House Rules

House rules for my sister and I's apartment:

1. No making the balcony into any sort of smoking den (opium, fish, other).
2. No milkshakes - particularly fish milkshakes.
3. No hair cutting.
4. No seaweed.
5. Hot Lava Day is Wednesday.
6. BANG! You're Dead Day is Monday.
7. Hide and Seek Across Campus Day is Friday.
8. No weasels, or weasel like animals. That includes wiener dogs.
9. House meetings are mandatory on Sunday. Mid-morning-ish. Changes to the house meeting must be made two days in advance on some sort of cool stationery - to be bought through the stationery budget - and placed in the appropriate inbox/outbox.
10. Tuesday is taco night. For always.
11. Don't leave your stuff in the dryer.
12. No dirty dishes.
13. Appropriate ethics review necessary for all studies conducted in the apartment.
14. All documents are subject to peer review.
15. Watches should by synchronized at the weekly house meeting.
16. Fridge inventory to be taken at house meeting.
17. If both parties are waiting for the bus, there must be room on the bus for both parties. No stranding each other on public transit.
18. Headphones strongly encouraged for respective 20th century, and country music tastes.
19. Menu to be approved at weekly house meeting.
20. Raves need a permit.
21. All complaints should be directed to the head office, located on level one, in the pantry beside the hot water tank.
22. Emma Bear and Sarah Jane Brain Drain Bear will act as arbitrators for any unresolved disputes.
23. All nickels go into the Bank of Cat in order to save for something cool.
24. You puke, you clean up.
25. Study time is study time. No harassing studious people.
26. Have fun. Or else.

What My Freshman Roommate Taught Me

When we're feeling particularly festive, we look like this.

So a few weeks ago, during the height of exam stress I looked at my roommate, and best friend, and said to her "I think I'm dying." Her response? "Don't die. I'm not me without you." This is someone I met in September, moved in with in October, and now, eight months later, can't imagine my life without.

How does that even happen? In my opinion it's the summer-camp-friend theory at work. You know when you were a kid, and when you went to summer camp you'd meet this one person, and by the end of the week you would be totally inseparable? And, I mean, you have good reason! They probably were in your cabin [or if you're a band camp kid, like myself, dorm], you most likely ate meals with them, did all your activities together - you were definitely partners in the three-legged race - so there is a pretty good change that you became quite close. 

Now, if we think about it, university is just really long summer camp, with exams. We live in close quarters - that may or may not have running and/or hot water - we eat all our meals together, we do all our activities together; instead of doing this for a week or two, however, we do it for eight full months. So it's pretty clear that you're going to build a whole new kind of bond. I love, and will always love, my high school friends, but the relationships built at university are so much different!

Sometimes we get fancy and look like this!

I got particularly lucky, because when I had a rather unfortunate experience with roommates at first and therefore moved rooms, I happened to move in with the most wonderful lady - with whom I soon became inseparable [we don't just finish each other's sentences - we start them with exactly what the other was about to say. Twin mind meld, I know]. Since we got our room switch the day after my birthday, I refer to her as the "best birthday present I've ever received", and that, my friends, is not one word of a lie. I won't lie, if I saw us and didn't know much about us [only what was very apparent], I wouldn't think we would be friends at all. What with my radical, hippie self, and her conservative, sweet self, we're not exactly similar - but you wouldn't say that once you saw us belting out Hilary Duff while jumping on our beds. We were even voted "most likely to be seen together" in our house yearbook. So when Em stated that she is not her without me... well... I can relate. Because, let's face it, I'm not me without her!

But if we're completely honest... most of the time we look like this.

And now I'm facing a year without seeing her! I know that our relationship can withstand the 4,361 kilometers that separate my new school, and our old school [her current school], but it's daunting to consider that our only conversations will be transmitted electronically. I know we'll be okay, though, because she was my first family away from home. When we left each other - a tearful goodbye, let me tell you - she gave me a beautiful photo album documenting our first year of university together, and in it was included a list of things I taught her (like to not bleach your hair... ever...) and so I thought I'd share a list of things that my freshman roommate taught me:

1. People are different, but if you just accept each other's differences, the most wonderful relationships can form.

2. Standing on your bed, and screaming when there is a spider on your boot does help. Even if your neighbours hate you because it's seven in the morning and your walls are made of cardboard.

3. If you talk about your problems with someone, they're probably going to get worked out. Particularly if you talk to the person you're having problems with.

4. How much I hate lists. Just kidding, Em, I love your lists. I just pretend to hate them.

5. That waking up to a handmade flower that says "I hope you have a better day today!" really does make your day better!

6. Kindness goes a long way. 

7. How super-curly haired people do their hair. 

8. How to live with someone in a twelve foot square room without ripping each other's heads off [I think we had a total of about... well... six hours out of eight months actually being angry with each other].

I already know that this girl is going to be in my wedding, and she will be my children's Auntie Em, and we will grow old together, no matter how far away from each other we may be at any given moment in our lives.