The inevitable rules of going out during Freshers
Boking in Limelight is nothing to be ashamed of
Freshers is a concept we all know and love — whether you’re an innocent, unsuspecting first year or a returning student, hardened to the alcoholic escapades that the next two weeks will bring, you can’t wait to grab your free drinks vouchers (along with the other free crap you’ve gained that week) and hit Belfy.
But before you do, there are a few inevitable events that are sure to occur to everyone over the Freshers period so it’s best to be prepared.
If you’re a first year, you’re going to get your eyes opened to the wildness of Belfast nightlife, particularly around the Holylands area. The Holylands is an entirely different way of life to those cosied up in Stanmillis. We all like a night out sure, but residents of the ‘lands live and breathe it. Be ready for complete mayhem.
Of course it’s exciting; you’ll meet new people, get to know your course and most undoubtedly the Domino’s number will become your regular contact and close personal friend (if you’re from the country the prospect of pizza delivery until 5am is like the holy grail).
Most importantly, you’ll come to realise that your liver truly is a trooper.
As you’re boking up the last five shots of chocolate tequila in a Limelight toilet, you will wonder how on earth you’re going to survive the year. And after four nights on the lash, your soul will feel a little deflated, as will your pockets and thus you will fade. But try not to feel too bad – there are those little country bumpkins who will “fade” on the first night.
City nightlife is a lot harder to keep up with than it is back home and if you down that bottle of Jaegermeister during pre-drinks, you will pass out. Clubs up here don’t close until 3am but at that stage the night is still young, and so are we, so expect plenty of after-parties to be on offer – probably in the Holylands.
But don’t assume you’ll fall asleep gracefully in your bed. You will fall wherever will let you lie.
You’ll also come to learn your limits when it comes to expenditure. It was grand back home when you went out once a week and could spend nearly £100 on a Saturday night in your local club. Up here though, the drinking is more often and although it may be cheaper, you can’t be at that craic anymore if you want to, you know, survive.
A lot of us will end up taking the 90p drinks promotions in Box nightclub on a Tuesday night as a personal challenge (one girl I know spent over £80 on them). This is fine — if you want to stay in for the rest of the week.
You are no longer classy, nor can you ever try to be. This is not a word ever associated with students, particularly freshers for that matter. At some stage, you will receive noise complaints and letters from your university in regards to these noise complaints.
You’re also likely to have a 1am epiphany that you are in fact an original genius and steal some kind of road item, whether it be a traffic cone, a roadworks sign, or whatever else. You’re not original, we’ve all done it.
Freshers may all seem like fun and games but you also need to realise that you don’t have your mummy to take care of you anymore and it’s up to you to make sure you get home safe. You’re technically an adult now and although most of us still don’t know what that means nor do we behave like it, we need to take some responsibility for ourselves.
Try not to lose your friends and try not to fall asleep on the street, as many of the best of us may do. One fresh-faced student was known to have fallen asleep in a phone box until the cops found him at 5am.
Most importantly though, remember to actually enjoy it. Especially when you’re a doe-eyed ruddy-faced fresher. It only comes around once a year, so make the most of it.
Here’s to the beginning of the nights you won’t remember, yet will somehow never forget.