DORM LIVING: If you lived or are living in a dorm, please share your experiences

[billy]

I"m not sure if this is the right place for the topic, but since a dorm naman is a place where one lives, baka pwede na dito. Or pa-move na lang po to a more appropriate board.

Who among you here lived in a dorm? Or are you currently living in one? Or kung hindi naman kayo, baka sister ninyo or daughter or cousion or niece or friend. I'd like to get some insights or tips or anything, your experiences, kuwentos as a dorm resident.

My daughter is an incoming 2nd year college student and we will be allowing her to live in a dorm kasi malayo ang place namin sa university niya. For a year, sinunod naman niya kami by making uwian everyday. At least we tried for a year na commuter siya. Sabi namin i-try niya muna and then we can discuss again. So ayun nga, this year, mag-do-dorm na siya. Nakakaawa rin kasi that she wakes up early, gabi na umuuwi, tapos super hassle sa bus or LRT or jeep. She even tried the train, believe it or not.

Kami kasi ng ate ko nung college kami, may aunt kami na nasa QC, hindi talaga dorm kaya pinayagan kami ng parents ko.

So, kuwento naman kayo ng experiences ninyo para macomfort kami ng husband ko na we're making the right decision. We only have two kids, and panganay namin siya. Kaya siyempre kahit paano, may sadness, may fear or worries.

Big thanks 

[mooncake and leaves]

not me but a friend lived in a dorm for 4 years. taga-isabela kasi siya. is your daughter going to UST? sa catalina sa tapat ng UST mismo si friend. may curfew saka strict dun but mukhang giniba na nila yung dorm. ok naman daw. pero siyempre may ka-share siya sa room.

most of my other friends din stayed in dorms or apartments around UST. pero 'di ko alam names eh. saka parang apartments yung sa kanila.

malaking kaluwagan sa estudyante talaga ang matanggal ang commute. nakakapagod din kasi talaga lalo na kung ganyang palipat-lipat siya ng sasakyan. also, safer for her ang mag-dorm na lang. though madami din loko-loko talaga outside the campus.

[billy]

Yes sis, UST din siya like us. Pag umuulan, naku, super worried talaga ako. Maski siya, tipong papasok pa lang, naiimagine na niya ang ordeal hehe Buti na lang talaga, my daughter is masipag, she loves her course and school.

[mooncake and leaves]

that's very good. oo wawa din kids kapag bumabiyahe nang malayo. sayang yung catalina kung giniba na. all girls dun eh tapos very strict. saka ok naman mga nagdu-dorm dun.

meron ding dorm sa loob ng UST di ba? pero mahal. tapos parang for boys lang ata.

[billy]

One of my kumares (classmate/barkada ko nung college then ninang ng daughter ko), sa dorm din siya sa Dapitan side, run by nuns too. I don't know kung buhay pa - yung dorm at yung mga madre.

There's a new dorm in the Noval side, ngayong SY pa lang siya mag-open, yun ang tinitingnan namin.

[cindylulu]

^sis i can recommend immaculate conception ladies hall at espana corner cayco. tapat ito ng main gate of UST. i lived there when i was reviewing for the board. it's run by the rvm sisters. saw a link, here it is http://www.rvmonline.net/?q=iclh. hope this helps 

[billy]

^Uy thanks sis! Ok din sa Espana side, although you have to use the overpass.

[Pretty_ava]

^^sis I stayed sa dorm na yun for just a semester, that was 2003 I think.  I studied at CEU pero dun ako nag dorm din nag transfer na ko ulet sa aprtment kasama ko mga pinsan ko sa Pureza.  very strict sa drom na yun, may curfew and all.  Maganda dun and safe din.

[billy]

Oo nga, gusto rin namin yung strict ang admin. Sa curfew naman, may times na late na nakakaalis ng UST ang daughter ko, pag may activities, so sana mapag-usapan din namin with the dorm admin yun. Ayaw din ng husband ko yung maluwag sa visitors (except for parents hehe).

[prettybarbie]

naku sis tama yan...nag dorm din ako when i was in college.... yung dorm ko dati hindi sila strict sa mga bisita kaya party dito party don.... Enjoy na enjoy ko ang freedom ko non LOL 
tama yung naisip mo na humanap ng dorm na strict ang admin and sana all ladies dorm.... mas okay din sana na solo nya yung room, dahil sa totoo lang mahirap yung may ibang kasama sa kwarto... okay din kung may 24 hour na guard para hindi ka nag aalala sa safety nya don...and yung may canteen na din.

living away from home just might be the best chance to learn independence pero ask yourself first: is she trustworthy and mature enough to be able to handle herself well, is she really ready? If yes, then go, just make sure its a reliable establishment. Actually, better if the dorm is run by the school itself.

[princessee]

Dear worried mommy, I understand where you are coming from. Hehe. I am 22 years old po (second courser) and was allowed to rent out an apartment since our place is far from my school. I rented out a small studio unit few meters away from my school. I share the toilet and bathroom with 2 others, one of them is a classmate. Actually I only stayed there for 3 months, just until my summer classes finished and I decided to make do with the hassle of commuting again everyday from Recto to Rizal.

First and foremost only child po ako, middle class family lang kami pero I must say hindi ako sanay gumawa ng chores kasi there's always mama and papa who does everything for me. Hehe. Nung nagstay ako sa apartment, I learned how to discipline myself, from time management to budgeting. Mind you mas magimik pa po ako nung uwian kaysa nung nagrent ako. Mas marami kasing excuse to go home late kapag malayo ang bahay. Sa dorm, I clean my room everyday, I wash some of my clothes (My parents see to it that they visit me every Wed so they get my laundry na din), I clean the toilet, I do the groceries, I fend for myself.  Simpleng mga bagay na hindi ko nagagawa nung nasa bahay ako. Nandun yung hirap kasi feeling ko kawawa ako pero at the same time sobrang liberating din yung feeling. 

Kung buo naman po yung trust niyo sa inyong baby, then you have no worries po. Sooner or later papasalamatan niya rin po kayo kasi may mga bagay na natututunan mo lang pag mag-isa ka. Heehee.

[billy]

thank you mga sis for your posts.

as much as possible, ayaw sana namin ng apartment, unless I have an older relative na pwedeng maging mother-motheran dun hehe sa dorm, para mas regulated. yes, yung daughter ko, di masyado on chores, kasi may maid at yaya sa bahay, pero sa ibang bagay, independent siya. maliit pa lang, hinihiram na kasi ng mga tita ko, kaya sanay na matulog sa ibang bahay, sanay na siya lang, etc. dun sa aspect na yun, kampante ako.

[domestic diva]

Hi fellow Thomasian mommy!
Have you chosen a dorm for you panganay yet? Sta. Catalina was the dorm then. Am not sure now but if you want na strict admin, ask them about their curfew hours, etc. I dormed on the P. Noval side but only for a year, then nag-bedspacing ako with friends so halos amin na ang buong room so it was fun. Then I moved to an apartment with friends din. 

In the dorm, may mga malikot din ang kamay, so ingat lagi. Don't leave your stuff around. Lock it up if not in use. Everything has to be labeled, including uniform (kung may tag). Some dorms allow you to bring a basin (to wash your underwears, etc) and clothes pins (they provide a place for you to dry your clothes). We brought our own foldable cabinets too. You can lock those but kung malikot ang kamay ng dorm mates mo, they can slash it. Night lamps for studying if the dorm doesn't have a study hall or if your daughter prefers to study in her room. And trusty electric fan if dorm isn't aircon or they don't provide it.

Hope this helps, sis billy!

Good for you princessee! I was like you back in the day! I learned to budget and fend for myself and study!

[billy]

^Hi sis, yes, there's a new dorm opening this July. as in for completion pa yung building when we had an ocular. actually, isang street pa siya past P. Noval. ok ba dun? nagustuhan na kasi niya when we went there. ayaw nang tumingin sa iba. eh sa Lacson nga siya mas malapit sa totoo lang ((sa Albertus Magnus bldg siya).

The rooms have built-in drawers, bunk beds (for four sana ang afford namin), with own CR.

Thank you thank you sa mga tips/suggestions!

[domestic diva]

^Is that J. Barlin Street? Wow, I haven't been to UST in years so I have no idea about the buildings going up. If I may ask,  how much is the room good for 4 occupants? At least they have their own CR na.

[billy]

Haha seriously I forgot, parang Tolentino or Delos Reyes, kaloka. Hirap din mag-park. Sabi ko nga sa husband ko, paano pag mag-drop by siya ng biglaan, walang parking slots.

Yung Albertus Magnus, parang Educ building yun ng time natin (?).

The room is Php12k to 13k. Mas mahal ng konti pag corner room, yung may view ng street.

[chacha.12]

hello po! im also UST alumna, and nagstay po ako sa dorm. naku, just like your daughter po, second year din ako nagstart. naawa ata sa kin mommy ko dahil 3 sakay ako papunta at 4 na sakay ako pauwi. at mukha talaga akong inapi kapag umuulan hehe.

along dapitan po ako nagdorm. beside wendy's (hehe alam na). may curfew, log in/out, at may access badge pa talaga. though hindi naman talaga sila super strict as compared sa ibang dorm kasi pwede kami magpapasok ng friends as long as naka-log talaga. at syempre bawal ang boys. :p

swertihan lang din po sa roommates. we were 8 in a room. sobrang gulo at saya! nung 3rd year ko na dun (4th yr graduating) lang ako nakaencounter ng pasaway at pala away na room mate. freshman po un ah! grabe.. i graduated 5 years ago pero upto now lumalabas at nakausap ko pa sila. so sort of nadagdagan yung mga kapatid ko kasi iba talaga yung friendship at bonding na nabuo sa dorm.

downside lang po talaga yung malayo ka sa family. umiiyak po ako lagi pag first day ng school year kasi namimiss ko family ko. pero i see to it na every night ako tumatawag and/or text. pag lalabas ako alam nila. trust lang po talaga. alam naman kasi ni mommy na hindi ako marunong magsinungaling. magaling din kasi talaga makahuli yun hehe.

and siguro po just like mom, kaibiganin nyo din yung head/landlady at security guard. 

[billy]

^Hi thank you sa reply. One month to go, and sa dorm na ang daughter ko. Parang mahirap nga sa umpisa, lalo na't first time ito. Pero just look on the positive side, mas makakapahinga siya sa biyahe at pagsakay-sakay. Actually, kasama niya yung isa niyang schoolmate since Grade 1. Kaya namin pinayagan dahil at least may kasama siyang kilala namin. Pati mommy ng friend niya, kaya lang din pumayag dahil dun. Sana mabait ang makasama nila sa room

[agape]

When we were in college, my friend nag dorm din. Maraming influences, so sana strong na ang values ng student para di madaling ma-bad influence. Buti lang kami we choose our friends kung kanino kami sasama.

[sugardrop]

When I was in college, I did for only 3 months. Homesick and iba pag iba-ibang tao kasama mo though I lived with classmates.