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There were lawn games to play, athletic teams to cheer, excursions to museums and cultural sites, tours of public art on campus, an a cappella concert, a movie screening — and lots of catching up to do.
The leaves were changing, the sun was out, and Northeastern University’s Boston campus was full for the annual Family and Friends Weekend.
“I feel like it’s peak fall right now,” said Kristina Carandang, a third-year student showing her mother and grandmother from San Diego around campus for the first time on Friday afternoon. “In California, we don’t really have fall so I’m excited to just be going around the city.”
Willa Caradang said she was excited to “see her daughter’s life and where she spends her time.”
Meanwhile, Linda Shelton and her daughter, Tiffany Miles, were waiting near the koi pond for first-year student Charles Shelton. It was the fourth or fifth time the women had made the trip from Birmingham, Alabama, to visit campus.
“We had no idea he would want to come this far for school,” Shelton said of Charles. “He shocked us all.”Both said they were looking forward to spending time with their Husky and to take in a city that has become his beloved home.
“It’s like a proud big sister moment — watching him as a young adult come into his own,” Miles said.
Northeastern’s Family and Friends Weekend welcomed parents, grandparents, siblings and friends to the Boston campus this weekend for three days of events. There were lawn games to play, athletic teams to cheer, excursions to museums and cultural sites, tours of public art on campus, an a cappella concert, a movie screening — and lots of catching up to do.
“I just take any chance to come and see her,” said Anne Walsh, parent of second-year student Mary Prindle.
Meanwhile, parent Christopher Prindle was looking forward to his first Northeastern hockey game.
“I’m psyched,” Prindle said.
And the family came bearing gifts — in this case a lot of groceries for Mary and her roommate.
Outside Snell Library, first-year student Bella Roepke and her family made friendship bracelets — something 8-year-old Alyssabeth found particularly entertaining.
“We want to do some activities that make memories,” mom Mary Roepke said, adding that their next stop was the “Stuff a Husky” booth.
Dad Sven Roepke said it was nice to see the campus and all the places that Bella talked about on phone calls to their home in Connecticut.
“To actually be here and spend some time together is different than what you get from afar,” Sven said.
Meanwhile, the Wrobleski family — first-year student Katie, mom Michelle, dad Steve and dog Chloe — had just picked up a Northeastern Husky-emblazoned dress for the chihuahua and dachshund member of the family.
“We were required,” Michelle said, laughing, when asked why they decided to bring Chloe from their home in central New Jersey.
But Chloe was into it, happily wagging her tail (and body) as the family headed across campus. In fact, Chloe had even joined the family for dinner on Newbury Street the evening before — “on the patio” — Michelle said.
Meanwhile, Centennial Common turned into a festival — with pumpkins to give away, mural painting, lawn games, caricature artists, and lots of cotton candy, candy apples and other treats. A scarecrow strode around the common on stilts, and living statues of a pirate, witch and a tree surveyed the crowds.
Parent Jessica Silverman said it was great to visit her son, first-year student Sam, for the first time since they dropped him off at the beginning of the semester.
“It’s wonderful — it’s hard to believe it’s almost been two months,” Jessica Silverman said. “It’s great to see how happy he is and how well he’s adjusted.”
Parent Bernadette Fanuele had similar feelings.
“I’m most excited about just hanging out with him,” she said of her son, first-year student Jimmy Fanuele, while the family worked on a panel for a mural to commemorate the day. “I miss him. My home is empty.”