Tips for living with roommates!

     Moving away from home can be an intimidating experience as it is... but add moving into an apartment with 4-6 other people to the equation and living in your parents basement doesn't seem so bad! 

     At Bengal Creek we want you to have the best experience possible! So here are a few tips to keeping a happy apartment! 

1. Be clear from the beginning! 

     -It's easy to upset someone if no one knows what is okay and what is not. Each time someone new moves into my apartment we all sit down and have a "roommate meeting". Not only does this help to break the ice, it also gives everyone the opportunity to set their boundaries and expectations for the apartment while they are living there. Occasionally you will run into someone whose expectations will be way too high, in this case you would try to compromise with them so that both parties can walk away satisfied. One semester I had a roommate who wanted everyone out of the living room by 11:00 every night (kinda unreasonable) so we compromised and made it so we could be in the living room for as long as we wanted, but to just be quiet after 11:00. BOOM everyone was happy! If nothing works then you can always contact your building CA! They are here to help! 

2. Address things when they are little!

     -If you let little things (like your roommate using your hand soap) slip by for too long then pretty soon you're going to find yourself exploding and your roommate has no idea what's wrong. It is way easier to bring up something little when you notice it becoming a nuisance, because 9 times out of 10 your roommate will have no idea that they are doing something wrong. 

3. Respect your roommate's stuff!

     -This one is HUGE, and it's the biggest cause of conflict within an apartment! The best thing you can do is never borrow, use, or take anything without asking permission first! And just because they said you could use their pan to cook one night, doesn't mean you can just grab it whenever.

4. Lock the doors and Windows!

     -This tip seems like it has nothing to do with roommates but it's a good thing to remember! Although break-ins rarely if ever happen here, theft is a crime of opportunity! So make sure to keep everyone's belongings safe by locking the Apartment up. 

5.You can be friends without being best friends!

     -We have all heard both extremes when it comes to roommates... you either hate them or you become best friends forever! While both cases can happen it is good to remember that there is a medium. If you jump into the relationship expecting you both to be best friends automatically then it could actually lead to more complications down the road. Just keep in mind that while it may happen, it is also good to keep social circles outside of the apartment. 

6. Be open minded and open to change!
     -College is the time to experience new things and meet people from different backgrounds! If you keep an open mind to other people's lifestyles then you will become a well rounded, understanding person. And who knows, you might pick up one or two things about life along the way!

7.Don't let the big things fester!
     -When there is a fight in the apartment and everyone knows it, it can cause a lot of contention in the atmosphere, not only making your day awkward, but everyone else's too. So always do your best to shove that white elephant out the door! If you feel like you've done everything you can, then talk to your building CA and see if they can't help or offer some advice. 

8. If all else fails...Just follow the Golden Rule!
     -Treat your roommate like you'd like to be treated. No matter what your relationship is at the end of the year, you can take comfort knowing you acted like an adult and treated your roommate with respect.

Moving out can be intimidating, but it also gives you the opportunity to meet new people and make memories that can last a lifetime!