<p>does each customs group have its own personality? What if your customs group doesn’t fit your personality?</p>
<p>No… I think there’s enough craziness to go around. Customs groups are very diverse in terms of personalities and that really encourages you to get out of your comfort zone. There’s no way HC “plans” each group in terms of personalities as such logistics would be impossible: rather, I think customs groups represent a microcosm of the college. Customs groups are meant as an immediate “safety” net where kids can get immediate support to then explore the Bi-college at their own speed. I really like the idea of a “formal” social group for incoming students… almost like a “family”. The benefit is that, like a “family”, you have to learn to respect or at least learn to adapt to other people’s quirks and personalities. Also, to add to this, there are facilitated discussions on sexuality, race, class, sexual violence… pretty heavy and intimate stuff that leads to further bonding and learning. I think that if you just “lived on a hall with people” without a customs group type arrangement (an assumed and vested interest in this communal/intimate entity) it would be easier to go about your normal way and ignore people (or just civilly say “hi” to them in passing) and search out those with more similar backgrounds and personalities. I think the system works pretty well and I’m not just writing that cause I was a customs person… or maybe I am. </p>
<p>There’s so much value in living with people who don’t “fit your presonality”… I guess I can share personal annecdotes if interested and at a later time.</p>