Moving in weekend
Moving for the first time can be stressful. What do I bring? Who will my roommates be? How many forks will I need?
We’ve put together some advice as you prepare to settle into life at Bristol.
What do I bring?
Firstly, if you’re staying in halls, make sure you check to see what is already provided. You can find this out here – Bedroom essentials include your bedding (don’t forget the quilt and pillows), towels, laundry bag, hangers and extension leads if you need the plug space (no more than 13 amps load). If you have an ensuite, make sure to remember a bath/shower mat and some bathroom accessories (toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, as many toilet rolls as you can sneak out of the house, etc).
If you’re a Marlborough House resident, no need to worry about kitchen equipment as this will be provided! For everywhere else though, here are some things to remember. All residents should bring plates, bowls, mugs, cups, cutlery and a bottle/can opener. If you are a self-catered student, you should also bring frying pans, saucepans and other cooking accessories you may need. Don’t forget you are just one person, so no need to bring four of everything!
You also shouldn’t feel the need to rush to the Wilko sales this week, as this year the SU’s ‘Take a Plate’ campaign could save you some cash. You can expect to find mugs, plates, bowls, glasses, pots, pans, cutlery, graters, baking utensils, oven trays, cafetieres, reusable cups, water bottles, food containers and peelers, all for free in these locations:
- The Transport Hub on Saturday 16 September, 12 pm to 6 pm
- Senate house on Sunday 17 September, 10 am to 3 pm
- the Richmond building on Wednesday 20 September , 1 pm to 4 pm
This is the start of a new campaign introduced to limit the amount of waste going into landfill and saving you a pretty penny.
Cleaning supplies are also a must have. Washing up liquid, sponges, cloths and tea towels (don’t forget to wash them regularly) are a good start! As these things are all used communally, you may want to wait till you arrive so you can share the costs with your roommates and avoid bringing duplicates.
Roommates
It can be pretty intimidating moving in with strangers, especially if you are also moving to a new city or area. Try to remember that you’re all in the same boat! Whether you are the type to kick start introductions, or prefer to let others do the talking, there’s room for all personalities here. Why not arrange a group activity for you and your new roommates? You could hunker down for a movie night, cook a meal together or check out a local café or park! A really simple thing to do is leave your door open as you move in, it lets people know you’re open to talk and introduce yourself.
If you do find yourself struggling to settle in, you can always talk to the people around you. You may find that one of your roommates is going through a similar situation and can help each other through it. You can also reach out to the University wellbeing services if you feel unable to turn to anyone else. This friendly team has loads of advice and resources to support you and there are some great tools to help you manage your own wellbeing as well.