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How to Keep in Touch with University Friends Over the Summer

Going home for the summer can be a shock to the system. Your life is suddenly different, as you’re back to living with family and far from the people you spend every day with. You’re used to being able to see your friends whenever you want — now, you need to put in extra effort to stay in touch. To keep your friendships strong for when you return in the fall, there are a few things you need to do. 1. Choose a Way to Stay Connected Pick a platform that all your friends like to use. This may be texting, social media, or even regular video chats. Consider how busy you’ll be over the summer and be realistic about how often you’ll be able to check in with your friends. Bear in mind that some of your summer activities may take up a large amount of your time and you’ll likely want to spend time with family and hometown friends. Besides, it’s not good for your mental health to be constantly connected online. 2. Send Interesting Updates Always have a reason to reach out to your friends — don’t just say “Hi” and expect them to provide a topic of conversation. Share news about what you’ve been doing or ask followup questions about things they told you about previously. Failing that, you can always reflect on the great memories you have from university. 3. Make a Group Text If you have a close-knit group of friends, it may be worth starting a group text where you can all chat together. You may even like to set up a few if you have various groups of friends at university, such as one for your friends taking the same major, another for your sports team, and another for those who attend the same campus club. Chatting in a group makes it easier to keep the conversation flowing and means you don’t need to message each person individually with your news. 4. Celebrate Birthdays and Holidays Remember your university friends during important events , such as holidays. If any of your friends have birthdays over the summer, send them a special message or perhaps a small gift. 5. Meet Up The best way of all to stay in touch with your friends over the summer is to actually see them. Organize some trips to visit them where they live or ask them to visit you. You could even plan a road trip with a group of friends and pay each person’s hometown a visit. Alternatively, you may prefer to stay in your university town over the summer instead of going back to your hometown. This will mean you can take advantage of various opportunities over the summer, such as an internship, summer classes, or the chance to continue working at your part-time job. Plus, you’ll be around all your friends who also decided to stay. To make this possible, all you need to do is find student apartments. Ottawa students should look no further than 1Eleven. You’ll be able to spend your free time over the summer in the fitness centre , the games room, and your large suite, which is perfect for entertaining. Book a tour to check out your new space

The Pros and Cons of Each Housing Option for Students

One of the biggest decisions you need to make when starting university is where you’re going to live. Making the right decision will ensure you’re comfortable and happy during your time at university and able to do well academically. There are pros and cons to each option — make sure you evaluate them carefully to figure out what’s right for you. 1. Student Residence Many students choose to live in residence when they start university. An obvious benefit is the convenience, as living on campus means you’re close to your classes. It also simplifies things for students who don’t yet know anyone, as they don’t need to find roommates to share with — the university does this for them. Students also like living in residence because it gives them a chance to meet more people quickly. Living in a student residence usually means sharing a bedroom with at least one other person and sharing communal living spaces with all the other students on your floor. There may be a bathroom to every bedroom or just one for the whole floor. A major disadvantage to this setup is the lack of privacy. You’ll also have limited space for your belongings and no chance to prepare anything more than the simplest meals (students need to purchase a meal plan). Lastly, student residence tends to be more expensive than other housing options. Whether you’re comfortable in student residence will depend a lot on how happy you are to be around other people all the time, who is your roommate, and if you get along with the other students on your floor. 2. Renting an Apartment with Other Students After their first year, many students choose to move off campus and into an apartment with other students. It’s also possible to do this from the start — it just requires some extra work, as you’ll need to find potential roommates, such as by using social media. A major advantage to living in your own apartment is you’ll have a private bedroom and perhaps an en suite bathroom. Typically, apartments are furnished , including with a fully-equipped kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. The best apartments are within walking distance of campus — it’s important to start your search early if you want to secure one of these. Living farther from campus will mean you need to figure out transport. Another potential downside is you’ll need to be more independent, such as paying bills and sending maintenance requests to your landlord. 3. Renting Your Own Apartment Students who want their own space and are concerned about living with people they don’t get along with (especially during their first year before they’ve had the chance to make friends) sometimes choose to rent their own apartments. This is not ideal for everyone — for instance, you may end up spending much less time around other students. As it’s also more expensive than sharing an apartment, you’ll need to consider whether it’s within your budget. 4. Living at Home Staying at home is only an option if you’re attending university near where you already live. Whereas this is definitely the cheap choice, it will mean you miss out on some major aspects of the student experience. You may also have a much longer commute than most students, which may mean waking up extra early to make it to class on time and missing out on activities in the evenings. It’s typically only mature students who have families of their own and students who need to care for a parent, sibling, or grandparent who choose to do this. It should be clear now that there are far more pros and fewer cons to having an apartment than living at home or in student residence. Ottawa students can find the ideal off-campus housing at 1Eleven. This has none of the disadvantages of some off-campus apartments — for instance, we’re just steps for campus, rent includes utilities, and you have the option to live with friends, ask us to match you with roommates, or even live in your own bachelor apartment. Book a tour to see where you could be living.

7 Dollar Store Tricks for Student Living

Being able to decorate your student apartment any way you like is an exciting prospect — until you realize how much this will cost if you purchase readymade decor. However, decorating doesn’t need to be expensive. Many items you can pick up from the dollar store are ideal for DIY decor that will give your student living space the exact kind of look and feel you want. Here are some ideas to get you started. 1. Headboard Whereas a store-bought headboard is expensive, making one yourself costs almost nothing. Your options for materials to use are almost endless — for instance, you could use frames, placemats, or wood pallets. To give the headboard more character, add fabric or spray paint. 2. Message Board It’s great to have a message board (or even a couple) in your student apartment. You can use them to leave notes to your roommates, write reminders to yourself, or post inspiring messages. Rather than purchasing a white board , make one yourself from a picture frame. Simply paint the glass backing ( perhaps in a few different colours ) and then put it back into the frame. This will result in a much more fun look than a plain white board and it will be much cheaper. 3. Mirror Frame Turn the regular mirror hanging on your wall into a piece of art by decorating the frame with items you find at the dollar store. Options include a basket, tassels, and even PVC pipe cut into rings and arranged around the mirror in a pattern. 4. Inflatable Couch If you want some extra seating for your living room, look for an inflatable couch. This is great for increasing the number of people you can invite over for movie night and it makes for a great spot for photos before a night out. Plus, you can easily store the couch away whenever you want more space as well as when you’re moving out. 5. Adhesive Tiles There are ways to decorate every room in your student apartment. For the bathroom, use adhesive tiles. There’s no need to cover the entire room — just add a few tiles for visual interest in one area, such as around the sink or towel rack. When you move out, you’ll be able to remove the tiles without damaging the walls. 6. Hula Hoop Shelf To gain more room to store items, take full advantage of vertical space. One creative solution is to make a shelf from two hula hoops attached to a couple planks of wood. Use no-damage wall hooks with adhesive strips to secure your shelf to the wall. 7. Wooden Boxes Another solution for shelves is to use wooden boxes. Paint them to match the aesthetics of the rest of your room and fill them with small items that may otherwise lead to clutter. You’ll also spend less if you choose fully-furnished student living. Ottawa students will find the perfect home at 1Eleven. Our spacious apartments come with everything you need to be comfortable. As well as your private bedroom, you’ll have a kitchen, living room, and en suite or shared bathroom. Contact us now to secure the floor plan you want.

8 Ideas for Catching Up with Hometown Friends

You may have gone all semester without seeing your hometown friends in person. Now that the summer’s here, you have the chance to catch up. If you’re stuck for ideas of what to do, consider some of the following activities. 1. Take a Photo a Day If you have the chance to spend every day of the summer with at least one friend, make sure you take a photo each day. You can then use the photos to make a collage at the end of summer that you share with your friends — it will make for some great student living decor. 2. Have a Barbecue Host a barbecue in your backyard and invite all your hometown friends over. If you’ve never grilled before, now’s the time to learn. 3. Face Your Fears Together Have each of your friends share a phobia and plan a day to face your fears together. This could mean climbing to the top of a high building and looking out of the window, letting a spider crawl up your arm, or riding the scariest roller coaster in a nearby amusement park. 4. Perform Random Acts of Kindness Spend a day out finding ways to practice random acts of kindness. These may be as simple as being courteous to other drivers when you’re out on the road or holding the door for someone to donating blood, picking up litter, or sending out notes of appreciation to important people in your life. 5. Turn Off Technology for a Day Agree to have one day with no screens. Turn your phones off and enjoy some time in nature. 6. Watch an Entire Series Of course, technology isn’t always bad. If you feel like having a relaxed day in, invite some friends over to watch an entire season of a favourite series or a show you’ve all been meaning to watch. 7. Spend Time on the Water Head to a beach or lake where you can swim or practise water sports. If you’ve never tried sailing or kayaking before, this is a great opportunity to check that activity off your bucket list. 8. Sleep Outside Find somewhere to go camping to spend a night outdoors. Watch the sunset with your friends and then make a campfire to stay warm and roast s’mores. Try to wake up early to see the sunrise as well. 9. Visit New Places Nearby Even if you’ve lived in your hometown for most of your life, there are likely places around that you’ve never visited. Be a tourist for a day, checking out all the spots you’ve neglected until now. The end of the summer often means saying goodbye to your hometown friends until winter break — but it doesn’t need to be that way. Ask your hometown friends to stay with you in your student accommodation for a weekend. This is possible when you live in off-campus housing. Ottawa students can move into 1Eleven. We have spacious shared suites and bachelor apartments, all fully furnished with everything you need for the ultimate student experience. Contact us to secure the floor plan you want.

9 Items to Make Your Student Apartment Feel Luxurious

You may only have a small budget to spend on decorating your apartment, but there’s no reason why you can’t make it feel welcoming and even a bit elegant. These simple ideas will make your student apartment feel more luxurious without costing you much. 1. Framed Pictures Decorate the walls throughout your apartment with framed pictures. If you can’t afford a piece of artwork, make your own, ask an artistic friend for something, or use one of your favourite photos. 2. Bathrobe You may often rush through your morning routine, but there will be times when you want to take a leisurely shower and make time for self-care. For these occasions, have a bathrobe ready. When you’re not using it, hang it in your bathroom to add a sense of luxury. 3. Vase If a visitor brings you a bouquet of flowers, you’ll need somewhere to put them. You may also like to purchase your own cut flowers sometimes to bring a pop of colour to your living space. In either case, a vase is essential. Find an attractive one that will work well as decor even when you have no flowers. 4. Poof A poof is multifunctional as well as elegant. You can use it as a footrest when you’re on your own and as an extra seat when friends come over. Plus, it looks more sophisticated than a beanbag chair. 5. Lacquer Tray If you want to put out snacks for when guests come over, you’ll need a lacquer tray. This looks much more elegant (and is more convenient) than placing plates or bowls on your coffee table. It will also be useful for other purposes, such as holding your coffee when you’re studying in bed. 6. Fancy Mugs Enjoy your coffee in a cute mug. You may pick up mugs from free events on campus, but it’s worth purchasing at least one you love for your daily coffee and perhaps a couple more for guests. 7. Full-Length Mirror A full-length mirror is crucial for checking your outfit before you go out for the evening and when you’re getting ready for an important event, like an interview for an internship. Plus, it works well as a statement piece in the bedroom. 8. Premium Kitchen Utensils If you enjoy cooking, it’s worth investing in some better kitchen utensils. After all, you’ll be able to take them with you after you move out. At a minimum, purchase a set of quality knives (to stop battling with half-blunt hand-me-downs) and a couple cutting boards. 9. Essential Oil Diffuser Bring your favourite scent to your student apartment with an essential oil diffuser. You’ll find the aromatherapy effect relaxing at times of high stress and will be able to take advantage of the humidifier feature to avoid irritation from dry air. Of course, your student apartment will feel much more luxurious if it’s attractive to begin with. For premium uOttawa off-campus housing, look no further than 1Eleven. Located just steps from campus, we offer large, fully-furnished suites and modern amenities, including a fitness center, state-of-the-art games room, and electronic building access. Book a tour to see it for yourself.

How to Make a Difference by Volunteering at University

University brings all sorts of opportunities to learn about yourself, gain valuable skills, and meet new people. One such opportunity is through volunteering. Although you may not feel like you have time for such a big commitment, there are options that will fit into any schedule. Besides, it’s always worthwhile to have the chance to make a difference in your community. What to Look For To make sure your volunteering experience is a success, there are certain things you need to look for. First, the opportunity should allow you to learn something new, whether that’s a skill or just expanding your worldview. In addition, you should try to find something that aligns with your interests and talents. Lastly, make sure the program is vetted or through a reputable organization to avoid scams . If your school is organizing the program, it may even earn you credit. Fundraising on Campus Volunteer just when you have time by holding fundraisers on campus. This is a great chance to increase awareness for an issue that matters to you and raise money for a cause. Some organizations even have fundraising resources for students to use. Research nonprofits you care about to see what they can offer you. Political Volunteering If you’re interested in a particular political cause or want to make a bigger difference in an election than just voting, look into volunteering for a candidate or political organization. This could be useful if you’re looking to enter a career in politics or something similar after you graduate. Volunteer Over Break If you’d like to volunteer abroad, look for a program taking place over the spring or summer break. Projects range from building homes and teaching English to children to conservation of endangered animals. Remote Volunteer Options It’s possible to volunteer from the comfort of your own home through a remote position. This is a great solution if no one in your area is offering the kind of volunteering you’d like to do or you lack the time to travel. Options include becoming a virtual ambassador, translating, and working on a hotline, among many others. What to Avoid Certain opportunities may end up being disappointing. For instance, a program that already has more than enough volunteers may struggle to find anything interesting for you to do. It’s also important to consider whether you’re able to make the commitment. If an opportunity requires a long-term commitment, is located far from you (if you intend to go regularly throughout the semester), or requires you to work irregular hours, it may end up being too disruptive to your schedule. Make sure you have a comfortable home to return to after volunteering, whether you’re gone just a few hours or several weeks. Find uOttawa student housing where you’ll be able to relax at 1Eleven. You’ll have your own bedroom in a furnished suite or even an entire apartment to yourself. In addition, we have an onsite fitness and yoga studio, bike storage, parking, and a package room for deliveries. Pay us a visit to see your new home.