Seagulls and queuing at Co-op: All the annoying things we miss about being at Sussex

Times like these really emphasise the old saying that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. There are so many things that we were adamant that we hated about uni, but now there is a hole in our hearts where they used to be. Without further ado, these are the things that students are missing most about being at Sussex!

Going to the library

You’ve woken up at midday with plans to head to the library. After all, the early bird catches the worm. You head to the library with pride, ready to bag yourself that first. As you’re approaching the library you reach for your student ID so as not to face an embarrassing kerfuffle at the entrance. Panic hits. You’ve forgotten your card. Thing is, you could print one, but the planet is dying so why waste paper when you could just go back to bed and try again tomorrow? Ah, fond memories.

The awkward silence in a seminar because no one has done the reading

There’s always that one tutor that likes to test the limits of what is socially acceptable and leave you waiting in uncomfortable silence for so long that you whole-heartedly consider getting up and leaving. This was once an anxiety-inducing image but now brings a tear to our eye, as we remember pretending to be engrossed in whatever was on our laptop screen (online shopping) in order to avoid being picked on.

Waiting half an hour for a sandwich from the Deli

Despite the fact that you could quite literally make the exact same sandwich at home, there is just something about the Deli that hits different. To be honest, it’s the wait that makes the experience all the more satisfying. And they just seem to know when you are at breaking point, then they call out your number and everything is right in the world again. We don’t know about you but we can’t wait to overpay for a halloumi wrap again.

The painfully long queue at the Co-op

There’s nothing like already being in the queue at the Co-op, nearly at the front after waiting 20 mins, only to realise you forgot the one thing you actually came for. It’s usually the loo roll (a touchy subject, we know). But there was something comforting about the fact that your flatmates would be able to find it in their hearts to forgive you for the fact that they had to drip-dry for yet another evening. So wholesome.

Circuit laundry

If nothing else, the laundry rooms make for a cracking photoshoot. The notion of missing Circuit may seem crazy, but you have to admit that there was something about having grossly overpaid for your clothes to be clean and then shoving them all back into your cupboard that filled you with a sense of accomplishment and as though you had your life together. Having your mum do it for you just isn’t quite the same.

Never knowing how many steps is too many steps when walking through Arts A

The age-old question. How do you tackle the Arts A steps? While some go for the delicate pigeon-step, the brave among us take a leap of faith one ridiculously sized step at a time. We would give anything to risk facing embarrassment like that one more time.

Getting the bus after a 6 pm lecture

You’ve popped your headphones in, you’re recovering from the shock of how boring that lecture was, and you have one last task to complete: getting to the bus stop before the masses. You decide against running and instead carry out a weird brisk walk that just looks like an awkward jog to passers-by. You look like a fool, but you make it. There’s something about the pre-social-distancing concept of being packed together like sardines on a 25 bus that fills us with nostalgia.

Never being able to find a seat in Eat Central because yet again, it is filled with school children

‘Why are they actually here?’ The phrase leaves our mouths every time we enter Eat Central and we are yet to be sure of the actual answer. Either way, the masses of school pupils make it near impossible to sit down and enjoy a meal with your friends. Lunchtime is so boring now, there are simply too many seats available in my house. Where is the challenge?

Saying hello to Alan the ethical busker

Everyone at Sussex has heard Alan while walking through the underpass to Falmer station. He is quite possibly the most wholesome man in existence and it is his incredibly positive attitude that would really bring a smile to our faces in times such as these. We can’t wait to be reunited with his quiet and respectful tunes in September.

The seagulls

There, we said it. There is just something about having to protect food with your life. We have even started asking family members to try and steal our food as we eat just to feel the seagull fear again. Are we losing the plot? Maybe. Will we hate the seagulls again in September? Definitely.