What's stuff got to do with it?

Just off the plane from Omaha, Nebraska, incoming freshman Temitope Omojola and his mother Jumoke have no problem finding his Woodland College House room, 302 Hopkinson.

Omojola is sporting cargo jeans, a gray polo, white sneakers and a sailor's bracelet. His roommate, who moved in early, has left Omojola the slightly less desirable side of the room -- with the Ethernet box inconveniently wedged behind his dresser.

So far, things are going according to the typical move-in day plan. Except, unlike the average freshman, Omojola is missing most of his luggage.

His brother Ayo, a Wharton junior, forgot to pick it up, and it was since sent back -- nobody knows quite where.

"Why didn't he just pick it up?" Omojola moans.

"That is so annoying!" Mrs. Omojola agrees, her Nigerian accent more pronounced than usual.

She explains that the packages Ayo neglected contain "all Temi's bedding, his duvet, pillows, soap, towels, microwave, stereo... everything."

But other than the mail mishap, things are looking good. Omojola stops tossing clothes onto his mattress to survey his half-barren room.

"I expected something half this size. Something really tiny. So this is a nice surprise."

Ayo spent his freshman year in the coffin-esque rooms of Hill House. Naturally, residents of the newly-renovated Quadrangle fare better.

*

"I don't really feel nervous at all," Omojola says. "A lot of my friends who are at school two hours away [from Omaha] are like, 'I'm homesick,' but I wanted to get away from home."

At first, Omojola seems to be reiterating the typical -- and oft untrue -- freshman boast: a new place, new friends, a new experience, why would he feel nervous? But Omojola just might be telling the truth -- after all, he is used to moving to wherever his father, a doctor, can find work.

Born in Nigeria, Omojola spent eight years there before moving to Saudi Arabia. Four years later, his family moved to Seattle briefly, and finally to Omaha, where he has spent the last three years. He does not expect adjusting to Philadelphia to be any more difficult.

"I really did not have a problem moving," Omojola says. "It's always tough the first couple of months, but it always ends up all right."

Later, in private, his mom adds that, "He's always been one of those people who makes friends easily."

Besides, if something goes wrong, Omojola is close to his brothers. In fact, Mrs. Omojola feels that Penn's location was one of its top-selling points.

"I think basically he wanted to be on the East Coast because that's where all his brothers are," she says. "I know if Ayo speaks with his younger brother in New York, he'll say, 'I don't like the way he sounds. I'm going to visit him.' It's nice that they're so close and can do that."

Already, Ayo showed his younger brother to his room and left with a promise of more quality time to come.

*

"What do you want, before we step out?" asks Mrs. Omojola.

She is making a list.

"My stuff!" Omojola laughs.

"What I'll do is buy you new sheets," she says. "You can always have extra sheets."

"And towels," Omojola adds.

"You didn't bring any towels? Oh Lord!"

Having unpacked all he can, Omojola and his mom head to the Penn Bookstore. But it is clear that textbooks will have to wait until later. Omojola concentrates only on the necessities -- a basket, a bigger trash can, Yaffa blocks and a surge protector.

But he does not leave with all of the coveted items. His mom makes him put back a deluxe computer safety kit costing over $50 which contains the only surge protector the bookstore currently carries.

"I'll buy the surge protector in New York if I have to and mail it to you," she says, even though mail items have not been working out for the Omojolas so far.

It is not that Mrs. Omojola is frugal. Savvy maybe. Certainly strong, distinguished, intelligent and witty. But it is tough having a young daughter and her fifth son start college -- Omojola's older brothers' list of schools includes the University of Chicago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Penn and Cooper Union, which prides itself on being "stone cold sober," second only to West Point Academy -- and sacrifices have to be made.

"With five kids in college," says Mrs. Omojola, choosing her words carefully, "it means we have to choose our priorities differently. But school always comes first."

Clearly, her children understand this creed.

"We don't have to push 'work hard'... and those types of things," she says. "They know from seeing their siblings."

She adds, "The older ones help out as well, with pocket money for the younger ones. Like his older brother in Boston just bought him a computer."

Omojola is also on work study. Though he does not have anything set up yet, he hopes his work study involves "something physical." He has always been an active kid, balancing track and friends throughout high school, and may even get a job for extra spending money. Apparently, he explains, his pockets have holes in them, and he can spend money like a champ.

With their new purchases in tow, the Omojolas walk back to the Quad among the throngs of other freshman families with the same idea. Assessing the situation, Mrs. Omojola comments, "It looks like everybody got the Yaffa."

"Lucky Yaffa."

*

In Houston Hall, Omojola and his mother find themselves separated for the first time that day. He enters a "students only" room to get his PennCard, the area vigilantly guarded and enforced by a fellow student. Mrs. Omojola retires to the upper lounge to find out about a PNC bank account for Omojola. It is perhaps the first time that the truth of separation becomes a reality -- in a day, she will be heading off to New York to visit two of Omojola's brothers, and Omojola will remain in Philadelphia. Although Mrs. Omojola is familiar with this send-off, it is still not easy.

"I'm just going to miss him," she says, turning nostalgic.

"He's one of those people who you can argue with forever," she smiles. "Sometimes we argue about the most stupid things, but he won't give up his position. He'll maybe say 'I'm quitting because I'm quitting, but not because I think you're right.'"

It is easy to see what she means. Even in the stressfully mundane task of unpacking, Omojola and his mom begin to banter back and forth.

On his X-Box, which he unpacks to his roommate's "Oh, hell yeah!":

"Oh God, you brought those?"

"Hey mom, everyone needs a break, right."

"I hope you don't play those stupid games. I was already dreaming about how I was going to put those away -- for life!"

On his dorm address:

"We got into the cab [to Penn] and Temi said, 'What's my address?' I said, 'You have got to be kidding me. You live here!' But he's a laid back person."

Once again, it is easy to see what she means. When Omojola's bottom dresser drawer will not stay shut, Omojola seems unconcerned. When he gets the time, he will fix it. Or not. He does not really care. His mom suggests that he contact maintenance, or at least buy a screwdriver for some do-it-yourself fun, but Omojola laughs it off.

"I'll just put something in front of it," he says. "A trash can, maybe."<p>

Right now, Omojola is focused only on moving in and getting his luggage from Ayo.

*

"I'm probably most excited about getting into classes," Omojola says, reiterating his mom's desire that, first and foremost, he utilize Penn for the educational opportunities. "It should be totally different than high school, so I'm just excited about getting started."

He adds he "will meet a lot more people in class, so I will actually have something to talk [to them] about."

And his mom believes that beginning class is not the only thing about which Omojola is excited.

"Every child, I think, wants to get away from his parents," says Mrs. Omojola, commenting on the heightened freedom that comes with college.

So here Temi Omojola is. He is free, away from his parents. He is ready to begin anew. He is just waiting on his stuff.

About this Series Each year, a new set of freshmen enters the University full of energy, enthusiasm — and nerves. Ready to meet new people and experience new things, these college novices are embarking upon a life-altering course. And this year, The Daily Pennsylvanian decided to follow three freshmen along for the ride. You will meet Justine Mumaw, Temi Omojola, and Andrew Tejerina and experience alongside them the joys — and pains — of first-year college life through article appearing intermittently in the DP. As you read, please share your freshman experiences with us in our freshman forums.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.