Fun Microwave Tricks, or Why I Love Roommates

At least 30 seconds had passed, however, and we were beginning to give up hope. No cracks, no expanding shell, no change whatsoever. But just as I was about to turn away, POP! And the microwave door flew open, covering us all (now quite embarrassed about our little experiment) with partially cooked scrambled egg.

Jessica Eaton State of the Arts

College is possibly the only time of life (with the exception of "Friends" and other sitcom situations) when it's completely normal to live in a house with a large group of friends. Although for most people the thought of September induces visions of huge lecture classes and cooler weather, the start of a new school year is also exciting because it always brings a new living situation and, with it, new roommates.

Everyone has stories about their first-year dorm roommate, or about a "roommate from hell" who destroyed at least one term of college life. It has become a unique sort of bonding experience to gripe to classmates and other friends about a living companion's trash, or that funny-smelling bag in the refrigerator that no one will claim.

Yeah, roommates have their quirks. But learning to live with other people is an important part of college, one of those experiences older people advise us we'll learn from now and laugh about later.

I know a few people who live by themselves in single apartments. Most of them claim to love it - they say it's easy to study, as clean (or not clean) as they want it to be, and although it's often slightly more expensive, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. They're completely free, and there's no one to tie them down. They almost make the roommate relationship sound like a dead-end marriage.

But I don't buy it. These people always seem lonely. When I walk into my apartment, whether it's late afternoon or early morning, I can be sure that at least one of my five roommates is home. In fact, someone is probably sitting in our living room watching cheesy TV.

There's always someone to come with me on a Meijer run, or to study, or to play endless games of "Would You Rather." (Incidentally, I would much rather drown in marshmallow creme than have someone pull off my toes). There's always someone to sing, "You are so beautiful, to meeeeeeeeee ..." when I'm suffering from low self-esteem.

Maybe I was lucky enough to find not just one, but five roommates I could get along with, or maybe I'm just more laid back than the average college student is. Sometimes it seems as though I don't know anyone who really has a good relationship with their roommates, and I almost think that something must be wrong with me.

I first knew for sure that my roommates and I were going to get along well shortly after I moved in, approximately two weeks into September. That was when I walked into the apartment early one afternoon to find two of them nearly in tears with laughter.

When I finally got them to calm down, they explained. On a dare, one (who shall remain nameless) took the cover of our bright blue Spam-brand grill, put it on her head, and walked/stumbled around the block, meeting all of our new neighbors along the way.

Some people, including those neighbors, might not understand how that could be the first sign of a good friendship. But it was just the first in a string of "adventures," and now that I'm entering a second year in the same apartment, I can't imagine living by myself. If anything is wrong with me, it's only related to my sense of humor.

The next time I move, it will probably be into my own place. I may not have any roommates, and if I do, I'm willing to bet they won't be the type of people who let eggs explode in their microwave. It's a shame, really.

- Jessica doesn't spend nearly enough time at home, but you can reach her via e-mail at jeaton@umich.edu

09-23-99