There is a perpetual smell that dormitory microwaves have–something like a mixture of over-buttered popcorn, chicken soup and ravioli. Separately the smells might not be so bad, but when the combination is wafting indscriminately over the beginnings of your morning tea, it’s rather unappealing. Of course, I could have used the stove to heat the water, but that would have taken longer…and made me feel like much less of a college student. 🙂