It’s that time of the year. A time when everyone is preparing for their tearful goodbyes, with only a suitcase and 10,000 boxes full of nonsensical necessities to comfort them at the roadside as their parents speed away. The current situation has left all university students with a lot of uncertainty. So, don’t worry fresher, you’re not alone! However, there are some university traditions that not even a global pandemic can do away with, and Freshers’ Week is sure to continue this year. Although there are bound to be certain alterations for your benefit, we’re here to tell you not to fret. I can assure you, one way or another, you will still find yourself making the same drunken mistakes as those who came before you with your flatmate named Lucy… or was it Lauren? So, here a few things to expect during Freshers’ Week 2020:
Society overload
Freshers’ Fair is online this year. That means, instead of standing in a queue from the Great Hall all the way down to Cartmel (and that’s just the queue outside), you get the added bonus of browsing for your next big interest from the comfort of your newly rigged-out bed. The Freshers’ Fair is the ultimate welcome to student life, getting you acquainted with every society, club and sport known to humankind. It’s a great way to get involved, make friends, and pursue new avenues. You can expect to be overwhelmed with choice. Take it from me for example, whose initial interests stemmed from the Equestrian Society to the Cake-Eating Club (yes, it’s a real thing). But that’s not just it. Be prepared to amass a huge number of Freebies too. Who would have ever thought that a free wooden spoon could be so exciting?
Hangovers, headaches… And more hangovers
‘Ah, but the Sugarhouse will not be open’ you say? Yes, that’s true, the unfortunate situation means that we will all have to do without Sugar’s bopping showtunes and ABBA-solutely fantastic music taste for the time being. However, everyone knows that the drunken festivities really begin in the household amongst your flatmates anyway. No sooner are the awkward introductions made in the kitchen that you are sat in your flatmate’s bed having a drunken heart-to-heart to the sound of another spewing up their guts. This isn’t just Freshers’ Week; this is your new normal!
Responsibility
No, your grandma didn’t equip you with those snazzy kitchen utensils for nothing, and you’ll soon understand your mum’s constant moaning about the laundry. University is a huge leap when it comes to independence. Of course, you have flatmates there to help, but I can guarantee there will be very few who can cook at the beginning – and those who can will rightly earn the honorary title of flat mum for the rest of the year. As for the rest of us, it’s time to learn by the good old-fashioned way of trial and error. The fire alarm is definitely something to expect, along with heaps of laundry. Oh, and the pots and pans don’t clean themselves! There is no doubt that, by the end of Freshers, you will be a regular at Sultan’s and own a loyalty card for Greggs; the real unspoken heroes.
Between cooking, drinking, cleaning, washing, and more drinking, it is important to relax. Take it all in. Lancaster is going to be your home for the next few years. Take a walk along the canal, visit Williamson Park, find your perfect study spot at Brew! By pressing pause on the much-anticipated excitement and events, you will soon find yourself settled in, which will make the giant leap and seemingly fast-pace changes come at your own stride.
