MTC good-byes now done from cubside

[scottie]

http://www.kutv.com/content/news/local/story/First-Day-of-Curbside-Goodbyes/dX4Tl4yTJ0iHNQdK-7eQ7Q.cspx

A more than 40-year tradition at the Missionary Training Center in Provo is now a thing of the past.

Families will no longer be allowed inside when dropping their missionary son or daughter off.

Instead, all the farewells and goodbyes will happen curbside.

That's kind of a sad day for MTC traditions. The "say your goodbyes then missionaries through that door" experience was pretty cool for me and my family, very memorable.

[I.J. Reilly]

I wonder what was behind the switch. Didn't they used to hold some sort of welcome thing with the MTC pres and then the parents would have to say goodbye? I never did the stateside MTC thing, so I don't know.

[Danimal]

I wonder what was behind the switch. Didn't they used to hold some sort of welcome thing with the MTC pres and then the parents would have to say goodbye? I never did the stateside MTC thing, so I don't know.

My nephew went to the mtc today. I was told that it was due to concerns about swine flu spreading, but I don't know for sure.

[scottie]

My nephew went to the mtc today. I was told that it was due to concerns about swine flu spreading, but I don't know for sure.

From the "news" story I linked:

This all came about on Monday with the announcement that 20 missionaries were in isolation because of a flu virus. Three of them tested positive for the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu.

As a result, leaders said families would not be allowed to go inside for the traditional send off, but have now chosen to make it a permanent change.

[wuapinmon]

I said my goodbyes at the Atlanta airport. When everyone else's families showed up at the SLC airport, I got to avoid all the crying again. I think the curbside thing is a good idea. Of course, the traffic on 9th east will be a swearword.

[Drunk Tank]

I drove to the MTC with The_Tick and his family. My family figured since we were both going into the MTC the same day, and his parents were already driving up, I might as well hitch a ride. So I said my goodbyes in front of his house. I know he had a good experience having his family there, but I am glad mine didnt come.

I do remember going through the door thinking, what have i got myself into....?

[JohnnyLingo]

It will change back, mark my words.

Parents will complain.

[The Wankster]

It will change back, mark my words.

Parents will complain.

Families are now going to pull up and everyone get out to say their goodbyes, and it is going to create a huge mess.

My guess is it will change back after the cars can't get off 9th east, and there are some rear end accidents due to the line up of cars trying to get around the mess in traffic it will create.

[TripletDaddy]

I went to the MTC solo, so when we were asked to go through one door and parents through another, I simply walked through the door.

I didn't really cry until the next morning when I ate MTC pancakes for the first time.

[beelzebabette]

It will change back, mark my words.

Parents will complain.

People will deal. Just as Utah families quit going to the airport to see the missionary off post-9/11, they'll adjust to this rule change as well.

[SteelBlue]

I flew in from Oregon all by my lonesome. Missed my connection in SFO and got into SLC about 10 or 11 pm and Provo around midnight. I figured it was too late to go to the MTC so I swung by my old apartment and they threw a send off party for me with a good deal of my ward showing up. It was fun until I got a call from my mother asking me why in the hell I wasn't in the MTC. I said "mom, it's past midnight they won't want me that late." She of course called and they said to come right in. So I rolled in about 1 or 2 am to find some BYU student manning the desk in a blue vest. He walked me to my room and flipped the lights on waking everyone in the process so he could formally introduce me. They were less than thrilled to be introduced at that hour.

[Indy Coug]

Good luck with the traffic managment of the new curbside policy.

[RC Vikings]

At least now you won't have to sit there and watch commerical after commerical about families and forever and then have them take your kid away for two years. It's brutal.

[YOhio]

Booooo! There's nothing like a good cry after "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

[Indy Coug]

Booooo! There's nothing like a good cry after "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

Now there won't be the guilt for not crying after "God Be With You Till We Meet Again".