[LAUNDRY MACHINE TUMBLING]
SASCHA KELLER: I had never ever done laundry before. I did not touch a washing machine until I got here to cherubs. It was foreign territory to me. It was really, really kind of terrifying. It was this big machine that made noises and whirled my clothes around really fast.
[LAUNDRY MACHINE BEEPING]
Dorm life often means a lot of newfound independence. Many cherubs learned how to do their laundry for the first time, including Sascha Keller.
SASCHA: I took a video and sent it to my mom, and I was like, “Wait, is this supposed to happen?” Like, I don’t know. Like, this is kind of really scary.
Despite the challenges, Keller said finishing the process was rewarding.
SASCHA: I mean, I was in heaven. I felt my clothes — they were clean, they were warm, they smelled good. They weren’t occupying a corner of my room in a laundry basket, and it just — it felt like a complete reset. Like I just hit a reboot button. I learned how to write a great lead and a nut graph, and how to quote someone. But I also learned how to do my laundry, and I think that that’s just as valuable.
[CLOTHES RUFFLING]
Nate Seibert, whose mother has done his laundry for his whole life, took on the skill at cherubs.
NATE SEIBERT: I gained more appreciation for what my mom goes through at home. She complains an OK amount about laundry, and I think I understood it at a certain level. But I understand it at a deeper level now. I have — I had a lot of respect for my dear mother, but I have even more respect, which I don’t think was possible. So even though I’ve only done laundry two, three times at this point, I think I actually have a knack for it. I think — I think deep down I’m meant to be doing laundry. I think it was a very big difficulty for me to get the clothes from way up on the second floor to way down in the basement.
[LAUNDRY MACHINE TUMBLING]
While Jack Tergesen has other chores at home, he had never embarked on the journey of laundry until he attended the program.
JACK TERGESEN: I almost accidentally put my belt in. I wasn’t really paying attention, and then thankfully somebody pointed it out. I think there — I think there were a few wrappers in my pants, but like, I think I saw like a Snickers wrapper. I mean, not the — obviously no chocolate or anything.
Reporting for Cherubs Audio, I’m Phoebe Measer. See you next time.
[CHERUBS AUDIO THEME MUSIC]
Music provided by @prettyjohn1 on Pixabay.
