Half as many clothes and twice as much money! That's what I always bring when I travel. But seriously, regarding clothing...I have friends and family in the Netherlands and England with teenagers and 20-somethings. You know what they wear? ABERCROMBIE, J. Crew, and GAP. Youth styles seem to be the same, no matter where in the world you go. I barely shop at all when I am travelling anymore because nearly everything I see in Europe can be had at home for a lot less $$$$. Plus, the exchange rate is so bad for anyone spending American dollars, that jacks the cost up more. When I was 21 I travelled for four months in Europe with a backpack, a rain coat (which was also a bathrobe and a pillow in the train!)and a good ole' Eurailpass. The more you brought, the more you had to carry, and it slowed you down, plus you had to worry a bit more about your "stuff" than I wanted to. Even now (20 years later) I pack ultra-light. For a three week trip to Provence and Amsterdam I recently took one small carry-on. My husband just came back from another 3-week trip to Singapore, Germany, Belgium, and Holland and again...a carry-on. It can be done, but only if you're serious about streamlining. Maybe this is a chance for your son to learn to live with less? Oh, the biggest hassle packing these days is all the electrical equipment and chargers. I took my kids to Europe recently and I swear, the iPods, digital cameras, Nintendo DSs, and cell-phones were the biggest pain. You need chargers to convert the plugs and all the chargers...practically one whole backpack for that stuff. If your son has all that, plus perhaps a laptop since he's going to study, it may very well be that the high tech equipment forces him to streamline... Also, make sure you make copies of all his travel documents (passports, tickets, visas, etc.)and photocopy charge cards, front and back, health insurance cards, etc. Keep one set at home and bring a second set on the trip. You never know...I did once lose my passport abroad. Copies help. Another thing, be aware that certain medications are different abroad. If you have a headache you might be taking paracetol instead of Ibrupofen. If he has certain OTC medications he prefers for colds and headaches, bring them. You'll find equivalents, but you won't get the same stuff. I had a terrible experience once, I picked up a Johnson & Johnson product abroad that seemed to be the same as the one I used in the US. Well...it had the same labelling and same name but was a slightly different formulation. I had a really awful allergic reaction. And...since it was an Ortho Gynol product, you can imagine how unpleasant that was! Nasty, nasty. But I've never had any trouble with soaps, shampoos, or moisturizing products. Once you start loading up on all the non-clothing necessities, you'll begin seeing that there's even less room for clothes than you or he thought initially.

Ohh, same boat as you, only last year. What a tough time being a parent, no? Finally resigned myself (with a little support from DH), that if I/we didn't hear from DD, it was a probably a good thing. DD was busy, had work to do, making new friends, adjusting to living with 2 roommates (DD is an only child), and everything else that comes with going away to college. Also, the college DD attends, requires all incoming freshmen to do a First Year Seminar which pairs the freshman with mentors in groups. The upperclassmen (mentors) do things like meet informally on a weekly basis to answer questions about adjustment to college life, have bi-weekly dinners with the peer group, make a point of checking in on a student who seems may be having trouble, etc. Also, a mandatory first semester class was FYS, which was all about adjusting to college life. That class is held by the professor assigned for each major. DD went in undeclared and stayed with her FYS advisor through her entire freshman year. DD's professor/advisor had his entire group of freshman and peer mentors come to dinner at his home ~ a farm he shares with his wife. Nice BBQ, bonfire, music, get to know you, casual social thing. So nice of him to do so. DD declared a major at the end of her Spring semester. Now has a different advisor. DH & I were very glad the school mandated this FYS, as we feel it was sooo important that there was some support provided to every freshman as they moved to a new chapter in life. A safety net, if you will Had we heard from DD everyday, it would have been an indicator that she wasn't acclimating, or at least not trying to do so, if DD was still so "wired" to me/us. Would say I got a few texts, not many. Calls, less than texts. First time home was only 2 weeks into the Fall semester. DD had a "mini-meltdown/pity party" about the dorm room, how hard her classes were, how much work, yada yada. Well, as I wasn't the most sympathetic audience, I had a sit down with DD and let her vent, but then I asked DD if she would like to trade places with me, or with any of her high school classmates who weren't fortunate enough to have gone away to college. I think the light bulb went off for DD. After our discussion, it seemed as tho she had gotten it, and truly appreciated having the opportunity to be away at school. By the end of the Fall semester, DD couldn't wait to go back from Christmas Break. Thankfully, it all fell into place and worked out well. If you feel your DS is not isolated, and otherwise seems to be doing well, then I would just try to wait for him to communicate. I tried to sit on my hands, so as to let DD get into her groove at school, only texted if necessary, and responded to the texts DD initiated. I knew she was adjusting okay after the first few months, and I am confident in my relationship with DD being very strong at its core. I figured if she needed me, she would call or text. I also did some baking, sent her favorite cookies along with a mid-semester care package. While recently on vacation visiting family (DD is now a sophmore), I asked about a another family member whose DD is the same age as my DD, and who is now attending her sophmore year at college away from home. I was curious how much communication went on between that student and her mom/dad/family? Well, the person to whom I was talking had taken said student to her college orientation, as her parents were both working that day. The speaker at orientation told the parents (mine wasn't the parent), that if you aren't hearing from your child, send them a text or email, or even leave a VM on their cell, that you are sending them $$, or do they need anything? See how fast they respond. LOL. So, we just tried a little experiment after this vacation conversation to see if the advice was good advice. Heard back immediately from DD. We laughed so hard about how true that orientation speaker was. So, there is something to that particular strategy. Fall break isn't too far off. My DD attends a private college, so they have a fall break next weekend, but most big universities don't have the mini break, first time home will be Thanksgiving. Just wait till you see the difference in your DS. It was amazing watching from afar, my DD change into an independent young woman. HTH.

Hi Kids, Thanks for starting this thread, saramynn. We also have a graduation in May, and have been trying to come up with somthing as a gift. When I think of a graduation gift I like to think of something that will have meaning to the graduate throught the years and remind them of their accomplishments each time they see it. That being said, I'm not crazy about a gift of technology just because of it's short life span. Money is always a safe bet but does not have that personal touch. I think I like sherrmanns idea of the Waterford crystal. Even if it was a smaller piece and then give an additional gift of cash. Thanks Kids, now I have a direction to go in. Good luck to everyone involved in there own quest for the perfect gift! sooey

I can't imagine flying that far for that long with just a carry-on. But, I always overpack. Sometimes, if a flight is particularly full they'll make slightly larger carry-ons go into the hold (no charge), so whatever advantage unchecked luggage has goes out the window, figuratively. I'll bet they would dig some local bourbon, a nice change of pace from all that vodka. I took a fifth of Irish whisky on my last trip to Israel in its little Liquor Barn flight bag. I was the most popular person on my floor. I think something from home is always appropriate. What could be more personal and connecting than food or drink? Tibb, my cookies always drop on their own, chewy indeed.