Sun Devil Sophomore!

Yesterday Derek and I moved Zach into his University House apartment as he starts his sophomore year adventure at ASU. 

Saying goodbye is never easy, but we are excited for Zach's big year ahead.  His classes are all either mathematics or engineering focused, so he is super-excited! 

The car was loaded to the brim and luckily enough room for me in the back seat too! 

Zach apartment is in University House which is a tower high-rise apartment on the north end of campus overlooking the football stadium and Tempe Butte, home to the famous "A".  It is less than a block away from the dormitory where he stayed during his freshman year.  So he is near his favorite campus restaurant, Panda Express, as well as all of the engineering, science, and math building at which he will be attending classes.  

We arrived an hour earlier than his assigned move-in time.  So we ate brunch at a popular local eatery called "Snooze" next to his apartment complex.  Very good food! Despite the 107 degree heat. the restaurant had water misters going, so we opted to eat outside on the patio which was actually very pleasant.  

Move in at noon was actually a minor disaster.  There was no one at the front desk to greet students moving in.  They were about 15 minutes late in set up. Once we received Zach's key, they informed us that we had selected a move-in date with NO move-in assistance, meaning no designated move-in parking and drop-off close to the apartment building and NO big rolling bins available to help transport move-in items into the building and onto the elevators.  Sooooo, that was a major pain.  Luckily we had found a paid parking space just around the corner from the entrance to the tower.  Derek, Zach, and I took all of Zach's stuff via stages from one corner to another, across the street, to the entrance of the building, and then up the elevator to his apartment on the eleventh floor.  (This is why a practice weight-lifting right???).  

We entered his apartment to find that one current occupying roommate was not there and is basically a slob.  The other roommate had not yet made an appearance.  It was also obvious that the apartment complex does not really clean anything between tenants. (YUCK!) To clarify, Zach has a 3/1 apartment- three bedrooms and one bathroom.  So Zach and his roommates each have their own lockable room and they share a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and patio.  So we got Zach moved in and did a bit of cleaning.  The bathroom was in better condition than expected, but I still disinfected the heck out of it.  Zach actually voluntarily vacuumed the entire apartment (minus his roommates' rooms to which we did not access).  His assignments for today were to give the kitchen a good wipe down and mop the floors. 

Anyway- the apartment condition and lack of welcoming roommates was a bit of a bummer.  However, there are many upsides.  His room is on the 11th floor and has a great view of both the stadium and Tempe Butte.  His room has lots of storage. We also took a trip to Walmart to buy food and some other supplies like a towel rack and C-stand for next to his bed.  He will have other things added to his list as he gets settled in.  

The unit has a very large patio with great views as well.  When we visit him in a few weeks we will get him some simple outdoors chairs and a table.  Right now it is too hot to sit outside anyway.  Haha! 

Patio and views

His apartment building 4th floor has a very nice extended common area.  Inside there are study rooms and computer rooms complete with printers and white boards.  There are also areas for parties/eating as well as decent weights and cardio rooms. The complex also has an outdoor common area with BBQ grills, beach volleyball, a pool, etc. 

We very much miss him already and are so proud of him as he starts his second year.  He has yet to meet his roommates, but went out with a few friends yesterday evening.  He already contacted me needing advice on vegetable heat-up and where to go pick up a few more odds and ends and we did not pack.  So my heart is heavy, yet happy knowing he still needs me :)