The time has officially come for many new students to move into university accommodation. While this can be an incredibly daunting and intimidating time, there are many fun and exciting aspects to university accommodation.
One of these is sharing your accommodation kitchen! Sure, there are horror stories floating around online of what sharing kitchens can be like, but not everyone’s experience is the same, and sharing a kitchen can be a great way to get to know new people.
Many say that cooking is a fantastic way for people to come together, and kitchens at university are no different.
Socialising can be made fun
Many people heading to university life for the first time are either one of two things: planning on being a social butterfly, or dead nervous to speak to anyone. The kitchen is a great and comforting place to talk to people and get to know them!
Whether you are all heading to your early 9am lectures and making breakfast or just coming back and making dinner to wind down for the evening, making food can spark a conversation between anyone.
Talking about the food itself is a great way to start, what do you all like to eat? Did you have a list of things to learn to make before moving away from home? How many times this week have you phoned your parents to ask how to operate the microwave or the uni stoves?
Making memories
Once you’ve chatted with your flatmates a few times and gotten to know them, the awkwardness of sharing somewhere to live with strangers will be gone, and you can start making some fond memories.
Baking is a great way to socialise with people and have some fun while doing it. Whether it’s cookies, brownies, cupcakes, or even a cake, there is tonnes of fun to be had when baking up some sweet treats to share during those late-night study sessions.
There is also an argument to be made that even major kitchen fails can bring out the fun side of everyone. There is no embarrassment in attempting to make something and burning and undercooking it at the same time.
On the other hand
If you’re on the other side of the coin and prefer to keep to yourself, that’s perfectly okay too. Sometimes all you want when you’ve had lectures and classes all day is to retreat back to your quiet space away from the business of campus to unwind and relax.
Having a set of headphones is a great and subtle way to let your flatmates know that you would prefer to be left alone when making your food. There is no shame in needing some alone time, everyone does, especially when you’ve been talking to people all day already.
Respect
The thing to remember is to be respectful of each other. Making a chores routine planner or list is a really great way to make sure fall outs are avoided. Who needs to take the bin out on what day? Who’s turn is it to clean the bathroom or kitchen? Who’s turn is it to hoover? As long as there is a certain amount of respect in cleaning up after yourself, taking the bins out when it’s your turn, and not stealing anyone else’s food without asking, everything can easily run smoothly and friendly all year round – no matter what side of the coin you’re on.
Featured Image Credit: University of Stirling
