Monday: $2.05 spent
As I made my way to Carleton’s campus on a Monday morning, I still hadn’t quite grasped what I’d gotten myself into. After coughing up $2.05 for a chicken samosa lunch, I discovered one of the most beautiful and yet underrated benefits of being a student: on-campus events that provide free food.
Not only did I stuff my face — with no shame — via multiple helpings of hors d’oeuvres, but there was also free wine. Bedtime in the Loeb Building was fun — if you like being woken up by the sound of a janitor mopping the floor two feet away from you at 2 a.m.
Tuesday: Swimming was a bad choice
Hunger hit hard Tuesday and my decision to go for an early morning swim certainly didn’t help. Luckily Oxfam was giving out free pancakes, but besides some free vegetables, a quick scan of Carleton’s events calendar revealed the rest of the day wouldn’t be so easy. Desperation called.
Luckily I thought ahead and had my roommate bring me some canned goods. Lunch consisted of a can of salmon and about half a dozen soup crackers courtesy of Rooster’s Coffeehouse, and dinner was a can of chili.
I had the bright idea of checking out the Architecture building for a place to crash. I’m not sure whether it was the pajama pants or the blanket wrapped around myself, or the fact that the blanket had a Toronto Maple Leafs logo on it, but I was greeted with odd stares. So we ended up on the couches behind Starbucks in the Unicentre atrium, and I got a solid five-hour sleep.
Wednesday: Grapes and Alcohol
Wednesday was a good day. It started out with a free networking event in the morning, but as you may have already guessed we weren’t there for the networking. After filling up on fruit, croissants and sausages I made sure to grab a bagel and jam for later. I don’t think anyone saw me sneak it out, but frankly, I didn’t care.
Then around 8 p.m. a different kind of breaking news hit in the Charlatan office. We received word that there was a reception happening outside Azrieli Theatre. I literally booked it down there and filled my stomach. And it got better — three free beers better.
Thursday: What sleep?
After my first Garden Spot breakfast I had to head over to work. But I made sure to come right back to campus, and no, I didn’t cheat. Lunch on Thursday may have been my low point. I was aware of a talk in Robertson Hall, but it had already started and I didn’t want to interrupt. After hearing the applause I made my way into the room and grabbed a ham and cheese sandwich and took a second for the road.
And technically I didn’t sleep out on any couches, but with a paper due Friday morning, I pulled an all-nighter in the Charlatan office.
Friday: Beautiful friend; this is the end
On Thursday I came across the schedule for a graduate conference with two awesome perks: breakfast and lunch for attendees. This added up to my first peanut butter and jam experience, and about half a dozen sandwiches for lunch.
I learned a lot from my week of living on campus. One: old men in change rooms do what they want. Two, there are endless free events to feed students on campus. Three, I could probably last the school year, but I think I’d go insane.
My new motto: Live by the free food, die by the free food.