Almost extinct: Clean Dorm Rooms
The population of clean rooms in hall decreases throughout the academic year. Their population curve over time resembles a sawtooth wave, with a drastic spike in July, and a gradual fall until the next July.
Usually, parents and domestic helpers are responsible for the population boost every year, but this time around a new party entered the conservation arena. The Eusoff Flag team decided to offer room-cleaning services as a fundraiser, and the service was met with overwhelming demand to the point where there was a waiting list of rooms to be cleaned. I asked them to clean mine on Friday, after I’d had a look at my room and come back with blackened soles, and they cleaned it today - they were really busy.
They did a fantastic job too. I’d already wiped my shelves, because I’m slightly anal about all the neglected corners, and cleaned my blinds the best I could since they don’t do blinds - it’s too time-consuming. And I thought it was only fair that I have a go at cleaning my own room so that I know how clean it can get, rather than insisting they get everything sparkling clean to meet my crazy high standards. I can’t help my high standards. My grandmother was a housekeeper, so she had lofty standards, which she passed on to her daughters, one of whom is my mother. Mum, in turn, had daughters, hence prolonging the family proclivity to extreme cleanliness.
I even soaped down my closet and swept the top of the shelves, where no one ever bothers to clean. If cleanliness is next to godliness, I’m on my way to sainthood. Still can’t beat my mother, though, she is the Kami-sama Of Clean. Although I think the flag team might make good disciples for her.
They got my windows so clean, it’s like there’s nothing between me and the outside world! I don’t think they’ve ever been so clean since the day they were installed. The ceiling fan, bugbear of neat freaks everywhere for its tendency to collect dust bunnies, is now bunny-free. Everything is so clean my vacation room looks like a dump by comparison, and I have to wipe down my possessions so they won’t contaminate my pristine new room. Ahhh. Money well spent.
Top left: An expanse of empty desk, before the rot of papers and assignments sets in.
Top right: Fan, no longer shedding dust everywhere.
Bottom left: The view out my window, taken through the glass - that’s how clean it is.
Bottom right: The new addition to my wall, a replica of the famed Liverpool sign.
July 18th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
No bunnies ? Aww..