Two Places I Live

張貼日期：Mar 31, 2012 9:39:8 AM

Two Places I Live

Connie Lien

When I was a freshman, there was one difference between my classmates and me. Most of my classmates who come from the south of Taiwan lived in the school dormitory. But I didn’t have the chance to live in the dormitory. The only thing that I could do was renting a room off campus. Therefore, I rented a room with an unfamiliar girl who also comes from my hometown. However, I had a chance to live in the school dormitory when I was a sophomore. In the process, I found that there are three differences between the school dormitory and an apartment.

The first difference is the rent. I remember I paid thirty seven thousand and five hundred to rent a room off campus for one semester. This was the first time that I felt the houses are so expensive in Yangmingshan. At that time, I didn’t have choice so I had to pay the expensive rent. By contrast, the rent for the school dormitory is much cheaper. If I live in the school dormitory, I just need to pay ten thousand for one semester. The rent for an off-campus room can let me live in the school dormitory for three semesters. The price is one of the important factors that affect me when I look for a place to live.

The second difference is security. The school dormitory has time limit. Students have to return to the dormitory before twelve o’clock at midnight. There is also an additional rule for the girls’ dormitory. The boys are not allowed to enter the girls’ dormitory. By contrast, there is no time limit for a room outside. Some people say there is more freedom living off campus. However, it is dangerous that girls stay outside too late. If I rent a room outside, the next door neighbors may be boys. Things get complicated if girls and boys live in the same building.

The last difference is roommates. When I lived in an apartment, I had one roommate. I could take good rest when I was tired. However, I have five roommates when I live in the dormitory. The advantage is that I can chat with them when I feel bored. But the problem is it is so noisy in the room that I can’t take good rest. Also, everyone has their way of life. I have my habits and schedules. That means I have to adapt to the lifestyle of different people.

The three differences between the dormitory room and an apartment room off campus are price, security and roommates. From my experiences, I find out that I prefer to live in the school dormitory. The “price” is the key reason why I choose the dormitory. House rent is expensive in Taipei, especially on Yangmingshan. The other two elements are therefore not big problems for me. And I am now enjoying the dorm life.