Dealing with taxing dorm mates
Living in a college dormitory can be fun, but if you do not get along with your roommates then it can become a nightmare.
Annie Li, a freshman at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, had nothing but complaints when asked about her roommate. 'My dorm mate always uses my things without asking me. Every time I come back to the dormitory, I find my things have been moved,' she said.
'One time, I went home for a few days and when I returned her stuff was all over my bed and she was cooking on my desk! She sometimes leaves her dirty socks lying on my chair. It's disgusting. I can't stand her!'
Li wants to tell her dorm mate, but she is afraid of what might happen. 'I fear our relationship will get worse, after all I have to get along with her for the next three years,' she says.
Liang Ruiting, a student at Peizheng University, has a similar problem. 'One of my dorm mates likes to phone her boyfriend at midnight, which seriously affects my sleeping. Every night I ask her to talk as quietly as possible, but the volume soon goes up. There is nothing I can do except put up with it,' Liang says.
Meanwhile, Du Deyan, a student at South China Business College, is not shy about telling his dorm mates what he doesn't like.
'I talk to my dorm mates face to face when there are problems. If you're good-tempered, maybe you can bear it. Otherwise you'd better let your dorm mates know.'
Guangdong University student Chen Baixi also thinks speaking out is the quickest way to a resolution. 'I once told my dorm mate not to sing in the room. Now she no longer does that and our relationship is fine.'
Li Shiyu, a student dormitory administrator at Guangdong University of Foreign studies, say some students apply to move to another room.
'But these applications are seldom successful unless there are people willing to exchange rooms with them. Besides, there are very few vacant rooms in the dormitory.'
