First Impressions of Hostel Life (A freshmen's tale)
By Hira Saiyed TDT1
It's been a month now since I found myself boarding a yellow bus that would take me out of Karachi to a place I'd only read about, and it's been a pretty interesting month. Firstly, it's nice being able to breathe without taking in a lung full of diesel smoke (on the other hand you can't breathe here without taking in a lung full of cigarette smoke, so there's not much difference), and secondly, I got to experience life in a hostel (yes, the freedom went to my head)
Certain things about hostel life I had trouble getting used to, for example, I realized that I was a grasshopper magnet. That all the grasshoppers of the locality would fall over themselves when I walked past, and make lines to enter my room. I also still haven't gotten used to having the filter right besides the bathroom (I'm not sure, but I think that's unhygienic) and sharing the shower stall with a colony of ants. But there are moments I wouldn't trade for a truck full of chocolate. It's unbelievable how the Fauji fertilizer plant changes at night (It's popularly known as the Titanic) and the Ahmed Habib walkway seems straight out of a calendar shot. And to tell you the truth, it's great being around people who, if not exactly your soul mates, share the same feeling of excitement at newfound independence. Right, I'm being over dramatic, so I'll stop.
You learn a lot here. For example, the first night I had an unfortunate encounter with a giant grass insect which helped me realize that I HATE insects. Sadly I had told a friend that I loved all animals and thus made a complete fool of myself. Also throughout the first week I stayed I was afraid of walking to the designing studio at night. Who wouldn't be? I'd nearly stepped on three frogs, I honestly had no idea what was lurking in the grass (which, by the way, wasn't cut then) and the cafeteria man wasn't giving me any food ("khatam ho gaya hai." Convenient). But now, thanks to the lessons learnt and a much stronger immune system, I can live without worrying about.
A) Giant grass insectsB) Frogs
C) Serial killers
D) Cafeteria ka khaana
This basically proves that every weak-hearted person should spend at least one week in the TIP hostels. If not to build yourself up, then to learn things, perhaps about yourself, that you didn't know. For example, I got to learn that you can never tell what lurks on the cafeteria counter, it could be remains of spilt Miranda or a dead ant's funeral or worse still, the cafeteria waala sprawled over it; and I also learned that the best sleep comes on the library couch (I'd suggest holding a large hard-covered book, just in case). Hmm…and I guess you also learn how to rhyme. So that's about it. When do you plan to move in?
A reminder though, smoking causes cancer but it seems that nobody here really cares. Your lungs are your own responsibility, beware.