There is the saying: “You don’t really know someone until you live with them.” While this usually is applied to relationships, this year I realized it also rings true when it comes to your friends.

It’s senior year and I’m living in a new apartment with two of my best friends. As "best friend" implies, I know these girls pretty well. And yet, it has been a month now and I have discovered many new things about them.

It's different when you are living at home with your family. You have grown up in the house with them; you unfortunately already know all their annoying quirks, dirty habits, but also, advantages to having them around you all the time. Plus, no matter what they do, you will continue to love them at the end of the day. 

This is different with friends. You may have heard some horror stories of best friends deciding to live together, thinking that it would make their friendship stronger and yet is ultimately what causes it to end. This was my main concern this year.

But I have discovered that those people who allowed their friendships to come to an end probably did so over petty arguments or small problems that could have been avoided. There will be disagreements. One person may like the fridge to look a certain way or leave their bowls on the counter all the time, but I could never imagine simple things like that to truly damage our friendship in anyway.

I now understand them a little bit better. I have realized that by paying attention to a person’s kitchen habits or bedtime rituals, you are allowed a glance in to that person’s life at home or even childhood; you understand just a little bit more about how they grew up.  For example, my housemate does not like clutter in the kitchen. Surfaces should be clean with as little stuff as possible on them, including appliances. Because of this, food processors go in cupboards and coffeemakers are only brought out when necessary. 

While to me this is slightly bizarre, it lets me know something extra about her, especially after I asked her about it. Her kitchen at home looks like something out of a Home & Garden magazine. Everything has its place and things are kept pristine. Because of this, I understand my friend’s preference for our own kitchen. 

There are many sayings and theories out there, but I would change this one to make it more positive: if you want to get to know someone better, live with them.