10 THINGS ONLY XAVERIAN STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND
1) Doc Martens
If Xaverian was sponsored by a shoe company I'm pretty sure it would be Doc Martens. By the end of your first day of lower 6th you were probably already sick of the sight of these patent leather trend-setters, every man and his dog seems to have a pair. And nothing screams EDGY quite like the black "love my docs" bags for life. Love them or loath them, they are the cornerstone of Xavs fashion.
http://www.capezioshoes.ca/dr.-martens.html
2) The Pavillion remote
Since the Pavillion's grand opening at the start of the 2015/2016 academic year, everyone has been to check out how it ranked amongst the plethora of other seating areas at Xavs. One thing that stood out straight away was the gleaming Panasonic hanging from the back wall; this television has been the centre of much lunch-time controversy in recent months and it can very much shape the moods of those who choose to dine in the Pav. With a whole host of channels to choose from, some like to keep it simple with the easy viewing of Come Dine With Me, some like the true edge of the seat action of Deal Or No Deal, some like the hilarity of Jeremy Kyle or failing that Judge Judy, and some like the more intellectual news broadcasts. But whatever you choose, just don't put it on full volume.
3) The smell of the curry mile
Many colleges envy the location of Xavs; ten minutes from town, ten minutes from the bright lights of student hub Fallowfield and placed on the busiest bus route in the whole of Europe (as you will have been told a million times on the open day) it all seems pretty ideal! But if there's one downfall with the position of Xavs it's the smell of the curry mile. The mix of raw onion, curry powder and grease hits you like a wave from the moment you stride off the bus, your nostrils adjust quickly but you only remember quite how bad it is when you come back from a half-term break.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/curry-mile-shortlisted-in-best-street-882668
4) Mary
Let me set the scene: it's a cold winter morning, you could barely pull yourself out of bed but you drag yourself into college and what could you do with to wake you up? A hot beverage, that’s what. But God forbid, you thrust apart the heavy metal doors of Costa (or Café X as it's formally known) and no one is behind the counter. Mary is off. Just when you could do with her beaming smile and spritely Irish tones, she is not there, your day is off to a bad start. Mary is a true Xavs cult-hero. We love you Mary.
5) University students
Yes a lot of us will be one at one point, but whilst we're not, lets see this as a chance to get this off our chests. Should you be unlucky enough to get one of the main student buses (142/3 42/3, X57 etc) you will know the problem of having to try and navigate your way through the mass of Uni student bodies that choose to congregate right at the front of the bus, I know uni can be tiring but come on, is it that hard to move out of the way?
6) Seeing fellow Xavs students out and about
Whether you're in town, at a gig, or at any social event for that matter you're bound to see someone you know from one of your lessons. There's that bizarre moment where you both make eye contact and you don't know whether to smile or wave, but in the end, a twist of fate puts you next to each other and you become mates for the rest of the night and into the future.
7) Narrow staircases
Xaverian is undoubtedly the spiritual home of narrow staircases. With a couple thousand students at Xavs you would need escalators to move students effectively from floor to floor, but sadly that is not the case: especially not for Firwood (the home of many form and R.E rooms which are compulsory subjects for all students), Mayfield (the home of psychology, the most popular AS-level option) and also Marylands (the language building).
http://encpb.org/web/131-section-europeenne.php
8) Mayfield gates
I struggle to fathom how the closing of one gate can cause such uproar. The one efficient route to get to Tesco, the bus stop, the burger van and the rest of the curry mile is cut off when those iron gates are slammed shut. So if you want to get literally anywhere you have to navigate your way around Marylands which adds at least five minutes to your journey time. What an inconvenience.
9) Tesco meal deals
Staying on the topic of Tesco, you would think the largest retailer of food in the UK would at least have a good range of sandwiches. Whether you think they're value for money or not is down to personal opinion, but there's a distinct lack of options when it comes to sandwiches. And if you happen to be on the second lunch block you'll find yourself choosing between the riveting "just ham" or the unpopular "egg and cress" (no offence if either of these are your personal faves).
http://www.alexandermccallsmith.co.uk/tesco-competition/tesco-logo-source/
10) Falafel
Ah the humble Falafel. These delicious spherical chickpea treats are a popular choice among those who have become further disillusioned with Tesco and "My local" (RIP Morrisons 2k15). A healthier option to that of a kebab or burger, as well as being cheap, filling and accessible from pretty much anywhere on the curry mile, falafel is the ideal lunchtime snack. Plus they're suitable for those of the vegetarian persuasion. 12/10 would recommend.