the Academy, there are lots of things open to see, your swab will usually have lots of time off, they are GLAD to see you
, and they have grown up so much you won't believe it. I was proud of my daughter on R-day for the path she had chosen, but on Parents Weekend I was proud of what she had become, (and you realize later it's just the beginning).
I brought two grandparents to Parents weekend, and they really enjoyed it as did my daughter. It ended up being a great weekend. I don't think they wold have appreciated R-day nor would my daughter. Looking back, I would never have wanted to bring them to R-day. So given the choices I would bring g-parents to:
1. Parents Weekend
2. Labor Day weekend
3. Mystic
4. End of swab summer
5. Any random weekend in the fall
then
100. R-day.......
I think what many of us are trying to convey is that R-day will be a very emotional time for both you and your child. They will be nervous the weekend leading up to R-day, and R-day itself is busy, but you don't get much of a chance to see the Academy as it operates, and you truly will see your swab for about 15 minutes. And it will be the most emotional (and for them sometime overwhelming) 15 minutes in your life. And that applies to the parents as well....not to scare anyone off, but between my wedding, the birth of my kids, and R-Day, R-day was the most emotional day I have ever had..... you see Moms, Dads, and kids crying, (myself included). I was proud as I could be, but it wasn't a "happy" time. The trip home was almost as bad as you keep replaying it in your mind.
Parents weekend on the other hand is GREAT. By then they have adjusted (more or less) to the Academy, there are lots of things open to see, your swab will usually have lots of time off, they are GLAD to see you
, and they have grown up so much you won't believe it. I was proud of my daughter on R-day for the path she had chosen, but on Parents Weekend I was proud of what she had become, (and you realize later it's just the beginning).I brought two grandparents to Parents weekend, and they really enjoyed it as did my daughter. It ended up being a great weekend. I don't think they wold have appreciated R-day nor would my daughter. Looking back, I would never have wanted to bring them to R-day. So given the choices I would bring g-parents to:
1. Parents Weekend
2. Labor Day weekend
3. Mystic
4. End of swab summer
5. Any random weekend in the fall
then
100. R-day.......
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Thanks for the suggestions -- all good comments. Hope it doesn't rain!