I don’t really know why, but ever since I started at Saint Mary’s, living in Le Mans has been my goal. It’s like, what I’ve been aspiring to. Not straight A’s, not a great senior comp, not club president. No, my goals have been to live in Le Mans, and I don’t think I’m the only one.
It’s like, Le Mans is the SYMBOL of Saint Mary’s. Forget the French cross, nothing is more iconic than the bell tower. Le Mans is where the most belley of belles live, or at least that’s what it felt like when I toured as a high schooler. As the biggest, grandest, “main” building, Le Mans seemed like the place to be. Not to mention I get #turnt their every Sunday night at 7.
Sophomore year, my Le Mans dreamed were put to a halt when all us smicks desperately hoping for a room there got beat out by the juniors filling up the dorm. We were all banished to Holy Cross, which is gorgeous in it’s own right but c’mon, it’s like, MILES from Spes. Sentenced to a life on the far side of campus, us sophomores didn’t give up hope, and now many of us have finally settled into Le Mans for the first time as juniors, and WE are the most belley of belles (especially now that everyone is filling Instagram with class ring pics).
But honestly, moving into Le Mans was a bit of a, dare I say it, let down.
I know, I know, HOW can I put down the building that essentially IS Saint Mary’s? But I feel as though moving in, I had expectations it would be like living in a castle, where I’d have a beautiful room with dark wood details and a fireplace and a huge princess closet and a tons of natural light from all the windows. Something like the rooms SMC Res Life is always pinning on Pinterest!
What I got was not what I expected. First of all, the rooms are NEVER as big as they look in the Res Life pictures. NEVER. In fact, most of them are tiny! There are girls living in doubles that would probably be considered singles in McCandless.
And fireplaces? Upperclassmen giving tours always said MOST of the rooms had fireplaces. I think only four rooms have an actual fireplace.
The closets are NOT princess sized. They are economy sized.
And the natural light? Ha, tell that to my one, itty bitsy window in the corner that doesn’t catch any light because it’s surrounded by walls outside.
But, I’m not complaining, really. Because truly, I’m having the best year I’ve ever had at Saint Mary’s, and I think my room up on the fourth floor of the SMC castle is one of the many reasons why. I’m in the center of campus, I have the beautiful Reignbeaux and Stapleton lounges to study in, the convenience of two laundry rooms, and THE TUNNEL. THE SWEET GLORIOUS TUNNEL. One time it was raining on a Sunday and I never once stepped foot outside because I could just tunnel to the DH and study in my room.
Le Mans may not be all it’s cracked up to be, but it’s still has a lot to offer, and it’s fun to finally feel like one of the most belley belles.