We just got back to our base after enrolling our son Tribhuvan, at the Auckland University where he will be pursuing double majors in Finance and Accounting. He chose to stay at the Huia Residence (1 km from the Business School, which hosts almost 300 University students). The facilities are amazing and the students feel very much at home. Every floor has a kitchen (with kettle, cooking hob, oven, microwave and a freezer), laundry (with washing machine, dryer, ironing boards and iron), boys and girls toilet and shower areas, common room with xbox/playstation. They also have a pool table and a music room with a piano. T has been allotted a room on the 11th floor (topmost with a lovely crossroad view). Every room has a bed with a mattress, a study desk, chair, a mini fridge and a large wardrobe.
HUIA Residence, Grafton Road, Auckland
After assessing the room, we sat together and made a list of items to be purchased to make life easier for T.
Sharing the below list which may be a handy reference list for parents who have children moving into University accommodation.
GENERAL LIST
Open Bank account and transfer money
Download app to keep track of all expenditures
Apply for conversion of driving license which includes undertaking a theory and practical test
Store contact numbers of friends/relatives
Check out different clubs to join at University
Register for gym (the gym membership is free for Uni accommodation students. Others pay around NZD 350 per year.)
Bus card
Fitted Bed sheet
Duvet Set which includes duvet cover, pillow cover
Pillow
Duvet inner
Coat hangers
Laundry bag
Hair dryer
Desk lamp
Universal Multi plug power board x 2
Anti-slip drawer liners
Rain Jacket
Large Umbrella
1 clear storage box (40 L) with lid and wheels for kitchen items
1 clear storage box (40 L) with lid and wheels for grocery and eatables
2 bath towels
2 hand towels
Toothbrush caddy
Toiletries
KITCHEN SET UP
We have been on a wholefood plant-based diet since the last 5+ years. Hence to maintain a similar dietary pattern, we invested in the following items so that T can cook for himself without having to worry about excessive oily food or gluten-rich breads. Moreover there are days, when we just like to listen to our body and go completely raw too. A self-catered room allows T to be flexible with his diet.
Breville The Fast slow cooker (This product can be used as a pressure cooker, a slow cooker or a steamer and has a keep warm function. It comes with a serving spoon, steel steaming tray and a measuring cup)
1000W Nutribullet - to make his green smoothie for breakfast. All supermarkets store large packs of washed kale, spinach, salad leaves and other greens. This makes it easier to rotate the greens for smoothie.
1 ceramic dinner plate
1 ceramic large bowl
1 ceramic small bowl
2 ceramic mugs
2 spoons, 4 dessert spoons, 1 fork and 1 knife all made of steel
2 Kitchen tea towels
1 steel bowl as insert for the Breville cooker (we chose to use a steel insert as the cooking bowl is made of non-stick material)
a set of 5 steel mixing bowls
1 ladle
Cutting board
3 knives (S/M/L chef's knife)
30 cm black steel wok - Lighter than any cast iron and free of any chemicals
Saucepan
1 ceramic baking dish - to make potato wedges or grill veggies
Dishwashing soap, scrub, cleaning sponge and caddy to store them
1 small colander for growing sprouts
2 glass containers with lids which can double up as a lunch box too
Laundry Powder
Cloth bags (Teebags) to buy groceries, fruits and veggies
GROCERIES
This is a basic list of ingredients we have bought for T that will enable him to make millet/rice kichdi with different lentils. This meal can be easily set in the slow cooker in the morning so that he can enjoy an early dinner of kichdi and a stir fry when he gets back to the room after his lectures. The legumes can be sprouted and along with buckwheat can be used in salads too. The different nuts may be soaked and blended with dates into nut smoothies. The seeds will serve as a quick snack pack while shuttling from one lecture room to the other. For 5 working days of the week, he follows the above pattern. The weekend allows him to try and experiment with different cuisines.
Chickpeas
Kidney beans
Green whole moong (Green gram)
Whole Masoor (Indian brown lentils)
Yellow moong (Yellow lentils)
Channa Dal (Split chickpeas)
Toor Dal (Split pigeon peas)
Horsegram
Himalayan Pink Salt
Pepper grinder with peppercorns
Dates
Almonds
Cashews
Walnuts
Flax seeds
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Raisins
Peanuts
Roasted Channa dal
Everest Chole Masala powder
Baba's curry masala powder
Turmeric powder
Chilli powder
Cumin seeds
Raw cocoa nibs
Cardamom
Millet
Buckwheat
Brown Rice
Mango Pickle - T loves spicy food
Rice Noodles
Organic Chickpea fusilli, Black bean sphagetti, Mung bean fettucine
Dried Oregano
100 ml sesame oil to season the pan if required
T stores his fruits in 2 cardboard boxes which is usually left on top of the mini fridge. He stocks up fruits and veggies over the weekend as the nearest supermarket is about 3 km away from his accommodation.
Potatoes and Onions stacked neatly in a carton (making an attempt to be eco-friendly where ever possible)
Fruits stacked in wine bottle cartons (they can be picked up for free from supermarkets and make great organizers)
Below are some of the dishes cooked by Tribhuvan. They are wholefoods plant-based dishes. He cooks once a day and the rest of his meals are raw.
T does have a busy schedule trying to manage his routine around gym, cooking, lectures, assignments and being part of various clubs at Uni. After a couple of weeks on his own, he seems to have learnt the art of being organised and efficient in order to complete all his tasks for the day.
BRO, I'll join you soon
As parents, it was a mixed feeling to see him off. But this independent period for him will open up many channels and help him appreciate the finer aspects of life. Success is not all about being a topper or having a good career or buying the best things one can afford. It is these experiences that will make our kids a stronger, happier , peaceful and independent person, ready to overcome any challenge they may face. This is a stage of our life where we need to let go off the reins and allow our kids to fly high, hoping they will respect the values laid in front of them. No doubt, there will be times when they stumble but allow them to take responsibility for their own decision, as experience is the best teacher.
Here's wishing a very successful transition to our young men and women who are ready to leave the nest. And for parents who have seen off their last kid to Uni, find an anchor in life to keep yourself meaningfully occupied. Rediscover yourself!
GOOD LUCK!