Some Notes on City Living
6 Jan
with regards to our “first hostel”:http://www.smu.edu.sg/leasing/hostel/index.asp, and my new home in it
# The location is unbeatable — I live right behind Sim Lim Square (!), am located spitting’s distance from my favourite restaurants in the area (“Basil Alcove”:http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/2006/12/basil-alcove-10-course-christmas.html, Victor’s Kitchen, Sultan Kebab), can walk to and from Mustafa Centre at 3am if I wish, and no longer have to pay ungodly sums of money for taxis to and from school.
# The overarching design philosophy of the campus seems to be: make it as hedonism-free as possible. Failing which (since the desires of us children are so difficult to constrain), put as many obstacles in their way as it is possible to. Make them clamber over their chair, on their table, and up into their bed. Then make the bed so small that it’s difficult for more than one person to toss (um, I heard). I overheard a passionate objection: “What’s the point of moving to the hostel if I can’t… (censored) all night! I might as well stay at home!” Well. On that point I much prefer NUS hostels. Overheard someone else: “Do we clamber up then take our clothes off, or take our clothes off then clamber up? Whatever, the clambering spoils everything. Stupid SMU.”
# The rulebook reads: “when entertaining members of the opposite sex, keep the door open.” Sure!!!
# My room is, I believe, what used to be a balcony. It certainly feels like one, it is not endowed with much, width-wise.
# 4 days of independent living have had me start obsessing about brooms and mops, and pails and clothes-lines, and the various virtues of different cuts of ironing boards. I’m unreachable on the phone at 2 am because I’m washing my clothes. My friends want to send me back to my parents’ home to exchange for the old me.
# When hosting architecture students, allow enough time for them to take photographs for them to share with their classmates to illustrate “bad use of space, material and light” (their words, not mine). I’m not too picky, I just wish my bed had a bit more space.
# I live behind Sim Lim Square. I still can’t get over it.
# With this new development I have started a programme of walking everywhere as my primary mode of transportation. Because I’m healthy like that.
# I live with 5 other girls in a flat. No, I live in a block full of girls.
# One last note about my bed: whenever I’m on it, I feel like I’m on an Indian train. Third-tier AC, upper berth, if you know what I mean. Next to the aircon, lacking in width, and limbs sticking out awkwardly.
