Living with another person (or other people) isn’t always easy and there are certain unspoken rules that you (try to) live by, no matter your awareness of them. So to help you out, or to just make people who are currently your roommates laugh, here are my ABC’s of living with roommates, written from my experience living in a college dorm.
A is for adventures.
Always be down for them. Like uni-cycling down the hall or trying to kill a bug late at night. Speaking of which…
B is for bug-killing.
Someone has to do it. Man up.
C is for clothes.
Also known as sharing is caring, as long as you wash and return.
D is for desk.
Yes it’s yours, but when you have to sit at their desk to work, you know it’s time to clean. To my roommate, who I know will read this, I see my hypocrisy. I just needed something for this letter. I'm trying here.
E is for easy meals.
Popcorn (which is a grain,) trail mix (protein,) chips and guacamole (grains and veggies,) ramen (grains…?) and when all else fails, there’s sitting on the floor eating peanut butter from the jar. There’s nutrition in there somewhere.
F is for food.
Thou shalt always be willing to share or else it will get stolen.
G is for garbage.
Take out your trash, yo.
H is for heat.
Because inevitably someone will be too warm at the same time that someone is too cold.
I is for illness.
It’s the 11th commandment: if one gets sick, you all get sick.
J is for jam sessions.
Even if it’s just you guys and the radio.
K is for keeping your area clean.
No one wants to see that. Again, roommate, my hypocrisy shows. I promise I'll try harder this year.
L is for love.
Without it, your room won’t be a great place to be. Believe me, I’ve been there.
M is for making memories.
Inside jokes that make others think you might be crazy that are sure to follow.
N is for Netflix marathons.
You have your shows that you watch together and you may even share a Netflix password, which, I've been told, is the sign of a serious relationship.
O is for ordering coffee.
You know my order, I know yours. Be kind and buy for your roommate occasionally.
P is for pants.
They’re optional. Unless the window or door is open. Then it’s mandatory.
Q is for quiet, someone’s napping.
You wake the sleeping dragon, you deal with said dragon.
R is for running.
Running away from homework and going to the store, running away from responsibilities and watching a movie on the couch or literally running from your room for no other reason than because you both heard a bug. The important thing is that you run together.
S is for snuggling.
Always check for a personal space bubble first.
T is for taking care of each other.
Buying coffee for them on Monday or writing an encouragement card or simply being a listening ear.
U is for understanding.
Understanding that sometimes, they just need space to deal with what’s going on and simply your presence might be the best in the present. But it’s also understanding that sometimes they just need honesty. They may need that banana thrown at their head because they’re being dumb.
V is for vulnerability.
Being willing to let each other be real and honest about life, with all the struggles and joys it brings, and trust in knowing what happens and what is said in the room stays in the room.
W is for whipped cream in a can.
A necessity and a treat.
X is for xtreme napping.
It happens.
Y is for you and me.
In this through the good times and bad, until summer break do us part.
Z is for zipping up coats.
Because sometimes, your coat zipper gets jammed and you need a homie to help you out.
Take time to thank a roommate today and buy them a coffee or send them a quick not and show them some love. They put up with you for eight months of the year or more...they deserve a hug.
