I happened to walk by my school hostel yesterday, and it took me back to my days as a fresher when I lived there. I was new in the area and I didn’t know anyone, so the best bet for me to learn and get acquainted with the area was by staying in the hostel.
Actually, it was not as bad as a lot of people made it seem. Matter of fact, it was more enlightening and I have to admit that I’m grateful for the experience that came with it. Of course, as per hostel style, we had to share toilets, but there were just so many of them in the hostel. Each floor had nothing less than ten to twelve restrooms, and each restroom had at least eight toilets in them.
Furthermore, there were cleaners who washed them regularly. They washed and disinfected the place every single day to make it habitable for everyone. I’m starting with this because we know very well that the main reason people don’t really like hostels is the idea of sharing a toilet with strangers. The truth is, at one point or the other, you’re most likely going to do that.
I had five roommates and they were just the best, they gave me a genuine hostel life. I can’t remember a time I was ever hungry back then, because one person or the other would always have something to offer. We didn’t have kitchens in the hostel, so most of the cooking was done in the rooms, which was illegal. I never cooked anything though… hehe.😂
Whenever any of my roommates didn’t have anything to offer, I simply stepped out and went to the next room looking for something to eat. If there was nothing there, I moved on to the next room. By the time I got to the fifth room from mine, I would no doubt find someone who would spare me either garri, sugar or give me money to get groundnut. This was how it was for everyone, when you have you give, and when you don’t have, you ask.
The downside to it is that your foodstuff and provision might quickly finish, but the upside to it is that you’ll have people willing to give to you when you ask. Because no matter how stingy you choose to be, your foodstuff will always finish. So, I gave and received a lot back then.
Another upside is the fact that seeing as we were six in a room, it wasn’t down to just one person to clean. Anybody at all could be irritated by the way things were and decide to sweep the entire room. Because of this, the room could be swept more than five times in one day alone, so it was always clean. We never lacked water, because we had a rule that when you use water, you replace it immediately. It didn’t matter if the bucket was yours or not.
I can go on and on about all the benefits of living in the hostel, and now, I’m staying off campus and on my own, it’s just a whole different experience altogether for me. Back then, one couldn’t play loud music, use gadgets, or do anything that could disturb your fellow hostel mates. But now, no one cares! You can bring down the building with noise for all we know unless the lodge you stay in has rules against it, then it’s all man for himself. You could complain about the noise and they’ll tell you to make your noise as well.
But then, staying alone is bae, I can’t lie. It gives one peace of mind. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I don’t like using earpieces, so when I’m seeing movies I use my Bluetooth speaker. Sometimes, I find that I can’t sleep by 3 in the morning, and I watch some movies. And I wouldn’t like to watch it and reduce the volume. Having a roommate would make me want to compromise on my cinema experience which I don’t want to at all.
Also, when you stay alone, what you leave when you go out will be how it was when you return. Back in the hostel, you could leave and return to find someone had taken out of your sugar, all they’ll say is sorry. Or, after making your bed, you return to find that someone else slept in it. You can try forcing them to make it, but if they’re not around? You can’t wait for them, so you simply make it yourself again.
Then, with staying alone, there’s privacy. Lots of it, and you can have visitors without having to consider your roommate.
The truth is, now that I’ve lived in both, one is not better than the other. They’re two very different things and they have their merits and demerits. If you haven’t experienced both of them, you’ll keep thinking one is better than the other. It’s all a matter of perspective, and what you as an individual want.
So, will I go back to stay in a hostel? No. I’ve fallen in love with being alone and I enjoy so many things that I wouldn’t be able to if I had to share my comfort with others. Someone once asked me if I got bored and they found it hard to believe that I didn’t. When I’m not working or schooling, I’m either watching a movie, reading a book, or sleeping. Then, once in a while, I step into the sunlight to visit my friends or have them come over.
Life is fun, guys. You just have to decide what you want from it. Once you realize what works best for you, you’ll find it easier to just slide right into the shoe made specifically for you.🤔
Omo… I don’t even know what that last line means. Don’t mind me!😅