Bathroom situation: I suppose I got over this because I went to summer camp (though I know people who went through much worse, anyone heard of camp Harlam and its communal showers??!?!). I also have only had to share my bathroom with 3 other people at college because I live in Brown, but at camp it was 10 kids and 2 counselors to 1 shower. We actually scheduled when people liked taking showers and kept to the schedule (I went to arts camp, and did sculpture and other messy things before lunch, so I liked to shower after that and got to sleep in). I actually still take afternoon showers at college, because no one else is in there at that time. My roommate takes night showers. In any case, the showers at UVA have curtains so it's not like anyone can see you, just hang your towel right by the shower so you can pull it through the curtain with no one seeing when you're done and no one is going to be looking at you anyways. I like to sing (in the shower), and don't do it at school as much as at home (I've only ever sung in the shower a few times at school actually), but funnily enough whoever is around when I am showering and singing tells me I should do it more often, lol! (I'm in 2 singing groups in CVille). So really no one cares what you do, just be confident in yourself and be clean, lol. Just get yourself a good shower caddy and shower flip flops and you'll be good to go (you could also get a robe if walking around your hall in just a towel is not your thing). At least you're not on the Lawn, where you have to go OUTSIDE in that touristy area to get to the bathrooms to shower!
And the UVA site said that orientation dates don't impact your chances of getting into classes...is that true? My orientation is Jult 16-17 so it's pretty late. Does that mean my chances of getting the classes I want are that much lower?
You'll be fine. See the orientation thread and the blog.
Wait db...why would you end up walking around the hall in a towel? Can't you just change in the shower?
Will we need extra shelves in Bonnycastle? How many drawers do we get there because we don't have captain's beds? And are the bed sizes the same as the bed sizes of other old dorms?
the shower (walls, floor) is all wet after you shower, i'm not sure you'd want to change IN it, you'd proly just want to change in your own room?
if your captain's bed doesn't have drawers i'm not sure there ARE any, you proly have to bring plastic storage containers like new dorms to put underneath.
you should proly just plan a trip to target with your parents once you get to the dorm and assess the situation yourself?
I lived in alderman my first year. We had 2 showers for 11 girls, but everyone took showers at different times. We had an unofficial system, so it was pretty great. I usually just went back and changed in my room....so I didn't really have an issue with privacy. It might seem less private in old dorms (they have a lot more showers since it's for the whole hall)....but it's not anything you need to worry about.
Where would we change in our rooms? What about roommates? You can't just change in your rooms, especially since the room is like one box without any other personal space...right?
And in Bonnycastle we have bunkable beds without the drawers but I heard there were some built into the closet. Is that true?
You could get a screen to change behind if you're really concerned, but your roommate will probably either be asleep, not in the room (earlier class or showering after you), or at her computer not looking at you, so just turn towards the wall or something. At camp, we got really good at maneuvers like changing into a new bra without showing anything, especially things like bathing suits, since a bunk was similar except 10 girls not just 2, and we'd all be in there at the same time. You could also change in a toilet stall since that has a door (I have done that a few times).
Location: South Portland ME (born in Singapore) --> UVA 2012
Posts: 2,990
I thought guys were more uncomfortable about changing in each other's presence than girls... eventually changing stopped becoming a big deal. Trust me, after having to carry your roommate back to his bed and clean him up (alcohol...), you won't fret about changing anymore.
LOL it's okay. I feel like almost all first years have this fear coming in (showering, dressing, going to the bathroom, etc. in front of others). You'll get over it.
And the reason hazel presented is exactly why you walk back to your room in a towel/robe. The shower is sopping wet and it isn't big enough for you to change in without getting your clothes wet.
All this bathroom talk brings up another point:
Treat your housekeeper kindly and show them some respect. They are the keepers of your toilet paper and washers of the showers. Girls especially. Everyone's cycles start to match up to those who take birth control in your hall (or suite), so almost all of you will be experiencing your "lady time" within a week of each other. So, if your housekeeper decides to not take the trash out, you can imagine how inconvenient it gets with 30 girls using the bathroom regularly. Some things that ticked my housekeeper off: people throwing food into the bathroom trash can instead of their own; it attracted ants. People leaving their dishes/toothbrushes/towels on the sink. They clean the sinks with powerful bleach so if they come across your toothbrush, they'll throw it out because they don't want the chance of you sticking a chemically laden toothbrush in your mouth. Not picking up after yourself, etc. Some common courtesy is all they ask.
1) Can anyone tell me about the beds in Mary Munford? Are they captain's bed like the ones in Hereford, or is there space underneath them? Also, how long are they? I was buying sheets today and the salesman said dorm beds are universally longer than regular beds, so I figured I should ask before I buy the sheets.
2) Would it be wise to bring a dust buster or something similar with me?
3) Re: laundry, someone mentioned that the washers are dirty. Is that an issue in Mary Munford? Do I need to bring my own detergent? Is there anything really important I should know about laundry that hasn't been mentioned previously?
4) During orientation, the showers were absolutely frigid. Is this the case year-round? It made me a little nervous. :P
Thank you all so much! This thread has been incredibly helpful.
Location: South Portland ME (born in Singapore) --> UVA 2012
Posts: 2,990
Hey, an IRCer!
I've washed my laundry in Munford when the Gwathmey washers were full. No it's not that the washers are dirty, they just don't do a complete job sometimes, especially with bigger loads, and you don't want to shell out another 1.50 to clean your clothes twice...
The IRC beds are captain-style beds, at least from Gwathmey and IIRC Munford.
Munford girls have larger rooms and larger beds than Gwathmey boys.
Munford is newer than Gwathmey... for Gwathmey I never had an issue with hot water. Except when people flushed the toilet and the ancient plumbing would threaten to scald me. I don't think the Munford girls have this problem.
There is a lot of random housekeeping equipment in the storerooms ... I wouldn't be surprised to find a dustbuster among them. We had like 2 vacuum cleaners on 3rd floor Gwathmey.
I like to sing (in the shower), and don't do it at school as much as at home (I've only ever sung in the shower a few times at school actually), but funnily enough whoever is around when I am showering and singing tells me I should do it more often, lol! (I'm in 2 singing groups in CVille). So really no one cares what you do, just be confident in yourself and be clean, lol. 
Just get yourself a good shower caddy and shower flip flops and you'll be good to go (you could also get a robe if walking around your hall in just a towel is not your thing). At least you're not on the Lawn, where you have to go OUTSIDE in that touristy area to get to the bathrooms to shower!
