Thursday, August 23, 2001
Experienced roommate offers tips for survival
Eating insects is the not preferred ice-breaking method
by Elise Rumbaud
associate campus news editor

As new students begin the journey of self-discovery called residence hall life, they will undoubtedly learn a thing or two about themselves and the personal habits of others. After surviving six semesters and 10 different roommates, I have a few tips regarding roomates and how to live with them.

Moving into Sherley Hall as a first semester freshman can be rather daunting, but the terror is only magnified when what lies ahead is a potluck roommate assignment. My first roommate was a burgeoning gourmand whose dietary preferences involved raising campus crickets in a shoebox until they were primed for the skillet, prepared with what I was told was a tasty sauce. She feasted on the insects as I sat and watched aghast. To avoid an infestation, I told her that she could eat what she liked, but tactfully asked her to please not keep live “food” in our room.

The aroma of her other culinary delights resulted in a lovely bouquet that smelled like a combination of sour milk, skunk, moth balls, fish and rotten eggs. This most pleasant odor permeated my clothes, towels, sheets and hair. Being know as the smelly girl was naturally the catalyst for my flourishing freshman social life.

Living with a stranger not only requires adjusting to your roommates’ habits but also often dealing with their parents. Many new students experience parent-college student separation anxiety. My roommates have always had to be tolerant of my parents who insist on calling me at obscene hours of the morning.

I also had the pleasure of hosting a roommate’s parents for the first two weeks of school. While I was attempting to unpack and get situated in my new home, my roommate’s family would spend the week napping, cooking and conversing in frequencies only dolphins can hear in our dorm room. I understand that they really wanted to make sure that she was situated, but when your child turns 18, it’s time to cut the cord.

Privacy is obviously an issue in dorm life, but more important are decency and cleanliness. Based on various personal experiences, the following tips may help to avoid a roommate brawl:

• Do not wash your underwear in the sink.
• Always close the bathroom door.
• If you insist on having naked time, do so behind closed doors or when your roommate is out .
• Do not develop any habits that attract insects.
• Set your own alarm clock and do not abuse the snooze bar.
• Do not take unrelated stress out on your roommate .
• CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF!

My inability to keep a roommate for more than one semester suggests that I am not exactly an angel. It has come to my attention that I may have a few annoying habits as well. Through my roommate experiences I have learned the extent of my imperfections — it’s really enough to keep you humble.

I have adapted to a nomadic lifestyle, moving about every four months, and have perfected the art of packing. Though I many not be perfect, my only hope is that I will have learned to be more tolerant and more sensitive and accepting of others.

Associate Campus News Editor Elise Rambaud is senior international communications major from Houston.
She may be contacted at e.j.rambaud@student.tcu.edu.

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