Today is a very exciting day, in that I will be starting this blog to track the progression of an exciting new experiment which will last until August of this year. I, Michael Poradek, a college Junior, will be checking-out of my upperclassmen apartment at my beautiful college campus and for the next 3 months living for the first time in this thing called a 'dorm'.
Now this won't make sense for you who are reading this at all unless I explain my rationale for this obscure project. For the first year of my college life, I enjoyed the pleasures of commuting to college. It was, don't misunderstand, a wonderful life. A peaceful 40 minute drive to campus, studying and classes and work, and then a pleasant 40 minute drive back home where a home-cooked meal usually awaited me. A few times, I would visit friends living in the dorms, hear stories, see the small, crowded, loud conditions and vow I would never live in such a place as long as I could help it. Yes, I was happy as a commuter student, but was it possible to ever live someplace else on campus and still experience this same satisfaction?
The next year I came to realize that yes indeed it was possible when I applied and was accepted to be the Building Manager for a amazing and magical apartment complex on campus called the 'Townhouse Village', AKA: The Happiest Place on Campus, AKA: The People's Independent Sovereignty of the Townhouse Village. Over the past few semesters I have thoroughly enjoyed my position, which as one of the main perks comes with the opportunity to live in the Carriage House, one of the beautiful, furnished, buildings within the complex in a gorgeous 3rd floor, vaulted ceiling, two-person apartment which I have shared with a roommate of my choice. The apartment is furnished for the most part with the essential furniture and has a full kitchen, appliances, dining area with table/chairs, living room with a big comfy couch and armchair and bookcase, with room for an entertainment center, lamps, and my houseplants, a full bathroom with a vanity, and a bedroom large enough that you do not need lofts with a walk in closet. Yes, the apartment is wonderful. Not to mention, the building itself is private and only residents of the complex can get in by using their exterior keys. On many days, I peer out my window looking down at the beautiful village and landscaping and even yes call down to passers by that I know. If you haven't gotten the hint, life is good in the Village.
Having been rehired for next year as Building Manager, one would wonder why on earth anyone would choose to leave said location. It all started several days ago when I received word that I was fortuanate enough to be hired by the housing department as Summer Conference Liaison. Don't get me wrong, I was so very excited to hear the news, but yet, something made me nervous. Despite the 40 hrs/wk paid internship, and meals and housing, there was a small catch... I would have to leave my beloved apartment in The Village and live until August in 'a dorm'.
Sensenbrenner Hall, the second residence hall / dorm built on campus, which typically (as an all female dorm) houses about 170 female students during the academic year and lays host to a mix of males and females living on campus during the summer months.
It is simply not the same as the Village...... Average Room Size: 170 square feet, relatively the same as my current living room excluding the dining area. Floor: Differentiating shaded tile, as opposed to my carpeted floors and finished linoleum kitchen and bathroom floors. Cabinet Space: Not a walk in. Light Fixtures: A hanging covered fluorescent light fixture... thing, as opposed to various recessed lights and decorative crown molding style wall light fixtures. Furnishings: Let's just say there's no big comfy couch. Kitchen: Public Kitchen on base level. To it's defense, it does feature a beautiful Vatican II style chapel with stained glass windows, as well as a Women's Center, which while I don't intend to use very often, is unique in itself.
Faced with this challenge, I have decided that instead of moping in my self pity for the temporary loss of my Village, I shall see this exile.. I mean, expereince as an educational new adventure. I shall soak in as much of the dorm/residence hall life as is offered, learn about what it is to live in such a place, and to ultimately survive the summer in said dorm with enjoyment and satisfaction. I am checking out of my upperclassmen apartment and into a dorm and I will not be afraid (well, not a lot at least). This is truly an epic experiment and I will use this blog to conveniently 1. write my thoughts for the day in dorm life, 2 record any useful tips/lessons I have learned or discovered on dorm life happiness, and 3 be able to countdown the days until I can finally return to my beloved apartment.... I mean, document and think back on my experience in a positive manner (awkward pause).
And so it begins, 8 days from now I will turn in my keys to the apartment and spend my first night in the Sensenbrenner Hall. I am realizing there is much prep-work to be done, and if I am going to survive this experiment, this move must be coordinated.
Tomorrow: Futon Shopping
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