A student room: we have all heard of them. Some of us even have one of our own, lucky us. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the classic ‘I’m an international student, so I don’t care about having a chill room’ IKEA room, including a Glöbbenplörk, Snüzzelwümpf and Plörkensnörk; to the ‘Rutger ouwe’ (search YouTube) messy association/stoner room with a fungus infested fast food meal and condoms in the corner that makes Chernobyl look like a stroll in the park; the room of a friend who went to Africa and has now decorated the room with indigenous flags and artefacts (that have a deep meaning to the said person); the artsy ‘I am too alternative for capitalist businesses such as IKEA so I make everything myself’ room in which furniture collapses if you touch it more than twice, and of course, the ‘dust molecules are super-gross’ sterile hospital room for the neurotics among us. The latter often comes with a bag of medication and antibiotics on the nightstand. And, finally, a moment of silence for all the unused musical instruments we have lying around to make us look creative and interesting.
This is probably where you will nurse your worst hangovers, write your poorest essays
In short, like people, student rooms come in many shapes and forms. Perhaps you recognise these types of rooms. Or you may even be one of those typical Wageningen students who ‘cannot be boxed in’ despite the fact that Idealis literally did. Whichever way you slice it, you will have to make do with these ten to twenty square metres (or six, if you are a novice association member) for the time being. Not always relaxed. This is probably where you will nurse your worst hangovers, write your poorest essays, and send your most rejectable text messages. That, at least, is how I’m doing. If I feel shitty, it is often here, in my room.
Because of the sometimes complicated relationship I have with my cubicle, coming home is not always pleasant. If you, too, suffer from this “room melancholy” (this will no doubt make it to the word of the year 2024; it will take about a year to gain traction), I advise you to leave your comfort zone now and then and look outside. Go camping, for example. Plenty of things may close in on you there, but whatever they may be, walls are not among them.
Resource student editor Felix Landsman (22) is a likely future graduate of Environmental Sciences and an aspiring adventurer. He is often looking for something.
