Mission: Finding your college roommate
Translation by Αναστασία Τσιτσάνη
Based on the original text in Greek by Μάγδα Τσόχα
Sooner or later, there comes a time when everyone has to leave their family home and detach themselves from their parents. One of your first opportunities to do so is college… If you are one of the students whose college is located in another city and they are not able to live by themselves, the next thing that comes to mind is to find a roommate. So,if the possibility of having a roommate scares you, since you don’t know the person you will end up with or the choosing criteria, the following article will enlighten your thoughts, while relieving your concerns.
Choose a roommate of the same sex
Starting off with the basics, it would be very useful to search for a roommate of the same sex. Practically, living together will be easier as there will be better communication and understanding between you two. At the same time, everyday conciliation, in combination with the division of housework, will establish a powerful and unchangeable base for a life-long friendship.
Choose someone whom you can easily trust
The truth is that people might change their behavior when the door is closed. If you have the chance to live with a friend/ acquaintance whose habits, needs and pet peeves you already know… then do it without a second thought.
In that way, you will save yourself from a lot of surprises and unexpected events, perhaps not so pleasant. If this is not within reach and you have to choose a random roommate, try to learn as much as possible about them, but always do it discreetly!
Set your terms!
The most essential characteristic of every successful household, and at the same time, the best way to avoid misunderstandings and useless arguments, are… rules. It is very important for both sides to express from the very start what they want and set a dividing line regarding household chores, paying rent and bills, but also inviting others over. As long as these are agreed on, everything else that might occur is of secondary importance.
Besides, if you don’t already know your new roommate, a discussion like this one before living together, will give you an idea of whether or not they are willing to work on the plan that you will set together.
Try to not cross the line
Keep your distance and be polite, especially if you have just met your roommate to be. There is no reason to cross the line and make them feel embarrassed, creating an awkward situation. You will get to know each other slowly and steadily. There is no need in being in a hurry; after all you don’t know for how long it will last or how peculiar the other person standing right in front of you might turn out being.
Patience
A lot of it. It is a very important virtue that you will need. Don’t give up immediately, don’t get riled up easily and be understandable. We all have our own peculiarities and problems. Interpersonal relationships would not be less complicated if everyone could be patient, in moderation always. Don’t be judgmental and don’t scold your roommate the first time that you’ll see something that you don’t like. Give them a second chance, possibly even a third one, in order for them to prove who they really are and you won’t regret it.
When starting your new life, you will have to make many, often difficult, decisions, sometimes even wrong ones. Nevertheless, life is worth living only when you keep going, no matter the difficulties and wrong decisions taken on the way…
Αν επιθυμείς να διεκδικήσεις υποτροφίες στην Ελλάδα ή το εξωτερικό, ο Οδηγός Υποτροφιών του Citycampus που μόλις κυκλοφόρησε σου προσφέρει ό,τι χρειάζεσαι!
