College Diaries: Living Away from Home

One of the many challenges of college life is fending for yourself in a city away from your hometown and having to live in the school dormitory or an apartment. Lucky are those whose families live near their universities. Others are thousands of kilometers away from home. Having to ride a plane or being stuck in hours of bus rides to see their loved ones. 

 

Fortunately for me, I only live an hour away from school so I get to go home anytime. Although, there was a time when my academic demands were too much that I had to live near the school for a year. I’m going to share my experiences. I had my friend as my roommate though so it made it a bit easier. 

 

You need to do everything yourself

When you’re at home, you get to wake up with your mom cooking breakfast, she helps you with laundry, and basically there to take care of you. When you live independently, you need to learn to wake up on time, make your own breakfast, iron your uniform or clothes and do the dishes and laundry. If you don't have a roommate, no one is there to wake you up after not being able to hear your own alarm. 

 

You constantly crave home-cooked meals

There are times when no matter how delicious the food is from take-out, you can really tell the difference from the meal cooked at home. There are times when my friends and I would sit around during lunch, and imagine what our moms were cooking at home. 

 

Going by with instant food

No time to go out while studying? Pop some instant noodles in the water heater. I believe canned goods and instant noodles are a college student’s best friend. You only need a water heater and rice cooker if your Asian. There are even videos now on how to cooks meals in a rice cooker. Most dormitories only allow induction cookers because stoves can be a fire hazard. I know, not a very healthy way of living.

 

You need to be strong emotionally

Exam seasons are the hardest. You have no sleep, constantly palpitating from caffeine, and stressed from the study load. Sometimes, all you need is a good cry and to see your family but you can’t. I often see friends face-timing or calling their parents after exams. It was a good thing I get to go home on weekends.

 

Living away from home is difficult but it also serves as a good practice to live independently. It also makes school vacations seem more like a reward knowing you get to go home. So enjoy staying at home and bonding with your family while you can.