Why I’m proud to be an Alban-ite

So, Albany Park has a reputation for being home to the less well-off St Andrews student community, and I guess the overall aesthetic appearance – grey concrete blocks and the odd upturned recycling bin – doesn’t really help that.

Colourful

When you have that awkward conversation in Freshers week about which halls you’re in and the majority of replies you get are ABH or DRA, as an Albany Parker you do occasionally feel a little embarrassed. After all “I’m an Albanity” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as the classy and sophisticated  utterance of “Sallies” or “Mellville”.

In reality, we are what it says on the tin, residents of Albany Park, born and bred, and the longer I spend in St Andrews the prouder I am of the associations we have with Russian Standard over Belvedere and a failure to excel at all Hall Sports Events.

Yes, we tend to stick to our house parties and free pre-drinks rather than venturing out to Ma Bells or The Adamson, and my trek to Raisin with a giant banana filled with water was slightly longer than it would have been if I had lived in Sallies, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to have a good time.

We’re happy with spirit and mixer, thanks

Living next door to the beach means a whole lot of bonfires and BBQ’s – something that the DRA folk have to trek down to West Sands for. Sunset and sunrise on the pier are some of the most beautiful hours I’ve spent in St A and for those who like to enjoy the views with a joint and can of Tennents, I hear experiencing the Northern Lights was made all the more spectacular.

There is the obvious advantage of hot showers and towels being literally 50m away after the annual may dip and  the obligatory drunken stupor needed to motivate thousands of idiots to run into the sea at five am is made cheaper and quicker by our unlimited free booze.

Our rooms are well heated (despite the radiators being somewhat bipolar) and the porters and wardenial team treat us like we are their extended family (the number of times I’ve had to be let in without my key card is quite frankly shocking).

We’re close to the beach (and warmth)

Security is another thing which works to our advantage because, basically, it is very limited and if you do get caught out, our porters are extraordinarily understanding. This was something I personally experienced in my first year when my flatmate was very close to succeeding in climbing  in through the kitchen window at two am before he was caught by  the night porter and I was woken up in order to prove that he was in fact a resident of our house.

We’re so very trusting since no-one seems fussed enough to make a sincere intrusion (we are in Albany after all) – with the exception of one random alumni who kept coming to our house parties in a black hat and trench coat with a bottle of something and a desire to relive his former nightly exploits whilst studying here.

Proud to be in Albany

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that, for some of the cheapest accommodation in town, we have speedy WiFi, all heating bills included and a sound atmosphere.

Just remember next time you hear someone slagging us off or are contemplating living in the Badlands to avoid  forking out three times as much as we pay to live in Albany- don’t brush us off straight away.  The people I’ve met here I know I’m going to love for life and our communal shops to Aldi make eating a lot cheaper than shopping at – what I’ve heard- is the most expensive Tesco metro in Scotland.