5 reasons to move into a corridor

After getting admitted the first question is usually: where should I live? The most common option among international students is to move into a corridor room. They are about 20m² with a bathroom and a built-in closet in the entry way. Some are even furnished further. Of course, as it is the most offered and convenient housing option many consider it.

But after 1.5 years in a corridor, I can tell you that these are the real reasons you should move into a corridor room:

1. Meet new people

Meeting new people here in Linköping definitely isn’t an issue. There are so many events especially during the welcoming period, so the international students get to know each other. After some time however you start sticking with your fellow students from your programme. At least that happened to me. By living in a corridor, I also got to know people from other programmes and their friends. I wouldn’t have met my Swedish corridor mates, as we are in very different programmes and friend groups. They have helped me out quite few times while living in Sweden mainly with language issues.

2. Taste new foods

Since I moved into the corridor, I have gotten to know so many new dishes. In my corridor we try to do as many corridor dinners as possible, which isn’t that easily done with everybody as we are 8 people with very different schedules. But we make it work. We have tried to do country specific food depending on who is cooking. As I don’t really like cooking it has been great to taste dishes from different countries and cultures. Actually, I have found one of my favourite dishes this way. It is an Indian chicken dish called Chicken Manchurian.

3. Movie marathons

My corridor is quite active when it comes to movie marathons or movie nights in general. Our marathons are stretched over a few days or weeks though, since we all study/work and can’t really send hours We have watched the Star Wars movies, the Fast and Furious movies and of course the Shrek movies. I have not been able to convince them to watch Harry Potter, but I’ll get there eventually. Then sometimes we just watch Disney movies that we feel like in the moment. Often friends that live a building over join too. And of course on movie night would be complete without our choice of snack: popcorn!

4. Random watch parties

You might think that this a repetitive point. However, it is a very different situation. Someone will be in the kitchen watch a TV show, a football match or a Formula 1 race and people just join in on the couch. This happens on the regular in my corridor. Suddenly someone pulls out popcorn and it’s become a corridor watch party.

5. Privacy

You might find this a bit confusing as technically you live together with 7 other people. But I think regardless everybody really has their private space. This is mainly due to the fact that everyone has their own bathroom. If I don’t feel up to having people around, I can stay in my room which is also big enough for it not to feel restricting. And honestly everyone in the corridor is fine with it and also does it.

All the activities in the corridor depend of course on the people living in it. You do have to make a bit of an effort! But then it is great fun and pretty chill at the same time!