Living With Roommates

This is one of the most difficult parts of being a college student. For the most part, I've left it up to chance on who I've lived with. I just sign a contract with the apartment complex, and they assign me my roommates. Honestly, this is probably not the best choice. Why? Because I could have ended up with CRAZY people! For the most part, I've been lucky to live with people that are awesome, and we don't have that many problems. But, living with people, you are ALWAYS going to have some problem. Here are some of my tricks to getting along with the people you live with.

1. find something you have in common. If you can't find something in common, I'm sorry. There really has to be something. If not, try making up something or find something close to being something in common. I have found that Twilight is quite a common similarity lately. I will admit, I have read the books, and seen the movies. I even went to the 3 am showing of New Moon this past year with my roommate and a friend. Even though I don't particularly like the Twilight Saga, I find it quite enjoyable with other people, especially when we can make fun of Edward....:)

2. Make a list of "10 Commandments." I got this idea from a past roommate, but it makes sense. You come up with 10 rules, traditions, bonding items and post it up in the apartment. Everyone agrees to live by these rules, and its just fun. The current rules of my apartment:
-Thou shalt obey the Honor Code.
-Thou shalt wash thy hands with Bath & Body Works Soap!
-Thou shalt consume lots and lots of Oreos!
-Thou shalt have roommate bonding bimonthly.
-Thou shalt show affection DAILY!
-Thou shalt participate in WEEKLY cleaning activities.
-Thou shalt clean thy dishes by the time thou layest thy head down to sleep.
-Thou shalt LOVE and contribute to the MAN WALL!
-Thou shalt love they FHE family and Attend!
-Thou shalt attend thy meeting of learning.

3. If you have a roommate that you don't get along with or is bugging you, ignorance is bliss. Okay, some people will tell you to confront the person and try to solve the problem. But I'm telling you to ignore them. Most of the time, when one of my roomies is bugging me, it is because I'm tired, irritable, taking care of my visiting Aunt Flow, or a combination of all the previous reasons. I find that if I just confine myself to my studies and keep myself in my room. I just ignore the annoying person and the world and wait out the irritating-ness of life. Really, it works very well.

4. Find someone to vent to and confide in. Find someone that you don't live with, and have vent-fests. Vent out all your problems of your roommates, go out for comfort food (DQ Blizzards are lovely, especially on a college student budget), and return home as if nothing has happened. By the way, DON'T HAVE THE VENT-FEST IN DQ. Do that in private or in the car. You don't want someone else to hear the conversation and have it get back to the person you are complaining about. The venting should not be often. If it happens often, something is wrong.

5. Love your roommates. Really, you should. Do small nice things for them. They do live with you, and there is no way that you are the perfect person to live with. You have faults, just like they do. So, make sure to love them through their faults.
And, if you are the perfect roommate, contact me. I would love to live with someone so perfect. It would definitely make life easier. Especially if you like wrapping up the vacuum cord. I don't like wrapping up the vacuum cord....maybe I should invest in one of those vacuums that automatically works and has no cord......hmmmm....