A SLICE OF STUDENT LIFE: Finding heaven in my first flat

“Why did you decide to move off campus?” The big question that I have heard about a thousand times since the new first years joined my college.

“Well, I simply wanted to,” I replied. But, let’s be honest, nothing in life is ever as simple as cooking rice (and even that can get complicated).

Let me rewind time a bit…

Somewhere in February 2021 my fingers speedily typed across the cell phone screen: “Flats to hire, Cape Town.” The exciting thought of moving into my own place crawled like goosebumps over my body. However, soon reality crushed my dreams, because the truth hammered me: This ‘dream’ was mere smoke.

Fast forward 7 months later and Walt Disney’s saying: “If you can dream it, you can do it,” started to manifest in my life. As I, again, searched for a new beginning, my eyes lit up. There it was: A two-bedroom flat, within my budget, surrounded by mountains, immeasurable green lawns, and a big swimming pool. I had found heaven. Very well, I might be exaggerating a little bit, but this place piqued my interest.

Within a month I signed the lease agreement. And off I went.

Soon thereafter I started preparing myself for the big move, the way doomers prepare for the end of the world.

My black cell phone housed two critical apps: Number one: WhatsApp chat with my mother. Here lay thousands of papers providing THE BUDGET. In fact, there was a budget for each item: The fan, the microwave, the plates and even the ironing board.

Number two: The Notes folder with its TO DO LIST. Inside lay about 100 steps that not even the greatest gym junkies could climb. One may only progress for each strenuous task completed. A few examples included: Pack literally everything you have ever owned into a few boxes, go on a magical quest to find a trailer. Then, level up: learn how to drive the magical trailer, and buy everything for your flat (yes, the ironing board as well).

‘Hold up’ you are probably thinking. ‘That sounds way too easy.’ No, no it is not. If you have ever walked through the valley of death as you finish the TO DO LIST, you will understand that moving into a new place is no easy task.

“Then why did you decide to move off campus?” the question perpetually repeats in my mind.

I have never thought about it so deeply. But as I stared at the beautiful mountains through my bedroom window, I realised the answer.

Moving is like riding a rollercoaster (cliché, I know, but it’s the truth.) Reality chokes as you realise how expensive life is (and how expensive a vacuum cleaner is). It exhausts you. However, moving is also beautiful. The excitement of shopping for your new place, the pleasure of welcoming friends into your very own space and the peace you find in your newly found comfort zone, do not compare to the temporary trial faced.

Finally, to answer the question, I moved for myself, because here I truly found a little piece of heaven.


Sareez Basson