Picture the scene: it’s the last week of term. It’s home time. The Christmas jumper has been a staple of just about every outfit for the past two weeks. You’ve battled 12 whole weeks of 8:30am doom, Devonshire House seat lottery and lingering fresher’s flu. And the end of term is now upon us: in all its hope and glory, it’s as much an opportunity to party wildly as it is to drag yourself home to mummy and daddy.
If you’re a Fresher, you’ve made it. You’ve made some crazy friends from all over the place, you’ve cried together, laughed together and somehow survived together. You’ve managed to work the oven and you’re scraping by on the nutritional front. But when it comes to your wardrobe, you’re struggling somewhat. You’ve realised that uni washing machines are a no-go. You simply do not have the time to queue, nor do you have the sufficient change. And while we’re at it, you’ve heard a few too many horror stories and your clothes mean way, way too much to you to risk them growing legs and walking their way out of the tumble dryer. So, put simply, it’s time to go home. If you’re a Second Year, you’ve probably had some sort of landlord dispute and are currently sans washing machine. Put simply, it’s time to go home. If you’re a Third Year, you’re stressed, one more email about grad schemes could push you over the edge, and having time to do washing is a luxury you no longer know. Put simply, it’s time to go home.
The Week 12 suitcase is an interesting collection of memories, moments, mishaps and miscellaneous clothing
For me, the end of Year One, Term One was a monumental moment in my flat friendships. In the stress of end of term and the desperate need to get home to fluffy carpet, log fires and showers that don’t pose a health hazard, my packing saw me, Yasmin, usually organised, ordered and composed, crumble. This was when my flat realised three things: 1. Yasmin has a lot of clothes. 2. Yasmin is not very good at making decisions (oh, how I like to imagine it took them 12 weeks to realise this). 3. Yasmin struggles with packing. So, like many freshers both before and since my time, I wrestled the suitcase, sat on suitcase, lugged suitcase up a hill, down a hill and balanced precariously on said suitcase on the Paddington train.
The Week 12 suitcase is an interesting collection of memories, moments, mishaps and miscellaneous clothing, let’s open up:
34 per cent * Laundry – you like to pretend it isn’t, but it is. Whenever I go home, we have a ritual where I literally empty my suitcase into the washing machine. And, however much my mum tries to convince me otherwise, I know she secretly finds this comforting, to have me back and to know that I’m not about to reduce a jumper to teddy-size.
50 per cent Knitwear – I have far too many jumpers. It is an issue, not only because they don’t fit in the wardrobe, but also because they’re all hand wash and I just don’t have the time, space or adequate room temperature to dry my woollies! So, come Week 12, the jumper washing pile is teetering, I’m fearing an avalanche could be imminent and the risk of becoming lost under jumpers and never re-emerging is reaching a new high. It’s time for jumper washing – they’ve had a TP outing or two, smell strongly of lingering coffee from Queen’s and have that slightly baggy, post-wear shape.
10 per cent Summer Clothes – it’s time they went home. They no longer have a place in your space-is-not-a-luxury-we-are-given wardrobe. You’ve tried to hold on to them, you really have, and you’ve done so admirably, but last week’s Cheesys has convinced you otherwise. Coats are now a necessity if you want to end up anywhere other than A&E – pneumonia doesn’t look good on anyone. So, time to trade in the summer dresses – the ones that just don’t work with tights – just think, more room for cosy jumpers!
2 per cent Fancy Dress – you’ve donned your Minnie Mouse attire, been a zebra, an army girl, a minion and a crayon and now you’ve exhausted the Christmas possibilities too: Christmas tree, present, reindeer and Olaf, tick, tick, tick, tick. Sometimes, you really can’t be seen in the same outfit twice. When it comes to fancy dress, the world is your oyster and you don’t want to limit yourself to one character when a role cast awaits you! Out with the old, in with the new.
1 per cent Reunion Outfit – it’s been a while, you’re ready for the inside jokes, weirdness and no-gos that come with friends you’ve known since pre-school. You’ll have been planning it for weeks: the get-together-night out, keen to share fresher’s nightmares and dodgy landlord stories, desperate to work out who has the weirdest flatmates and who’s actually doing the most work. It’s a big night (or a café-crawl coffee date) and you need to look your best, so your favourite outfit is a must.
2 per cent Books, Work, Notes, Laptop – you know, those minor “we have exams and that’s not cool” necessities. We won’t linger – it’s a touchy subject. And the balance shifts dramatically come Third Year – again, touchy subject. It’s okay, we’re all okay… We’ve made it this far, we’re moving swiftly on with that slightly nervous, “we’re okay”…
1 per cent Train Reading – you’ve read The Odyssey, got to grips with Turnitin and navigated the labyrinth that is the library and all you really want to do now is flick through Vogue, get lost in the latest fashion trends and suss out the best deals. Of course, this in itself is definitely a worthwhile, penny saving task.
*Please note, these clothing ratios will say a lot about your priorities – clearly jumpers are mine!
The only thing standing between us and home is suitcase-space-shortage and St David’s stress
Call it Home Time, the much-anticipated Christmas hols, plan as many nights out as you will, or count the sleeps until your return to home comforts, whether it’s mum’s cooking, old friends craziness, hygiene or sanity you’re craving, the only thing standing between us and home is suitcase-space-shortage and St David’s stress. Yes, we all know that those student suitcases that block the St David’s lifts, are full of washing for mum! And, as for the suitcases you see come January, just think how neatly ironed and folded those clothes will be! Mum’s got this!
P.S. Just remember, whilst PJs constitute a perfectly acceptable Co-op co-ord, your hometown may not be ready for this fashion-world-break-through. It’s a different world out there! They judge. It’s not okay. They just don’t understand. But don’t you worry, Exeter student life will be ready and waiting for your return. It’s not going anywhere and it’ll welcome clean, fresh, re-freshed-attention-span you with welcome arms!
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