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roommate
relations
Jen Davies, Sactosaurus Columnist
So... you are a first time freshman, ready to embark on your first year
away from home by living in one of the five dorms at Sac State. But
do not forget that unless you got a single room, someone else will be
sharing that experience with you. While some roommate combinations
work out quite well because you were accurately matched by the information
you submitted during the summer, there are times where the Housing
Department is crunched for space and just stick complete opposites
together. So if you are the latter case, consider this advice for
living with someone you thought you could never live with and to make your
roommate experience more enjoyable. Remember, they are probably
thinking the same thing about you.
1) The Type: The Party Animal
The Description: Add this equation: One 18 year old student + freedom
+ alcohol + lots of other people = one large headache if you are the type
of person that does not like to go out and party till 3 am and actually
wants to study once in a while. The Party Animal can have pretty
spontaneous behavior. If there is word of a party going around, you
can bet that your roomie will be there, and will not be home until the wee
hours of the morning. And if The Animal had too much to drink that
night, there could be some serious problems.
How to Deal: How can you avoid sitting with your roommate at 3 am
while she/he prays to the porcelain god? Whatever you do, do not
hold in your feelings or concerns. Keeping your anger pent up can
lead to some pretty messy fights later on in the semester. So if
your roommate starts showing signs as a partygoer, talk it out before
things get out of control. If you have a Friday morning class and
the roomie has a Thursday evening get together, make sure you say that you
really need your sleep and not to be too loud upon entry.
2) The Type: The MIA
The Description: So you see your roommate on the first day of
move in… and then never see him or her again. You start to wonder
why he or she got a dorm room in the first place and since his or her
return patterns are so random, you don't want to rearrange the room
without the MIA there.
How to Deal: Don't worry about it too much. Maybe the MIA has
a significant other in the area and wants privacy 24/7, has a job/class
schedule with strange hours, or his or her parents live nearby. Take
it as a positive. At least you are getting that single room you
probably wanted but for half price. If you do happen to catch your
MIA, ask when you can expect him or her back. But if you are too
lonely, make some friends from down the hall.
3) The Type: The Borrower
The Description: Your roommate may just have a problem with
remembering things or really likes your taste in clothes or music.
But when things from your side of the room suddenly disappear and your
roommate suddenly starts asking for things like shampoo, toothpaste, or
even your shower sandals, you may have a Borrower.
How to Deal: If you notice your favorite sweater is gone from your
closet, ask your roommate if he/she knows where it is. As for CDs
and other items, make sure to mark things with a Sharpie or get labels for
them. Common things like shampoo and stuff, if your roomie uses more
than ¼ of the bottle, tell him or her to pick some up at the grocery
store. And borrowing each other's shower sandals is just gross.
I would just let him or her keep them and get another 99-cent pair at
Walgreen's.
4) The Type: Your New Best Friend
The Description: He or she is the nicest person in the world and would
do anything for you… and you have only known her/him for one day.
These "friends" are either doormats with very little
self-confidence or just really crave attention. And so much
smothering can leave you screaming that you need your space but have
nowhere to go.
How to Deal: Like the Party Animal, do not hold your feelings in.
It will hurt your roomie when you say that you don't want to hang out with
her/him tonight, but hopefully he/she will find something else to do and
will get over it. Be nice about it: screaming at someone who is
insecure will only make it worse. However, if the "friend"
seems to be having more problems than just lack of attention, seek the
help of your RA or counselor.
5) The Type: The Skunk
The Description: It's pretty obvious when your new roomie has personal
hygiene problems. And it could really bother you that there is a
stench emitting from your dorm room and your roommate probably hasn't done
laundry in weeks, has left over food on the floor, and hasn't showered in
days.
How to Deal: Talk to your roommate about the room cleanliness,
especially if you are a neat freak. Offer to do a load of laundry
and hopefully he or she will get the hint. When it comes to the
personal hygiene part, don't make fun of The Skunk or bad mouth about him
or her to your friends. It's a sensitive subject to some people and
if it really bothers you, just say, "Hey, I was just curious why you
haven't taken a shower in a few days." Maybe there is a really
good reason.
These are only five types of roommates. I am sure there are plenty
of others out there. The main thing about getting along with your
new roommate is compromise. There are bound to be things that your
roomie won't like about you. Always keep communication open.
And if that doesn't work, ask to move into another dorm or switch rooms at
the semester break.
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