There's a lot of new things that go along with transitioning into college, and having to adjust to the idea of the shared shower situation is certainly one of them.
At least for me, taking a shower in my college dorm is much different than it was at home. All in all, it can be quite the experience, especially if you're not used to it yet. (It's been months, and honestly, I'm still adjusting.) While I'm aware that not all of these lovely things apply to everyone, it is my belief that at least most of these concepts are universally relatable on some level.
Now, enough of my rambling, and onto the humorous horrors of the typically dreaded college shower experience:
1. Hair. Hair everywhere.
The only thing worse than stepping into the shower to find a clump of hair left behind by a family member is going in and finding one left behind by a complete and total stranger. No one told me I should've packed a pair of rubber gloves when I made my dormitory arrangements, and so dear theoretical hall-mate, I'm pretty sure that your hair in the shower drain is not my responsibility.
2. Tell me again why I'm wearing shoes in the shower.
Oh right... Because if I don't, I might step in a chunk of mysterious hair. Or slip and fall on the worn out tiles. Or get a bunch of weird germs on my feet. Regardless of the reason, though, I still feel odd about the fact that I have to wear a pair of glorified flip flops. I'm not going to the beach, for God's sake. I just want to take a shower.
3. Is it me, or is it cramped in here?
I've accidentally hit into the walls of the shower a countless amount of times. If I can't even maneuver comfortably in order to lather, rinse, and repeat, I'm pretty sure that's a sign that the square footage of each stall should've been a little bit bigger. A little elbow room never hurt anybody!
4. Hey, who shut out the lights?!
I don't know about anywhere else, but the lights in my floor's bathroom shut off automatically if no motion is detected for a certain amount of time. Needless to say, I've had to stick my wet arm out of the shower and wave frantically more times than I would like to admit. Maybe it's a sign that I take too long in the shower, but that's irrelevant if you ask me.
5. This curtain is certainly not doing it's job.
The shower curtains in my hall seem to be hanging on by a literal thread. They don't close fully, and therefore, leave you and your naked self exposed to the outside world that is otherwise known as the rest of the public restroom. I think the fact that this is a bit frightening goes without saying.
6. Damn it, I forgot something!
Nothing's worse than getting into the shower, only to realize that you forgot an essential showering item, or getting out of the shower and realizing that you forgot a towel or article of clothing. Maybe making a mad dash in your underwear across the hall to retrieve said item isn't the best idea, but you'd probably be lying if you said you've never contemplated it during a moment like this.
7. Oh God, this water is cold!
You didn't lay a finger on the faucet, but yet, the water temperature changes out of nowhere, and suddenly you feel as if you know exactly what it means to be frozen. And since there's almost no room in the showers, it's impossible to escape the cold streams of water. You have no choice but to quickly rinse and get out, ruining what otherwise could've been a relaxing shower. (And all college students know that anything relaxing is usually much needed.)
8. ...And also needs to be more pressurized.
Sometimes, the water just doesn't flow enough. It's especially tricky being a girl in this situation, because you need a little more than a trickle in order to get all of that shampoo and conditioner out of your crazy mane of hair. Pick up the pace, water!
9. I want to sing, but I can't.
When I'm at home, I sing in the shower and see no problem with it. However, when I'm showering in a bathroom that I share with 50 some-odd strangers, I would find this hobby of mine to be a bit embarrassing. Even though I bet the acoustics are amazing, I'm also pretty sure that no one wants to hear my mediocre attempts at being a pop star.
10. Whose underwear is THAT?!
I saved this one for last, because it is more of a personalized experience. To make a long story short, I opened a shower stall and there was a random pair of underwear, just laying on the floor. Sure, it was a less-than 30 second ordeal, but needless to say, I'm scarred for life.
