Daniel Lederman/Staff Writer
Four Bayview roommates of varying majors and lifestyles have realized one key truth: with great housing comes great responsibility.
All four residents had no idea the different food options available at the Biscayne Bay campus would be closed during the weekend when they first moved into their dorms. The shuttle between Modesto Maidique and BBC also does not work over the weekend.
Sidney Bleus, a junior majoring in psychology and one of the roommates, depends on her parents and cooking skills to survive the BBC-foodless weekends.
Her parents, she said, send both frozen and fresh foods with her, which lasts about one to two weeks. Whenever she runs out of pre-cooked meals, she cooks pasta, rice, and tacos. To do this, she uses a microwave, stove, and toaster oven. Bleus also occasionally makes the drive to order take-out meals from a few restaurants, such as Chili’s.
Learn how to cook, according to Bleus, is the first tip she would give to any student considering living at BBC.
Price range is from the cheapest to most expensive dorm for each hall. Student Media was unable to get price range for Bayview at the time of publication. Lakeview Hall’s community kitchen is expected to open in Spring 2018. Bayview kitchens include stoves. Kitchens in MMC dorms include stove and oven. Microwaves accepted in all dorms. Infographic by Michelle Marchante/PantherNOW.
“If you buy take-out, it’s only going to last one day,” she said. “Freshly cooked food can last up to two weeks. If you’re close to home, you can bring food from there, too.”
For Jenica Brown, a senior majoring in health services administration, her cooking situation is identical to Bleus; they both bring food from home, and they cook with the same appliances. However, she doesn’t order take-out as much as Bleus does.
And like Bleus, Brown said learning how to cook is extremely vital to living on campus.
“It was a big ‘adulting’ slap in the face to move here and have to fend for myself,” Brown said.
To make the transition easier, Brown recommends students go grocery shopping at least once every two weeks.
“I don’t have money to be spending on take-out,” said Madison Rodriguez, a sophomore majoring in digital media, the third of the four roommates. “I don’t have a job at the moment and my loans cover housing and classes, so my parents pay for the groceries I buy.”
Rodriguez uses the shared cooking appliances more so than any of her roomates.
“Cook at your dorm to save money. Make things at the beginning of the week, so you’ll have it ready to pull out of the fridge if you’re in a hurry.” said Rodriguez.
Kelsey Grimes, a senior majoring in hospitality management, cooks nearly just as much as Rodriguez does. She focuses on eating well and stays away from on-campus vendors.
“I cook a lot of vegetables, chicken, and shrimp,” said Grimes.
She uses the toaster oven most of all, due to its ease of use. Just like her roommates, Grimes has a car, but unlike her roommates, Grimes does indulge in take-out food nearly all of the time and usually brings food back from her job at Margaritaville.
“Try to learn to cook before you get here,” said Grimes. “You can’t rely on campus food.”
Feature Image by Michelle Marchante/PantherNOW
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