In The Middle 22 | Sports
BLOGS & LIFESTYLE
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Freshers’ Week soulmates: The lie
22
Forget the pressure to go out every single night of Freshers’, or the not-so-gentle encouragement to “Down it fresherrrrr” (a chant so common you’ll hear it in your sleep); for me, the most nerve-wracking expectation of Freshers’ week was that I would find the friends that I would bond with for life. My soulmates, the gals and guys who’d be there at my dying bedside 70 years from then. I can guarantee that anyone embarking on the university experience will have heard this promise before, the promise of friendships that will last a lifetime. Perhaps for some of you this assurance of an immediate intimate social haven was a selling point. This, I was sure, I would find in that first, intense, chaotic week of boozin’. And you know what? I do believe that I’ve found them – my soul sisters – I really do, but they are not the same people that I bonded with in Freshers’. In that first week, you will probably find a group and cling on to them with the formidable clutch of FOMO (fear of missing out, for those who aren’t in the know), and that’s totally okay! I know people who did develop some serious sisterhood/brotherhood friendships in that short week, which is awesome, but save yourself some unnecessary stress and don’t enter Freshers’ like I did – with the weighty expectation of finding the greatest friends in that time and
Image: people.howstuffworks.com
absolutely crapping myself if I didn’t get along with everyone I met. The beauty of all universities, particularly a university with a diverse demographic like Leeds, is that there are so many potential friends out there and so many opportunities to meet them – if you put yourself out there. I was still making new friends right up until the end of my 1st year and I very much intend to be doing the same this year, and the year after that, and the year after that. Be open to friendships beginning, changing, disappearing and reappearing. Remember that almost everyone is nervous and almost everyone is a potential friend. Above all, be yourself, be honest and be kind, and you’ll find a way. Good luck, solider. Beanna Olding
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The ultimate hangover cures!
Phoebe Turner
This year’s Freshers’ Week may be a slightly different experience than previous years, but if there is one thing we can nearly guarantee, it’s the involvement of a hangover at some point. From my trials and errors (many, many errors), I have compiled a list of some well-known hangover cures and assessed whether they truly cut it (or if they’re complete nonsense) so that you don’t have to!
Water
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As simple as it sounds, water really is the basis of any good hangover cure. Sure, it’s not the most exciting cure on the list and you’re probably going to need to drink a lot of it to really start feeling better, but if there’s one thing you definitely need after a late-night drinking, it’s rehydration. I have found that a glass of water before bed then another in the morning normally sets the hangover recovery process well into motion, and even better it’s the cheapest and most convenient method.
Fry-up
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Fatty foods sometimes feel like exactly what you need to perk yourself up again, and it turns out all the protein found in eggs, bacon and sausages (and their meat-free counterparts) may actually be pretty helpful in getting you back on your feet again after a rough night! This is possibly the most expensive and time-consuming option on the list, making it not the most student-friendly option, and let’s be honest who really wants to cook a full fry-up while hungover? Though, it is definitely essential that you get some food in your stomach to make you feel human again.
Ginger Tea
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Ginger has anti-inflammatory effects, which can prove really useful in helping to reduce symptoms of nausea associated with a hangover. Using slices of ginger or ginger teabags over hot water, along with a little bit of honey to sweeten, makes this a really simple but effective way of combating the nausea, and it’s pretty tasty too!
Green Smoothies
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Whether they contain spinach, kale, broccoli or any other green vegetables, there’s no denying that these smoothies are packed full of nutrients and antioxidants, which in theory could help replace those lost during a long night of drinking. Despite this, I don’t think any amount of convincing could get me to drink another one of these drinks again. Utterly disgusting, and zero hangover relief!
Coffee
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Undoubtedly, a cup of coffee will wake you up enough to give you energy for the day but is likely to leave you feeling groggy, drained and unable to concentrate when you’re crashing from the caffeine. Thus, I’d recommend coffee as a quick fix for those times you really need to drag yourself out of bed for a couple of hours, but not if you have a full day of lectures ahead of you.
