NationStates Jolt Archive

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?

Aww {{{hugs}}}

I haven't moved out yet. It'll be a while.
I think I'll cope all right though, when it does happen.

When I moved out and was actually living alone (not with a roommate), it was with a great sense of relief and happiness. My home life was not exactly pleasant and getting away from it to a place where I was able to sort myself out was wonderful. I know I'm not typical but, then, neither was my family.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days?

When I first moved away from home it was to go to basic training, so my situation was a bit different. Also, I wasn't really all that close to my family, so again, my situation was probably a bit different.

When you get to work it'll be better as you'll have something to think about. You'll make friends there and in a couple of months time you'll be right at home.

I'm close to my family, but however when I moved out on college I did not miss them too terribly bad. I did visit often though.

Now because of finances I'm stuck living at home again, and it drives me insane...

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?

Welcome to the world of living alone, buy beer.

Start ringing up your friends and potential lovers now Neu-L! This is where the real fun begins.
But remember, most likely you and you alone will be cleaning up after your parties.

Also, you will be pleasantly surprised at how many of your friends would consider Sydney a nice place to hang out in the Summer hols.
Also, invite Blouman and some of the other Sydneysiders over.

When I first moved out, it wasn't that traumatic, I guess because it coincided with the very beginning of uni. I was in a city I adored, with a lot of new stuff to do. It was only a few weeks later that - in true melodramatic fashion - it hit me: I ran out of breakfast cereal, and for the first time in my life had to buy my own cereal. So instead of buying the wheat-based cereal my parents always got me, I got a frosted type that they said was too sugary, and had two bowls of it. I felt like James Fucking Dean.

My first night not living in student halls, but living more definitively out in the Real World, was a lot like this (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/first_night_of_freedom_spent_alone). But a couple of days later I began to explore the local area, and it turned out to be pretty cool for live music.

I moved out in the middle of the night on impulse with whatever I could fit in my car.


I wouldn't advise it.

I was looking to be left alone, so I didn't get the loneliness. Not to mention when I finally settled it was with a roommate who wanted our place to be a half way house for slackers, so I was hardly ever alone. I had that briefly when I had a studio with no phone. That was kind of awesome, all it lacked was a bunch of crystals from alien parents.

When I left for college, it wasn't a big deal given that I moved in with my best friend as a roomie and we were living in a condo with three other guys. Even when I moved to my own apartment it wasn't too much of an issue because I was busy with school at the time and felt very comfortable in the area by that point in time.

The first night I came to Japan though... Oh boy. My caretakers had finally dropped me off and I was alone in a Japanese house, in the middle of nowhere, couldn't speak the language and had no idea where anything was or how it worked.

Oh boy was THAT just all sorts of fun!

Thankfully my wife showed up a few hours later and helped me get my bearings a bit and set up my house and I spent the next few months exploring everything around me.

When I left for college, it wasn't a big deal given that I moved in with my best friend as a roomie and we were living in a condo with three other guys. Even when I moved to my own apartment it wasn't too much of an issue because I was busy with school at the time and felt very comfortable in the area by that point in time.

The first night I came to Japan though... Oh boy. My caretakers had finally dropped me off and I was alone in a Japanese house, in the middle of nowhere, couldn't speak the language and had no idea where anything was or how it worked.

Oh boy was THAT just all sorts of fun!

Thankfully my wife showed up a few hours later and helped me get my bearings a bit and set up my house and I spent the next few months exploring everything around me.

A "Lost in Translation Experience":wink:

Remember that every other freshman is going through something similar. Be open, and don't look for "replacement" friends...I did that, looking for my "new" Tricia and "new" Justin. I finally learned that no one would replace them, and learned to love my new friends for who they were. First semester is rough, but by second, I had people I could trust and liked to be around.

A "Lost in Translation Experience":wink:
Except no pretty girls around (Except my wife of course. ;) ).

Except no pretty girls around (Except my wife of course. ;) ).

she made you enter that, didn't she ;)

she made you enter that, didn't she ;)
Nope... Not at ALL! (But I KNOW what is good for me! ~_^)

Nope... Not at ALL! (But I KNOW what is good for me! ~_^)
smart boy.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?

I was rather busy, working 18 hours days for the first few weeks so I didn't have much of a chance to go, "Whoa, I'm on my own now." By the time work slowed down enough (to 12 hour days...) it was more like, "Alright, head 'er to the bar with the boys." I didn't really have to cope with it because by the time it hit me I was already past it.

It was a little weirder I guess the second time I moved out. I didn't really move out though, just kinda stopped in at home (funny how we still call it that) before fucking off to Europe for 4 months. I'll call that moving out because that's exactly what I did. It wasn't a vacation. Vacations are about relaxing, no worries and all that jive. I had two shirts and one pair of pants and no way to get my money out of the bank. It was a lot of work. It was also weird (or normal, depends how you look at it) for me because it was really my first time out where I didn't know anybody, even after a week or two at it. I had to learn how to make friends on the fly, get to know people on a 15 minute bus ride, only to never see them again. It turned out to be rather rewarding, maybe because we all knew we wouldn't see each other again so we tried our hardest to show each other our best sides.

Now, I've been home again for a couple of months recovering from a rather serious injury. I'm all good to go, I'm just lacking the motivation to get back out there. Get a job, get my own place... again. Living at home sucks though, you can't hang up that playboy calendar on the fridge. Or fill that fridge with beer and bacon and a bottle of ketchup and nothing else. Or crank the stereo past 11... well I can, my dad is hard of hearing, but not when my mom is around. You can't park your car sideways across the lawn when you live it home. Or take that short cut from the highway, across that field and though your fence to get home. I think I may just move out again. :tongue:

When I first moved out of home, I moved into a college. What followed was a 4 month long bender until exam time hit. By that time I had wiped my brain out too much to be emotional over moving out.

When I moved out of college into a share house however it was a bit different. I moved in with a couple of people I didn't know that well. While we got along, it was still somewhat lonely. There is a difference between nodding "g'day" in the hallway and having dinner with your family. Over summer, they all go back to their parents and I stay here and work. Whilst I don't hate being by myself, by the third week, I think I started to go sort of mad... (on that note, expect over the next two weeks for my posts to become more common, and more weird.. summer holidays have just started) Over the last 2 years of living in a share house (and the year of college before that) I have only ever really been homesick once or twice. And those times were quickly washed away with beer.

I guess because the parents are only ever a phone call away, I find it alright.

When I first moved away from home it was to go to basic training, so my situation was a bit different. Also, I wasn't really all that close to my family, so again, my situation was probably a bit different.
Might be more the latter than the former - I would think the first few hours/night in a barracks straight out of home could scare the shit out of most people.

Welcome to the world of living alone, buy beer.
Done.

Also, invite Blouman and some of the other Sydneysiders over.
I hope I'll get the time. My employer isn't known for slackness. Still, I think there's scope for a Sydney NS Meet - organised by a Brisbanite.

The first night I came to Japan though... Oh boy. My caretakers had finally dropped me off and I was alone in a Japanese house, in the middle of nowhere, couldn't speak the language and had no idea where anything was or how it worked.

Oh boy was THAT just all sorts of fun!

Thankfully my wife showed up a few hours later and helped me get my bearings a bit and set up my house and I spent the next few months exploring everything around me.
That sounds a little like it. Maybe it's not as much the being alone part as the "holy crap, I have to take care of myself and I don't know if I can do it". That might settle down as soon as my first shirt is washed and ironed. :p

I couldn't imagine the added language barrier though. I had already done 2 years or more of English at school when I came to Oz, and I had my family with me.

I had to learn how to make friends on the fly, get to know people on a 15 minute bus ride, only to never see them again. It turned out to be rather rewarding, maybe because we all knew we wouldn't see each other again so we tried our hardest to show each other our best sides.
I'm not sure I would call that rewarding...

When I first moved out of home, I moved into a college. What followed was a 4 month long bender until exam time hit. By that time I had wiped my brain out too much to be emotional over moving out.
I'm actually at a college too, though I think I should have read the fine print...I've got a crucifix in my room and the internet blocks pr0n (apparently).

At any rate, I was out with some of my future colleagues just now, I think I'll be right. Still weird how I felt this afternoon though. I did not see that one coming.

I'm actually at a college too, though I think I should have read the fine print...I've got a crucifix in my roomeek... atleast the vampires won't be able to get you though.and the internet blocks pr0n (apparently).
Okay, frommy experience:
usually someone will have a server set up on the network. Our internet disallowed pr0n (didn't block it) so one of the guys actually hosted a few hundred gigs off his computer. It was good. Every night at around 10:30-11:30 it would slow right down however...
If that doesn't work, or you can't get the ip address of the server out of people soon enough, you could always go proxy servering. Just google it and I am sure you will be able to find some form of free proxy server.
As a final resort, you could you bittorrent our limewire (:gundge:). Be sure to be running virus stuff.

And that is how Lapse evades porn bans :)

I stole a chair with my new roommate and promptly got chased down by the cops.

Hey Neo, know ya'll've got friends here at least. :D

Nope... Not at ALL! (But I KNOW what is good for me! ~_^)

Insert Heinlein quote re women and beauty here...

Always tell her she is beautiful, especially if she is not.

I've never moved anywhere on my own. I left home 5 years ago to come to uni but I everyone in the block of flats was in the same situation. The city I'm in also offers the best employment opportunities in Scotland for me so when I graduate I probably won't even move.

get to the pub before you start adopting cats!

When I first moved away from home it was to go to basic training, so my situation was a bit different. Also, I wasn't really all that close to my family, so again, my situation was probably a bit different.

I can't imagine how I would of coped moving out at 16 without it (though tbqh I was bricking it when I was alone)

edit: then again I was on NSG every free moment so it wasn't a great leap :p

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?
CALL YOUR MOTHER!

if its this hard on you, how hard is it on your parents?

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?

I moved out when I left for college and I loved it. One thing is for sure tho, you'll change so much when you leave your parents' home and are on your own for the first time. Make the change good and make best of your new freedom.

Actually, it was the best thing ever. My folks are a phone call away. but we don't see each other more than a couple times a month. I talk to them pretty regularly, but I am on my own and love it. I eat/sleep/piss around/clean when I want to, how I want to, and if I want to with no nagging -- and hey, it all gets done. Miracles.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days?

'twas brilliant. My parents only had (and still have) a dial-up modem internet connection that I was allowed to use for only 30mins/day, and I moved to a wireless internet flat complete with the laptop my parents sponsored for uni.

Funnily enough, the start of my heavy posting on NSG coincides with, oh, maybe the second day of having moved out.


And that is how Lapse evades porn bans :)
Yeah, I'm on one of those "student dorm" internet thingies that come with the flat as well, and they have ridiculous bans on.. if it's just for something quick and, of course, no sensitive data to be entered, I just use ibypass.com or similar sites.

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?I don't get homesick, so I've never had to. Starting work will help, since you'll be meeting people again. Other than that, call your parents and just chat with them over the phone.

Why would you move to Sydney? It's like moving to Vegas, nobody actually LIVES there.

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?

It was a bit strange though I have always lived with a roommate. The biggest problem I found was finding the time to cook a decent meal, while I enjoy cooking it does take a while and wanting to cook after a busy day when getting home late can make you feel like "screw it, what's the number for Indian take-away?".

I noticed the loneliness as well, not much advice I can give you, but don't try and think about it, keep yourself occupied. Once you get a few new friends it will change, hey join a sports team for the summer if its a good club, you don't have to be good player just a good drinker.

Good luck with your new job mate and I hope it goes well for you. If you are going in the CBD and looking for a good meal Monday's head to the Lord Nelson on Kent Street in the rocks and there is also a good Pizza bar that sells excellent gourmet pizzas on IIRC Cumberland Street. And for some pretty good German food the Lowenbrau Keller on Argyle Street is good, but you need to make a reservation if going to dinner otherwise you will end up waiting in line. There are plenty of good bars around the place, not as good as Melbourne but still good. Shame you didn't start with your employer earlier and get to attend the Christmas party :p

I hope I'll get the time. My employer isn't known for slackness. Still, I think there's scope for a Sydney NS Meet - organised by a Brisbanite.

Hold it after Christmas, I need an excuse to go visit the family. :p Not enough people in Adelaide on here to hold a NS meet, the only other two, one is only 17 and the other (a lurker) is a friend of mine and we hang out already.

That sounds a little like it. Maybe it's not as much the being alone part as the "holy crap, I have to take care of myself and I don't know if I can do it". That might settle down as soon as my first shirt is washed and ironed. :p

Yeah it's called the dry cleaners. :p

I'm actually at a college too, though I think I should have read the fine print...I've got a crucifix in my room and the internet blocks pr0n (apparently).

sssuuuurrrreeee apparently.

Hold it after Christmas, I need an excuse to go visit the family. :p Not enough people in Adelaide on here to hold a NS meet, the only other two, one is only 17 and the other (a lurker) is a friend of mine and we hang out already.


Should make it an Aussie wide meet. All travel down there for a weekend/ Airfares are fairly cheap now. Sure we can find someones floor to crash...

Should make it an Aussie wide meet. All travel down there for a weekend/ Airfares are fairly cheap now. Sure we can find someones floor to crash...

Well Leon did say he was all alone :p

But I'm sure we could, that sounds like a very good idea. A massive NSG meet up, Sydney wouldn't know what hit it. :p

hahah! I would be scared if I lived in Sydney :s

so, anyone in sydney got a floor we can all crash on in some weekend in Jan or Feb

NS Sydney meet-up! YAY!

I suggest a restaurant for starters. If it's a pub or club, it's gotta have good food.

Well Leon did say he was all alone :p

But I'm sure we could, that sounds like a very good idea. A massive NSG meet up, Sydney wouldn't know what hit it. :p

Realistically, a dozen or so of us won't do squat. Quarter of a million Catholics hit town this year, most of Sydney didn't even notice.

Perhaps we could pick some central location, like ... Broken Hill. NS Australia meet-up would have 'em talking for years.

Realistically, a dozen or so of us won't do squat. Quarter of a million Catholics hit town this year, most of Sydney didn't even notice.

They didn't? Well there certainly was a lot of people complaining about it for one reason or another.

But regardless that sounds like a challenge.

Perhaps we could pick some central location, like ... Broken Hill. NS Australia meet-up would have 'em talking for years.

Yes, Broken Hill excellent spot let's rock the Worker's Club like it never has been rocked before.

Yes, Broken Hill excellent spot let's rock the Worker's Club like it never has been rocked before.

Um ... they've got an airport ... don't they?

It was a silly suggestion really. If people are going to fly in, we have to choose a major city. Regional air-fares are extortionate. Personally, I'd take a bus to get to Broken Hill.

Canberra!

Um ... they've got an airport ... don't they?

It was a silly suggestion really. If people are going to fly in, we have to choose a major city. Regional air-fares are extortionate. Personally, I'd take a bus to get to Broken Hill.

Canberra!

Yeah I know it was a joke mate, I was trying to continue the joke. Yeah they have an airport, at least I think they do. If I remember the map on the back of the carriers magazine you go from Sydney to Orange and then to Broken Hill.

You are telling me regional fares are outrageous it is more expensive for me to get a flight from Adelaide to a regional city only 40 minutes flying time then to get from Adelaide to Sydney, it's really bad.

I went away for four months last year...from England to America, working for the National Park Service. It was the first time I was ever by myself. Getting on a plane and thinking for yourself for the first time is an experience, especially when your flight was delayed by three hours. I'm always thankful for the invention of the cell phone. Without it, I'd have had no way of getting phone numbers of my supervisor and room mate. It's the strangest thing in the world to ask a total stranger to come and give you a ride from the airport.

I was amazed that I wasn't that homesick though. I'd been on school trips and things before when I was younger and I really missed my parents and my dog. Yet last year, I didn't really get that homesick. I was working more than I had time alone, so I guess I had to subconsciously suppress most of any longing I had for England- which wasn't a great deal at the best of times.

I first moved out when I was 18 and starting university for the first time.

I remember being excited to be moving away and starting university. My dad almost cried when my parents were taking off after helping me move. But I wasn't moving that far from my parents so I managed to visit them fairly frequently.

I've never lived completely on my own though. And it's not that I don't like the idea, it's more that I can't really afford to. But it's not like we share meals and all this so it's similar to living on my own except that sometimes the plants get double watered and something will be in a different spot when I come back from school, or she has friends over and I come home to a small party (though last night I had to sleep through one because I was exhausted).

Yeah I know it was a joke mate, I was trying to continue the joke.

OK. A dozen pasty-faced nerds all turn up at the Broken Hill workers club, giving the secret sign (we've got a secret sign, right?) and we'd all get thrown in jail long before we could "rock the town."

Terrorism, you know. Bad people, from the Innanet.

OK. A dozen pasty-faced nerds all turn up at the Broken Hill workers club, giving the secret sign (we've got a secret sign, right?) and we'd all get thrown in jail long before we could "rock the town."

Terrorism, you know. Bad people, from the Innanet.

The thing about having a secret sign is that your not meant to tell people anything about the secret sign.

The thing about having a secret sign is that your not meant to tell people anything about the secret sign.

That's right. You'll know the secret sign when you see it.

"Hey, that guy who just walked in gave the salute of the People's Front of Judea! That must be the secret sign!"

Weird, the firewall blocks the second page of this thread. Anyways, things haven't been that bad. My room is still depressing, but I haven't spent much time there: some other guys working for the same firm are here as well, so we all went for a drink and to the city yesterday to buy stuff. And today we start work, so I'll be right.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days?
I moved out in the middle of the night after an "intervention" where they told me either go to rehab or get out......I got out. I lived in my car for about a year, and then moved into a 2 bedroom apartment with 20 other people. After that I got a studio that was a 20X20 room, it had a sink and a toilet and a microwave and a hotplate and a futon. Then I moved into a "real" apartment that had a bathroom and stuff......then I got married and we moved into an apartment that had a bathroom and a kitchen with a stove and fridge and I've been a spoiled bitch ever since.

Good luck with the new job. Once your settled at work you probabaly won't notice being alone that much. I left home quite young (16), but was living with room mates or flatmates until I was 22, so didn't miss home, and by that time I was due drawn into work to really notice it. The thing I found most odd was the first place I stayed where I was totally on my own was also a very quiet part of town, and hearing absolute silence at night was actually quite odd at first. You adjust though... and 10 weeks is actually a LOT shorter time than it seems right now. You will be fine :)
:fluffle:

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?
For me it was Fresher's Week, so I just got all pissed up with my new-found student pals. Was surprisingly homesick, but if you can make the first week, you're generally going to be alright.

Heh it was great. My dad bought me a tent for my 16th birthday and told me to go live up the park. Soooo I stayed until I was 20(outa spite yeah), and then never went back.

Now I see him, whenever he wants a 'puter problem solved, which is great.

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?

well i moved into a flat with 6 other strangers when i was 18, and didn't get on with any of them. it was difficult until some friends from back home moved in down the road... after that we all just got drunk and high together, and spent a long time exploring the city and finding the best pubs/rock clubs to go to.

but my time living away from home, later with friends in the second year of uni, wound up seeing me in hospital and clincally depressed. only after moving back home to a supportive and calmer environment have i been able to recover. i'm apprehensive about moving away again, but this time (soon) it'll be with my girlfriend, so that'll be different. i'm fairly confident now that i can cope - the time away from home, and away from any support or love, was hard, but it was an important lesson in understanding myself and getting stronger. as with most bad experiences, you look on it later as something that you learned from and/or which made you stronger and who you are.

that said, it wasn't all bad. we had some fun times, and the freedom was great. i'm just unusually close to my parents... we've been through a lot together, and i think i was just not ready to be moving out back then.

good luck bud.

I've just realized I've never lived somewhere where I didn't have friends waiting. Despite being a loner and living in six different locations in four years. Weird.

You adjust though... and 10 weeks is actually a LOT shorter time than it seems right now. You will be fine

That's right and considering you will be going (I assume) home for Christmas as well, it slows it down. Work will ceratinly take up a lot of that time and will makes weeks rush through before you know it it will be February and you will be heading back up north.

Such a serendipitous thread, just when I myself am moving out from this crazy-ass family in less than a week! I'm going BACK DOWNTOWN, BABY! :D

I've compensated for the lack of parents with roommates :) They help save on rent, add positive chaos to life, provide food you can steal and are good company!

I'm also married...to graduate school.

heh it was great. My dad bought me a tent for my 16th birthday and told me to go live up the park. Soooo i stayed until i was 20(outa spite yeah), and then never went back.

Now i see him, whenever he wants a 'puter problem solved, which is great.

wut.

I moved out one day in 2000. It felt strange to move into a situation when I wasn't under my parents' watchful eye. It was a tough adjustment, even though I had flatmates.

One thing I found is my relationship with my father changed when I wasn't living with him.

I sat in my room for the entire freshers week crying. Three years on, I still find it very difficult to cope away from home. I really hate feeling alone. I try to distract myself the best I can, go to socials and suchlike, but in the evenings when I get back to my accommodation its very depressing not to be around family or close friends. Independence fail.

Now that you live on your own, there's one thing you should always remember: The fridge needs constant, active refilling!

I moved out when I was 18 and left for uni. I lived in the dorms, and my roommate and I shared this tiny little closet of a room. Luckily we got along well (she's still a good friend of mine); I'm not sure how I would cope if I had to share a space that small with someone I didn't like.

Now that you live on your own, there's one thing you should always remember: The fridge needs constant, active refilling!

This is very good advice. Mine is looking empty at the moment :(

But my beer fridge is still full and after all it is that product that is most important to not run out of.

Now that you live on your own, there's one thing you should always remember: The fridge needs constant, active refilling!
Aye I have The Fridge of Despair at the moment.

This is very good advice. Mine is looking empty at the moment :(
Mine's almost there...
But my beer fridge is still full and after all it is that product that is most important to not run out of.
Right now I put my beer on the balcony. It's almost a little too cold, but while it's winter here, I rarely store beverages in the fridge.
Aye I have The Fridge of Despair at the moment.
And the worst part is, no matter how hungry you are, or even if you go look a second or third time - it's still empty!!!

Mine's almost there...

Right now I put my beer on the balcony. It's almost a little too cold, but while it's winter here, I rarely store beverages in the fridge.

Ah I see well that's cool, but being in Australia and it currently being summer (well nearly only 19 days to go) I have to keep it in the beer fridge. Plus it is close to the lounge/TV/PS3 so I don't have to go as far than say if I kept it outside.

And the worst part is, no matter how hungry you are, or even if you go look a second or third time - it's still empty!!!

I know this all to well, why do I go and look in the fridge a couple of times expecting I missed something.

When I first moved out of my parents into uni halls, I was sharing a flat with 9 other people though for some reason 3 of them didn't really hang out with the rest of us. It was the one of the best experiences of my life and I see the other 6 as a sort of second family.

Now I'm in my 2nd year of living away from my parents in a 'proper' flat and it's alright though slightly more stressful. That's why for my final year of uni I'm applying to become a Hall Rep so I can live on campus again. After that who knows where I'll end up. Probably will have to live with my parents for a few months while I'll get my stuff together and find my own place.

So, I'm now in Sydney, sitting in a small room overlooking a cricket pitch. An hour or so ago I said goodbye to my parents, and now I'm by myself for the next 10 weeks. And I hadn't expected it to be as difficult, but the knowledge of how lonely I am has hit me pretty hard all of a sudden. I don't know anyone or anything here - I guess it'll be better when I start work on Monday.

So what was it like when you moved out for the first time? What did you do the first few days? Or if you haven't moved out yet, what are your plans and how do you think you'll cope?

I got my bachelor's degree at a University 15 hours away from my house, so I pretty much moved out when I was 18 because the only time I ever came home was for Christmas and summer... It never bothered me too much during college.

When I started graduate school and got my own apartment (closer to home, but still quite separate) it was a bit harder... I wasn't instantly in close proximity with people like I was in the Residence Halls during the undergrad years... I can't say I was really lonely, I was just bored out of my mind.

After grad school started I met a few people and I have enough friends to make life interesting.