A few of my friends and I made the decision to stay in our college town for the summer instead of returning back to our hometowns. Our sorority house that we live in during the school year closes for the summer, so eight of us temporarily rented a house near campus. All of us had never lived in a house on our own before, so we were looking forward to having a place to really call our own. As exciting and fun as the experience was, we quickly learned that there are definite perks of living in a sorority house that we had taken for granted.
1. Having a personal chef.
Before the summer started, I was looking forward to finally having the kitchen space to try new recipes and cook myself gourmet meals whenever I wanted. I soon learned that gourmet meals are easier pinned on Pinterest than actually made. Cooking takes time and money that I don't have. My supposedly "gourmet" recipes ended up being the same three quick meals and a lot of prepackaged Trader Joes wraps and salads. From now on I will always appreciate our house chef.
2. Having house maids.
Never again will I take for granted the wonderful women that work hard daily to keep our sorority house clean. This summer I learned that dirty dishes stack up quickly and eight girls getting ready for a night out can make a spotless bathroom look disastrous in a matter of minutes.
3. Not having to buy household necessities.
Not only did we not have a personal chef or cleaning ladies, we also had to actually go out and spend our paychecks on cleaning supplies and food. As thrilling as it is to spend my money on windex and toilet paper, I think I'd much rather be saving up for those new sunglasses that I've been wanting.
4. Never having to go anywhere alone.
One of my favorite things about living in is the fact that there is always someone who is down to do whatever it is that you are doing at the moment. Whether you are walking to class, going to the gym, or getting fro yo, you can always bet that at least one of your 40 roommates will want to go with you. This summer I had to face my separation anxiety and actually run errands by myself.
5. Air conditioning and heating.
I was unaware until this summer that most houses around our college campus do not come with a cooling or heating system. I spent countless nights this summer applying my makeup and curling my hair in front of a blasting fan because the heat was almost too unbearable. From now on I will always appreciate the feeling of stepping into my air-conditioned house when I return from class in the heat of the day.
Living on my own was a great experience for the summer, but I am counting down the seconds until I am back for another awesome year living in with all of my best friends and all of the perks that come with it.
