If you haven’t already, pretty soon you’ll be finding out who your flatmate is going to be for first year. It can be seriously nerve-wracking to contact your new flatmate for the first time, so here are a few tips to help you combat the nerves and make a good first impression.
The first thing most people will do when they find out the name of their flatmate is find them on social media sites. This can be a good way to learn things like what kind of music they like, movies they watch, what their hobbies are. However, be careful about judging them before you actually get to know them. Not everyone is exactly the same on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram as they are in real life; so go ahead and check out their profile, but don’t let ideas form in your head about who they are just from that.
Take a minute to look at your own personal accounts as well. Do they represent you the way you would like? I know that around the time when I first found out who my flatmate would be, my picture on Facebook was of a lone tree in the middle of a field (it was an inside joke with a few of my friends). Knowing that my future flatmate was probably going to be some Facebook stalking of her own, I quickly changed my profile before reaching out to her.
Most initial contacts are done via the Internet, making email a great option for a quick introduction, and to get the first conversation started. When you decide to contact them, try something simple like, “Hey, I’m (your name), your new flatmate, and I just wanted to introduce myself before we moved in together!” You can add in a few facts like your course and where you are from, and then just let the conversation flow from there. Once the conversation has begun, a few initial questions you might want to ask are: Where are they are from? How many siblings do they have? Are they going to be involved in any campus activities or sports?
Besides learning the little things about each other, there are certain topics you should make sure you understand before moving in with each other so you are prepared for one another’s living styles. Here are few essential things to know before hand:
Make sure you evaluate your living style honestly. It’s no use lying about how neat you are, or how late you stay up, because your flatmate will find out the truth eventually. When you first start talking with your flatmate, if you’re honest, you can compromise on things and set schedules if you find that there are certain things that you do differently. For example, if you need absolute quiet when you study, you can set up times when your flatmate will be out. This will help to avoid conflicts later on because you both will have a better notion of what to expect.
You should try and talk on the phone with your flatmate at least once before you move in. You can text back and forth for a while and when it feels like it won’t be super weird, have a phone chat. You’ll get to know your flatmate better. The call can even just be about who is bringing what- you shouldn’t be spilling life secrets or anything. If you live nearby each other, try and meet up and hang out a few times. See how you get along so you’ll be fully prepared when it comes time to move in with each other. Plus it will help make you feel like you are not moving in with a complete stranger.
While it’s perfectly okay to follow each other and share some fun pictures, avoid sending your flatmate-to-be tons of Snapchats or start liking everything they post. I can assure you this will look like you’re trying too hard, or worse, it will just come off creepy. Your future flatmate will (hopefully) become your BFF, but remember, friendships like this take time.
While we encourage being upfront with your flatmate, some things are better left unsaid before you meet him/her in person. You can say that you are more of a night owl and like to party, without bragging about all the shots you are planning on taking. You can say that you like to keep things clean and tidy, without mentioning that you’re totally OCD about your stuff being out of place. Remember that living with someone will involve some adjustments on both parts.
Don’t expect that you and your flatmate will be best friends. Getting along is important to having an enjoyable first year, but that doesn’t mean that you are going to be inseparable. While this does sometimes happen; it doesn’t hurt to branch out and meet new people and just be friendly towards each other.
Meeting a new flatmate for the first time is never an easy thing to do, but just follow these few tips and you should have no problem! Unless you have the infamous crazy flatmate , in which case nothing can help but a level head.
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