Nudity and M&M’s: The Joys of Communal Living
You don’t truly know someone until you’ve seen them in their underwear. On those standards, I know Hannah pretty damn well. Before I got to college, I had a solid group of friends who I spent numerous hours with and thought I knew pretty thoroughly. Then I got to school last fall and found myself sharing bunk beds with someone I’d never met. A few things happened very quickly.
1.) I learned how to completely undress while simultaneously keeping a towel wrapped around me the entire time.
2.) I kind of stopped caring if anyone saw me naked.
One semester later I moved in with Hannah and the slow descent into madness began. We learned things about each other that can only be gleaned through total lack of privacy. I know what song she plays in the morning when we make our beds. (It’s called We Will All Be Changed by Seryn, and it’s a really nice start to your day). I know what her retainers look like because one time they got lost and we had to look around for a while. I know what type of hand lotion she uses because all three of us bought the same brand separately. Roommate telepathy. The other morning I turned around and said, “Hey, we’re wearing the same underwear except mine are pink!” And, on a whole new level, last week I walked into the room and Hannah was stark naked and talking on the phone.
“Oh hey, I’m like, pretty naked.” -Hann.
While lack of privacy can be kind of a downer, (I’ve been caught checking out my own ass in the bathroom mirror more times than I’m proud of and it’s always kind of disturbing when someone tells you that you were talking in your sleep last night), there’s a certain bond that can only be forged when you are share a 15 by 15 foot space. There’s nothing like the look of shock and mild horror you share when you realize you’ve torn through a five pound bag of M&M’s in three weeks. I’m sure many of you can attest to this. And as far as roommates go, I’m pretty lucky. Hannah and Natalia don’t really smell and they usually bring snacks from home like strawberries and goldfish.
If you need us, you can probably find us in room 434 watching crime shows and trying not to eat our weight in chocolate.