Adjusting to be back home!. Review on Tips on Hostel Life

This review is not about hostel life per se, but about making an effort to adjust to life outside of boarding school, beyond the protective walls of the community, when you have finished your education,

and then require moving back to your family.

To many it could sound like a ridiculous review/ topic to discuss, since it doesn?t seem like a big deal to be going back to your own family, but there?s a difference when you have been away for many years. (Also please try not to fall asleep).

For my part (prime example), I spent 7 years in boarding school, from the age of 9 to 16- which is more or less the formative years. We did have vacations, but they were spent very detachedly to t he rest of the world, in the sense that we (my brother and I) spent most of the time with our parents.

Our closest friends were from school, the people we held in high esteem were of the school, most of those people were ones we?d shared many moments of intense joy and sadness, and coming back home to the city felt to us like we?d been plucked out of our environment and put into a battle field-literally. Everything was different, from the language people used, to the clothes, interests, food, traffic?on the whole a very disconcerting feeling of just not fitting in.

At the time, being very young and thus practically unable to comprehend this sensation of strange insecurity, it was quite unpleasant to go out, thus we spent a lot of time with my parents, family friends and each other. I was lucky to have my brother (2 yrs older) studying with me since we could empathize with the anxiety of not fitting in.

Things were not as regretful as we grew older, probably since we were then mature enough to understand that our hostel environment was attempting to mold us into being different individuals. The boarding school I attended is situated in South India (Andhra Pradesh) far away from all the hustle and bustle of cities.

Everything from food to entertainment of all kinds was provided within the community, and one didn?t require going out for anything, besides there wasn?t anywhere to go individually because of the location. Importance was given to the emerging of the individual within (a kind of spirituality), thus many issues that a young student would face being in the city, were never experienced or even imagined at the school.

Inspite of it being a coeducational residential institution, rules were strict regarding such issues, and it never crossed anyone?s mind to rebel- what?s the need when you?re happy?

The dilemma arose when after completion of high school, I had to move back to the city for my further studies. At my first college, it would be an understatement to say that I was aghast. The number of people, the way they were dressed, their way of speaking to each other and the lecturers?I literally felt that I?d arrived on another continent, and if I pinched myself hard enough, I?d wake up to see that I was still sleeping on my bed. It was also the first time that I was handling money- at the age of 16!

Needless to say, I?d grown up in this protective cocoon that professed to turn me into a person with individuality and strength of character, so that when I came out into the world, I would be able to stand apart proudly for myself. That was an extraordinary belief to inculcate in her (school?s) students, but it didn?t help much on those first days of college when I was perpetually in shock- I was as silent as silence itself and providence brought me some very good friends who instilled in me, ways to endure into this strange environment.

Living at home, I was not used to people deciding for me what to wear, what to eat, where to go etc. from the age of 9 I was making arrangements for my own things, deciding what I should do, handling my studies?in boarding school, you are what you are- everything?s transparent, and you have to stand for what you believe in, or get pushed over.

Friendships are strong and everlasting, since you literally spend all your time and most of your space together, and being ostracized from the clique is anguish in all its glory. More so, as kids studying, we never really expressed our thoughts before proceeding to do something since it was our decision, which was disturbing for the family, since that?s not the way it works in a family. Infact for a long time I didn?t feel very mentally inclined towards them, since nobody seemed to understand the turmoil.

I always felt different coming from boarding school and still do sometimes, but it?s been a great learning experience. Almost like readjusting and growing up once again pronto to this system.

This review probably isn?t in the right perspective for those who have never been to a residential school, but definitely might associate with many who have lead a very sheltered life, or one away from the public. It?s the education of your discernment, your values and what you hold in esteem for yourself. And unfortunately it?s almost always the conclusion of the ?innocence? to varying degrees. But emerging from here could be a more mature individual aware of his/ her responsibilities to society and life in general-with some luck!

Hope this review was useful in some way or another to everyone, and please do take the time to rate & comment, since it took some effort to put all of this down.