“Amidst this chaos, you’ll meet your roommates. They often fall into one of several categories, as I’ve learned during my two years living in a student accommodation, which have simultaneously been the best and the worst years of my life.”
In the rush of Freshers’ Week, student accommodations bubble with excited first-year students armed with their Ikea starter kits, third-year students surrounded by their countless boxes of college belongings that accumulate so quickly, and anxious parents who are about to become empty nesters. Of course, there are also student ambassadors letting locked-out students into their rooms every 10 minutes. Amidst this chaos, you’ll meet your roommates. They often fall into one of several categories, as I’ve learned during my two years living in student accommodation, which have simultaneously been the best and the worst years of my life.
The Social Butterfly
They are always found in the kitchen, either with a group of friends or cheerfully chatting with another roommate. They’re the most fun to be around, and you often find yourself wanting to be friends with them. They’re just that likeable! They created the group chat and are the best at mediating any drama that involves them. Their Instagram, which they shared with you the very first time you met them in the hallway, is the most happening place you’ve come across. You might feel lucky to have them as your roommate and end up as friends by the end of the year!
The Messy Kitchen Hoarder
Proceed with caution! Beware of mold! When I say “hoarder”, I mean someone who collects perishable food that will be left in common spaces such as the counter and dining tables, but never in the freezer, where it might have a chance of not decomposing and growing mold. They hate cleaning up after themselves and are often found relaxing in the common rooms, which they make unlivable. The trash will always be piled up, and stray breakfast ingredients like oats and blueberries might be found scattered on random parts of the floor. And mold, of course. Did I mention that before? Because there will be plenty of it, often on things you didn’t know could grow mold! But I guess you learn something new every day. Try a friendly approach when dealing with them, and hopefully it will work. If not, I would recommend moving your food as far away from theirs as possible.
The Group Chat Photographer
“Guys, this is unacceptable! We need to all pick up after ourselves!!!” is the message that will often accompany a photo of the sink, which usually has less than two spoons and one cup in it. Photography and writing are their passions, and they use them solely to take photos of the sink and close-ups of specks of dirt on freshly cleaned counters, sending them to the group chat along with a beautifully typed message that is easily the length of a Draco Malfoy fanfic from Quotev, explaining how cleaning the kitchen needs to be everyone’s first priority at college. Normally you won’t find them in the same apartment as the Messy Kitchen Hoarder, but when you do, it’s a one-sided war you’ll want to distance yourself from.
The Vampire
Never seen in sunlight. Barely seen at all. Never seen eating food. Forget that! You’ll never even see them claim a cupboard in the kitchen for groceries because they never buy any. They’re not on the group chat because no one has been able to interact with them long enough to get their phone number, which you’re not sure even exists. After all, what 1,400-year-old vampire would keep up to date with technology? They really do exhibit all the signs of being a vampire. Call me crazy all you want! Or a girl who has never gotten out of her vampire YA novels obsession phase, but sometimes you catch them cleaning a red-stained glass. Yes, it could totally just be wine, but maybe it’s another obvious sign.
The Smoker
They can always be spotted on the balcony with a pack of cigarettes and a really cool lighter that you always want to ask them about. Even when you come out to the kitchen to grab a glass of water in the middle of the night, they’re quiet and clean. They may have the most “underground artist” and “not at all like, you know, pop like Taylor Swift” playlist you’ve ever heard. It’s Arctic Monkeys and The Neighbourhood, and they really need to shut up about it sometimes. You only listen to that music months later when you finally become friends with them after coming home at 2am, crying about boy problems and ranting to them because they’re always willing to listen to your drama. They give good advice, and you love them despite their god-awful music taste.
These are some of the roommates you may find in the chaos of student accommodations. I wish you luck and hope you find yourselves surrounded by the best people!
