My Dorm

It already has been almost a month since I moved into Virginia Tech. And I cannot express how much I was excited on the moving in day. I have been waiting for that day since the orientation of Virginia Tech. I loved everything I saw and experienced about Virginia Tech at orientation. All these cool buildings made out of hokie stones were fascinating. All the information about the excellence of Virginia Tech amused me. And the lane stadium excited me, too. But only one thing was an issue, my dorm.

Few weeks prior to my move in date, I was assigned with my roommate at Barringer Hall. At that moment I was relieved because Slusher Hall, which I stayed at during the orientation, was really unpleasant. I was happy at that moment for at least not getting assigned to Slusher Hall. Then, I doubted about Barringer, too. I went to Virginia Tech homepage where all the listed of dorm halls came up. I clicked the history of Barringer hall and it was built in 1962. I was kind of depressed thinking that I was going to be staying at 47 years old building for at least a year. What made me be depressed even more is when I looked at the built date for Slusher Hall; it was 1972. I thought Slusher hall was old and bad all this long, but the place where I was actually going to move in was 10 years older.

On August 21, I packed all my belongings- including clothes, laptop, clothes, clothes, etc. I left my house with my parents the next day at 7 am. That was when it really hit me. I have lived in this huge (compared to my dorm) single house for more than 4 years. I was leaving my fresh sweet home to the old Barringer Hall. Still, I was part excited to live in Virginia Tech campus. I arrived at approximately 12 pm. I had no idea where the Barringer Hall was so I asked one of those move in day helpers. This is what they said, “it’s all the way down the street, man, it like off the campus”. “%#@$”. My mindset collapsed. On top of being old, older than Slusher hall, it’s almost off campus? I was disappointed.

Still, it was my dorm so I tried to think positively. I mean that is where I was going to stay for two semesters and I had to take advantage of that. Before we unpacked my luggage, my parents and I decided to look for the room first. It was second floor and my door was already open. My roommate already was moving in. I stepped into the room and I could not believe what I was seeing. Oh man, that guy took one and only bed near the window. I always wanted my desk and bed by the window because I feel refresh when I look out the window, the open spot. Okay, on top of being old and off-campus, I lost my window spot.

That is the consequence of being late. All I can take from my dorm was leftovers- leftover bed, desk, closet, etc. I checked out my desk and it was fine, but I think that was the only fine thing. By closet was scratched up like the shape of animal claws. By chair had spots all over the place and I did not like my mattress. Mattress is same for all VT dorm students but still I did not like it. I might sound somewhat picky and stubborn but I had some image of what my college dorm is going to be like and the reality was way off the track. My parents and I unpacked all of my stuff and after the last dinner with my family (for a long time), they left.

It was a day before my first class of first day at college. Fire alarm rang at like 3 am. It took me and my roommate like 30 minutes to evacuate my dorm. And you know what? We both forgot to bring our room keys and were locked out on very second day. RA opened our door with masterkey and told us to be more careful next time after checking our student IDs. I just went back to sleep cursing that whoever rang that alarm.

The next day I went to my very first class. As both classes of my first day was nearing an end, I felt excited, to go back home, and to lie down on the bed as I did when I was living in my old home. I opened my dorm door but my bed was all the way at the top. I was too lazy to climb up the bed and relax. I just decided to sit down on my chair and take a break. I sort of missed my real home. I could have just laid down on the bed without climbing up. I woke up during that night because I had to go to the bathroom. My room was almost the furthest way from the bathroom compared to other rooms and that night, it felt even longer. Also, I hated the concept of locking and unlocking door every time I entered the room and I left the room. It was just too annoying.

It already has been a month since the move in day. I love my sweet home. Yeah, I am talking about the Barringer Hall. Every time the class is over, I have relaxing time with my hallmates. High bed is not an issue; it only takes like 2 steps to climb up there now. Bathroom is not far away anymore. It’s just few steps away. And after visiting few dorms of my friend from other halls, I noticed that my dorm is actually bigger and nicer than most of my friend’s. Plus, Barringer Hall is not that off-campus; all it needs it few good exercises everyday to make it to the classes. My dorm is not an issue anymore. It has all the food in its mini refrigerator, all the clothes right in my closet, and a sink right beside the closet. It has everything. Barringer Hall really became a comfortable and relaxing place now. It feels like my home.