Caring Is Sharing

            When I say, “caring is sharing,” I am not referring to the creepy Juicy Fruit commercial. I seriously mean it. Living in a suite is so much easier if you share bathroom items. For example, I know people who have their own hand soap, wastebasket or toilet paper in the bathroom. Why?!
            If you share all of these items, it will make your life so much easier for two main reasons.
           

1.     It’s cheaper. Think about it. If you share, you’d buy ¼ of what you would buy if you used your own. And with a 12-pack of toilet paper costing about $13, that’s a lot of money you could use for something much more exciting.

2.     It’s more convenient. You have to run to the store 75 percent less than if you were always buying your own supplies.

            As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, this is just another reason to have a good relationship with your suitemates. That is ultimately the best advice I could ever give. Without even an ounce of friendship between you and your suitemates, I guarantee you’ll experience problems. So do your best, make some new friends and make living in a suite-style dorm an experience you’ll never forget.

            Thanks for a great semester, and I hope you enjoyed my final posting. Good luck to everyone!

Buying for the Bathroom

            Figuring out who buys what for the bathroom at the beginning of the year can be tricky, and depends on different things.

- Do you already know your suitemates? If so, it might be easier to delegate who contributes what

- Do you already have a bathroom rug or shower curtain left over from freshman year? Some suite members might already have bathroom items from years past. If so, this will obviously affect what needs to be bought.

- Is anyone particularly picky? If anyone in the suite has special requests, then have them buy that item. That way, you’ll be sure to have what they want or need.

The shelf in my own bathroom doing
what it does best —store my suite's
stuff.

            Through my years in using that tiny suite bathroom, I’ve realized there are a few items to buy that can make your, and your suitemates’, lives much easier.

- A shelf. You can purchase a small shelf for a low price at stores like Walmart, Target or K-Mart. I purchased the shelf pictured for about $20 at Target, which allows everyone in the suite to store their toothbrushes and toothpaste on it. The lower shelves are used to store feminine products, extra toilet paper and extra razors.

This is what that shower curtain
looks like filled with your everyday
shower needs.

- A practical shower curtain. This shower curtain was a little more expensive, but definitely worth it. I bought this at Bed, Bath and Beyond for about $30. With this shower curtain, there are enough pockets for each suitemate, along with two extras. This way, no one has to worry about a shower caddy or remembering to bring their shower accessories into the bathroom, or cluttering up the small space with shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Just remember to buy a liner to put in front of it — unless you don’t mind a see-through shower curtain.

Up next week: Sharing is Caring

Feisty Friends

As a request, I’m going to address the problem of excessive noise. Whether it comes from your roommate, suitemates or the strangers they bring into your room or suite, their high volume at some point will annoy you — whether it’s screams from a scary movie late at night, or obnoxious laughter and snorting from watching a Youtube video.
            This is why establishing a good relationship with your entire suite at the beginning of the year is so important. If you have a good relationship, you can just ask them to keep it down. But if not, you might to call in other forces, like your Student Advisor. Then a mediator will be involved ensuring success. Here are some other tips.
            I usually give tips on what to do, but today I’m going to switch it up and provide a list of what NOT to do to seek revenge, courtesy of Comedy Corner. These are just a few of my favorites from the list.

77. Talk like a pirate, all the time. Threaten to make your roommate walk the plank if he or she doesn't swab the deck. Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!

68. When you walk into the room, look at your roommate in disgust and yell, "Oh, you're here!" Walk away yelling and cursing.

44. Move everything to one side of the room. Ask your roommate if he or she knows how much an elephant weighs, and look at the floor on the empty side of the room with concern.

45. Practice needlepoint every night. At one point, grab your thumb and scream, "Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!" Cry hysterically for a few minutes, and then go to bed. Sob and sniff all night.

42. Call your roommate "Clyde" by accident. Start doing so every so often. Increase the frequency over the next few weeks, until you are calling him or her"Clyde" all the time. If your roommate protests, say, "I'm sorry. I won't do that anymore, Murray."

22. Pile dirty dishes in your roommate's bed. Insist that you don't know how they got there.


I'm taking next week off because it's Thanksgiving, but the week after I'll be discussing "Buying for the Bathroom."


I hope everyone has a nice holiday!

Shower Situations

Sorry this is a little late! I had some family issues occur last night and ended up having my family in town for the evening.


Anyway, I realize I said this week's topic would be Smelly Sensations, but I've gotten a request to discuss Shower Situations. More specifically — shower schedules.


Personally, I've only needed to use a shower schedule with my suitemates once, and it worked out. But, I've heard many stories of people not abiding by the rules.


To make your schedule a success, try these tips:


     Make the schedule at the beginning of the semester. If you wait too long, people will already be used to a routine, and it will be harder to adjust.


     Post it in your room. Otherwise, you might forget. Even if no one is in the bathroom, the person who has permission to be might just be running late. Then, if they are forced to wait longer because of your careless actions, the situation ends up worse than it began.


     Stick to it, and make sure everyone else does too. If people are beginning to stray from the schedule, let them know. The problem will just get worse until it's confronted. Make a valid argument and give reasons for why the schedule is so important. If you just scold the other person out of frustration, they won't take you seriously.


     Changes need to be discussed in advance. If you need to change your bathroom time for any reason, let everyone else involved as soon as you know. Leaving a note on your suitemate's door the night before is impersonal, and might cause unnecessary drama.


Have you ever thought about communal showers, or how people not living in a suite-style dorm deal with sharing a bathroom with their entire floor? Check out this blog for more tips.




Next Week: Smelly Sensations (Unless there are more requests!)

Door Difficulty

One of the many troubles every student living in a suite encounters is the dreaded bathroom door. Getting locked out of your own bathroom can be a traumatic experience, so here are a few tricks I’ve learned throughout my time at college.

Always keep a quarter handy.
By placing the side of the quarter into the door handle lock, you can twist the door open to freedom. I keep one on a shelf on my desk. There are also many other techniques.

Don’t lock your suitemates out of the bathroom for revenge.
If you decide that locking your suitemates out of the bathroom is a good way to stick it to them for heating up leftover Mexican last night and stinking up your room, you’re wrong. Your suitemates will most likely just return the favor, starting a never-ending war.

There is no need to always lock the door.
If you’re simply washing off some dishes, brushing your teeth or just washing your hands, there is no need to lock the door. The less you lock the door, the more unlikely it is that you’ll lock your suitemates out.

Have you had any strange encounters with your bathroom door in your suite? If so, I want to know!

Next week: Smelly Sensations

Trash Troubles

     Everyone is responsible for their own trash. Seems reasonable, right? Well, make sure all of the people in your suite fully understand too. Otherwise the trash can in your bathroom will morph into a stinky heap. This is how to prevent that. Also, if something can be recycled, make sure to do your part to help the environment.     

Don't let this mess happen to you.

Come up with an agreement at the beginning of the year. For example, make a schedule, or decide who takes it out depending on who has contributed the most waste.

If it’s yours, deal with it. Don’t expect your suitemates to take out the trash if the majority of it is yours. Be respectful.

Be quick. Don’t let the trash sit there for ages. Organisms will grow from it, or live in it, and no one wants that.

Share your nasty trash stories in a comment!

Up next: Door Difficulty

Trash Talk

            Everyone gossips at least a little bit. Let’s face it. But, in a suite, gossip can turn your situation into a disaster fast. Here is how to play it safe.

            The walls are not as thick as you think they are. Your suitemates can hear just about everything you say.

            Don’t talk badly about your suitemates in your room, and especially the bathroom. You might think because the shower is on or music is playing that there’s no way they can hear you. Wrong.

            Too much trash talk can lead to a more intense battle. I’ve heard horror stories anywhere from locking each other out of the bathroom to putting someone else’s hair in their suitemate’s bed to get revenge. Not fun for anyone.

            Moral of the story is if you truly feel the need to discuss an issue about your roommate or suitemate, do it with someone who is disconnected from the situation, and in a place other than your room.

Next week: Rubbish Removal

Suitely Singing

            My dorm room is quiet. I’m reading my history book sprawled out on the floor while my roommate is writing a paper at her desk. It’s peaceful and serene, until suddenly a burst of off-key melody comes booming through the walls. We both look at each other is disgust.

            Yes, that’s because our suitemate is singing is the shower. She does it often, and I’m sure I am not the only person who’s had to deal with this issue. To tune out the noise, try turning on your own music loud enough to cover the ruckus, or listen to your MP3 player with headphones. If the problem is persistent, just ask your suitemate politely sometime if he or she could try to keep it down, or mention it in your roommate agreement form.

I hope no one ever has to deal with a suitemate like this one!

Up next: Trash Talk!

Cooking Correctly

            Nothing is worse than coming home to your dorm room and a foul odor hits you in the face because your suitemates burnt popcorn. Unfortunately, this will probably happen to you at least once, but probably more, during your college career. So far this year, my room has reeked of burnt popcorn, on at least seven different occasions, because my suitemates cannot seem to figure out when to take the bag out of the microwave. Don’t be that person.
            To ensure that you don’t cause your roommate or suitemates to resent you for your awful microwave cooking habits, make sure you watch the time and stop the popcorn after you hear two seconds in between each pop. For a more detailed list of tips and how to remove the smell if you ever do accidentally burn your popcorn, visit this site.

Happy popping!

Next Week: Singing in the Shower

Love Is a Battlefield

            No — I’m not referring to the cheesy 80s hit, though it is a guilty pleasure of mine. I’m talking about the awkward moment when you walk into your dorm room and see your roommate with their significant other doing things you’d rather not see.
            If there is an excess of a girlfriend or boyfriend in your room, you should take the initiative to talk to your roommate about it. It’s your room too. A simple solution is to create a roommate contract ad stick to it. In many dorms, you can download an agreement from the Residence Life website and turn it into your student or resident advisor, so he or she can referee any disagreements. Or, just have your roommate alert you when your room is occupied and do work elsewhere, like in a lounge or the library.
            If you’re the one with a significant other, try not to make your roommate uncomfortable. As for your suitemates, make sure they are both okay with letting a stranger in the bathroom. If not, respect their wishes and just make sure your significant other uses a public bathroom instead.

Have you ever had a moment involving your roommate or suitemate and their significant other you wish you would’ve never experienced? Comment below!

Up next: Popping Popcorn Perfectly

Hair, Hair, Everywhere!

            

            People shed — especially females. It seems like there’s hair everywhere. It’s in the sink, in the shower and on the floor. I know we can’t help it, but you should try your best not to gross your suitemates out by leaving your hair lying around all over the place. The best solution is to simply pick it up.
            If it gets in the shower or sink, just grab a square of toilet paper and wipe it up. Too much hair going down the drain can lead to serious problems, like a flood in your bathroom because of a clogged drain. To prevent the drain from clogging, buy a hair trap. They’re cheap and effective.
            Vacuuming your room frequently, at least once a week, will help keep hair out of the carpet. Nothing is more embarrassing than when someone sits on your floor and they stand up covered in hair. Yes, I have witnessed that.

Have you ever been in a “hairy situation?” If so, I want to know!

Up next week (by comment request): Unwelcome Significant Others

Livin' It Up

Leaving laundry on the floor
is just the beginning of the
messes to come.

     Ah, college. It’s a wonderful time — some might say the best time of your life. But there are a few aspects to the college life that might not be so fun, such as having to live with people you don’t know. I have had some amazing and some dreadful experiences with the people I can call my suitemates, and I know I am not alone. I feel like many college students have similar situations to mine, such as the one shown on this suitemate's video blog about his own disgusting suitemate. 
     
After sharing a bathroom with the two people in the room next to mine for the past two and a half years of my life at Truman State University, I’ve learned a lot and I’d like to share that with you. So, if you or someone you know ever has to live in a suite-style dorm, hopefully you can make it an enjoyable experience and not something you cringe at when thinking about your college experience 10 years down the road. 

Hair covering the sink is
an everyday problem for me. Is it
for you?

    
I’ll be sharing what I consider a helpful tip to living in close quarters with people, who might not exactly be your friends, every Thursday. Until next week, what kind of issues are you having with your suitemates? Comment and I'll post advice to help you out!






Coming up: Hair, Hair, Everywhere: How to deal with a dirty sink