Coming Back for Seconds: Situationships as Val Meals

College campuses have become a hotbed of the so-called “situationship.” What exactly is a situationship? No one really knows. (Usually, even the two people involved in one have different ideas of what it is.) The term might be an easy overarching label, but in reality, situationships exist on a spectrum. Looking for a way to describe your situationship to your friends? Look no further than the Valentine Dining Hall menu!

The Vodka Sauce

This situationship is someone who instantly makes your day better when you see them, but unfortunately, you never get to see them until the scary hours on Friday nights. That never stops you from enjoying them, though, and you come back for more every week. 

Everyone’s been there, so don’t feel ashamed. Just remember that in the long run, you deserve someone who wants to see you while the sun is still up. At the same time, maybe this is the perfect arrangement for you; you get to stay focused during the week and relax on the weekends.

The Bulgogi Rice Bowls

You love them — but so does everyone else. If you want to get to this one before everyone else does, you had better get in line early.

If you want to settle down with this person, make your move sooner rather than later. You don’t want to see them lock in with someone else and wish you had voiced your feelings. Someone this popular doesn’t stay on the market for long.  

The Autumnal Beef Stew

This is the freshmen fall situationship whom you never really want to see again but inevitably pops back into your life every three weeks. You might try things again, thinking it will be better this time, but you always end up leaving with a bad feeling in your stomach.

Going to a small college makes it hard to avoid that person you’d rather not see. Remember that on this campus, you can’t take running into someone as a “sign” from the universe. Use this as motivation to lock yourself in a Frost Library study room where you can’t run into anyone and write that paper you’ve been putting off.

The “Pho” / “Ramen” (?)

This is the long-lost lover who went abroad, and you felt like they were never coming back. After a year, they reappeared, and they look even better than the last time you saw them.

Their temporary disappearance served as an important reminder to cherish things while they last. At the same time, this is proof that they always come back. 

The Chili Lime Chicken

This situationship never delivers the spice it promises. It might seem exciting on the surface, but once you get deeper into it, you realize it’s dry and bland. 

With some effort, you might be able to bring some flavor to the dynamic, but remember you shouldn’t be the only one trying to spice things up. Even situationships need effort from both sides!

The Late Night Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich

You’ll always answer this “You up?” text; this person is dependably there when you need a quick pick-me-up on weekdays, and you always stay for longer than you’re planning to. Just like the utensils at Late Night, this person feels disposable.

It can be easy to take someone for granted when they’re available so often, but you’ll eventually realize that this dependability is a virtue worthy of appreciation. 

The Breakfast-for-Dinner

This situationship is the epitome of “right person, wrong time.” You love what they bring to the table, but you’re never on the same page. Something about this situationship just feels a little childish. 

While it might feel like this person didn’t come into your life at the right time, sometimes it's worth changing your routine to make room in your life for them. 

The Grab-n-Go Turkey Sandwich

The name speaks for itself … this situationship only has one purpose. As long as both of you want the same thing, this arrangement can be perfect. Just remember, if you indulge in Grab-n-Go, you won’t be able to get into longer-term dining anytime soon.

There’s nothing wrong with having a little low-commitment fun — but if one of you catches feelings and the other doesn’t, it’s definitely best to quit the “grabbing” n’ GO.