The Perils of a Four Hour Gap at IBA

As freshmen, we were spared from participating in the rat race of online enrollment for our first semester- an action that sounded charitable at first. On closer inspection, however, it became apparent that this comfort had come with a price- in the form of very long days where I had a four-hour gap before my next class. For someone who prefers her bed more than any place in the world, staying idle for four hours at university proved to be a painful challenge.

Friends that became Family

Fortunately, I was not alone in this mess. I quickly found friends with schedules similar or even worse than mine. And together, we managed to come up with creative ways to pass the time. Some days we would spend the entire day just roaming around, exploring the different areas on and around campus. For us everyday became a learning experience for the space we would call our own for the next four years. Firstly, we tried out every canteen in both IBA and KU, ranking each one’s food and ambiance. Hence, deciding favourite dishes as well as ones we would never order again. We played every indoor game there was with vigor, whether it be charades, ludo, or bluff. By the end of the semester, we had designated a hangout spot, breakfast spot, and study spot, visiting each almost religiously.

Of course, there were also days when I didn’t feel like moving at all. I would sit in either the library or the Girl’s Common Room with my head in a book. Or watching the clock counting down the minutes until I could go home. I would turn down all offers of lunch, games, and socializing on days like these, and simply wait.

Before we knew it, four months had flown by. Looking back, I realize that although the idea of a four-hour gap was very tiresome, however, it ended up being the reason for so many memories and friendships. If I had spent that initial semester just jumping from class to home, these experiences would have probably not existed and for that, I am thankful.