I wonder how many of you have shared (are sharing) a room or a house with someone before. No, I am not referring to a de facto relationship (staying with your significant other). Well, perhaps some may find that there is no difference between SO and actual housemate/roommate .

Since I was born, I had been sharing a room with my siblings. It's only up till when I was about to leave home, only had I occupied a room of my own. I shared a room with a HS friend when I was staying at a hostel for a year for my final year of HS in Country B. During my junior college year, I was sharing a house with 2 other students whom I met while we were hunting for a place to stay at the student housing service department. The next year, I moved to an apartment and shared the unit with a former hostel mate and my younger sister. I was renting a room when I started working with my landlady staying in. Throughout my stay there, she rented out another room to 2 other girls. When I first arrived to this country, I was offered a 2-room apartment that I had to share with another girl. And now I have the entire studio of my own.

Which one do I prefer? Staying alone or sharing with someone? First of all, I would say I prefer some sort of privacy. As such, I prefer of having a room of my own. I like to have the lights off when I sleep. But if you are sharing a room, then without much choice, you would just have to be used to and accommodate with one another’s living habit. Most importantly you just have to respect other’s privacy. This takes a lot of adjustments in the beginning.

My little sister noted to me that she’s envious that I’m staying alone with all the privacy and space. “Well, there are downsides in staying alone.” I told her. What are the downsides? One of the most obvious ones is when you are sick; no one is there to nurse you. Well, not that having a housemate will guarantee you a temporary nurse. At least someone is aware that you are unwell and you won’t end up being a sick patient dying out of hunger or pass out for days. When you come home, you’re more likely facing four walls. Having housemate(s) means you have someone to hang around or gab with coming home after work, without bothering to go out socializing.

Of course sharing a house with someone means you have to learn to literally SHARE the basic amenities such as the washroom/bathroom. Most of the time, you even have to share the duty/chore of taking care of the household. You have to be considerate to realize that you are not the only one staying there. You have to keep the common area clean and tidy. If you want to invite your friends back, you have to respect your housemate and ask if they would mind. It really boils down to how to get along with the existence of another person other than you.

Sharing a house or sharing anything with someone is not too tough. We just have to know how to share and accommodate. But what about letting someone in sharing and taking up room of your heart (sharing your life)? Sharing, sharing and more sharing is the only key. We have to learn to keep our heart open to share our thoughts, feelings and emotions. It certainly sounds bit more complicated than just sharing a room or a house. As such more understanding, accommodation, respect and communication are needed to form the basis of sharing.