By reading this title, you’re probably thinking that I’m just going to spout off the pros and cons about living with someone in a dorm that is from clear across the world and grew up speaking a completely different language than English. Well, I’m not going to because there isn’t anything bad about it. I actually enjoy it very much. I find it to be a very enriching and rewarding experience for both of us. We get to learn things about the other’s home countries and try new things (like food and candy) together, whether they’re new for both of us or just one of us.

I feel like most Americans would feel extremely uncomfortable living with someone who isn’t from the same country. They might shudder at the thought that they might have to encounter a foreign language because to them, everyone in the world should have some immense knowledge of the English language. If that’s you, sorry, it just isn’t the case. Some Americans might have some stereotype about people from other countries and either use it to their advantage or use it as a reason not to live with that person. That’s, honestly, rather sad. Instead of going along with their stereotype, they could challenge it and prove it wrong.

Living with someone from a foreign country gives you such an amazing opportunity to learn about a country that you haven’t been to, or more about a country you have been to. I’ve learned so much about my roommate’s country since I met my roommate a year ago. Just this past week, I learned what age is widely celebrated like how we Americans celebrate the ages sixteen and twenty-one. She’s also taught me more words from her language than I ever knew before. We’ve even placed a section on our wall for these words for me to copy down into a notebook. However, her sharing is not a one way street.

I contribute by introducing her to classic American things, or strictly Pennsylvanian things. Most of the time, it has been food-related, but I enjoy sharing my culture. I help her with English, although her English is leagues better than some Americans. Further, I love to have her try candies or regional things like my favorite flavor of ice cream, teaberry. Also, since we are in some of the same classes, we help each other do the homework work or take turns typing up lab reports for chemistry or studying for an exam. Admittedly, I’ve also turned her into a bit of an anime fan, to which, I am not ashamed of. Sorry, not sorry.

At this point, you might be wondering how I got here: to this room with my roommate who is from a country thirteen hours ahead of where I live. It’s not that complicated of a situation. A mutual friend introduced us the first semester last year after I had a really embarrassing encounter with her in the bathroom, one early morning (we lived in the same building). I’m willing to say that we became friends rather quickly. That semester, I had an unfavorable roommate who promptly switched rooms at the end of the fall semester and left me by my lonesome the rest of the freshman year. Of course, that doesn’t answer how I got to have my new friend as my roommate in my sophomore year. Obviously, I asked her and the deal was done.

Since then, I am very glad I asked her to be my roommate. We’ve gotten along very well and are very respectful of each other’s space and belongings. The only troublesome portion we've had is communicating on dorm decorations over the summer, for obvious time difference related reasons. I enjoy learning about her country as well as teaching her about my own. I also enjoy trying new foods from her country, although the idea of some make me a little disgusted. I really hope that we continue to dorm together at college and learn more and more about each other and where we are from. One day, I might just follow her home. You never know.