Yeah, it just happens sometimes, and it's more troublesome, I find, when I'm already stressed.
There are things you can do, but they may take time. For lectures, if you're at a school where there's a distance-learning option, do it -- a powerpoint big-hall lecture is the same whether you're at home or in the auditorium. The only negative's that you won't meet people for studying with. If there isn't a DL option, see if you can find where the disability seats are -- often there's a separate table that would accommodate a wheelchair. Sit there.
Later on, if you're on your own: Try to get top-floor apartments so people aren't walking on your head. And ask about the building construction. My last apt, before I got a house, was great because it adjoined only two units, and there was excellent soundproofing/airspace between them -- and many of the residents in the complex were grad/professional students. Look out too for forced-air heating, since odors can travel from apt to apt through the ducts.
Houses in very dull professional neighborhoods are wonderful. I once described the quiet in my house, when I was freelancing, as an "autistic hum". I'm reluctant ever to move because I'm afraid that after a decade of this I won't be able to get used to noise again.
In the meantime: earplugs, for sure.
28 Apr 2014, 12:57 pm
