It didn’t bode well. We pulled up at the entrance to my university accommodation about seven hours after everyone else.
The reason? Rosh Hashanah, which that year unfortunately coincided with the first day of my Freshers’ Week.
This may well be the case for you, but it’s not a reason to panic. Being away from home doesn’t have to mean breaking the Fast alone or celebrating Succot without a succah.
If your first lecture coincides with Yom Tov, chat to someone on your course, borrow their notes, or email the lecturer to explain.
Whatever the professors say, you will not fall behind by missing the odd class at the start of the year.
And if the big Freshers’ Week party coincides with Kol Nidre? Think of it as one less opportunity to make a bad, alcohol-induced first impression.
It’s uni — there will be many, many more big nights out.