Everything from first day nerves to flatmate conflicts

Before I moved into halls, I had a somewhat specific picture of what my halls life would look like, which came with quite a few expectations: some realistic and some not so much. Here are the biggest ones I encountered:

Awkward First Day

I am sure many of you feel a sense of dread about the first day in halls and how to start conversations with people when you are not familiar with anyone. You may think that your first day at halls will be awkward and lonely. However, the good news is that the majority of people moving into halls are in the same position as you. The first day in halls is not as awkward as many may think it will be. A simple smile or hello can turn into a friendship that lasts the whole year and beyond. It may take some courage, but perhaps some of the people who you meet in your first week in halls may become your closest friends at LSE.

Full Social Calendar

A lot of people expect halls life to be full of parties in flats, late-night chats with friends, and many night outs. While some days can be like this (like the first and last week of term), over time things do quiet down (that is not to say that there is no social life at all). Throughout the term, there is a more balanced social atmosphere as people have different schedules, commitments, and lifestyles.

Common Room = Social Hub

I imagined the common room as the social hub of the hall, a place where everyone would naturally gather to relax, chat, or play games together. While the common room can be a great space, how often it is used really depends on the hall and the people living there. Sometimes it's lively, especially during ResLife events. At other times, it’s not necessarily very bustling. Nonetheless, the common room has potential, it just needs people to bring it to life by using it more often to hang out.

Peaceful flatmate relationships

We all imagine living with the perfect flatmates where everyone washes their dishes, takes out the bins, and cleans up after themselves without being asked. In reality, this is not the case. You may walk into the kitchen to someone’s unwashed dishes, or open the fridge to someone’s spilled milk. This can be challenging to deal with. One of the most important lessons living in halls teaches you is how to resolve conflicts with your flatmates and how to make sure your shared spaces are taken care of by everyone in the flat. It may be difficult at times, but respectful communication goes a long way. Being understanding of your flatmates and being responsible can make your life much easier.

If you are moving into halls soon or are in your first few days, remember to always keep an open mind. Some expectations take time to be realised or your experience may be very different from the one you pictured. Either way, it is an enjoyable and unique experience, so enjoy it while it lasts!