When I applied for mixed accommodation and got dumped with five girls, I thought it was the end. It’s going to be so bitchy, I thought. OMG, what if we’re all have a period at the same time?!
Turns out, living in a single-sex flat was the best thing to ever happen to me. Here’s why.
1. You’re never out of nail polish.
Our flat have a huge box of nail polishes, files, and fake nails that we’ve all contributed to over the past few months. Downside: there are fake nails everywhere. Under the couch, on the windowsill, in the kitchen sink… You name it.
2. Movie nights become essential.
We have an immeasurable amount of chick-flicks, rom-coms and Disney films stacked on the shelves in the kitchen. Although, let’s not pretend movies are limited to just evenings. Aw, do you have a lecture? Shame… Do you want to stay here and just watch a film instead?
3. You become inseparable.
We make breakfast, lunch, and dinner together, we go to lectures together, we go shopping together; we’ll say goodnight, go to bed… And then we’ll be texting each other until we fall asleep, or posting stupid photos on the Facebook group chat. One evening, my flatmate didn’t come home and we were literally so close to calling the police and sending out a search party… Her lecture just ran over. By half an hour.
4. You’ll branch out with your cooking skills.
Without my flatmates, I think I’d still be living off Super noodles and Baked Beans… Just through compiling our culinary knowledge (mine was severely lacking), I can now make stuffed peppers, stir fry, risottos… I mean, they still get surprised when they walk into the kitchen and find me cooking something that isn’t pasta, but hey! It’s a start.
5. They will always be there for you.
Literally. They’re right down the hall when you need a cuddle or a rant or a cry… Or just to show them that cute picture of a cat stuck in a hamster ball you found. There’s no point keeping anything to yourself anymore; when there’s someone just down the hall to talk to, why not knock on their door at 3am?
6. You start liking the same TV shows.
I don’t remember being this involved in Pretty Little Liars before University. Now, it’s all I think about. Every time a new episode comes on Netflix it’s like a competition to see who can watch it first. We discuss the episodes in depth, compare ‘A’ theories (totally Aria, by the way) and just generally waste £9000 a year cuddled up in bed watching TV.
7. You steal each other’s clothes.
So, I got a stain on my shirt and I couldn’t be bothered paying to wash it… So I borrowed a scarf from my flatmate, but then my coat didn’t match the scarf… So I borrowed a jacket as well. I left the flat in an outfit that totally didn’t belong to me- what else are friends for?
8. Having your ‘special time of the month’ is ten times easier.
When it’s someone’s time of the month, you can bet we’re all here ready to offer her tissues, tampons and chocolate. There’s a whole box full of Paracetamol and ibuprofen in the kitchen cupboard, and my microwaveable teddy bear has become a communal companion for those in need.
9. They get to know you better than you know yourself.
Whenever I want to watch a film, they’re like: “What are you going to watch? LOL? Easy A?” Alright, they’re my two favourite films and we all know it. We all know each other’s timetables and food intolerances and weird habits… and we’re totally fine with that. Yo, we’re making you Gluten-free brownies tonight. Our treat.
10. Suddenly, you’re not flatmates anymore- you’re family.
Boyfriends will come and go, but this is for life.
Beth
18, Creative Writing student in Bath, UK. Enjoys Earl Grey tea and dancing in the rain.
Turns out, living in a single-sex flat was the best thing to ever happen to me. Here’s why.
1. You’re never out of nail polish.
Our flat have a huge box of nail polishes, files, and fake nails that we’ve all contributed to over the past few months. Downside: there are fake nails everywhere. Under the couch, on the windowsill, in the kitchen sink… You name it.
2. Movie nights become essential.
We have an immeasurable amount of chick-flicks, rom-coms and Disney films stacked on the shelves in the kitchen. Although, let’s not pretend movies are limited to just evenings. Aw, do you have a lecture? Shame… Do you want to stay here and just watch a film instead?
3. You become inseparable.
We make breakfast, lunch, and dinner together, we go to lectures together, we go shopping together; we’ll say goodnight, go to bed… And then we’ll be texting each other until we fall asleep, or posting stupid photos on the Facebook group chat. One evening, my flatmate didn’t come home and we were literally so close to calling the police and sending out a search party… Her lecture just ran over. By half an hour.
4. You’ll branch out with your cooking skills.
Without my flatmates, I think I’d still be living off Super noodles and Baked Beans… Just through compiling our culinary knowledge (mine was severely lacking), I can now make stuffed peppers, stir fry, risottos… I mean, they still get surprised when they walk into the kitchen and find me cooking something that isn’t pasta, but hey! It’s a start.
5. They will always be there for you.
Literally. They’re right down the hall when you need a cuddle or a rant or a cry… Or just to show them that cute picture of a cat stuck in a hamster ball you found. There’s no point keeping anything to yourself anymore; when there’s someone just down the hall to talk to, why not knock on their door at 3am?
6. You start liking the same TV shows.
I don’t remember being this involved in Pretty Little Liars before University. Now, it’s all I think about. Every time a new episode comes on Netflix it’s like a competition to see who can watch it first. We discuss the episodes in depth, compare ‘A’ theories (totally Aria, by the way) and just generally waste £9000 a year cuddled up in bed watching TV.
7. You steal each other’s clothes.
So, I got a stain on my shirt and I couldn’t be bothered paying to wash it… So I borrowed a scarf from my flatmate, but then my coat didn’t match the scarf… So I borrowed a jacket as well. I left the flat in an outfit that totally didn’t belong to me- what else are friends for?
8. Having your ‘special time of the month’ is ten times easier.
When it’s someone’s time of the month, you can bet we’re all here ready to offer her tissues, tampons and chocolate. There’s a whole box full of Paracetamol and ibuprofen in the kitchen cupboard, and my microwaveable teddy bear has become a communal companion for those in need.
9. They get to know you better than you know yourself.
Whenever I want to watch a film, they’re like: “What are you going to watch? LOL? Easy A?” Alright, they’re my two favourite films and we all know it. We all know each other’s timetables and food intolerances and weird habits… and we’re totally fine with that. Yo, we’re making you Gluten-free brownies tonight. Our treat.
10. Suddenly, you’re not flatmates anymore- you’re family.
Boyfriends will come and go, but this is for life.
Beth
18, Creative Writing student in Bath, UK. Enjoys Earl Grey tea and dancing in the rain.