Learn to live with roommates

[Bellamy]

Learn to live with roommates

By Francesca Ratner

Published: Thursday, April 28, 2005

 

If you count it out on your fingers as you walk around campus, it's true. Every seven out of 10 conversations are, "I cannot believe she soaks her feet in the room when my boyfriend's over! I am so glad to be moving out of there. Only a couple more weeks to go!"

 

Or, "Man, he keeps a can of open sardines in the fridge for weeks at a time. And it reeks! It's not like I can throw them away 'cuz they're his!"

 

Some of us more than others, (well, it has to be at least 70 percent of the dorm population), are counting down the days to May 11 - the day we toss our suitcases into a rental truck and get to press down on the gas pedal as hard as possible, zooming away from Mr. Roommate.

 

Everyone has his or her shortcomings. If you don't, then that is a shortcoming. And rest assured, though you're cute and loveable, you're still annoying to live with most of the time. My father gave me a warning before I ventured off to college. He said, "Francesca, your roommates will not get along with you. You think they will welcome your hair clogging up the sink and bath tub drain? Or your alarm blasting at seven in the morning for 59 minutes in unison with your peaceful snoring?" Dad was right. My roommate complains all the time, politely pointing out my inadequacies as a human being. She pleas with me to cut down to just one alarm clock at top volume (seeing as I do not have my cat to meow at me for food every morning in the college dorm setting, I am forced to rely on my cell phone's Nokia Overture as a backup.)

 

Rooming with people you do not know is a tough, character building experience. Quirks, from drinking all your limeade to cleaning the stove with your bathroom towel, are annoying enough from family and friends. But good friends and family put up with each other's shortcomings, and more importantly, there is an established hierarchy and seniority between them, so you always know in advance who is going to win the argument. If your roommates are mom and dad, in most cases they're not going to disown you for leaving the milk out to turn to cottage cheese. They'll yell for 11 minutes and then take you out to a movie or ice cream. Thus acknowledging, that you are, after all, the boss, and submitting to your superior status in the family. If your roommate is best friend Sally, she'll be cross for a day or two about her paper being set on fire. But packing the fridge with strawberry Jell-O for a month will make her forgive and forget. Likewise, if mom, dad and Sally drink all my limeade and eat all my chocolate chip cookies, they'll buy me new ones if I show I'm upset. Roommates who have no other relation to each other, however, are not so willing to invest cookies and Jell-O on each other. After the initial honeymoon period of "I don't know your name, so I don't feel comfortable being my klutzy self," a familiarity sets in and the roommates become weary of each other. And rooming situations can become especially intense. Yet, my roommate and I have somewhat bonded over the year while sweeping away at a common enemy - my puffy curls and cobwebs on the bathroom floor.

 

I realized I'd like to part ways on a warmer, friendlier note. Perhaps it's the moldy sardines or cottage cheese fumes getting to my brain, but up north, spring is a warm, forgiving season. April is the time of year associated with sun and flowers. Love is on the air. Radio stations play an extra dose of Elton John and Celine Dion soft rock. Television soap operas taper off the "My evil stepsister stole my father's will" theme and edge more toward "I'm marrying my charming evil stepsister while taking back the family inheritance." Most importantly, the semester is ending. Summer is approaching. There are those few tidal waves of papers and finals left, but we can all hang on for a couple more weeks every once in a while sniffing at the pungent sardines, then singing along to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" or "The Power of Love" in the shower.

 

Though you're stressing over finals and papers, take a moment to stop and twirl to the Elton John and Celine Dion. Be nice and smile at your roommate once or twice. Assure them there is no ulterior motive - you didn't set any more of her papers on fire. Offer to take a break from the hectic school schedule and drink some cool limeade. Generously offer your help to finish off the zesty sardines, but make it clear with your tone that you don't really mean it. Try your best to be thoughtful. All these deeds will create good karma within the dorm room. The paper-writing will go smoother. Make sure, after splitting the room with another person next year, your roommate will realize how unappreciative of you she was.

 

Lastly, make wiser rooming decisions next year. Adjust some of the annoying quirks. When meeting your prospective roommate, hide the long, puffy curls under an ugly hat. Choose your next roommate among your friends very carefully.

Source: http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/2005/04/28...es-942345.shtml

[Mozinha]

There is always time to listen to Celine no matter how many papers we have

 

I go to college but I live at my own house, thank God. Everyday I hear people complain about roomates.

[Koolan]

Thanks goodness I don't have to see some of my ex roommates again. I've seen my fair share of shortcomings. It was a wonderful experience away from home

[Celine's Wife]

I survived..... I basically kept to myself most of the time and did my own thing.... plus we had lots of room but I can say I'm glad to be rid of them

[winforlife]

This article brought back memories when I had two roommates including myself during my freshman year. Three in a room produced some interesting situations

The room was so small it was necessary to make bunk beds to create more space. Three of us had to share a small closet. One roommate didn't use deodorant and the smell was quite strong. My other roommate thought I was the diplomatic one since I majored in Social Work!

Needless to say, it was difficult to broach the subject. She ended up hurt and I felt horrible,but the problem was solved.

 

Living with other people is a good learning tool for developing good communication skills(hopefully!) and perhaps lasting friendships

Edited April 30, 2005 at 02:34 AM by winforlife