Hall 7

Before reading this, cue the song ‘The Way I Live’ by Baby Boy Da Prince just to get you in the mood for what you are about to read.

To preface my housing situation, I will explain NTU’s housing application to you. When I clicked on the student housing tab of the exchange portal, I was prompted with a question: “Do you want to be considered for on-campus housing?” Upon confirming, another box popped up that said simply this: “Thank you. You will receive your decision on December 1st.”

The day eventually came around, and within our UIUC group message we figured out that we had all been placed in different halls around campus. I was placed in Hall 7. Pictured below: an actual screenshot of the message that came in the UIUC group message just minutes after I posted that I was to be set up in Hall 7.

How bad could it really be? I will tell you, it is bad. Hall 7 is actually made up of a few buildings, mine being Block 38. The room, pictured below, is essentially a concrete box.

Upon arriving, I opened my door to see half eaten bowls of soup, scattered homework with Chinese writing all over it, and a lot of bugs. The Hall 7 staff that was helping me with my luggage apologized profusely and had me wait in a common room while his staff cleaned the room. I was off to a great start! To add on to the poor quality of the dorm, it is in the corner of campus hidden away from everything, including all 9 UIUC students who live at the other end. It’s also situated at the bottom of the massive hill that campus sits on top of, which makes commuting miserable. In the street photo below, I am standing at the top of the hill, and Hall 7 is at the bottom about 1 mile in the distance.

Not to put any images in anyone’s head, but I sleep in nothing but my underwear and a very thin sheet. I have never not had the luxury of air conditioning, and it truly is hard. I can barely handle waking up sweaty every morning, which really puts into perspective how lucky I am to come from where I do. It has taken me just 10 days in Hall 7 to notice an evident change in culture. That’s what studying abroad is supposed to be about, right?

For those keen enough to spot the second bed in the photo, I do have a roommate. His name is Tristan, and he is another business student from France! He’s awesome, and it will give me a chance to test whether or not I’ve retained anything from my 7 years of studying the language.

While I do complain about Hall 7, it’s alright. I am really only ever here to sleep and shower. I’m out all day, everyday, and that’s how it is back in Champaign as well.

If you’ve been reading the blog, be sure to let me know. I’m curious as to who might be!