Smeliora! Rochester, day 2

Friday, 10/12

We're here for Homecoming/Parent's weekend at U of Rochester, which they call Meliora Weekend...."Meliora" in Latin means "ever better", and it's the motto of the school.  Nils coined the variation "Smeliora" just to be funny (after all, he IS the mature one in the family), and apparently is the only person who's ever thought of this (Bjorn's friends are all simultaneously delighted and bummed that they didn't think of it already themselves).

On the program for today was lunch with Bjorn's good friend Matt Skurnick along with his parents and two adorable grandmothers, all from NYC.  It was great to finally meet them!  Bjorn unfortunately had a TEST at 2pm, followed by a homework assignment deadline of 5pm for one of his engineering classes.  Needless to say, we didn't see him all afternoon.   We bought some party supplies (for tomorrow) at Wegman's (fantastic supermarket chain in Rochester) and worked on warming ourselves up--found a sunny parking spot for the truck and took a little nap.

We returned to the SigEp house around 5 and met more of Bjorn's brothers in the process.  I really do feel a) like a VIP and b) as though I've gained many sons in the last 24 hours.  All I have to do when I meet any young man in the SigEp house, is to say, "I'm Bjorn's mom" and I get an enormous smile, a long hug and immediate offers of assistance.  It's pretty sweet.

Arturo and Bjorn, being silly

When Bjorn finished his school work we headed over to Arturo's house for a little SigEp family party.   We met Arturo's mom and step dad--Mary and Bob--for the first time and it was as if we've known them forever.   The other invitees had dinner reservations to go to--but we already had a big lunch, so we just stayed, ate the delicious appetizers that Mary and Bob set out and had a great time.  The conversation waxed quite philosophical and hysterically funny as well, of course--fueled by most excellent chocolate chip cookies baked by Arturo's sister Penelope.  Nils orchestrated some group "action" shots:

Bjorn, Arturo, Nils, Mary and Bob....happy!

...sad

...and oh so surprised.

And now---on our way to the campground (with Lisa as designated driver) for one last night in the RV.  It's not supposed to go below 32 degrees.  We shall see.....