FIRST SEMESTER, THIRD YEAR

January has it's perks, much to your dismay.
They all just happen to fall on a single day. New Year's Day. Every other day of the month is a damnation. You are adviced to carry your Velvex tissues with you because you may need to break down once in a while for the 30 days.

For students like you and me, shopping cannot go unmentioned. Girls have their scroll-long lists set aside for the Back To School season. The boys will only scribble a few things down with enough insistence from their parents or guardians. Either way, if the whole family spent the previous year's savings on the plastic tree for the sitting room, and shiny plastic balls meant to make the tree festive season worthy, oh and a full buffet...then January will prove to be even more special and eventful for you.

First things first tho; hostel room booking.

Hectic doesn't even begin to cover the experience. When you've been on a seven-month break or a four-month one, does the relevance of having your room clearance code in the conscious part of your mind exist? Does it really? The smart ones will have saved it in a softcopy notepad or a diary they are in regular contact with. Kudos, smart people. You make the rest of us look bad. Kudos.

Having intended to spend only 20bob in the cyber, that particular code you can't rack your brains enough to conjure taunts you so much, you end up spending double the amount. Oh, but you still can't remember it so you resign yourself to the doom awaiting you.
Seeking external residence days after many other students have already booked all the affordable houses in the clean, probably more secure sections of the village/shopping centre we still call stage despite the actual stage being situated miles from that area. Outside the gates.

If your luck is as reliably whack as mine, you managed to secure a house in the furthest part of school...far far away from classes, it's like you live on some other county altogether where the monthly rent is half your second semester's fee.
You will be holding hands with the Landlord and Caretaker for the four months singing We Shall Overcome.