The Hostel Life Chronicles: Friendships, Food, and Fun

If you’ve ever lived in a hostel, you get it, it’s more than just a place to sleep. It’s the place where friendships come alive over late-night Maggi sessions, where laughter is louder than alarms, and where memories can be made faster than the internet (which, let’s face it, can be hit or miss sometimes) and if you're at Parul University, then welcome to one of the coolest hostel cultures in the market, because this place? Feels like home. So buckle up as we take you through the unfiltered, unedited, and unforgettable world of hostel life: through the lenses of friendships, food, and fun.  

 Friendships: From Strangers to Best Friends: 

With a trolley bag and an anxiously excited heart, you enter the room. After practicing your introduction five times in front of the mirror and worrying if you'll get on with them, there they are. A stranger, and a few weeks later, they’re the person who knows your coffee order, your exam panic face, and your weird habits and kicks. 

Hostel friendships are the real deal. They are the result of random dance-offs during cleaning days, 3 AM discussions about life, and exploring new places together. They aren't just friends, they are your therapists, fashion critics, and sometimes even alarm clocks so you don't miss your early morning class.  

The hostel life at Parul University creates a community you never thought you needed, whether you're cribbing about assignments, pulling all-nighters with coffee and chaos, or sipping chai by the hostel gate while talking about what happens next. 

The amazing part? Making friends is not something you "plan" to do. It just happens, one samosa at a time. 

Food Tales: The Real Masala of Hostel Life: 

Now let’s talk about what actually drives a hostel - the food. 

When you think of hostel life, food is often a topic that comes up in conversation. It’s not just about what’s on your plate; it’s about the memories you make around it. 

At Parul University, the menu's diversity is what makes it special. On any given day, you might go in and find the spicy kick of a classic North Indian rajma-chawal combo or the comforting warmth of South Indian Idlis and Chutney. The best part is not just the dish but also in how you end up tasting the culture of the person seated across the table. 

While you may miss homemade meals on some days, you also learn that Sunday puri bhaji tastes different and Gulab Jamun has its devoted fan base. 

And then, when mess food is a little too far (usually during exam week or post-football practice), the food courts take the spotlight. The food courts at Parul University are every student’s cheat day heaven. You get everything from soupy momos and cheesy sandwiches, to chaat counters that can make you drool.  

Festivals, Feasts, and Firsts: 

One of the most underrated joys of hostel life is how every event becomes so much bigger when you’re experiencing it with a hundred other people who’ve all turned into your extended family.  And, at Parul University, celebrations don’t wait for the calendar; they just need a vibe.  

Apart from festivals, events like the literature fest and food fests break the daily routine in the best way. You end up finding things about people you never met like someone who writes, someone who dances, and someone who just came for the free food but decided to stay for the open mic. 

Navratri stands out, not just because it’s Gujarat, but because you get to see everyone dressed up, out of their usual hostel wear, dancing like exams don’t exist.  

There’s something about these moments, they’re chaotic, unplanned, sometimes overcrowded, but they turn into memories you’ll come back to long after hostel life is over.   

 Late Nights and Life Lessons: 

But beyond the food and the fun, there’s something unique about hostel life, the growing-up part. It's in how you start to wake up to your alarm clock (well, sometimes). You slowly learn how to do laundry without causing your T-shirt to shrink and how to handle your monthly budget.   

And how you start cleaning your room, not because your mom asked, but because you need your space to look like home.  

You learn how to coexist, adapt, fight, make amends, and share space both physically and emotionally. You start to understand that some people just need silence and earbuds at two in the morning, and that not everyone enjoys loud music.  

That One Spot: 

Every hosteller has that one spot.  Maybe it’s a bench near the garden where your friends meet after dinner. Maybe it's a secret place near the block where the Wi-Fi works like magic.  Or maybe it's a balcony where you go to hide from the world. It is yours, whatever it is.  And it slowly becomes a part of your story. 

Conclusion:  

You might outgrow your taste, your playlists, and even your clothes. But you will never forget the friendships, memories, and the joy that hostel life provided  

Because even after you graduate from Parul University, you will still be in Room 213 with your roommates, dancing to a random Bollywood song at one in the morning. So here’s to hostel life at Parul University, where every corridor holds memories, every meal becomes a discussion, and friends that turn into family. 

Note: The views expressed in this article are of Parul University and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha