All I need to do for a hug from my friends is go up a flight of stairs
Not to brag, but I might have the perfect housing set-up. Because of my strange sleep schedule and occasional need for solitude, I live in a single room. Luckily, I have a quad upstairs with four (and usually five) of my closest friends; whenever I want a hug, all I have to do is climb a flight of stairs. If I’m excited, bored, upset, or anything in between, my friends are thirty seconds away. I always have someone to walk to class with, come home from late nights with, and most crucially, entertain me. The unintended kitchen and entrance run-ins are just a bonus.
Student (dominated) coffee shops
I am writing this blog from a Manhattan coffee shop, one where I am unlikely to spark up conversation with any fellow customers; how much of a bummer is that? Thank goodness that’s not the case at Slow Train or The Local, Oberlin’s two town cafes. Not only are these the perfect sports to lock in, but they are also hubs of the Oberlin community. Between the student baristas, tasty drinks, cozy spots, and constant influx of friends, student (takeover) coffee shops make me excited to get work done. These spots have a lovely mix of professors with their families, locals, but a majority of customers tend to be students. When confused on a project or assignment, chances are there’s someone in your class also getting coffee to ask questions!
My routine!
Going into my fourth semester, I have found a routine that works for me and makes me excited for each coming day. In the morning, between classes, and even during sunset, I love my long walks in the arboretum. Another part of midwest Ohio that I appreciate over a big city is access to the outdoors (without a million intruding sounds and smells). The varying sections of fields, little ponds, rocky streams, and hiding places make each walk feel like an adventure. Between walks, coop meals, cook shifts, and a course schedule I couldn’t be more excited about, I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things. I’m even looking forward to expanding my routine through this semester’s club fairs and artistic opportunities.
The little things mean so much more
When living in a big city, every day brings about hundreds of interactions and thousands of artistic statements, all swirling within endless chaos. Though a born and raised lover of chaos, I’m excited to return to Oberlin, where each interaction and expression of creativity holds a profound intentionality. Having meals at Hark is more than just eating a meal; it’s an event created from teamwork and community. Doing work at Slow Train is more than just grabbing coffee; it’s saying hi to the student baristas, cozying up in a comfy chair, and taking work breaks to giggle with friends.
