Despite the obvious drawbacks that we know and love from spending a minimum of two years living on campus at Wake (à la cramped space and community bathrooms), dorm life has always come with its advantages. Somehow, we tend to forget that those small living quarters actually come attached to a meal plan, cleaning services, and even a built-in social life.
So, collegiettes™, what happens when it’s time to trade in the dorm years for a sleek new apartment? For many of us, that time starts now as we head off to internships in new cities, with new housing arrangements to match. If you’re prepping for a summer internship in a short-term apartment (or even planning to move off-campus in the fall), HC is here for you with all of the dirt on apartment-style living.
Prepare to Start Cookin’
As much as we all want to run far, far away from the Pit, you can’t deny its perks. A simple swipe on the good ole’ Deacon Card and you’ve got all-you-can-eat without hurting the bank account or even cooking a single thing. Unfortunately, the real world doesn’t taste so sweet. When it comes to meal-time in an apartment, you’ve really only got two options: go for take-out, or cook for yourself. While it sounds great to order take-out every night, your waistline and wallet will both hate you before too long.
So that leaves Option #2, cook for yourself. Too bad the notorious dorm room MicroFridge doesn’t prep you for anything beyond the occasional Lean Cuisine. So, here are HC’s tips to help you gain some momentum in the kitchen!
What You’ll Need:
*Cooking Supplies: If this is your first experience with a kitchen, you’ll definitely need to start stocking up on cooking gear. And don’t be afraid of the investment—these are pieces you can use in your future apartments, too! Key items include pots and pans, measuring cups, bowls, and utensils like spatulas and cooking spoons. And, for extra infomercial fun, go for a mini George Foreman grill (for under $25 here!) or the Magic Bullet (a $99 life investment, I swear).
*Cook Books & Recipes: I recommend anything focusing on quick, light meals. After all, by the end of a busy day at the office, the last thing you’ll want to do is slave over a hot stove for an hour. Check out these great buys, the Fast-Fix Cookbook which caters to your schedule and your budget; or the beginner-friendly How to Boil Water from the Food Network. And of course, feel free to search the web! Rachael Ray has a list of her favorite 30 Minute Meals at your disposal straight from her website.
*Tupperware . . . and lots of it: Left-overs are a girl-on-the-go’s best friend. Remember that! So when that dinner recipe for four is only meant for one — rather than cut down the serving size, make the whole thing! That dinner could turn into tomorrow’s lunch, and maybe even more (especially if you’re willing to get creative). One big tip: if you’re going to be packing a lunch for your internship, spend an hour every Sunday afternoon prepping food you can keep for the week. Cooking a few chicken breasts is a great start, because they’ll last for days in the fridge and are easy to incorporate into any meal!
While there’s no shame in stocking up the freezer with quick and easy Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choice Dinners, there’s only so much frozen food a girl can take. Find your fire in the kitchen, and you’ll feel closer to home with a few good meals in no time!
Prepare to Get Your Hands Dirty
One of the biggest things we take advantage of while living on-campus, whether in a freshman dorm or a Quad suite, is the facility maintenance staff. While this wonderful staff of workers has triumphed in giving us clean bathrooms day-in and day-out, it’s time to face the music . . . they will not be moving into your apartment with you. So what’s a girl to do? Start cleaning.
What You’ll Need:
*Cleaning Supplies: It’s easy to forget something on your shopping list, but just do a play-by-play of the apartment space in your head. Bathroom? You’ll need a toilet bowl cleaner, toilet brush, Clorox wipes for the sink and mirror, and any sort of sponge-and-cleaner combo to tackle the shower. Kitchen? Get an extra set of Clorox wipes for the countertops, the stove, and the sink, and then definitely get something for the floors. Start with a broom and dust pan, but then go for something both heavy-duty and easy to work with, like the Swiffer Wet Jet. That bad boy tackles dirty floors in no time, sans effort. And for the rest of the space, Dirt Devils or Dust Busters are great for carpeted areas, and Swiffer Dusters work wonders for just your everyday dusting.
*Stock up on the Essentials: Think laundry detergent, fabric softener, paper towels, and above all, toilet paper. In bulk. I’m not necessarily saying to stock up for the entire summer . . . but it’s worth considering! The last thing you want is to run out of toilet paper (of all things) during your 40+ hour work week. Just saying.
The best part about the cleaning situation is that with the help of roommates (if you’re lucky to have a few), you can split up both your costsand your chores. Start by assigning general living spaces to each roommate, and work from there!
Prepare to Find Some Friends
Living in an apartment, especially for a short period of time, you’ll notice a few changes to your social life. Remember that when living in a dorm, you are essentially set up to be friends with your hall mates (unless you’re the awkwardly unsocial girl whose door is always shut). Well, in an apartment complex in a new city, you’re really just left to your roommate(s) . . . and what if you end up being totally different?! It’s not like a dorm where you can just knock on your neighbor’s door and find a friend—your neighbors here could be a thirty-year-old married couple! So, get ready to be Ms. Outgoing, with your fellow interns and fellow residents.
What You’ll Need:
*Put Yourself Out There!: So the office has a softball team? Get out there and play! Fellow interns going out for Happy Hour? Join ‘em! You might be exhausted from a long day’s work, but how can you expect to meet people without giving yourself the chance? Start slow with your co-workers and move on from there. Don’t be afraid to be a social butterfly. What have you got to lose?!
*Use Your Resources: If your apartment complex has a pool, a gym, or any kind of common area, get your butt out there during primetime hours! This is your chance to be social and make friends, without looking too desperate (read, Paul Rudd in I Love You Man). Find a gym class you enjoy and casually mingle; tan during peak hours and trade copies of Cosmo and Self with the girl next to you. You can do it!
It might be a little harder than your traditional dorm setting, but making real friends to keep your summer interesting is absolutely do-able. You just need to put in the effort!
And there you have it, collegiettes™! Follow this guide for a smooth transition to life in a summer apartment. Have any other suggestions? Leave a comment below!
*Photography by Jackie Swoyer