Moving into catered accommodation
By Ananya, from India, studying Astrophysics BSc (Hons)
The University has a plethora of accommodation choices and it can be daunting to figure out what works best for you. During my first year, I stayed at Pollock Halls which is a catered accommodation at the University. Arriving at my accommodation for the first time I was anxious as I was far away from home and was still adapting to living independently. In this blog, I will be sharing some top tips and information I would have benefited from as an incoming first year.
How does Pollock Halls work?
Located near the foot of Arthur’s Seat, Pollock Halls is home to eight different houses, cafeteria and other facilities, such as a dedicated study area called the ‘Microlab’. The cafeteria is open for breakfast and dinner on weekdays and for brunch and dinner on weekends. It opens at about 7:30 am in the morning, allowing you enough time to grab breakfast before leaving for your morning classes. The breakfast menu, which usually stays the same, consists of cereal, hot dishes (including eggs), fruits and a range of drinks such as hot chocolate and coffee. Dinners at Pollock comprises of a variety of salad options with different mains and desserts daily. The cafeteria also serves a range of vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, along with several beverage options.
The benefits of catered accommodation
The biggest advantage was I didn’t have to cook for myself or set aside a budget for grocery shopping. As an international student, I didn’t want the additional burden of cooking and hence, Pollock Halls was the right fit for me. Besides this, living in a catered accommodation gave me the opportunity to meet new people and socialise. Each house also has a common room equipped with few games (table tennis, foosball to name a few), and was a great place to have parties. With Holyrood Park being so close by, I always loved going there for a regular walk or an occasional hike up Arthur’s Seat.
How to make your room feel like home
Like any student living away from home would tell you, I would suggest filling your room with as many things that remind you of home. This could be polaroid pictures to hang on your pin board or a small memorabilia on your bedside table. I also brought along my own bedding and small items, like my pen holder, to establish that homely feeling.
Ways to socialise with flatmates
Dinner time at the cafeteria is undoubtedly the best way to meet and socialise with old and new friends. I used to enjoy sitting with my friends at the end of each day to catch up while eating. Besides this, the ResLife team and the designated Resident Assistants for each house used to actively organise events such as movie nights, which were really fun too. A great way to follow the latest events being organised is the notice board in each house or the television screen in the cafeteria that regularly advertised ongoing events.
My initial concerns with catered accommodation
My biggest fear moving in was I wasn’t going to like the food. Growing up in India, my palette was accustomed to more spicy food, which I feared I would miss. However, the food didn’t disappoint and I used to enjoy the occasional Indian dishes served during dinner. In addition, I also worried about meeting like minded people in an accommodation filled with more than 2000 students. However, this worry was immediately put to rest at my very first meal at Pollock Hall. While it’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed, I would always suggest you take it one step at a time. Building friendships takes time and there is no need to rush into it all. At the end of the day, it’s important to enjoy the process as it teaches you a lot about yourself!
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