06/02/2026
You told yourself it was fine.
It was not fine.
What sounded like âjust a bit furtherâ slowly turned into:
1. Earlier alarms than you planned for
Because that âextra 15 minutesâ on the map means waking up before sunrise every weekday.
Tip: Always calculate travel time during peak hours, not midday.
2. Sprinting for connections like itâs a sport
Miss one bus or train and your entire schedule falls apart.
Tip: Check how often connections run, frequency matters more than distance.
3. Checking Google Maps like itâs a life skill
Delays, cancellations, platform changes and suddenly this app controls your mood.
Tip: Look for routes with direct connections instead of multiple transfers.
4. Planning your day around transport instead of classes
You stop asking what you want to do and start asking whatâs even possible.
Tip: Try to keep your daily commute under 30â40 minutes if possible.
5. Realising the cheaper room costs more than money
Time, energy, flexibility and the hidden costs no listing mentions.
Tip: A slightly higher rent closer to campus often saves money in the long run.
Every international student has this moment, usually a few weeks into the semester.
Distance on a map never feels the same in real life.
Thatâs why choosing where you live matters just as much as how much you pay.
At SHH, we help students understand how accommodation actually fits into daily life and not just how it looks online.
Save this for later.
Send it to a friend whoâs still saying âI donât mind commuting.â