But...I forgot!!!

In my last entry, I gave you a bunch of things you shouldn't leave home without. But what happens if you forget? Here's a recap of the list with ways to procure these elusive essentials.

10) Band-aids : If you're in a scramble for a little first-aid but you've forgotten to BYOBand-aids, the first place to look for some would be your friendly new neighbors. Someone is likely to have brought a few. Even if no one has a package of them, it's likely that someone will have a first-aid kit with a few available. If all else fails, hall offices or campus convenience stores and bookstores are likely to stock them.
9) Plastic flatware, plates and cups : A lot of take-out places now offer bundles of these for free with your order. But if you're still up the creek without a paddle, the best place to look would be the dining halls or food stands around campus. You can probably get a cup or plate if you ask politely. Most campuses are near enough to a supermarket that you could always walk over and do a quick shopping spree.
8) Heavy-duty packing tape : The best place to find tape (and other artsy supplies) is, of course, the art department! If you aren't allowed to borrow some from there, you can always try the local post office or bookstore. Chances are that other residents are hanging up posters and the like, so feel free to ask around too. Bartering can be a great thing!
7) A large trunk with a combination lock : There's really no easy (or cheap) solution if you forget one of these. You can try hiding valuables deep in a drawer, beneath a mattress or in your shoes, but these locations aren't secure (or too obscure, for that matter). The only way out might be a quick call back home with a plea to visit soon - trunk in tow, of course.
6) Twine and light-weight opaque fabric : If you forget twine, one of the easiest (and strongest) alternatives is dental floss. Sure, it may be minty fresh, but it'll get the job done. Opaque fabric can be replaced with colorful bedsheets, extra blankets or colorful paper (for the truly desperate).
5) Foldable drying rack : Possibly the simplest item to replace on this entire list, drying racks merely make an easy task even easier. If you don't feel like stringing floss around your room, you can always drape your jeans, socks and other linens over open drawers, headboards, desks, chairs, window frames and anywhere else that juts out. Leave to dry for a few hours with the windows open and voila! You'll have dry laundry before you know it. Fans circulate air and make the task fly by.
4) Flashlight : If all else fails... Cell phones will give off just enough light for you to get around. The same goes for laptops on battery charges. Neither solution is preferable, obviously, but if you're in the dark, you'll want some way to navigate around.
3) Single-serve drink mixes : If you forget these, all hope is not lost. They'd be difficult to find around campus, so you'd need to go to the supermarket. Most campuses have a convenience store where you can buy bottles of pre-made iced tea, juice or other beverages. These should hold you over til you can get to the store.
2) At least one dressy outfit : The key word here is: friends. Even if you can't find a single friend with just the right outfit, you can ask around and make the best of the situation. You can borrow a top from Person A, slacks or a skirt from Person B and shoes from that elusive Person C. Clean everything when you're done and return it promptly, and if you have a few extra cookies from home in your fridge, it never hurts to give a sweet thank-you.
1) A needle and thread : It's not easy to replace the age-old needle and thread. However, there's usually a rising homemaker somewhere on every floor who would be delighted to let you borrow their sewing kit. If there isn't, you can always try temporary safety pins. If all else fails, and I mean all else, you can try your best with a stapler and some crossed fingers. After all, when you're in a pinch, anything goes.

-Alex Seise