7 GOLDEN RULES FOR A PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

One of the first challenges you’ll face as a non-resident student in Milan is coexistence with roomates. Going from sharing spaces with your parents to having your own space, together with other people, may not be as easy and exciting as it may seem at first. Establishing rules will help you create a more peaceful and balanced home environment where you can give your best in studies.

Let’s find out together which are these rules and how they could help you through this exciting but delicate transition.

Rule number 1: having rules

The first rule for a peaceful coexistence is to have some rules. It may seem obvious but it’s important for us to emphasize that. You might end up sharing spaces with someone who has completely different habits from yours, therefore to help you avoiding unpleasant situations and misunderstandings, it’s important to define some basic rules of coexistence. If you and your roommate are on two different schedule, for example, you’ll need to agree on a common time from which it will be possible to start “making noise”, to avoid any awkward situation.

Rule number 2: establish cleaning shifts

Doing the dishes or dusting off the furniture are certainly not among the fun things you love to do at home. Approving cleaning shifts, that everyone has to follow, is the easiest way to live in a clean apartment and to ensure that everyone plays a part in keeping a clean and tidy environment.

Rule number 3: set a volume limit of music

In this new situation you might want to experience some luxuries you’ve never had, enjoying this new sense of freedom. Unfortunately, not everyone loves music blaring especially during the rest or while are studying. That’s why it is better to always listen to music with headphones or listening to it when you’re alone.

Rule number 4: ask for permission

It’s important to stress that living under the same roof does not authorize the indiscriminate use of all the objects that do not belong to us. Asking for permission to use appliances, video game consoles, etc. of our roommates is always better. Later, once more confidence is gained, it will be possible to agree on their common use.

Rule number 5: define spaces

Living together means also finding point of agreement on the management of shared areas such as the kitchen or the bathroom. Among the spaces to be defined there are also the various shelves, in addition to those of the bathroom and any common wardrobes. When everybody will have clear what are their spaces, it will be more simple to organize and to keep them in order as you see fit. Everyone will have the responsibility of managing their own.

Rule number 6: tell your flatmates when inviting someone

Since you’ll be tempted very often to host friends at home, try to keep in mind that is always advisable to notify your flatmates. The same goes for dinners with friends: it’s important to check that everyone agrees. Make this good habit stick, it will help you avoiding misunderstandings and unpleasant situations.

Rule number 7: Help each other

Last but not least “help each other”. As a non-resident student you will surely run into a series of problems and unexpected events that will not be easy to overcome on your own. Building good relationship with others and avoiding unnecessary rudeness will allow you to overcome these challenges and have both practical and moral support. Being friends as well as roommates is important, thus being open and available to others is a fundamental requirement.

Conclusions

A good coexistence will allow you to learn many new things about yourself, about others and about life in general. Although it can be stressful and difficult at times, this is definitely a growth experience that you will hardly forget.

We really hope that this study will help you in tackling this new adventure, always remember that diversity is richness and often those who find a roommate find a new friend with whom to spend some of the best years of their lives.