Surviving Hostel Life

You’ve finally made it into the high school of your dreams, but the problem is it’s almost 500 kilometres away from home. Because of your current situation, you are forced to stay in the school hostel and it terrifies you.

A lot. Naturally, it’s a life-changing experience to move out of your comfort zone and learn how to adapt in a completely new environment. Your family won’t be there to guide you and your childhood friends won’t hold your hand every step of the way either. So how do you deal with the pressures of hostel life?

The YouthPaper shares some useful information on how to survive this experience.

Some hostels provide an option for you to either have a single room or a shared one, meaning you get to have a roommate (whom you usually cannot choose). So if you’re stuck with an unbearable person, well, you might have to get used to it if your hostel superintendant does not feel that your reasons to change rooms are valid. The hostel supervisor is someone who is in charge of the hostel and who you can tell your complaints to, be it broken doors, noise pollution from your neighbours in the next room or a problem with your mattress.

When it comes to food in the hostel, you will be provided with a meal card that allows you to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner (and sometimes all three) at specific times of the day. So if you miss it, you might have to deal with a growling stomach for a couple of hours. But if you’re lucky enough to have a meal card, you can use this to buy food on campus as the money is deducted from your account (or your loan money if you have government funding).

Pius Iikwambi, a third year law student at Unam currently living in the university’s hostel says that there are plenty of benefits to hostel life.

“I feel lucky to be living in a hostel. Many people are not able to get in because of the prices but I am lucky enough to have a scholarship. It really makes life easier. Also, before, when I was living in Katutura, I’d have to use the municipal bus to go to Unam and it was stressful, especially for the first time. Sometimes I’d sleep on the bus because the journey was so long and on my way home, I’d always be exhausted since my bus stop was always last.”

Living in the hostel means your room will only be about two or three minutes away. Imagine if you forgot your assignment at home and it took you an hour to get to school. Wouldn’t it be awful if you had to hustle for taxi money to go all the way back?

“Money for taxi would also be used for food instead,” Pius continues. “In the hostel, you usually wake up on time too. Last year, more than 80% of my classes were cancelled. For example, I’d have a 07h30 class but it would be cancelled and the next one would be at 11h30. If it was winter time, you’d freeze in the corridors. For someone who has a hostel room, you could just go back and sleep.”

Not everything is all rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes you are going to have to deal with the trials and tribulations of living in the hostel. One of them being a not-so-cool roommate.

“I once had to share a room with smoker who also did drugs,” Pius says. “Unfortunately, I had a sinus problem and the smoke gave me a runny nose and breathing problems. I went to my hostel supervisor and requested for a new hostel room, and I chose to have a single room. But the problem there was that even though people were smoking in the corridors, somehow the smoke would still manage to get into my room.”

Other roommates might be unhygienic and perhaps leave their underwear on your bed, so try to create an understanding with them. Agree on how not to invade each other’s space, as rules help roommates figure out which boundaries not to cross.

“People are inconsiderate. They buy big speakers and play loud music on your behalf. It’s not good.” It’s important to keep in mind that you are not staying alone. Other people might not like the music you are playing, so keep it to a minimum, or rather invest in earphones. Students might be studying for a major test and your music would be a huge bother to them. Be considerate.

You might also experience a couple of drawbacks when it comes to your room as well. “I had a bad mattress which they could not replace. My door was also broken for the whole year,” Pius explained.

Be cautious in your hostel room. Never leave your room unattended as thieves have a knack for picking out whatever they like (especially your clothes or technological devices you might have). Sadly, you are also not allowed to cook in your hostel room, so make provisions for that.

• “Hostel life has its ups and downs. It’s close to school and you are sure of shelter and food throughout the year. The downside is that it’s super expensive and also not 100% safe,” Stephania Bernadino, a third year marketing student at the Polytechnic of Namibia said.

• “Well, at first it was a challenge, as it was my first time in a hostel and so far from my family. The first few weeks I wanted to go home as I would get really homesick. Making friends was not a challenge and was made easier as I knew a couple of people there. However, there was a slight level of bullying the first year, but as I came to understand all newcomers went through it, be it physical or just emotional,” Joe Indongo, a former student at St Joseph’s High School said. “The boys’ hostel was not always a comfort. But with the time that passed and the people I got to know, there was rather a strong bond created. Of course there were disagreements, but we always dealt with it among ourselves. Also, it meant that you knew one another very well and did a lot together. There were mostly memorable times, and they allowed me to develop in my own way. It sure helped to toughen me up and have a sense of independence so to speak, and gain responsibility for my own things.”

• If you’re thinking about staying in a hostel, consider the prices, for example the Emona residence at Unam requires students to pay about N$2 150 or more per month.

• Always keep your room tidy.

• Get to know your school and the environment around it.

• If you’re the type to get bored easily, take part in extra-curricular activities at school.

• Make new friends in your hostel, and don’t be afraid to talk to the staff.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.